The CNY Fiber Arts Festival was proud to hold a variety of new and exciting classes in 2025. We are already talking with instructors about intriguing possibilities for 2026. We will be adding details as they become available. Please use the online registration form to sign up for a workshop. You will receive an invoice for the relevant fees.
If you are interested in teaching a class, please complete the form for workshop proposals. https://cnyfiberarts.org/workshop-lecture-proposal-application/.
Below are the workshops that were held in 2025.
SATURDAY, JUNE 7th
Creating Your Own Dorset Buttons
10:30 am – 12:30 pm Bldg 1 Instructor: Jan Rowell (Full!)
Come, play with color and stitches to make a petite and unique creation, suitable for a variety of applications from buttons to jewelry to embellishment of your handcrafted fiberwork. Students will come away with 2 -3 buttons in different stages and, if needed, enough fiber to complete them at home. Students will learn the history, basics, and variations of the 400-year-old Dorset button.
Up to 8 students accepted, aged 12 and over. Instructor will provide materials – 3 rings, embroidery floss, needle, and a handout. Walk-ins will be accepted if openings remain.
Class fee: $40 includes all materials
SATURDAY, JUNE 7th
Needle Felted Wildflower Meadow
10:30 pm – 1:00 pm Bldg 2 Instructor: Erin Gardner (8 spaces remaining)
In this workshop, participants will be introduced to the wonderfully satisfying process of needle felting as they create a unique wildflower meadow. This art form involves using a specially barbed needle to make repeated pokes into fluffy wool fiber, causing the fibers to tangle and mat together, forming felt. Participants will create a “wool painting” as they needle felt colored bits of wool directly onto a sheet of wool felt, creating a beautiful two-dimensional felted landscape. All materials will be provided.
All students 12 and over are welcome.
Class fee: $55
SATURDAY, JUNE 7th
Wheel Spinning
1:30 am – 3:30 pm Bldg 1 Instructor: Lisa Candy (Full!)
Join us for a fun afternoon learning about fiber and its unique qualities. You’ll learn how to use a spinning wheel and to spin sheep’s wool into handcrafted yarn. You will have your own handmade skein to take home! Students needs only wear comfortable clothing and shoes; wheels, fiber, and equipment will be provided.
Open to students 16 and up. Six wheels available – register early!
Class fee: $60, including materials and use of wheel
SATURDAY, JUNE 7th
Amigurumi Crochet (Cancelled!)
1:30 pm – 4:00 pm Bldg 2 Instructor: Marcia Weinert (Cancelled!)
From Star Wars characters to muffins, from dinos to fishies, from teddies to monsters: using just a hook and a string, you can craft tiny toys suitable for gifting to infants or adorning your office cubicle! In just a few hours, we’ll discover how easy and fun it is to make a few basic shapes and add some character. Students must be comfortable with basic crochet techniques: chain, slip stitch and single crochet stitches. Bring a pattern that intrigues you or use one of the instructor’s. Bring 2 – 4 colors of worsted-weight yarn and a crochet hook to match your own yarns or choose from the instructor’s collection. Only small quantities of yarn are required.
Open to students aged 12 and up. Walk-ins accepted up to the start of class.
Class fee: $30
SUNDAY, JUNE 8th
Understanding Charts: Knit a Cable and Lace Washcloth (Cancelled!)
10:30 am – 12:30 am Bldg 1 Instructor: Marcia Weinert (Cancelled!)
Intimidated by charts? Does all that graph paper take you back to test day in sixth grade math? Fear no more! We’ll craft a lace and cable dishcloth that will give you confidence in reading both your knitted stitches and happily relying on the map that charts provide to show how the finished product will look. Yours can be transformed to an elegant shawl or warm winter scarf – or remain your favorite washcloth! Bring an ounce or two of worsted-weight yarn (ideally cotton) and needles size 6 – 8 of any type (circular or straight).
Open to students aged 16 and up. Students should be able to knit and purl. A handout and pattern will be provided.
Class fee: $30
SUNDAY, JUNE 8th
Drop Spindle
10:30 am – 11:30 am Bldg 2 Instructor: Kim Parkinson (12 spaces remaining)
A quick and easy introduction to the addictive world of spinning using an essential tool. Have you always wanted to try spinning your yarn? Well, now is your chance. This fun and easy workshop will teach you the basics of turning fiber into yarn. You don’t need any experience at all. All are willing to participate.
Open to all. Spindle, instructions and some fiber will be provided. Walk-ins are welcome.
Materials and class fee: $25
SUNDAY, JUNE 8th
Nuno Felted Cowl
1:00 am – 4:00 pm Bldg 1 Instructor: Marcia Weinert (5 spaces remaining)
When wool is layered over gauzy silk, the finished is incredibly durable while retaining a luxurious drape. We’ll add surface elements for texture, and even leave silky windows in our work, to explore all the options that laminated (“nuno”) felt allows. Best of all, the silken underlayment will increase your confidence in success, whether you are new and experimenting or an advanced felter looking to stretch your skills!
Open to students 16 and up; no prior experience needed. Instructor will provide 1/2 yard silk gauze or habotai yardage (no more than 5 momme), 4 oz. merino tops (< 20 microns), silk scraps and other embellishments, grip mat to accommodate yardage, bath towel, handouts, rolling tools, soap, water bowls, embellishments.
Materials fee: $15 per cowl made
Class fee: $40