Urban Weaving Bootcamps

Get acquainted with core skills for weaving and other projects using materials available in the environment around you. These sessions are not product-focused, but demonstration-based and allow hands-on time for learning core weaving skills. Materials included

*Prerequisite for Palm Pocket:Woven Hand Clutch in December, and Willow Tension Trays Retreat, coming in February 2016

Getting in Touch with your Inner Fibre Geek: from Raw Fleece to Spun Yarn, everything you need to know…

Session One: Getting to know your fibre

Prerequisite: None. Learn about fleece for all your spinning needs. This session covers purchasing fleece, cleaning fleece, long wool, down breeds and dual coated breeds. You will learn how to card by hand and with a drum carder, and how to comb locks into combed top. 6 x 1 oz samples (which is quite a load) of cleaned locks from different breeds of sheep will be supplied. Participants will keep their preparations for the future classes, study, and spinning.($10 materials fee)

Session Two: Making and using a drop spindle

Prerequisite: None. In this session, you will be making a wooden whorl drop spindle to spin on, with supplied materials. Bring your fiber from Session One: Getting to Know Your Fiber, bring your own, or purchase prepared fiber for spinning for a nominal price. Then, onto learning how to spin starting with the basics of “park and draft”.  Ergonomics and hand exercises will be covered to keep your hands and body in ready-for-spinning shape. ($5 materials fee)

Session Three: Diving deeper into the world of the drop spindle

Prerequisite: Session Two or equivalent drop-spindle experience. Learn how to spin woolen and worsted, spinning “from the fold”, how to control the diameter of your singles, two-ply yarn and Navajo plying plus the “Andean” bracelet for plying. Good plying and yarn management techniques will also be covered. Bring your fiber from Session One: Getting to Know Your Fiber, bring your own, or purchase prepared fiber for spinning for a nominal price.  

Session Four: Expanding Fibre Horizons: spinning silk, cotton, bast fibres, and others…

Prerequisite: Session Two or equivalent drop-spindle experience. More lovely time with the drop spindle! Learn about silk, cotton, and bast fibres such as linen, what makes spinning them different from spinning wool, how to buy, prepare, and spin them. Special emphasis on linen. Bring your own, or purchase prepared fiber for spinning at a nominal price.

Small Basket Diagonal Plaiting*

Prerequisite: None. Learn the secret to creating elegant, simple folded sculptural forms using materials such as commercial wood veneer, yucca and bark. Diagonal plaiting is traditionally used in Scandinavian and Russian birch bark and south East-Asian palm fibre weaving. Makes a sophisticated gift basket for a ‘green’ gift of tickets or gift certificates. Includes materials. Prerequisite for Diagonal Plaited Shoes- coming in January 2016!

Palm Pocket: Woven Hand Clutch

 Spend the day weaving the shell of an elegant little clutch, perfect for holding your phone, keys and lip balm, all in the palm of your hand! Participants will put to use weaving and rope-making skills to create a small woven envelope – while learning to weave off a mold. A cloth insert liner completes the clutch, and the session will end showing examples of how to make this at home, or some samples available for sale.  Note- photo shown is larger then the size we will make in the workshop. Prerequisite: Urban Weaver Bootcamp, or competency in ropemaking, twining, and plain weave.

Plant-based Medicine Making for Community Immunity – One of eartHand’s core values is working with the seasons, and what could be more timely than taking an afternoon as the light wanes to learn about how plants can help us keep healthy through the darker half of the year? In this hands on medicine making class will we will learn: Identification of local plants that have medicinal and other uses; ethical plant harvesting, plus when and how to harvest what; how medicinal properties are extracted from plants; how to make a tincture; how to make herbal oils and salves; kitchen medicines – how to keep you and your nearest & dearest healthy with ‘make it and take it’ community immunity vinegars. PLEASE BRING: kitchen knife (sharp) and cutting board; notepad and pen; 2x 25o ml jars; labels; rain jacket/umbrella for the plant walk Sunday, January 17, 2016 1pm-4pm Plant-based Medicine Making for Community Immunity  Instructor: Marina Szijarto; Location: Meet at Trillium North Park, corner of Malkin & Thornton in Vancouver — plant walk to Maclean Park Fieldhouse (~ 1km) — dress for the weather! See LIST of what to bring $77 $68 for eartHand members

Am I eligible for a sponsored place?

You may be eligible to apply for a sponsored place at a workshop if you meet either of the following criteria:

1. You are a Vancouver resident who holds a Vancouver Park Board Leisure Card or a Quest Card
2. You are nominated to us in writing by a reputable member of your community (ie/ teacher, community organizer, group leader, Family Place staff member)

The workshop is confirmed when the registration minimum is reached.

To apply for a sponsored place at a workshop: 

Email us and let us know:

• which workshop you would like to attend
• your name, Leisure Card number and expiry date
• contact information
• the neighbourhood you live in
• Tell us a bit about yourself.  (1-2 paragraphs)
• Why are these classes important to you, how do you see yourself using this knowledge? (1-2 paragraphs)

Cancellation Policy:

*Workshops may be cancelled if insufficient registration 5 days before the start, please register early to avoid disappointment.

Cancellation made 10 days before a workshop start date receive 100% reimbursement.

Late cancellation fee of 25% applies, or 25% plus pro-rated if  program is already underway.