How a Sheep becomes a sweater
Saturday, Sept 27th, 2025
10am to 4pm
$150 (includes materials fee)
$125 for Season Partners/Enthusiasts
Ages 18 & up.
Spend the day learning about the world of wool. We will discuss different fibers used in textiles and where they come from, but our focus for the day is on sheep, history of sheep and fleece-wool. Explore different properties of different sheep breeds and their uses. Learn how wool is sheared, skirted, washed, carded and spun, to be transformed into the usable yarns that make our blankets, clothing and other textiles that surround us every day. Dig your hands into fleece from Dharma’s Garden’s own flock of Black Welsh Mountain Sheep. See this wool transformed as it is washed, carded and spun by the instructor. Try your hand at parts of the process including picking, carding and spinning. In the afternoon you will use some of Dharma’s own flock’s wool to wet felt your own small treasure pouch to take home.
What you will learn: History, process and technical notes of how fiber is processed into usable material. How to wet felt.
What isn’t covered in the class: While you'll see a spinning demonstration, participants won't learn the art of spinning themselves (nor knitting!). We'll offer that in a future class, but this class is a great foundation of knowledge and a solid beginning for your work with wool!
Instructor, Stephanie Flynn
Stephanie Flynn is a fiber fanatic experienced in teaching and motivating students in fiber arts. Teaching classes from New York to LA; she has a diverse expert background including spinning, weaving, knitting, felting, and dyeing. Her interest in learning about fiber arts started at a very young age, later she trained in Accessory Design at the Fashion Institute Of Technology in New York, and prides herself with expanding her knowledge in the industry of textiles past, present and future. Stephanie co-authored the book Woven Scarves: 26 Inspired designs for the Rigid Heddle Loom with Jane Patrick. Her other projects can be found in Spin-Off Magazine, Little Looms Magazine and The Weaver’s Idea book by Jane Patrick. All students are sure to find inspiration in any class she teaches. She loves to spread her contagious enthusiasm for the many facets of textile arts with everyone she meets, and is so fun to be around!