2025 Festival Workshops
Each workshop has a minimum age for students to register, specified by our instructors. If you are registering a student under age 18, double check that their age is allowed in the workshop you selected!
Questions?
Tanning Sheep Hides with Jay Begay
Only a few left!
The art of hide tanning is a cross-cultural human legacy, one with an ancient heritage that spans across continents and lineages. Besides full hands-on experience, we will spend time discussing history, methodology and Navajo traditional approaches. Students will leave with an understanding of how to bring to life beautiful hand-tanned hides in their own small home tanning set-ups.
This workshop is open to students age 16+
Date & Time
Friday, May 30 and Saturday, May 31 from 9am to 5pm daily (with a break for lunch)
Skill Level
All levels welcome, no experience required
Material Fee
$150 students will take home their very own hide that they tan in class.
*The materials fee is included in your registration.
Students Should Bring
Rubber gloves, pumice stone, knife and tub
About the Instructor
Jay Begay originates from the community of Rocky Ridge in Northeastern Arizona. Jay's childhood was spent with his late Paternal Grandmother tending to the flock of sheep and goats. It was from his Grandma that he acquired these skills required to continue the pastoral ways. Today he continues to raise Navajo-Churro sheep and Angora Goats. Jay enjoys working with fiber and sharing his knowledge. Join Jay in this rare opportunity to learn the skills that were passed on from his late Paternal Grandmother.
Workshop Refund & Cancellation Policy
http://www.flagwool.com/workshop-refund-and-cancellation-policy.html
Images Courtesy of Leney Breeden
Introduction to Spinning with Drop Spindles with Venancio Aragon
Only a few left!
Hand spindles are one of humanity's most ancient technologies. In this workshop participants will learn the basic skills of using drop spindles to create yarns. Participants will learn about a variety of spindles from around the world and experiment with different spinning methods. Students will experiment with a variety of fibers, carding methods, and spindles.
This workshop is open to students age 16+
Date & Time
Saturday May 31, 9am-12pm
Skill Level
All levels, beginners welcome.
Materials Fee
$15 material fee for fibers.
*The materials fee is included in your registration.
Students Should Bring
Students may bring a notebook, their own drop spindles and carding paddles or wool combs if you have them.
If you do not have your own drop spindle you can purchase them for $30 from the instructor. Please make sure to notate this request when you register.
About the Instructor
Venancio Aragon is a Navajo Textile artist and Instructor from New Mexico. He fuses archaeological data, memory and history into his innovative and vibrant weaving style. Venancio's work has been included in numerous exhibitions and publications around the United States. Venancio is an adjunct instructor of Textile Arts for the Navajo Cultural Arts Program at Dine College. "My work draws on the technical and aesthetic achievements of my ancestors. I view Navajo textile arts as an important element of global human culture and history. Our weaving practices are influenced by our colonial histories and the survival of Navajo textile arts is a testament to the vitality and adaptability of my people.
Workshop Refund & Cancellation Policy
http://www.flagwool.com/workshop-refund-and-cancellation-policy.html
Stick Weaving with Margaret Trousdale
Only a few left!
Too many yarn odds and ends? Use them in a stick weaving project. It’s easy, fun, and ancient. Participants may choose to make a trivet, rug, seat cushion, pet pad, artistic fossil wall hanging, a purse, or an "Oobie" for those who need sensory a sensory object. Discussions will include purposes, color choices, and textures- - based upon the yarns they’ve brought as well as any inspirations from the donation table. We’ll weave and make merry. A half day workshop, participants will walk away with a completed or started project, a pair of weaving sticks, a needle, and a tip sheet. We will weave and make merry.
This workshop is open to students age 12+
Date & Time
Saturday May 31, 9am-12pm
Skill Level
Skills Required:
Making a knot
Winding yarn in a figure eight
Hiding tails
Nipping ends
Sewing with a tapestry needle
Most difficult skill:
Pushing the woven yarn down on the warp and making it a snug weave.
Specialized terms:
Warp (the stationery yarn)
Weft (the yarn that’s woven around and about)
Wormies (strands of woven yarn)
Materials Fee
Workshop bag, $10, includes:
Clover Stick Weaving Handouts
One set of wooden weaving sticks with a bent needle and instructions
Scissors for snipping yarn
A pen and an index card to create a name tent and for noting emails, phone numbers, etc.
On a side table are a variety of yarns participants may like to incorporate into their project. Most of these were offered by previous stick weaving participants. :-)
*The materials fee is included in your registration.
Students Should Bring
Participants are encouraged to bring any natural or colorful handspun yarns, commercial yarns, or novelty yarns they may like to use. Great way to use up leftover yarns from projects! You may only bring for yourself or donate any unwanted yarns to the supply table. You may like to bring a project bag for the yarns you'll need to finish your stick weaving.
About the Instructor
Margaret Trousdale has taught stick weaving twice at the Flag Wool and Fiber Festival; the Taos Wool and Fiber Fest; at the Yarn Shop at Nob Hill, Albuquerque; and the Orange County Spinners Guild, California. She's been an active spinning guild member sharing wool and fiber joy for ten plus years. She raised and spun Angora rabbits five years. She likes crocheting too. She’s a retired public school teacher from California, now living in Albuquerque, recording her fiber adventures on https://theyarnmarm.blogspot.com/.
Workshop Refund & Cancellation Policy
http://www.flagwool.com/workshop-refund-and-cancellation-policy.html
Intro to Tapestry Weaving: Exploring Color & Texture with Kira Dulaney
Only a few left!
Weaving is an ancient art that is easy to learn yet has endless possibilities, and tapestry weaving is a wonderful introduction. Unleash your creativity while playing with color and texture! We will use a simple frame loom to make an artistic wall hanging while exploring plain weave as well as rya fringe, soumak, and clasped weft weaving techniques.
This workshop is open to students age 12+
Date & Time
Saturday May 31, 9am-12pm
Skill Level
No experience necessary
Materials Fee
$45 to cover loom, weaving needles, scissors, and yarn to complete your first project
*The materials fee is included in your registration.
Students Should Bring
Optional materials: yarn to incorporate into your piece
About the Instructor
Kira Dulaney has been teaching fiber arts classes and hosting crafty events in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond since 2002. As a teacher, her focus is on providing valuable information in a stress-free environment, and supporting students through the learning process. She is also the designer behind Kira K Designs, a line of original knitting and crochet patterns and kits featuring clean lines and intriguing details that are both interesting to make and easy to wear. Kira has taught at Estes Park Wool Market, Flag Wool, Flock Fiber Festival, Interweave Yarn Fest, Lambtown Festival, Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, the Natural Fiber Fair, Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival, Red Alder Fiber Arts Retreat, Stitches events, and TNNA, as well as numerous guilds and yarn shops.
Workshop Refund & Cancellation Policy
http://www.flagwool.com/workshop-refund-and-cancellation-policy.html
Initiation: Knitwear Design by Francoise Danoy
Embark on a journey into knitwear design with a special focus on crafting a cowl or scarf. In this workshop, participants will delve into the fundamentals of knitwear design through the innovative SWATCH framework, which encompasses Spark, Work, Application, Template, Checking, and Hustle. Each stage is designed to guide you from initial inspiration to the practical steps of creating your own design. You'll learn essential principles of garment construction, effective yarn and stitch selection, and how to translate your ideas into actionable designs. By the end of the session, every participant will have a tangible start to their design project, including a detailed sketch, a swatch, or the beginning of a pattern.
This workshop is open to students age 16+
Date & Time
Saturday May 31, 9am-12pm
Skill Level
Before the workshop, participants should:
- Decide on the type of accessory they wish to design, choosing between a cowl and a scarf.
- Collect inspiration through images, sketches, or concepts that resonate with their aesthetic goals.
- Begin outlining their design using the SWATCH framework to prepare for in-depth exploration and development during the workshop.
This preparation is crucial for making the most of our focused workshop time, allowing us to dive deeper into the creative and technical aspects of knitwear design.
Materials Fee
N/A
Students Should Bring
Yarn: Appropriate for a cowl or scarf, selected based on texture, weight, and drape to enhance your design.
- Needles: Compatible with your yarn choice.
- Notions: Stitch markers, measuring tape, and other relevant tools.
- Sketchbook: For drafting and refining your designs.
- Colored Pencils or Pens: For detailing and visualizing your design ideas.
About the Instructor
Françoise Danoy is a knitwear designer and fiber artist who combines cultural storytelling with modern design. Inspired by her Māori heritage and a love for mindful making, she has spent over 10 years creating patterns that help knitters slow down and connect with their craft. With more than 100 published patterns, Françoise’s work celebrates knitting as a way to tell stories, foster creativity, and build community. Her expertise has been featured in Knit Stars Season 5, Peggy Orenstein’s Unraveled, and The Knitting Pattern Handbook by Kristina McGrath and Sarah Walworth. When she’s not designing, Françoise enjoys a quiet, creative life in San Antonio, Texas.
Workshop Refund & Cancellation Policy
http://www.flagwool.com/workshop-refund-and-cancellation-policy.html
Design your own color-work hat or cowl with Tressa Weidenaar
In this workshop students will learn how to design their own color-work hat or cowl using either Worsted or DK weight yarn. Students will be provided a base pattern for the design. They will learn about combining colors and create a mood board to help with inspiration. Once students have decided on a design they will create a motif on a chart. This will give them a chance to begin swatching for their design to ultimately create their own hat or cowl.
This workshop is open to students age 12+
Date & Time
Saturday May 31, 1pm-4pm
Skill Level
Intermediate: Familiar with color-work knitting and knitting in the round.
Materials Fee
N/A
Students Should Bring
- Worsted of DK weight yarn
- At least one ball of 200 yards or more of a main color, and at least one contrasting color of 100 yards or more.
Students are encouraged to bring several color options to help develop their design for this class. Colors can be scraps or leftover balls.
About the Instructor
Tressa Weidenaar is a Navajo knitwear designer and lives in Gallup, New Mexico, with her husband and two children. She knits, weaves, and creates with whatever materials are available. She has had designs published in Taproot Magazine, Making GIFTS, PomPom Quarterly, and Farm and Fiber Knits. She can be found on Instagram (@tsinbikee) and Ravelry (Tsinbikeeknits).
Workshop Refund & Cancellation Policy
http://www.flagwool.com/workshop-refund-and-cancellation-policy.html
Off-loom Weaving with Jessica Holton
In this workshop, students will learn the basics about weaving. They will pick a pattern to begin an off-loom weaving project. They will learn how to begin the warp and weft on a 4" x 4" piece of wood (without pegs or grooves). They will use a tapestry needle for the shuttle.
This workshop is open to students age 18+
Date & Time
Saturday May 31, 1pm-4pm
Skill Level
All levels
Materials Fee
$20 to cover yarn, tapestry needles, 4" x 4" flat fence post cap, copies of patterns
*The materials fee is included in your registration.
Students Should Bring
Magnifying glass (if needed)
About the Instructor
Jessica Holton is a clinical social worker by training who began her fiber arts journey in September 2022. She took a drop spindle fiber spinning class and began to wonder what how she would use the spun yarn. She began weaving on a tapestry loom in October 2022, taught herself how to knit in December 2022, and attended her first off-loom (virtual) workshop in February 2023. Although she is a national presenter in her professional role, this will be her first time teaching about fiber arts.
Workshop Refund & Cancellation Policy
http://www.flagwool.com/workshop-refund-and-cancellation-policy.html
Initiation: Punch Needle with Francoise Danoy
Dive into the colorful and textured world of punch needle crafting in this introductory workshop. Punch needle embroidery is a fun and fast way to create textured designs that are both decorative and functional. In this session, you will learn the basics of punch needle, including how to handle the needle, create loops, and fill your design efficiently. This hands-on workshop is perfect for those looking to explore a different form of needlecraft that offers immediate gratification and creative exploration.
This workshop is open to students age 16+
Date & Time
Saturday May 31, 1pm-4pm
Skill Level
All levels are welcome!
Materials Fee
$40 to cover:
- Yarns: A selection of worsted weight yarns suitable for punch needle work.
- Oxford Punch Needle (Fine, Size 14).
- Hoop: A hoop to keep your monk's cloth taut while you work.
- Monk's Cloth: High-quality monk's cloth suitable for punch needle embroidery.
- Design: The project we will be working on in class.
*The materials fee is included in your registration.
Students Should Bring
- Sharpie: For tracing your design onto the monk's cloth.
- Scissors: For cutting yarn and trimming your finished design.
- Tapestry needle: For finishing touches to the piece.
About the Instructor
Françoise Danoy is a knitwear designer and fiber artist who combines cultural storytelling with modern design. Inspired by her Māori heritage and a love for mindful making, she has spent over 10 years creating patterns that help knitters slow down and connect with their craft. With more than 100 published patterns, Françoise’s work celebrates knitting as a way to tell stories, foster creativity, and build community. Her expertise has been featured in Knit Stars Season 5, Peggy Orenstein’s Unraveled, and The Knitting Pattern Handbook by Kristina McGrath and Sarah Walworth. When she’s not designing, Françoise enjoys a quiet, creative life in San Antonio, Texas.
Workshop Refund & Cancellation Policy
http://www.flagwool.com/workshop-refund-and-cancellation-policy.html
Visible Mending: Woven Patches and Decorative Embroidery with Kira Dulaney
Only a few left!
Visible Mending is a creative way to extend the life of your clothing and household items while embellishing them for a unique look. We will cover basic patches with running stitch as well as more decorative embroidery and woven darns using Speedweve looms. After this class, you'll look at holes and stains as opportunities rather than tragedies!
This workshop is open to students age 12+
Date & Time
Saturday May 31, 1pm-4pm
Skill Level
No experience necessary.
Materials Fee
$40 to cover embroidery hoop, embroidery needle, Speedweve style mending loom, two weaving needles, needle threader, various yarns/threads, and fabric for practicing. Other sizes and styles of Speedweve looms and extended platforms will be available to purchase.
*The materials fee is included in your registration.
Students Should Bring
Optional: items in need of mending to discuss and possibly fix in class
About the Instructor
Kira Dulaney has been teaching fiber arts classes and hosting crafty events in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond since 2002. As a teacher, her focus is on providing valuable information in a stress-free environment, and supporting students through the learning process. She is also the designer behind Kira K Designs, a line of original knitting and crochet patterns and kits featuring clean lines and intriguing details that are both interesting to make and easy to wear. Kira has taught at Estes Park Wool Market, Flag Wool, Flock Fiber Festival, Interweave Yarn Fest, Lambtown Festival, Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, the Natural Fiber Fair, Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival, Red Alder Fiber Arts Retreat, Stitches events, and TNNA, as well as numerous guilds and yarn shops.
Workshop Refund & Cancellation Policy
http://www.flagwool.com/workshop-refund-and-cancellation-policy.html
Wooly Gnomes with Margaret Trousdale
Participants will be presented with four gnome samples. We’ll discuss them and their creative options. Participants will receive their workshop bags and choose the rest of their colorful supplies: Wooden bobbins, wool, fiber, roving, yarn, chenille stems, buttons, and novelties. Participants may work step-by-step with the instructor for the gnome caps or at their own pace. We’ll craft merrily. After a three-hour workshop, participants will walk away with two or more completed gnomes, an instruction sheet, and a project bag.
This workshop is open to students age 12+
Date & Time
Sunday June 1, 9am-12pm
Skill Level
Students need to be able to cut yarn and roving with scissors; be able to pull the chenille stem through the button, spool, and/or cap; and tying a square knot and half hitch.
Materials Fee
$12 fee for supplies will cover the following:
A) One ziplock bag enclosed with:
Instruction paper for the gnome
Pre-cut cardboard to measure and wind yarn and/or cording
Paper to make a name tent
Pen
Scissors
One small bottle of tacky glue
B) On a supply table to choose:
Yarn and roving of wool, alpaca, and mohair; and cotton cording
Thin satin ribbon for the girl gnome’s braids
Vintage wood spools (may or may not still have thread), one for each gnome to be made
Wet Wipes to clean dirt and glue from fingers
More tacky glue, if needed
Buttons
Chenille stems, various colors
Wood beads for noses and chenille “necks”
Buttons
*The materials fee is included in your registration.
Students Should Bring
Participants are encouraged to bring their leftover yarns to use for themselves or to donate to the supply table.
About the Instructor
Margaret Trousdale has taught stick weaving at the Flag Wool and Fiber Festival twice, at the Taos Wool and Fiber Festival, and other venues. She's been an active spinning guild member sharing wool and fiber joy for ten-plus years. She raised and spun Angora rabbits for five years. She’s a crocheter, sketcher, and retired public school teacher. Her fiber adventures are on https://theyarnmarm.blogspot.com/.
Workshop Refund & Cancellation Policy
http://www.flagwool.com/workshop-refund-and-cancellation-policy.html
Pine Needle Basket Weaving with Cheryl Coronado-Bruton
Only a few left!
In this workshop participants will learn to prepare pine needles, start, shape and finish a basket. Instruction will be provided so participants can learn two different stitches to decorate their baskets.
This workshop is open to students age 14+
Date & Time
Sunday June 1, 9am-4pm (with a break for lunch)
Skill Level
No previous experience needed.
Materials Fee
A $15 materials fee is included in the cost of registration.
This covers:
- centers
- raffia
- artificial sinew
- darning needles
- gauge
- processed pine needles
- handouts
*The materials fee is included in your registration.
Students Should Bring
Required Materials:
- small scissors
- thimble
- needle nose pliers
About the Instructor
As a child, teen and young adult Cheryl was enthralled with crafts. Sewing, crocheting, knitting, spinning, weaving, pottery, batik, book and jewelry making all caught her attention. She pursued some crafts for short periods of time, other have become lifelong hobbies. Cheryl began making pine needle baskets in the mid-1970's and continued through the mid-1980's. Marrying, building a home, having a baby and starting two companies left little time for any crafts including basket making, so Cheryl put her raffia aside. 35 years later her community and the world were hit with Covid. Many of her recreational activities were no longer available and she was pondering how to replace them. As she watched her husband hauling off pine needles one day she thought "What a waste. Those pine needles would make lovely baskets." And so, it began again.
Workshop Refund & Cancellation Policy
http://www.flagwool.com/workshop-refund-and-cancellation-policy.html
Initiation: Shawls with Francoise Danoy
Explore the elegant world of shawl knitting in this workshop, where we will focus on crafting mini prototypes of shawls in three distinct shapes: asymmetrical, triangular, and crescent. You will learn specialized techniques that are essential for shawl knitting, including the Garter Tab Cast On, which provides a seamless start for many shawl patterns; the KYOK (Knit, Yarn Over, Knit) double increase stitch, which creates beautiful, decorative increases; and techniques for evening out yarn overs to ensure your fabric has a consistent, professional appearance. This class is designed to give you the skills and confidence to tackle a variety of shawl projects with these foundational shapes and techniques.
This workshop is open to students age 16+
Date & Time
Sunday June 1, 9am-12pm
Skill Level
Participants should come to the workshop with a basic understanding of knitting, including cast-ons, knit and purl stitches, and increases and decreases. A familiarity with reading simple knitting patterns can also be beneficial. If possible, practice yarn overs and different increase techniques to prepare for learning more advanced stitches during the workshop.
Materials Fee
N/A
Students Should Bring
- Yarn: 3 to 5 10g DK Skeins.
- Needles: Circular needles suitable for DK weight yarn.
- Stitch Markers: 4 interlockable stitch markers to help keep track of the pattern construction.
About the Instructor
Françoise Danoy is a knitwear designer and fiber artist who combines cultural storytelling with modern design. Inspired by her Māori heritage and a love for mindful making, she has spent over 10 years creating patterns that help knitters slow down and connect with their craft. With more than 100 published patterns, Françoise’s work celebrates knitting as a way to tell stories, foster creativity, and build community. Her expertise has been featured in Knit Stars Season 5, Peggy Orenstein’s Unraveled, and The Knitting Pattern Handbook by Kristina McGrath and Sarah Walworth. When she’s not designing, Françoise enjoys a quiet, creative life in San Antonio, Texas.
Workshop Refund & Cancellation Policy
http://www.flagwool.com/workshop-refund-and-cancellation-policy.html