Category: classes

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Teaching update

There have been lots of changes in the fiber arts world – and lots of things have stayed the same! So I wanted to post an update on where I’m teaching and how to find the classes you’re looking for.

For the most part, I’m teaching classes at A Place to Weave in Leominster Mass. That includes several different entry level and advanced beginner classes in shaft loom weaving, inkle weaving, and spinning on both a wheel and a drop spindle. On the website, you’ll find classes taught by me as well as many other wonderful textile instructors under the lessons tab and the workshop tab. I also offer private lessons there.

In addition, I teach at guilds and conferences locally and afar. (I’m looking forward to teaching at the ANWG Conference in June 2027!) I’m available both in person and for Zoom presentations or private lessons.

There’s a summary of classes, workshops and lectures here. I try to keep it up to date, but I really like weaving more than I like working on my computer! If you have questions, feel free to contact me directly.

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Convergence Session Info

I’m thrilled (and honored) to be presenting 3 sessions at HGA’s Convergence next summer in New Orleans!

Over the next couple weeks, I’ll be presenting short infomercials for my sessions.

Update: All sessions are available on YouTube.

A wooden frame pin loom with a blue and white plaid design
Shawl woven on a continuous strand triangle loom
Wool bumps and ProChem dyes
black and white handwoven wallhanging
Color and weave gamp
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Changes in the works

It was with great sadness that we said good-bye to the Fiber Loft last week. My “Happy Place” and primary teaching center is closed. The Fiber Loft is where I took my first weaving class back in 2001 with Reba Maisel. It’s where the Nashoba Valley Weavers’ Guild met for many years (until we outgrew the space.) And it’s where the Weavers’ Study Group met on Tuesday mornings for over 2 decades to talk about our latest projects, share ideas, and socialize. I keep thinking of that song from Les Mis, “Empty chairs and empty tables, where my friend will meet no more.”

Another LYS casualty
“Empty chairs and empty tables, where my friends will meet no more.”

But I still have yarn left, so what’s next? Definitely more weaving! And a ramping up of classes at A Place to Weave and The Unruly Stitch.

A Place to Weave is now carrying spinning wheels and fiber! So in addition to my usual classes there, I’m adding Beginning Spinning, Drop Spindle, Color Palettes, and a new Beginning Weaving class. More will be coming in the fall. I’m excited about all the new offerings there!

At The Unruly Stitch, I’m continuing with the 2nd and 4th Mondays. On 12 May, I’m offering Creating Color Palettes twice – once in the afternoon and once in the evening. Other Mondays I’m offering private spinning lessons by appointment. Contact me to schedule something.

And what about in my personal weaving life? Oh, so much! There are a couple scarves in the works and some twill fabric to be used for a surprise coming next spring.

Braided twill scarf
Twill blocks fabric

Also, as my kitchen is undergoing a complete redo, I’m making new potholders. I purchased 5 bags of loopers for my son’s Pro potholder loom, enough to make 10 potholders, and have been trying out all sorts of patterns – color and weave, twill, split-loop, clasped-weft and more. Now if the Fairy Godmother of Kitchen Renovations would just wave her wand in the vicinity of my house, we’d be all set!

Black, gray, white and blue potholders for my new kitchen

With closure comes opportunity. I’m onboard.

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Winter 2025 Classes

This winter I’ll be continuing classes at The Fiber Loft, A Place to Weave and The Unruly Stitch.

At The Fiber Loft, I’ll be adding a color palette class and a tablet weaving class to my usual weaving and spinning lineup. The Color Palette class is appropriate for all fiber creators – weavers, spinners, knitters, crocheters, quilters, and felters. One session will be offered during February school vacation week, when students aged 8-12 are welcome to join the class with an adult.

At A Place to Weave, I’ll be teaching some select specialized classes, including a new class on documenting weaving designs.

I’ll be back at The Unruly Stitch on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month, and am adding an advanced beginner spinning class to the basic wheel spinning and drop spindle classes.

Lineup at The Fiber Loft

Inkle bands
  • Beginning Weaving on a 4-shaft loom
    • Fridays 1/24, 10am-5pm and 1/31, 10am-4pm (snow date 2/7)
    • OR
    • Saturdays 3/29, 10am-5pm and 4/5, 10am-4pm
  • Intro to Inkle Loom
    • *Friday 2/21, 10am-3pm
    • OR
    • Sunday 3/2, 10am-3pm, (break for lunch)
  • Intro to Inkle Writing and Pickup
    • Saturday 3/8, 10am-3pm, (break for lunch)
  • Drop Spindle
    • Saturday 3/1, 2-5pm
    • OR
    • Friday 3/28, 2-5pm
  • Beginning Spinning on a Wheel
    • Saturday 2/8, 10am-3pm, (break for lunch)
    • OR
    • Friday 4/4, 10am-3pm, (break for lunch)
  • Intro to Tablet Weaving
    • Sunday 4/6, 10am-3pm, (break for lunch)
  • Creating Color Palettes
    • *Monday 2/17, 1pm-4pm
    • OR
    • Saturday 3/1, 9am-noon

*These classes are offered during February vacation week. People ages 8-12 are welcome to come with an adult companion at a discounted rate.

Lineup at A Place to Weave

Shawl woven on a continuous strand triangle loom
  • Continuous Strand Weaving on a Triangle Loom
    • Sunday 2/23 1:00-4:00
  • Intro to Inkle Weaving
    • Sunday 3/30 11:00-4:00
  • Documenting Your Designs
    • Sunday 4/27 1:00-4:00

Lineup at The Unruly Stitch (2nd and 4th Mondays)

For individual class details, go here.

Spinning wheels at The Unruly Stitch
  • 13 January 2025
    • 10am-noon– Beginning spinning on a wheel, part 1 of 2
    • 2pm-5pm – Drop spindle spinning
  • 27 January
    • 10am-noon– Beginning spinning on a wheel, part 2 of 2
    • 2pm-5pm – Drop spindle spinning
  • 10 February
    • Until 1pm – private spinning lessons*
    • 1pm-4pm – Advanced Beginner Spinning
  • 24 February
    • 10am-3pm (with a break for lunch)– Beginning spinning on a wheel
    • 3pm to whenever needed – private spinning lessons*
  • 10 March
    • 10am-1pm – Drop spindle spinning
    • 1pm to whenever needed – private spinning lessons*
  • No classes 24 March
  • 14 April
    • 10am-3pm (with a break for lunch)– Beginning spinning on a wheel
    • 3pm to whenever needed – private spinning lessons*
  • 28 April
    • Until 1pm – private spinning lessons*
    • 1pm-4pm – Advanced beginner spinning

*To ensure that I am available, it’s recommended that private lessons be pre-booked.

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Fall Classes in Old and New Locations

At The Fiber Loft in Harvard MA

Classes haven’t been posted yet, but I will be teaching a wide variety of classes. To sign up, call the shop directly. If there’s something in particular you are looking for, please let me know! I also offer private lessons at the Fiber Loft.

  • Beginning shaft loom weaving (2 full-day classes)
  • Advanced beginning weaving (series of 8 3-hour classes)
  • Intro to inkle loom weaving (full day)
  • Intro to Inkle pick-up (full day)
  • Beginning spinning on a treadle wheel (full day)
  • Beginning drop spindle (half day)
  • Flax spinning (full day) – NEW
Samplers from a Beginning Weaving class

At A Place to Weave in Leominster MA

Sunday afternoons in September, 3 classes have been scheduled – Intro to drop spindle, Triangle loom weaving, and Yarn explorations. Sign up through the website.

Shawl woven on a continuous strand triangle loom

At The Unruly Stitch in Weston MA – NEW this fall!

New this fall, I’ll be offering private lessons and group spinning classes at this cozy new shop in Weston! For details on individual classes, go here. If you would like sign up for a class or schedule a private spinning lesson at the Unruly Stitch (on a Monday or another time), please contact me directly.

  • 9 Sept
    • 10am-12:30pm – Beginning spinning on a wheel, part 1
    • 2pm-5pm – Drop spindle spinning
    • 5pm to whenever needed – private spinning lessons*
  • 23 Sept
    • 10am-12:30pm – Beginning spinning on a wheel, part 2
    • 2pm-5pm – Drop spindle spinning
    • 5pm to whenever needed – private spinning lessons*
  • 14 Oct
    • 10am-1pm – Drop spindle spinning
    • 1pm to whenever needed – private spinning lessons*
  • 28 Oct
    • 10am-3pm (with a break for lunch)– Beginning spinning on a wheel
    • 1pm to whenever needed – private spinning lessons*
  • 11 Nov
    • 10am-1pm – Drop spindle spinning
    • 1pm to whenever needed – private spinning lessons*
  • 25 Nov (Thanksgiving week, so only if there are private lessons* booked)
  • 9 Dec
    • 10am-3pm (with a break for lunch)– Beginning spinning on a wheel
    • 1pm to whenever needed – private spinning lessons*
Skeins from a Beginning Spinning class

Upcoming Presentations to Guilds

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Weaving Shorts

What’s new? I’ve been teaching classes on Zoom and have recently joined the ranks of YouTubers!

It’s so nice to be back to teaching after these months of separation. I’ve really missed it! I’ve been teaching beginning and advanced beginning weaving classes as well as some specialized topics. The beginning and advanced beginning classes are 5 sessions, 2 hours each. We cover a different step of the weaving process in each session, and students complete that step as homework. Project planning, drafting, tips & tricks, weaving equipment and finishing techniques are also covered, at the appropriate level.

Teaching on Zoom has its own challenges, but that’s part of the fun. Teaching from my own studio means I have all my own tools right at hand. I do the exercises along with my students using a mix of live demos, videos, show & tell and lecture based instruction. Connecting my phone as well as my computer camera to the Zoom session enables me to show different views to focus on the action.

My students also often connect their phones so they can show me their looms and what they are doing. Sometimes it gets pretty funny trying to describe what I want them to do. “Pick up that thread, the one to the left of your index finger. No, the other thread…”

That’s where some of the video shorts come in handy. These “weaving shorts” demonstrate some of the small steps in the weaving process, and students can go back and watch them after class as many times as they need to.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hs7exv5cm4E

My YouTube channel is https://www.youtube.com/PennyLacroix for those who want to delve deeper. The videos are simple, but hopefully helpful. I’ve been adding them as I recognize the need in my classes and intend to keep adding more. Suggestions for future videos are welcome!

In addition to some standard classes through The Fiber Loft, I recently taught a morning workshop for the Weavers’ Guild of Boston on how to create a doubleweave V-shaped shawl with no sewing. I mixed videos, interactive worksheets and live instruction to keep participants engaged.

It was alot of work to put together, but the folks I worked with in the Guild were extremely helpful, and we were able to present a high quality workshop on Zoom. A year ago, who would have thought this would be our normal now? So many new challenges and new opportunities. I’m loving it!

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New classes are posted!

The summer classes at The Fiber Loft have been posted! I’ve got some spinning and weaving classes scheduled.

In addition, if there’s a class you’d like to take but don’t see it scheduled, call the shop and give them your name. When we have enough people interested , well schedule it at everyone’s convenience. We have a couple people already interested in a great wheel class.

Here’s a little video from my last beginning weaving class, when Kendra pulled her sampler off the loom – a happy moment!

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A delightful spinning class!

Last Sunday I taught a spinning class at The Fiber Loft. Usually I have a 3- person minimum, but I had made an exception, and I’m so glad I did! Chris and Meredith and I had a delightful afternoon. Chris is a fiber artist, focusing on knitting, dyeing and quilting, and was looking to expand his repertoire to spinning. Meredith was looking to learn about the meditative benefits of spinning. With just 2 students, I was able to tailor the class to their interests. We used an Ashford wheel and a Schacht, and tried out the new Majacraft wheel at the shop. The Ashford and Majacraft were ones I had tried out on my January trip to New Zealand, and I was eager to have students use them. It was enriching afternoon for all of us!

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