Blue Ridge Fiber Fest

The Fiber Fest Experience

The Blue Ridge Fiber Fest brings together farmer, vendors and fiber artists for a celebration of the fiber arts.

Schedule of Events:

Consignment Sale of used equipment

Thu, Jun 6, 2024 10:30 AM  Sat, Jun 8, 2024 4:30 PM

Fiber equipment such as spinning wheels, looms, drum carders, etc., will be accepted for consigned sale beginning on Thursday, June 6 at 10:00 AM.  Bring your piece to the fairgrounds and see June Abbott who will have you fill out a registration form.  The festival will take a 10% commission on each sale.  You set your price.   Looking for a gently used piece of equipment?   We will accept cash, check or credit card.

Fleece Sale

Fri, Jun 7, 2024 9:30 AM  Sat, Jun 8, 2024 4:00 PM

The Fleece Sale will be available to the public for purchasing local fleeces from farmers who may or may not be vendors at the fiber fest.  If you are a farmer but not a vendor, see our page marked “Fleece Sale” for the forms to fill out and include with your fleece.  The festival will take a 10% commission on each fleece sold.  Checks will be mailed to each farm the week following the festival.

Public Sheep Shearing

8:30 AM  5:00 PM

Have a few sheep you’d like to get shorn? Public sheep shearing will be offered at the Fiber Fest on Saturday beginning at 8:30 AM (June 8, 2024)

Bring your flock, unload, get shorn, reload and be on your way.  

Registration is preferred. To register, please call or text Aaron Ray Tompkins, Cooperative Extension of Alleghany County, 336-363-4639 to let him know the number of animals you will bring.  He can give you cost, etc. at that time.

Schedule of Classes

Sparta United Methodist Church - 190 N Main St, Sparta, NC 28675

CROCHET CLASSES

9:00am to 12:00pm: TUNISIAN CROCHET: BEYOND THE BASICS Advanced beginner and beyond with Ilse Watkins

This is a class for those who are familiar with Tunisian Crochet and are comfortable using it in simple projects like blankets, shawls, etc. and are ready for to move on. We will take a look at different techniques for increases and decreases as well as reading patterns, popular stitches like the honey comb, working in the round, helpful tips and tricks, different cast on options, how to avoid the curl and getting even edges, cables and color work.
Participants are encouraged to bring their questions and projects (started or intended) to class.

Prerequisite skills: Knowledge of basic Tunisian stitches

Pre-class homework: None

Students bring: None, hooks will be provided by teacher

Materials fee: None—teacher will supply practice yarn, which can be taken home

Class fee: $45.00

1 to 12 students

9:00am to 12:00pm: VERY BEGINNING CROCHET Beginner with DeAnna Hash

You have seen the beautiful crochet work done by your mothers, aunts, and grandmothers, but in our modern world have never had the opportunity to learn this craft. In this class we will start at the very beginning by learning a set of basic stitches. By combining these stitches you can create an infinite variety of items-garments, accessories, home decor, and more. Crochet is both an art and a craft. Begin your journey into the possibilities of crochet.

Prerequisite skills: None

Pre-class homework: None

Students bring: Simple crochet hook, medium-sized (G,H)

Materials fee: $5.00 for practice yarn

Class fee: $40.00

3 to 6 students

2:00pm to 3:00pm: LEARN TO READ CROCHET PATTERNS Advanced beginner with Siobhan Booth

You know basically how to crochet, but you have never made anything from a written pattern. If those sc’s and dc’s are confusing, this is the class for you. The objective of this class is to finally learn how to read all those crochet patterns you’ve been dying to try! Learn what a typical layout looks like, how to ready charts, abbreviations, and understand the general flow of a crochet pattern.

Prerequisite skills: Basic knowledge of crochet stitches

Pre-class homework: None

Students bring: A pattern that you have been thinking of trying

Materials fee: None

Class fee: $25.00

3 to 20 students

9:00am to 12:00pm: DYEING CLASSES (all dying classes will be held at the Fairgrounds)

INCREDIBLE ICE DYEING Beginner and beyond with Jessica Kauffman

The magic of ice dyeing is available to all, even beginners! Great if you have no dye experience or plenty. We’ll be working exclusively with fiber reactive dyes on cellulosic (plant) fibers. Dye clothing, home linens, yarn or fiber with these accessible, incredible methods. We will use real ice cubes to help the dyes “split” and create deep, varied, watercolor-like results that will stay colorfast and wash-proof for years to come.

Prerequisite skills: None

Pre-class homework: Pre-wash your items and dry without fabric softeners, washing machine is great. Blue Dawn makes a perfect scouring detergent. Instructor will bring all necessary supplies, plus will have some dyeable blanks on hand for purchase. Students may dye any fabric, yarn, or garments that are made from cellulose fibers. See this page for a complete list of what is dyeable: https://www.waxonstudio.com/cellulosefibers

Students bring: Please bring 2-3 items to dye. Must be made from 100% plant (cellulose) fibers. Light to medium weight items like t-shirts, cotton leggings, aprons, cloth napkins, etc., work great. Please no thick or heavy items (no jeans, canvas, sweats, etc).
A notepad for taking notes in class if desired. Comfy shoes for standing.
An apron or wear junk clothes.

Materials fee: $30.00—includes dyes, soda ash, containers, gloves, application tools, etc. (Payable to instructor)

Class fee: $60.00

6 to 12 students

1:00pm to 4:00pm: LOW WATER IMMERSION DYEING: EASY, FAST, AND FABULOUS Beginner and beyond with Jessica Kauffman

Low water immersion dyeing creates gorgeous crystalline patterns on fabric, without you having to do anything difficult or fancy! Learn how to create a liquid dye bath with fiber reactive dyes and activate it with soda ash, then plunge in your fabrics, and with this instructor’s tried and true methods, allow the dye-bath to do the work for you. What emerges the next day is always a wonder and a surprise. Folks will think you’re way more advanced than they need know! This method works on anything made from a cellulose (plant) fiber, and is great at covering stains. You do not need to start with something white! We can over-dye just about any light or medium tones. Nothing too large or heavyweight, please— think t-shirts, aprons, pillowcases, short window curtains, etc. Cotton/linen yarns work well. Wovens and knits are welcome, and both make great patterns!

Prerequisite skills: None

Pre-class homework: Pre-class homework: Pre-wash your items and dry without fabric softeners, washing machine is great. Blue Dawn makes a perfect scouring detergent. Instructor will bring all necessary supplies, plus will have some dyeable blanks on hand for purchase. Students may dye any fabric, yarn, or garments that are made from cellulose fibers. See this page for a complete list of what is dyeable: https://www.waxonstudio.com/cellulose-fibers

Students bring: Please bring 2-3 items to dye. Must be made from 100% plant (cellulose) fibers. Light to medium weight items like t-shirts, cotton leggings, aprons, cloth napkins, etc., work great. Please no thick or heavy items (no jeans, canvas, sweats, etc).
A notepad for taking notes in class if desired.
Comfy shoes for standing.
An apron or wear junk clothes.

Materials fee: $20.00—includes dyes, soda ash, containers, gloves, application tools, etc. (Payable to instructor)

Class fee: $60.00

6 to 12 students

10:00 am to 11:00 am: WOOLY WORLD OF WESTKNITS with Stephen West

Join Stephen as he welcomes you into his colorful woolly world of Westknits. In this 1 hour 15-minute Zoom presentation, Stephen will discuss how he chooses his color palettes and share secrets for how to make your palettes pop. This live presentation hosted on Zoom will be a visual feast for the eyes while Stephen gives you an up-close look at many of his most popular design samples. We will discuss how to create successful color palettes for Marled knitting, Faded knitting, and graphic stripes and slip stitches. You will learn a few of Stephen’s color-changing tricks and color planning strategies to gain
more confidence with your own knitting projects.

Class fee: $15.00

Seating limited to 50.

MISCELLANEOUS CLASSES

1:00pm to 4:00pm: BEGINNING SHUTTLE TATTING. Beginner to Advanced with Roinana Buckmaster

Learn a simple method of tatting for beginners, that takes the mystery out of this wonderful lace form. In this class, students will learn the two halves of the tatting stitch, making a picot for decoration, making a ring and joining rings - all while creating a butterfly pin. Materials are provided as well as a tatting shuttle for students to keep. Class size is kept small for plenty of individual instruction.

Prerequisite skills: None

Pre-class homework: None

Students bring: None

Materials fee: None

Class fee: $55.00

2 to 8 students

SPINNING CLASSES

9:00am to 12:00pm: BEGINNING WHEEL SPINNING Beginner with Sue Duncan

Have you ever wondered how yarn is made? Twist the fibers and you will make yarn. Learn the basics of a spinning wheel. Different types of wheels will be provided for you in class., but if you have your own, please bring it. Learn how to draft the fibers and allow the twisted fibers to slide through your fingers onto the spool. You will make yarn right before your eyes. It is magic.

Prerequisite skills: None

Pre-class homework: None

Students bring: Patience and excitement. Bring your own wheel if you have one, but please try to see that it is in

good operating condition. If you would like, bring some prepared fiber of your own.

Materials fee: None. A sample box of fibers will be provided for each student.

Class fee: $55.00

3 to 6 students, 7 if one student can bring a wheel

2:30pm to 3:30pm: BEGINNING SPINNING ON A DROP SPINDLE Beginner with Chelsea Fehskins

Here is your chance to learn the centuries-old art of creating yarn on a wood drop spindle. You will learn the step by step spinning process for understanding and success. We will also cover some basics of wool types and preparation. Each student will leave with their mini yarn skein, spindle, and extra wool roving so that you can keep spinning.

Prerequisite skills: None

Pre-class homework: None

Students bring: All supplies provided by teacher

Materials fee: Drop spindle & fiber included in class fee

Class fee: $35.00

2 to 6 students

1:00pm to 3:00pm: BASIC SPINNING “OFF THE TIP” Beginner beyond with Deborah Tilson Clark

Spinning is a process of twisting flexible fibers together into stronger, continuous lengths. The first human spinners accomplished this work using only their hands. but soon they invented tools to help them spin more efficiently and with more consistent results. For millennia, these tools were variations of a stick-and-weight: the
stick was a place to store the twisted fibers and the weight on the stick provided momentum that transferred twist to the fiber. The twisting took place at the tip of the stick, and so, handspinning on all early spinning tools around the world is called, collectively, spinning “off the tip.” Many modern fiber artists find that spinning “off the tip” leads to more enjoyment of advanced spinning tools such as treadle wheels. Others find that the greater control and slower pace of off the tip spinning is the only kind of fiber production they want to do. Either way, in this class we will explore a variety of spindles including drop spindles, bedeezi (Navajo) spindles, charka spinners, “walking” wheels, and electric spinners for learning beginning skills or just sampling the spinning process.

Prerequisite skills: None

Pre-class homework: None

Students bring: Curiosity and an interest in historic spinning methods

Materials fee: $15.00 for practice fiber

Class fee: $40.00

3 to 6 students