Join our Next Community Event on September 17:
Rooted in Simplicity

On the edge between the last days of summer and the transition to autumn, we will host “Rooted in Simplicity,” an event for and by our community, focused on the meaning and power of what we wear and how we care for those textiles over time.

This event is designed for you and your family to both dabble and deepen (whichever you choose), your connection between land, water and textiles through practices that will spur your senses and intellect.

Visit rooted-in-simplicity.eventbrite.com to learn more and buy tickets.

(Illustration by Elissa Callen)

Learning Center Purpose & Vision

Fibershed has felt the need for some time to create a grounding force that serves in our effort to enliven our community’s connection to regional and regenerative fiber and dyes. We are grateful to have an opportunity to hold space for activities and community resources. The Learning Center:

  • Serves key hands-on textile education opportunities for the public
  • Supports a demonstration farm for growing materials and showcasing how earth pigments can be grown and processed, along with food and medicine
  • Hosts public presentations and intentionally designed gatherings that focus on bringing people together to learn and discuss the greatest and most concerning issues of our time
  • Offers direct opportunities to engage in climate and cultural solutions that we can work together to activate at the local level
  • Houses a living library of our bioregional textile culture that exists as a feature for students, designers, and makers, and will house a natural dye and fiber seed library
  • Provides a multi-use space for core organizational functions, including our staff and board meetings and strategic planning

(Photos: Charlie Kennard with students at one of his basketry classes, photo by Paige Green; Judi Pettite of BioHue teaching paint making with natural pigments in the Learning Center studio/classroom; Master weaver and dyer, Porfirio Gutiérrez, with some of his naturally dyed yarn, photo by Joe Coca)

2022 Workshops
In-person workshops for 2022 are ongoing. See the list below for links to register as they become available. Proceeds from each event support the class instructor and contribute to Fibershed for educational programming.

Scholarships
Fibershed is offering two scholarships to most workshops; one scholarship if it’s a small class. If you would not otherwise be able to attend, and would like to be considered as a scholarship recipient, please answer a few brief questions on this Google Form. Responses will be reviewed by Learning Center staff and kept strictly confidential.

Mailing List
If you would like to join the Learning Center mailing list to be notified of upcoming events—or any of the other Fibershed mailing lists—scroll down to the form at the bottom of the page.

Volunteering
Volunteers are welcome into our beautiful natural dye and pigment garden to help with various gardening tasks like mulching, weeding, maintaining our hedgerows, watering, harvesting dye flowers to dry, and more! Email maria@fibershed.org for more information.

2022 Fibershed Learning Center In-Person Workshops

ENROLLMENT OPEN:

Ongoing: Mending Bar Happy Hours with Heidi Iverson (Honeyfolk Clothing) and Allison Reilly
Fourth Thursday of every month, 4-7 p (rolling arrival times)
Enroll here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/265319125647

Sourcing fabric and pattern ideas from your closet with Gynna Clemes. Turn oversized or unloved clothing into something you would actually wear!
1-day workshop: August 14
Enroll here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/291068051377

Cochineal dyeing in the Zapotec tradition with Porfirio Gutiérrez
2-day workshop: August 20-21
Enroll here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/339654233957
There will also be a trunk show of Porfirio’s weaving open to the public on August 20.
Please register for the trunk show here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/354337732697

Indigo Pigment Extraction with Judi Pettite
1-day workshop: September 10
Enroll here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/329405750467

Earth and Sky: Indigo and Tannin Dyes with Judi Pettite
1-day workshop: September 11
Enroll here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/329415950977

Weaving with locally-harvested Tule with Rimiko Berriman
half-day workshop: September 24
Enroll here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/392773535217

Weave a Tule Mat with Charlie Kennard
1-day workshop: October 15
Enroll here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/396884872337

Designs from Nature, printmaking on fabric with natural dyes with Karen Hampton
2-day workshop: October 29-30
Enroll here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/400373145857

English Willow Basket Weaving Demonstration with Charlie Kennard
1-day workshop: November 5
Enroll here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/360099757067

Papermaking from Scratch using local plant fibers with Jane Ingram Allen
2-day workshop: November 19-20
Enroll here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/399100218497

Making an English Willow Basket with Charlie Kennard
2-day workshop: December 3-4
prerequisite: Attend Charlie’s demonstration on November 4, or have previous experience weaving with willow. Enrollment is first come, first served.
Get notified when enrollment opens on Nov 5th: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/360119917367

ENROLLMENT COMING SOON:

Weaving with Linen and other Bast Fibers with Sandy Fisher
1-day workshop: Date to be announced

More workshops to be scheduled. The list will be updated with links to register as they become available.

Past Workshops & Demonstrations – Videos on Demand

During 2020, when it was not feasible to offer in-person events, we began offering a series of online demonstrations and classes via Zoom, taught by Northern California Fibershed Producer Network members. Videos of these events are available on Fibershed’s Vimeo On Demand channel, and links to each video can be found below.

Farming & Processing Pigment & Fiber:

Knitting & Weaving:

Sewing:

Pigments & Dyes:

Shoe Making:

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