Experience Level: Beginner

Learn about crocheting at Granny Squares Saturday, Feb. 1 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in The Studio.

In this workshop led by fiber artist Billie Theide, students will learn the basics of crochet, create basic stitches, change colors, read work, fix mistakes and bind off. No previous experience is required.

$75/person* (Ages 13+; 13-17-year-olds must be accompanied by an adult, who does not need to register.) Register by Jan. 29. All sales are final.

*Students should bring:
— 2 skeins Lilly Sugar 'n Cream 100 percent cotton yarn (1 each of two different contrasting solid colors)
— 1 U.S. H/8 crochet hook
— 1 small sharp scissors

If you will need disability-related accommodations in order to participate, please email owarren@illinois.edu.

About the instructor

Billie Theide is a former chair of the Crafts Program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she was a Professor Emerita. Theide is a metalsmith, jeweler and ceramicist. Her work is in public art collections around the world including the Smithsonian, Museum of Arts & Design in New York City, Nelson Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City and the Racine Art Museum, among others.

She is the recipient of a Visual Arts Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts and five Artists Fellowship Grants from the Illinois Arts Council. Theide has been recognized for her excellence in teaching and is a Distinguished Member and Past-President of the Society of North American Goldsmiths.

Experience Level: Beginner

Step back in time with turn of the century dances at Historical Dancing on Mondays, Jan. 27 through March 3 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Mansion.

In this elegant setting, instructor Jeanette Watts will teach1900-era ballroom styles including the waltz and two-step, reflecting the graceful movements that captivated society early in the 20th century. Perfect for history enthusiasts and dance lovers alike, this course offers a unique opportunity to experience the elegance and charm of the Gilded Age.

$90/person for the entire series or $30/class. Register for the series by Jan. 24 or three days before each class. All sales are final.

If you will need disability-related accommodations in order to participate, please email owarren@illinois.edu.

By attending, you consent to your image being used in Allerton marketing, social media and publications. Please alert the photographer or videographer if you do not want your image taken.

About the instructor

Jeanette Watts has been teaching historical dances for over 20 years. She is the founder of the Terpsichorean Delights Dance Assembly in Dayton, Ohio, Queen City Vintage Dance in Charlotte, North Carolina, and spent covid writing an 8-volume series of instructional dance manuals for historical museums.

Experience Level: Beginner

Learn the foundational skills of watercolor at Beginning Watercolor from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Wednesdays, Feb. 5, 12, 19, and 26 in The Studio. Instructor and former art educator Sally Walsh will walk participants through new techniques each week to create paintings focusing on landscapes, flowers, fruit, glass and special effects.

Pencils, erasers, clear plastic rulers, paper towels and spray bottles will be provided.

Participants should bring the following supplies:
— Basic pallet of cake watercolors (can be made available on request)
— Tube or cake watercolors
— Watercolor brushes of varying sizes
— Personal sketchbook or journal with paper suitable for watercolor (spiral bound is best)

$65/person. Register by Jan. 29. All sales are final.

If you will need disability-related accommodations to participate, please email Olivia Bunting at owarren@illinois.edu.

About the instructor

Sally Walsh is a retired art teacher from Richland Community College in Decatur. She has more than 30 years of teaching experience and has led previous art classes at Allerton.

Learn the foundational skills of watercolor at Intermediate Watercolor: Landscapes from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays, Feb. 5, 12, 19, and 26 in The Studio. Instructor and former art educator Sally Walsh will walk participants through new techniques each week to create paintings focusing on landscapes, flowers, fruit, glass and special effects.

Pencils, erasers, clear plastic rulers, paper towels and spray bottles will be provided.

Participants should bring the following supplies:
— Basic pallet of cake watercolors (can be made available on request)
— Tube or cake watercolors
— Watercolor brushes of varying sizes
— Personal sketchbook or journal with paper suitable for watercolor (spiral bound is best)

$65/person. Register by Jan. 29. All sales are final.

If you will need disability-related accommodations to participate, please email Olivia Bunting at owarren@illinois.edu.

About the instructor

Sally Walsh is a retired art teacher from Richland Community College in Decatur. She has more than 30 years of teaching experience and has led previous art classes at Allerton.

Experience Level: Beginner

Learn the foundational skills of watercolor at Beginning Watercolor from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, Feb. 5, 12, 19, and 26 in The Studio. Instructor and former art educator Sally Walsh will walk participants through new techniques each week to create paintings focusing on landscapes, flowers, fruit, glass and special effects.

Pencils, erasers, clear plastic rulers, paper towels and spray bottles will be provided.

Participants should bring the following supplies:
— Basic pallet of cake watercolors (can be made available on request)
— Tube or cake watercolors
— Watercolor brushes of varying sizes
— Personal sketchbook or journal with paper suitable for watercolor (spiral bound is best)

$65/person. Register by Jan. 29. All sales are final.

If you will need disability-related accommodations to participate, please email Olivia Bunting at owarren@illinois.edu.

About the instructor

Sally Walsh is a retired art teacher from Richland Community College in Decatur. She has more than 30 years of teaching experience and has led previous art classes at Allerton.

Experience Level: Beginner

No barn? No problem! Join the barn quilt movement by creating your own painted quilt block to use at your own home at Barn Quilt Painting on Saturday, Feb. 8 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Greenhouse Auditorium.

The workshop will start with a pre-primed board with a design already drafted (choose from a cardinal or poinsettia design during registration). Students will tape and paint at their own pace, choosing from a wide variety of colors.

Instructor Jane Cade will also share history of barn quilts, techniques, tips, and discuss how to properly seal your finished piece after the paint has dried for 48 hours. Leave with a 20×20″ wooden ‘quilt block’ to keep for yourself or share your talents and give someone a handmade gift.

$90/person. Register by Feb. 1. All sales are final.

If you will need disability-related accommodations in order to participate, please email owarren@illinois.edu.

About the Instructor

Jane Cade is a retired teacher from Clinton Junior High School. She has been painting barn quilts for eight years and sells her work online and at craft festivals. She teaches classes at Parkland Community College and will be teaching classes at her workshop beginning next year.

Experience Level: Beginner

Learn how to use the pattern originally used in armor for jewelry making at Link it! Chainmaille Jewelry on Saturday, Feb. 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in The Studio.

Historically, chainmaille was used as protective armor, as the linked rings resulted in a strong, flexible fabric. Jewelers have adopted the repeatable pattern of the rings to make unique pieces of jewelry. In this workshop, instructor Billie Theide will help students make and source jump rings, create patterns and make jewelry. Students will receive a toolkit to keep, along with a folder of instructional materials to take home.

$100/person. Register by Feb. 1. All sales are final.

If you will need disability-related accommodations in order to participate, please email owarren@illinois.edu.

By attending, you consent to your image being used in Allerton marketing, social media and publications. Please alert the photographer or videographer if you do not want your image taken.

About the Instructor

Billie Theide is a former chair of the Crafts Program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she is Professor Emerita. Theide is a metalsmith, jeweler and ceramicist. Her work is in public art collections around the world including the Smithsonian, Museum of Arts & Design in New York City, Nelson Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City and the Racine Art Museum, among others.

She is the recipient of a Visual Arts Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts and five Artists Fellowship Grants from the Illinois Arts Council. Theide has been recognized for her excellence in teaching and is a Distinguished Member and Past-President of the Society of North American Goldsmiths.

Experience Level: Beginner

Learn about the process of making sourdough bread at Beginner Sourdough Breadmaking on Sunday, Feb. 9 and March 16 from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Mansion Kitchen and Carriage House. (Each class will cover the same material).

Instructor Hannah Fink will cover the basic biology of a ferment and what it means to a sourdough culture, how to mix sourdough, how to maintain a healthy starter in your home and the importance of baking with regionally grown grains. Students will also get hands-on experience as they learn to mix sourdough.

Prepared dough will be available to showcase baking and for students to prepare a snack toward the end of class. Students will take home their own jar of sourdough culture, a sample of gains from Janie’s Mill, as well as printouts of everything covered, simple recipes and a thorough list of resources.

$75/person. Register 10 days before each workshop. All sales are final.

Registration links:
— Feb. 9
— March 16

Learn more about the space where your course will take place here. If you will need disability-related accommodations in order to participate, please email owarren@illinois.edu.

By attending, you consent to your image being used in Allerton marketing, social media and publications. Please alert the photographer or videographer if you do not want your image taken.

About the Instructor

Hannah Fink — a baker and local food enthusiast — started Tooth Butter Cottage Bakery in Urbana so she could be at home with her son and still keep her hands in dough. She revels in naturally leavened bread and quality pastries and focuses on organic whole grains, mostly stone milled from Janie’s Mill in Ashkum.

She is of the firm belief that a “toothy dose of good butter” is the best start, which led to the name of her business that bakes for special orders and pop-up collaborations with fellow creators.

Hannah started baking about 10 years ago while working in the music industry in Nashville and ended up falling in love with enough to change careers. She started as a bread delivery driver, then worked as a kitchen manager at Pear Tree Estate in Champaign and as a pastry manager in Michigan.

Fink is a member of the Artisan Grain Collaborative and is looking forward to passing on the knowledge she has gained on breads and grains.

About The Farms

The Farms: An Allerton Folk School, offers classes, workshops, and gatherings focusing on art, health & wellness, history, nature & outdoor education, or science. All experiences value hands-on, experiential teaching and learning, and are facilitated by and for the members of the community.

See the complete Spring Session schedule here.