Weaving Workshops and Classes
Instructor lead-workshops and classes
Dyeing workshop - dye a pound of roving for a vest or small sweater
Instructor: Christine Schneider
Date: Saturday October 24, 2026
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Workshop fee: $125
Materials Fee: $35
Materials Provided by Instructor or West Wind Fibers:
- All dyes and auxiliaries
- Handouts
- Fiber
Space is limited to 8 participants, and there must be a minimum of five students registered for the workshop to take place. Please register as soon as possible.
Participants will learn three different methods to dye roving and ways to avoid felting the fiber.
Instructor bio: I can’t remember not working with fibers. I began by teaching myself to knit in sixth grade. I was exposed to weaving in 8th grade when I went to camp. In high school we had a fabulous arts program where I learned to spin and really learned about weaving. From there I followed my dreams and started creating on my own. I am primarily self-taught, which gave me the freedom to experiment with colors and techniques. I began dyeing wools for my own sweaters around 1978 and ran with it over the years. There are so many different techniques using fiber and dyes that I could do only that for my entire life.
"I will usually plan my project first and then create the dye technique to accomplish what I envision. Experimentation is the key to growth and continued color play makes me happy." -- Christine Schneider
See Christine's shop at: https://www.etsy.com/shop/CarrParkArtisans?etsrc=sdt
M’s + O’s: a contemporary look at a traditional structure
Instructor: Suzi Ballenger
Workshop: M’s + O’s: a contemporary look at a traditional structure
Dates: Friday, Sunday, & Monday November 13, 15, & 16, 2026 (The Northern Colorado Weavers Guild meeting is on October 14th)
Space is limited to 12 participants, and there must be eight students registered by October 1st to ensure the class will happen. Please register as soon as possible.
Workshop fee: $275
Materials Fee: $15
West Wind Fibers is delighted to offer the opportunity to participate in a workshop with acclaimed weaver and author Suzie Ballenger, based on her newly released book, M’s and O’s: A Contemporary Look at a Traditional Weave Structure on 4 Shafts.
Ms + Os is a traditional 2-block design on 4 shafts that depends on thread distortion. This gentle, undulating personality can be carefully developed and expanded into exceptional designs. We will study the traditional pattern blocks and explore new ways to use these characteristics to create outstanding responses to our warp and weft. With a fresh understanding of this structure, we will review a variety of treadlings to reveal a patterned system of repetition, rhythm, and logic that extends far beyond 2 blocks on 4 shafts.
Published in June 2026, Suzie’s innovative new book takes a fresh look at the classic M’s and O’s structure, opening up new possibilities for contemporary handweavers working on four shafts.
The book has already attracted attention from the weaving community. Handwoven featured it on the Long Thread Media podcast, “Books Off the Beaten Path: The Yarn Barn of Kansas List of Hidden Gems” (July 18), and the Yarn Barn of Kansas has highlighted the publication on its website. More reviews are on the way.
Thanks to the close connections between Suzi and Northern Colorado weaving community, we are thrilled to welcome her to Fort Collins for this special workshop.
Be among the first weavers anywhere to take a workshop based on Suzie’s new book!
Come explore a familiar weave structure in a completely new way—and learn directly from the weaver who has brought this contemporary perspective to life.
Breed Study: Domestic Heritage Breeds
Instructor: Deb Robson
Workshop: Breed Study: American Heritage Breeds
Dates: Saturday & Sunday February 6 & 7, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Space is limited to 18 participants,
Workshop fee: $225
Materials Fee: $100
Deb Robson is returning to Lamms End Studio for the 3rd Annual Breed Study!
We'll spend two days focused on American heritage breeds of Deb's choosing. She'll have all the samples and her fabulous handouts. Come prepared for a marathon of spinning and learning.
This class fills quickly, so don't hesitate to sign up.
Drawloom and Long-eyed Heddle Weaving
Instructor: Joanne Hall
Space is limited to 8 participants
Dates: Tuesday-Friday February 9-12, 2027, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Workshop fee: $425
Materials Fee: TBD
In this special class participants will learn how to dress a drawloom and weave with damask and Summer & Winter patterns. There will be four drawlooms, including two with both shaft and single unit capability. Treadled Smålandsväv and half heddle weaving will be part of the mix. Participants will also learn to design patterns using graph paper and Fiberworks.
Pictorial Tapestry on a Floor Loom
Instructor: Joanne Hall
Space is limited to 10 participants
Dates: Monday-Wednesday February 15-17, 2027, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Workshop fee: $325
Materials Fee: TBD
Learn the shaft-loom tapestry techniques used by Swedish artists. Beginning with a description of weaving techniques by Märta Måås Fjetterström, we will continue with a description of the work of Hans Krondahl and other tapestry artists. Montana-based artist and teacher Joanne Hall, who studied with Hans Krondahl, has continued to expand upon these methods in her own work.
We will start with an explanation of the art weaves of Sweden. These are the basis of the development of the faster tapestry like techniques. Märta Måås Fjetterström was one of the first weavers to explore new techniques of pictorial weaving, sometimes call the HV techniques, from Handarbetes Vänner, which means friends of the Handcrafts. This is an organization and a school which was started during the time of the Arts and Crafts movement. These techniques were developed in order to weave tapestry like images faster. These early techniques are somewhat similar to weaving contemporary transparency weaves, without being transparent. A study of these early techniques will help you to understand the basis of this type of exploration of weaving techniques, based on tapestry weaving.
In this workshop we will explore different ways to weave images using techniques which weave faster than traditional tapestry.
Weaving Fundamentals
Instructor: Paula Becker
Dates: If you're interested in this class, please use the contact to let me know. When there four people who would like to sign up. I will be in touch to set up meeting times. We'll coordinate with the group to plan dates that fit with everyone's schedule.
Level: This class is suitable for an absolute beginner or someone who weaves but would like to refresh their skills.
Cost: $250 for the equivalent of six 6-hour sessions plus materials (varies by project)
If you would like to learn how to weave from the ground up or perhaps you want to become a more efficient weaver, this is your class. You'll learn how to read and create a weaving pattern, design and plan a project, set up a loom, and weave two hand towels.
Looms are provided. If you have a portable loom and would like to use your own, please email me at paula@westwindfibers.com.
Contact us
Telephone: 970-481-9518
E-mail: paula@westwindfibers.com
Address: 3001 Colt Court, Fort Collins, CO 80526