WELCOME TO OUR 25TH YEAR!

Fleecy cloud reflected in an awakening creek.

SATURDAY, March 29th 12:30 Save the Date!

Shall we celebrate Bernard and Abigail on what is as close as we will ever know to their 1st birthday? Any excuse for a get together at the Weavers! We'll have a potluck, I'll make the birthday cake, and we will spend the afternoon being happy, cat loving makers.

Abigail, at one year. She invites you to worship her.

Are you as ready for winter to be done as I am? I always struggle in the last few weeks of winter; I am a Beach Girl from a place without snow. Just a few days ago all of us in Surprise Valley were wearing t-shirts and talking about starting tomato seeds, and this week we are back to grey snow flurries and salting the walkways. The British would say "four seasons in one day". I've already had my annual listen to "Wintering", by Louisa May but I think I may need to pull out my paper copy and reread it. If you haven't experienced it, this is an excellent audio book to craft by.

There is hope, though! The daffodils are peaking through! It looks like they will be a bumper crop this year. I may have bulbs to share, so feel free to come by and ask for some once the blooms are done.

If you are reading this, then it is safe to assume that you have discovered the healing properties of making things. I read somewhere once- "If you are down, make yourself a sock. The worst that will come from it is you will have a sock, and a warm foot", or something to that effect. It's true! This time of year I find myself drawn to making small things that have no purpose other than to make me happy, and right now making things out of the scraps I have in the store has been the ticket. Naturally dyed wool patches, Pendleton blanket scraps, old rug warp... I am not picky about it.

A fabric "sketch" to let my mind wander.

A wool rag rug woven sakiori-style, because we all need a little colour.

My spin on a "Moxie Jacket". It only took me 3 days to do the bulk of it, using vintage Icelandic lopi, and an antique button. Bring in the pattern and I'll give you 10% off the yarn you choose for it.

Very old rug warp thrown on to a Kromski rigid heddle, weft is Noro sock yarn scraps, handknit i-cord, and loom waste. Every time I was interrupted I changed something in the plain weave. Come visit the shop to see how often that ended up happening.

Pendleton rag rug with local churro, woven on the very last of the Ancestral Warp on the big Macomber.

Come by the shop, see what's new, pick up what you need for the next project, have a cup of coffee, and spend some time making something neat with whoever else is here looking for a little community.

Small runs of natural dyed yarns, dyed in shop on slow days.

As you can see below, we have a fabulous 4-day natural dyeing class now listed down below! We are working super hard to create a really informative, fun, down-and-dirty event that I am sure will be fantastic. You should come!

Lastly, the Weavers is looking for teachers! It is our goal to double the number of offerings we currently have, and that is going to take people! Weaving, sewing, knitting, design, painting, drawing... if you teach something creative, and would like to explore teaching and community building, give Adrienne a call or email! We have lots of space, lots of light, and lots of community!

Surprise Valley Fibershed Learning Center

Plant, Dye, Sew! (on line sign up at website after March 8, or call the shop)

4 Day Workshop

June 2nd-June 5th, 2025

Plant, Dye, Sew!

Louisa Hunter, Jeannie Kaiser

Dye Garden with Adrienne Johnson and Kay Antunez

$400 including all materials

All materials will be provided

..............

In this fun filled, comprehensive class, we will learn how to set up and plant a full dye garden. We will cover various plants and their properties, learn about their particular growing needs, and then get dirty learning how to create raised beds by actually creating them.

We will prepare cellulose fabric for natural dyes, create several dye pots as well as an iron indigo vat. Additionally, you will learn how to make an iron mordant paste to create prints on fabric. We will also be making a patchwork project with naturally dyed and printed fabrics using both machine and hand stitching.

We will be working with tannins, natural dyes, modifiers, an iron indigo vat, and iron mordant pastes to create a wide range of colors and prints on cotton and linen fabric. You will have the opportunity to machine sew a patchwork project using naturally dyed fabrics. If you wish to explore boro type stitching and visible mending techniques to further personalize your bag, we invite you to bring embroidery thread and needles to fit your thread. (Milliner size 5 needles, and 8 perle cotton or sashiko thread work well). If you have favourites, we also suggest bringing your own fabric scissors. We will have a limited number at the shop, but we all know our own are better.

This workshop is designed for both the beginner as well as experienced dyer. No prior sewing experience necessary.

To bring-

*Clothing/apron/towel that can get wet and dirty! We will be working in the dirt, and with large vats of water. This is not the time to be fashion forward.

*Gardening AND rubber gloves. You will need each daily.

*Sunhat AND sunscreen. We are at 4300' elevation and the sun here is strong.

*Any small gardening tools/gear you prefer using (spades/forks/knee pads).

*Your own fabric scissors, preferred needles, special threads...

*Reusable water bottle. Any bottle is fine, but we have zero recycling in Surprise Valley, so we prefer you do not bring disposable plastic.

*Lunch/snacks. We have a full kitchen to store and heat up food.

*Notebook and pen/pencil for note taking.

BEGINNING MACHINE SEWING (this class has been changed)



Instructor- Isobel Lechner

March 21-22, 11:30-4:30

Limit 5 students

$150 per student, 1 scholarship spot available

Now that we have enough machines and supplies, we will start machine sewing classes! This class will be tailored to the beginner sewist- you will learn how to use a machine, take accurate measurements, how to choose fabrics, problem solve, and come away with a wrap around apron you can actually use! The class will be taught by Isobel Lechner, who has been sewing amazing things for decades. Class will be from 11:30-4:30 both days (bring a lunch), and all materials will be included *except* fabric. There will be limited fabric available for purchase, but this is your chance to start with something fun to keep you motivated. Specifics will be emailed to participants ahead of the class.

YOGA AT THE WEAVERS!!!

MARCH 7TH,14TH, 21ST, 28TH, 11am-noon

This is a 60 minute intro class, priced at $12.50 per class, cash at the door. We will hold the class upstairs in the second floor class space. Because this is an exploratory class to assess general interest for a (near) future series, students will need to bring their own mats/blankets and any bolsters/cushions/blocks they would normally need in class. If we have sufficient interest, this will become a weekly class that will be able to be purchased in 4-week blocks. If you craft, you need yoga!

About Erin-

"In 2013 I completed my 200 hr yoga training with Loyola Marymount's yoga doctors program, followed by a succession of trainings including chair yoga, Thai yoga massage, trauma informed, yoga nidra and yoga in prisons. A highlight of teaching was three months spent teaching yoga to woman from Afghanistan in the largest refugee camp in Greece. I’ve traveled to India to study Ayurveda and various methods of Pancha karma. My passion for wellness and the mind body connection continues to expand. Come enjoy a very gentle approach to hatha yoga. All ages welcome.

There is a whole world of crochet stitches! And you, too can craft your own camouflage.

Crochet Classes!

March , from 10am to 12noon.

NOW FREE! JUST SHOW UP!

Just starting out? Barbara will teach you the basics and get you going on your first scarf (which you must wear, even if it is wonkey). Already know a few things but are stuck on something new? Barbara is excellent at helping work through those spots and teaching you how to, as well. Just want to sit and crochet with others while soaking up crafting wisdom? That's the way we like it, too! Ongoing classes.

If you are interested in learning one-on-one, please call the shop and we can schedule a private class at your convenience. $20/hr per person.

All Levels Knitting (Free)

MARCH 15TH, 29TH (following the potluck)

1pm-3pm all levels, free with learning supported by the group

Come learn to knit, or knit in community! We will be discussing what the next KAL will be!

Wild Weaving on Small Looms

MARCH 21st, 1-4pm, instructor- Adrienne (but this is largely self directed)

Free to weave!

Come to the shop and have a day of letting yourself just weave! We will be weaving with random fiber, random colour, random style to create unexpected, dynamic, wild textiles that only happen when we let go of planning and just make. Participants are welcome to bring their own bits and pieces of leftover yarns/rags/paper strips/wire... but we will have all the fiber you will need to weave available to use as you like (small material fee). The only requirement? Let go of control and plans and just have fun. Get out your most dreaded warp and lets see what you can make with it!

Bring your small loom (pin, rigid heddle, small table, inkle...), preferably warped (you can warp in the shop, but it will limit the time you have to weave in community). This isn't a class that is specifically geared toward absolute beginners, but if you are one, and would like to try, call the store and we can arrange loom rental and warping for the class for an additional fee.

BEGINNING PIN LOOM GARMENT CONSTRUCTION

APRIL 11th and 25th 1-4

$50, materials not included

If weaving your own clothing sounds interesting to you, then this is a great place to start! Bring your pinloom (or get one from the shop) and jump in to making something completely unique that you will be proud to wear all the time. We'll start with something easy, a vest, that you can complete the weaving for in the space between classes. Class one will be devoted to choosing fiber, learning or fine tuning how to weave on a pin loon, and how to join squares. Class two, we will join up our squares together and compare results!



How to Warp Your Rigid Heddle Loom!

$40 for 2 hour session, direct warping, class by appointment

$60 for 3 hour session, indirect warping on the warping board, class by appointment

You obtained a rigid heddle loom at some point, and now you look at it and wish you could remember how to warp it. Not a problem! Come learn how to warp your rigid heddle (any brand) and get back in to the world of weaving!

This class can be combined with weaving instruction ($20/hr). We can cover basic weaving techniques including plain/tabby weave, designing your project, using pattern sticks...

Call the shop to make an appointment!