April 26 & 27, 2025
Photo at the Alliant Energy Center New Holland Pavilion I taken by Mike Morack at a past Great Midwest Alpaca Festival.
Fiber Arts Classes
Just Weave - Rigid Heddle
Saturday, April 27
9 a.m.-4 p.m.
New Holland Pavilion 1
Learn the basics of rigid heddle weaving on a Schacht Cricket Loom rigid heddle loom. The loom will be warped for you and ready to weave. How a loom is warped using the direct method will be demonstrated. You will weave a soft and elegant 8" X 40" inch mock houndstooth scarf using alpaca yarn.
Class Fee: $95. This daylong workshop includes materials, Classic Alpaca yarn and use of the loom. No weaving experience is required. After signing up for the class, you will receive an email asking for color choices for your scarf. Sign up for the workshop here.
Instructors are Nancy Wilson, Mark Aycock and Laurie Thalacker. Maximum class size is 10.
Wet Felted Soaps
Saturday, April 27
9-10:30 a.m.
New Holland Pavilion 1
Handmade soap and warm fiber are a wonderful combination. Wet felting your soap gives you a built-in scrubby and helps the soap to last longer. Learn the basics of wet felting while creating a practical and easy gift. Students will have enough time to make one felted soap and gain the knowledge to make more at home.
Class fee: $20 fee will cover all the necessary supplies including the roving and handmade soap. Nothing is required of students other than their desire and enthusiasm to learn. Register for the class here.
Wool Penny Mat
Saturday, April 27
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Students will work on a candle mat made of wool fabric and hand embroidery. These mats are similar to the ones that would've been made years ago from useable scraps of worn clothing. They protected surfaces from a burning candle because wool doesn't burn easily.
Class fee: $20 covers all supplies and precut fabric. Several color choices will be available in both fabric and thread. Scissors will be supplied, but feel free to bring your own. Bring a couple of pennies that will be sewn into the mat to add weight. Register for the class here.
Wet Felted Geodes
Saturday, April 27
1-2:30 p.m.
New Holland Pavilion 1
Learn to mix and shape rovings to make a beautiful geode! Felted Geodes are great way to get your hands wet in the art of felting. Students will learn how to work with rovings, layer colors, and wet felt using the simplest of tools, your hands and water. Each rock will be completely different and it feels like magic when you get to cut open your creation.
Students should bring: A pair of sharp scissors. Feel free to bring some fiber to add to your projects but there will be plenty of fiber provided. To register for the class, email the instructor at bethaneak@gmail.com.
Class fee: $20 fee covers all of the necessary supplies including the fiber and roving required to make a beautiful geode. Register for the class here.
Fiber Processing: Putting (and Keeping) Money in Your Pocket
Saturday, April 27
2:30-4 p.m.
New Holland Pavilion 1
Learn how to maximize your return from fiber processing. Jessie and Dirk Monson have been involved in the alpaca industry for 10 years, both as fiber producers and fiber processors. They founded Yarn Factory in 2020, just south of Fargo, North Dakota, working with all animal producers to add value turning raw fiber into yarn and finished consumer products.
There is no class fee. They will be accepting new and returning customer orders and will be available Saturday afternoon for fiber drop offs and processing.
A Taste of Drop Spindle Spinning (CLASS IS FULL)
Sunday, April 28
9-10:30 a.m.
New Holland Pavilion 1
Try out hand spinning and see if it is an art you might enjoy. Students will work and take home their own Snyder Turkish drop spindle. We will work with pencil roving to get the feel of adding twist to fiber and will cover some of the basics to get you started.
Class fee: $35, which covers all necessary supplies including the roving and a Snyder spindle to take home. Seating is limited! Register for the class here.
Needle Felted Gnomes (CLASS IS FULL)
Sunday, April 28
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
New Holland Pavilion 1
Have you ever wanted to try needle felting? This class is a great way to get started, learn some basics and make a cute little gnome. Needle felting doesn't have to be complicated. It can be a fun way to create something amazing out of wool. In this class, we will go over how to make basic shapes, mix colors and sculptures 3D creations out of wool.
Class fee: $20 covers all necessary supplies including the roving and needles. Register for the class here.
Felted Soaps
Sunday, April 28
1-3 p.m.
New Holland Pavilion 1
Handmade soap and warm fiber are a wonderful combination. Wet felting your soap gives you a built-in scrubby and helps the soap to last longer. Learn the basics of wet felting while creating a practical and easy gift. Students will have enough time to make one felted soap and gain the knowledge to make more at home.
Class fee: $20 fee will cover all the necessary supplies including the roving and handmade soap. Nothing is required of students other than their desire and enthusiasm to learn. Register for the class here.