Classes

Free Beginning Knitting and Crochet Classes!

At Northwest Yarns, we are fairly certain that everyone would like to know how to knit and crochet, and if they do not yet know how, it is only because of lack of opportunity. To help populate the world with knitters and crocheters, we offer free beginning knitting and crochet classes!

If you would like to get your knit and crochet on, please drop by for one of the classes below. Needles, hooks and yarns for class are available for purchase at our store -- or feel free to bring your own.

If you already know how to knit or crochet, but have questions about your project that you would like some assistance with, feel free to stop by as well!
Our in-person classes at the shop are back, too. So, click on the links below, grab your needles or hooks and some yarn, and join us!

Kids are great, and we love teaching the next generation all about fiber arts! Kids that are 13+ are welcome to participate in our classes unaccompanied by adults. Kids younger than 13 years old are required to be accompanied by an adult that will also be participating in class so the adult can provide support both in and out of class.

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Macramé Mondays
March & April

hands macrame-ing

These classes will get you started on your macramé journey! Take one, or take both to learn some sweet macramé techniques for just $15 plus the cost of materials. Sessions take place Mondays from 4:00 pm-5:00 pm.

Technique Tuesdays
March & April

Hands knitting and balls of yarn with knitting needles

Thread Thursdays
March & April

Hants embordering

Get your thread on! These weekly classes will give you the techniques you need to level up your embroidery and thread-working skills. Each of these classes is just $10 each! Join us for classes every Thursday from 4:00 pm-4:30 pm.

4-Harness Weaving
March 2nd & 9th

Join Joi Weaver for this beginning 4-harness weaving class and learn how to weave your own fabrics! Joi will lead students through warping, weaving and finishing to create a series of elegant mug rugs. All materials are 10% off for students (please remind your cashier at checkout!), and looms are available to loan for students who do not already have a loom.

Materials: 2 balls Plymouth Galway Sport in contrasting colors.

Dates: March 2nd and 9th
Times: 10 am-4pm with a 1hr lunch break
Cost: $120
Maximum weavers: 4

Beginning Spindle Spinning
March 16th & 23rd

Learn the ancient art of spindle spinning and spin yarn wherever you are! This is a great class if you have been meaning to learn how to spin on a drop spindle. All you need is wool and a spindle to spin pretty much anywhere!
Class Day & Time: March 16th and 23rd, 11-12:00 pm
Cost: $60 (plus materials)

Beginning Wheel Spinning
March 16th & 23rd

Learn to spin your own yarn! Heather is an experienced spinning teacher and is excited to share her passion for spinning with you. Join us for a two-part class to learn the basics of wheel spinning. You are encouraged to bring your own wheel if you’ve got one– but if you don’t, we’ve got your back! Get in touch with us to learn about renting a wheel for this class and beyond.
Class Day & Time: March 16th and 23rd, 1:30-3:30 pm
Cost: $95 (plus materials*)

*Students receive 10% off on materials purchased for the class.

Tapestry Weaving
March 16th & 23rd

Ready to get creative with weaving? Aurora will show teach you how to warp a loom and weave a wild tapestry! Warp threads will be provided, please bring weft materials: assorted yarns, fabric strips, wool roving... even buttons, feathers, or sticks of wood are all possible! This is a two part class, so please be prepared to attend March 16th and March 23rd.

Materials purchased in-store for this class are 10% off for students. Table looms are available for use or you can bring your own loom.

Class Day & Time: March 16th and 23rd from 12:00-3:00 pm
Cost: $90 
Max Students: 4

Silk Painting with Katy Rothert
March 30th

Paint your very own 22x22 silk painting with local artist Katy Rothert. She will introduce to you a French technique, Serti, that has been around for centuries. You can create your own design or choose from many. You will be using water soluble nontoxic French dyes. This truly is a fun and inspiring art project, and we're confident you will be so proud of your accomplishment!

Materials provided. 

Date and time: March 30th from 11:00 am -3:00 pm
Cost: 
$50
Maximum students: 
8

Bayeux Tapestry
April 7th and 14th

Join Joi Weaver for this class on the Bayeux Tapestry! In these two class sessions you will learn how to work some of the embroidery stitches used in the Bayeux Tapestry. We will learn some of the history behind the Tapestry itself, as well as some of the distinctive Anglo-Saxon techniques used to create it. Materials will be provided.

Class dates and time: April 7th and 14th, 1:00 pm -3:00 pm
Cost: $40
Maximum weavers: 15

     

Needle Felted Mushrooms
April 13th
 

Two needle felted mushrooms sitting on the forest floor. The left has a bulbous light green cap and the right has a flat gray cap.

Here a mushroom, there a mushroom, everywhere a mushroom. You might have a fondness for mushrooms and find them magical and fascinating. If so, you will enjoy the process of making your very own needle felted mushrooms. Join Katy Rothert to learn how to create your own needle felted mushrooms. Add a pin and you have a fall embellishment for your jacket or hat. Where there's one mushroom there are usually more, so make a bunch or one large one. This can be a fun gift for your mushroom friends when gathering for a foray. Let's get poking!

Materials provided. 

Date: April 13th from 11:00 am-2:00 pm

Cost: $35 

Rigid Heddle Weaving
April 20th

Looking for a great way to use yarn besides knitting and crochet? Sign up for this rigid heddle weaving class! In this one day introductory class, Heather Seevers will show you how to warp the loom, weave, and discuss finishing methods. Don't have a rigid heddle loom of your own? Northwest Yarns has rigid heddle looms available to rent.

If you would like to bring your own loom, please bring it into the shop prior to class so that we can confirm that it functions correctly. For the sake of time, we will be using worsted weight yarn, a dent of 8-10 EPI and attempting to finish our weave before class is over. Let's party!

Materials: 2 balls of worsted weight yarn.

Class dates and time: April 20th, 11:00 am -1:00 pm
Cost: $50
Maximum weavers: 3

The Ancient Art of Sprang
April 20th

Join Joi Weaver and learn the ancient art of sprang! This netting technique has been found on Bronze Age bog mummies, and was once highly prized for use in military sashes. In this class, we will learn the basics of sprang and make a small bag. 

Materials: You will need a skein of cotton yarn*. Ella Rae Pretty In Pima would work for this class.

Class dates and time:  April 20th from 12:30-2:30 pm
Cost: $30 
Minimum Sprang-ers: 2
Maximum Sprang-ers: 5

*Students receive a discount of 10% on yarn purchases for the class. 

Sign up here for Sprang

Beginning Spindle Spinning
April 21st and 28th

Learn the ancient art of spindle spinning and spin yarn wherever you are! This is a great class if you have been meaning to learn how to spin on a drop spindle. All you need is wool and a spindle to spin pretty much anywhere!
Class Day & Time: April 21st and 28th, 12-1:00 pm
Cost: $60 (plus materials)

Beginning Wheel Spinning
April 21st and 28th

Learn to spin your own yarn! Heather is an experienced spinning teacher and is excited to share her passion for spinning with you. Join us for a two-part class to learn the basics of wheel spinning. You are encouraged to bring your own wheel if you’ve got one– but if you don’t, we’ve got your back! Get in touch with us to learn about renting a wheel for this class and beyond.
Class Day & Time: April 21st and 28th, 2:30-4:30 pm
Cost: $95 (plus materials*)

*Students receive 10% off on materials purchased for the class.

Indigo Dyeing with Judy Newland
April 27th

Indigo Dyeing Workshop with Judy Newland

Culture and the environment are the two main topics I address in my textile art. I have been working in textiles for more than forty years as a maker and later as a textile historian. My background in textile history and museum anthropology allows me to bring a deep cultural engagement to everything I produce. I don’t just dye fabric in an indigo blue dyepot, I look in the dyepot and see world history, science, fashion, medicine, ritual and your latest pair of jeans! It’s an entire world to explore and share.

This workshop will delve into the culture and history of indigo around the world. Various techniques of indigo production, from creating a vat to producing folded, wrapped, stitched and scrunched pieces will be covered, as well as the process of preparing, dyeing and finishing the dyed pieces.

Materials needed:*

  • 1. Students will be using various techniques to dye 3 pieces of 1'x 1' fabric in either cotton, linen, wool, or silk. We will have packs of the 3 cotton fabric pieces available for purchase. Alternatively, you can bring your own other fabrics such as linen, wool or silk, but they need be pre-washed before class. This is a very important step.
  • 2. Students may also bring or purchase an undyed skein of wool, linen, silk, or cotton yarn to dye along with the fabric.
  • 3. It would also be helpful to bring an apron or old shirt to keep your clothes clean :) We will have gloves for you to use. 

Class dates and time: April 27th from 11:00am-2:00 pm (you may want to bring a small lunch or snack)
Cost: $100
Minimum dyers: 5**
Maximum dyers: 10

*Students receive 10% off on materials purchased for the class.
** if we do not reach minimal enrollment, the class will be canceled and offered another time. If this is the case, we will let you know one week prior to the class date.

Class refund policy:
Please note that class cancellations and refunds can be requested up through 6pm on the day before class. However, cancellations requested after that time cannot refunded. If you would like to request a class cancellation and refund, please contact us at info@nwyarns.com.