CRAFT FEST: CLASSES AND DEMOS
| DAY/TIME | CLASS | Cost | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday 3/29 | |||
| 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM | SOLD OUT – Crochet Hexi Cardi | $25 | Classroom B |
| 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM | Needlefelt Mushroom | $40 | Classroom A |
| 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM | Sewing 101: Wristlets | $20 | Classroom B |
| 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM | Sticker Spamming Playshop | $20 | Classroom B |
| 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM | Illusion Knitting | $75 | Classroom A |
| 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Locker Hook Bracelet | $35 | Classroom B |
| 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM | SOLD OUT – Crochet and Chill | $20 | Classroom B |
| 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Sticker Spamming Playshop | $20 | Classroom B |
| Sunday 3/30 | |||
| 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM | Creating Art Yarn Using a Crazy Art Bat | $65 | Classroom A |
| 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM | SOLD OUT – Basket Weaving | $40 | Classroom B |
| 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM | Picot Cast On and Bind Off | $75 | Classroom A |
| 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Crochet a Wooble: Pierre the Penguin | $55 | Classroom B |
TEACHER SPOTLIGHT: HEATHER STORTA
Craft CLT is thrilled to welcome Master Knitter Heather Storta to Craft Fest 2025 as our showcase class instructor! Heather will be teaching two classes at Craft Fest this year, one on Saturday and one on Sunday. There is limited space for Heather’s classes, and they will fill up. Don’t miss out!
I’m Heather Storta, a TKGA-certified Master Knitter, Knitting Instructor, and Tech Editor. I also design knitwear patterns. I teach up and down the East Coast, and nationally, at retreats and conferences as well as at Local Yarn Shops. I design a wide range of garments and accessories (I love designing socks and shawls) with a focus on clearly-written patterns. I typically only design things I would want to knit myself – I feel that if I am excited about the design then hopefully other knitters will be as well! My designs have been published in Knitty, Knitscene, Cast On, Knit Picks publications, and elsewhere.
Saturday: March 29th, 2025
Crochet Hexi Cardie
Level: Beginner
Teacher: Ashley Jane McIntyre @fromyarntostitches I’m Ashley Jane, but you can call me AJ! I’ve been crocheting for over 20 years and enjoy knitting and spinning as well. I love making sweaters and sharing these skills!
Prior Knowledge: Basic crochet stitches – chain and double crochet. Preferred but not required – ability to start a project with magic circle, knowledge of how to make granny squares.
Description: Have you been itching to make one of the trendy hexi-cardigans, but wanted a bit of guidance to get started? Then this class is for you! Bring along your scrap yarn, a hook, and your smile and join me for a fun class!
Materials: Bits and bobs of yarn in the same weight (for example: all DK, or all Worsted) and a crochet hook suited for the weight of yarn that you bring.
Price: $25.00
Needlefelt Mushroom
Level: No experience necessary
Teacher: Julie Philip – @juliebellestudio
Julie is a local to Charlotte needle felt fiber artist. She sculpts with wool and paints with wool.
Prior Knowledge: This workshop is for beginners to make a needle felt mushroom.
Description: Make a colorful sculpted wool fiber mushroom using needle felting tools.
Materials: All materials are provided.
Price: $40.00
Sewing 101: Wristlets
Level: No experience necessary
Teacher: Sophia McLaughlin @Sew_Social_CLT Sophia runs Sew Social, a local sewing club for makers of any skill level to come together, learn and share their sewing skills, and of course do some socializing.
Description: In this class we will introduce you to a few sewing basics (anatomy of a sewing machine, threading the machine, sewing a straight line, backstitching) and demonstrate how to turn a simple scrap of denim or canvas into a useful wristlet keychain using simple straight stitches.
Materials: All materials are provided.
Price: $20.00
Illusion Knitting
Level: Intermediate
Teacher: Heather Storta
Skills Learned: Illusion knitting technique, reading illusion knitting charts, converting motifs to illusion knitting.
Prior Knowledge: Cast on, knit, purl, bind off.
Description: Be a knitting secret agent and learn to put hidden pictures and messages in your work! It’s about light and shadow, angle and direction. Illusion knitting produces ‘hidden’ pictures in the finished item. It’s not complicated but can be tricky to get the hang of at first. Simple stripes become much more as you view the finished fabric from different directions. Join us as we learn the ins and outs of knitting with this ‘magic’ technique while creating a square washcloth – or a longer scarf.
Materials:
• Worsted weight yarn in each of two, highly-contrasting, colors. (Cotton for washcloth, or a wool/wool-blend for a trivet. A plied yarn that is round and smooth is best.)
• Needles in one or two sizes smaller than typical for worsted yarn. (We want a tight gauge for this.)
Price: $75.00
Locker Hook Bracelet
Level: No experience necessary
Teacher: April Lee @latchedxlee http://www.latchedbylee.com
Description: Locker hook is a fun and creative technique to make designs for your home, gifts, or just for you. For this class we will be making locker hook bracelets that can be a great addition to your accessory collection.
Supplies Needed:
• All materials will be provided for participants. Materials include a locker hook tool, yarn/fabric, pre-cut and designed canvas and instructions.
Price: $35.00
Sticker Spamming Workshop
Level: No experience necessary
Teacher: Sally Stokes and Erika Davis
@playmorecharlotte @erikarosecoaching
Description: Our Sticker Spamming Playshop invites you and your inner child to go wild with stickers! We’ll provide literally thousands of sticker options and a journal for you to cover with them. Will you go monochrome or rainbow? Will you overlap or space them out? Will you pursue a theme or embrace chaos with your sticker selections?! The possibilities are endless!
Supplies Needed:
• All materials provided.
Price: $20.00
Crochet and Chill
Level: No experience necessary
Teacher: Jacqueline Hyman @jahcrochet
I am a fiber artist with a focus on crocheting. I have been crocheting since I was an army wife back in 2014. I started small and now I sell commissions, create patterns, attend vending events and teach. I love to introduce people to the craft as it gives a sense of empowerment.
Description: In this class you will learn how to make a trending crochet project as well as reading a pattern. Have a fun time bonding with other creatives and leave with a finished wearable and pattern that you can always recreate at home.
Supplies Needed:
• Instructor will be providing the yarn, hooks, patterns, stitch markers, needles, and scissors.
Price: $20.00
Sunday: March 30th, 2025
Creating Art Yarn Using a Crazy Art Bat
Level: Advanced Beginner
Teacher: Silver Davin @SilverAustin @LuckySilverFiberArts
Prior Knowledge: Students should know how to spin yarn on a spinning wheel. Beginners are welcome, but some skill is needed.
Description: In this class, you’ll learn how to take a crazy art batt and core spin it for maximum effect, creating a beautiful and one-of-a-kind art yarn!
Supplies Needed:
• Participants must provide their own spinning wheels.
• A 3+ oz crazy art batt (worth roughly $30) for you to spin. Silver will have several colorways to choose from; if you’d like a specific colorway, please contact Silver ahead of time and she will try to make a custom batt for you!
Price: $65.00
Basket Weaving
Level: No experience necessary
Teacher: Nancy Duffie
Prior Knowledge: Knitted cast on.
Description: Finished object is a basket made of reed measures 8″x8″x8″ and is great for all kinds of storage from apples to potatoes.
Supplies Needed:
• All materials and tools provided.
Price: $40.00
Picot Cast On and Bind Off
Level: Advanced Beginner
Teacher: Heather Storta
Skills Learned: Picot cast on and bind off.
Prior Knowledge: Knitted cast on.
Description: The picot cast on and matching bind off make for a very decorative edge. It looks darling atop some lacy socks, or at the hem of a baby dress. In this class, we’ll learn how to work these edges and how to modify them to make different picot sizes and spacing.
Supplies Needed:
•Yarn: preferably a smooth worsted weight, light-colored yarn for ease of seeing stitches.
•Knitting needles in an appropriate size to yarn.
Price: $75.00
Crochet a Wooble: Pierre the Penguin
Level: Beginner friendly! Students should know how to do simple crochet stitches: chain stitch, single crochet and how to read a pattern.
Teacher: Sandy Harris
Description: We will be making a small stuffed penguin using simple crochet stitches.
Supplies Needed:
• Your Woobles kit ($30 value) is included with the price of the class. Kits are courtesy of Charlotte Yarn and will be provided to you when you arrive!
Price: $55.00
DEMO SCHEDULE
| Day/Time | Demonstrator | Skill |
| SATURDAY, 3/29 | ||
| 11:30 AM -12:30 PM | Christine Beardsley | Cable Knitting |
| 12:30 PM -1:30 PM | Danielle Illing | Two-at-a-Time Sock Knitting |
| 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM | Linda Weghorst | Tapestry Weaving on a Threaded Loom |
| 3:30 PM – 4:30PM | Eleanor Wirth | Woolen Needle Felted 3D Art |
| 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM | Moira Alexandra | Wheel Spinning Gossamer Yarn |
| SUNDAY, 3/30 | ||
| 12: 30 PM – 1:30 PM | Elisa DeCastro | Japanese Temari Art |
| 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM | Marissa Gordan | Carding & Spinning Wool from Heritage Breed Sheep |
| 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM | Patti Lopez | Hand Embroidery |
About Christine: (@lichenparty) I’ve been knitting and dabbling in fiber crafts for a long time. I will demonstrate simple cables. I will be working on a hat or cowl. I will also have some sample finished objects and swatches for display.
About Christine: I’ve been knitting and dabbling in fiber crafts for a long time. I will demonstrate simple cables. I will be working on a hat or cowl. I will also have some sample finished objects and swatches for display.
About Danielle: I am a long-time knitter with extreme second sock syndrome!
I will demonstrate how to get started with two-at-a-time Socks on Magic Loop.
About Linda: Artist – Handweaver – Educator
Trained as a Professional Studio Artist at Ball State University and the Art Institute of Chicago (M.F.A. in Fiber Arts) I have worked in the field of Art and education for over 50 years.
I will demonstrate tapestry weaving with a threaded loom, tools and supplies for weaving, examples of finished tapestries.
About Eleanor: (@wirth.eleanor) I am a designer of Jacquard and Dobby fabrics, and a fiber arts enthusiast. My portfolio includes sculptural wearable woven beadworks, stitched artworks made of vintage sequins and beads, and needle felted wool 3D pieces.
I will demonstrate woolen needle felted 3 dimensional art, and how these small sculptures are made of nothing but entangled wool fiber, shaped with a barbed needle. I will have a variety of “characters” in various stages to work on. Samples will be available for people to try the craft themselves!
About Moira: (@starlightstyches) Hi, I’m Moira! I’m a local Winthrop student who really likes pretty yarn and slow creativity. I mostly spend my time spinning gossamer yarn and knitting fine Shetland lace while fighting my three cats for the privilege of using my chair. I’ve only been spinning for about 4 years, and I’m entirely self taught. My favorite part is how there’s always something new to learn, especially when it starts to feel like I’m defying the laws of physics.
I will demonstrate wheel spinning gossamer yarn. I will be showcasing unconventional drive set ups and offering historical background information. I will also have small sample works in progress and swatches of what can be done with the yarn produced.
About Elisa: (@onescatterbrainednerd) I am a fiber artist with a wide range of interests, including a passion for the traditional Japanese craft of Temari.
I will demonstrate Temari! I’ll work on a ball, and I will have some process examples as well.
About Marissa: I have been working as a historic interpreter at Historic Brattonsville for the past 10 years. My passion is fiber arts and I love to demonstrate how fiber was processed from sheep to garment.
I would like to do a historic spinning demonstration. I will talk about heritage breed sheep, card wool and spin from rolags. I will also bring extra hand cards so the public can try carding wool.
About Patti: (@pbzepol) I am a hand embroidery artist and love challenging myself with new stitches and techniques.
I will demonstrate hand embroidery, and I will display some of my past work.
I will demonstrate needle felting an ornament.
CRAFT CLT 