A Fiber Festival Intensive: Grow it, Dye it, Spin it!

Learn how to create beautiful, vibrant colors using natural dyes and explore the art of spinning fibers into yarn. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced crafter, this event is perfect for anyone interested in expanding their skills and knowledge in the world of fiber arts.

Crafters of all levels will strive to get the feel for the simple act of creating consistent yarn. Work to understand the steps and strive to improve techniques. The dye pots will be brewing as we dye yarns with roots, flowers, and even bugs to get playful effects when crafted into designs of our own. Play with color and fiber blends from the start and work with some simple novelty yarns.

Class will include ample time for discussions of many topics, including sheep and wool, raw wool preparation, washing raw wool, hand carding and spinning basics, and the all-important question, on what part of the wheel did sleeping beauty prick her finger?

The adventure includes spinning on a point spindle/wheel. Bring your own wheel in working order or borrow a wheel. Please let us know if you plan to bring your own wheel.

Kids 12 and up are welcome with an adult participant.

Cancellation and Ticket Policy:

One ticket per individual. No splitting tickets.

In the event that a ticket holder needs to cancel their reservation at least 1 week before class starts a refund minus the processing fee will be issued. Refunds/credits will not be issued to the ticket holder who requests a cancelation 1 week of the class start time or does not attend.

If less than 4 people enroll, the class will be cancelled, and a full refund will be issued.

As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, every dollar spent at Piney Woods Farm is for charitable purposes. Our sustainable approach to farming equips us to help supply our local communities with organic, nutrient-dense goods and produce—to date, we’ve donated over 100,000 pounds of produce to community food banks and other charitable organizations!

Martha began her adventure in spinning at the John C. Campbell Folk School in 1978. Since then, her extended family has included sheep (mostly Corriedale/ Merino, Romney, Shetland and a little, Blue-faced Leicester for fun) and French Angora rabbits.

A banjo player known to tell a story or two, Martha’s interest in sheep and wool, music, and dance, have carried her quite literally and joyfully around the world. Her children say she is a wool nerd, but her sheep say she is outstanding in her field!

Martha became a member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild in 1988, and was co-owner of the Yarn Circle in Murphy, NC, a store catering to fiber enthusiasts. She has been teaching spinning, natural dyeing and knitting design since 1984. Alolng with her assistant, Emolyn Liden, since she was 1 month old!

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Emolyn grew up in Brasstown and learned the foundations of knitting without patterns at a young age, from her mother Martha Owen! This led her to design her own knitwear and learn to spin and dye wool. Through her business, The Roving Knitter, she creates knitwear inspired by color and types of fiber. She teaches people of all ages to knit and bring their ideas to life.

While living in southern Louisiana she was a part of the Louisiana Guild worked with Acadian Brown Cotton weavers and growers, and taught art-integration and dance in elementary schools. Emolyn has exhibited her work at the Acadiana Center for the Arts, in open studio tours, and sells her hats in shops and at craft shows. She is passionate about folk music and has performed in several venues as a solo artist and with her band the Puddle Jumpers. Emolyn is currently enrolled in a two-year program in the Professional Crafts Program in Jewelry at Haywood Community College.

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Host or Publisher Piney Woods Farm