Experience Level: Beginner

Learn the basics of working with a loom at Beginning Weaving I (Morning) on Saturdays, Sept. 12 through Oct. 10 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Greenhouse Auditorium.

This 5-week class led by Sharon Bowles will encompass all aspects of beginner weaving as students create a table runner.  Students will become familiar with weaving terminology, parts of the loom, figuring the weaving pattern for the width of the loom and project, measuring out the warp, beaming the warp back to front, threading heddles, threading the reed, tying on the warp, and winding bobbins.

$250/person*. Registration will close Sept. 7 or when capacity is reached. All sales are final.

*Students should bring a 4-shaft loom if they have one. All other supplies will be provided, including a loom if needed.

Experience Level: Beginner

Learn the basics of working with a loom at Beginning Weaving I (Afternoon) on Saturdays, Sept. 12 through Oct. 10 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Greenhouse Auditorium.

This 5-week class led by Sharon Bowles will encompass all aspects of beginner weaving as students create a table runner. Students will become familiar with weaving terminology, parts of the loom, figuring the weaving pattern for the width of the loom and project, measuring out the warp, beaming the warp back to front, threading heddles, threading the reed, tying on the warp, and winding bobbins.

$250/person*. Registration will close Sept. 7 or when capacity is reached. All sales are final.

*Students should bring a 4-shaft loom if they have one. All other supplies will be provided, including a loom if needed.

Entry Level: Beginner

Create a unique decorative scarf, winter neck wrap, or modern necklace at Knitting Without Needles: French Tube Scarf on Sunday, Sept. 20 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. in The Studio. 

Instructor Billie Theide will teach students how to knit in the round without juggling single or double pointed knitting needles as they design and knit a colorful, striped, tubular scarf. Students will learn how to make looms from readily available materials, as well learn about commercially available looms. 

All students will receive a tool kit to continue knitting at home.

$95/person*. Registration closes Sept. 13 or when capacity is reached. All sales are final.  

*Students should bring the following: 
--pencil 
--pair of embroidery scissors 
--2 or more skeins (any colorway) of locally available yarn:     
     --Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton or     
     --Loops & Threads Twist Love Cotton OR     
     --Lion Brand Made with Love The Cottony One OR     
     --Yarn Bee Fundamental Cotton OR     
     --I Love this Cotton Crafter’s Secret Cotton 

The following things are optional; bring them if you have them: 
--colored pencil set --bits of left over yarn in any fiber and weight 
--partial skeins of left over yarn in any fiber and weight 
--left over fabric scraps (linen, cotton gauze, cottons, and polyester with no right sides) 

Learn more about the space where your course will take place here. If you will need disability-related accommodations 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 Professor Emerita and a former Chair of the Crafts Program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Theide is a metalsmith, jeweler, textile artist, 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 (ages 13+; Students ages 13-15 should have an adult present who does not need to register) 

Discover the art of textile sculpture in Hand Stitching – Hearts on Thursday, Sept. 24 from 12:30-4 p.m. in The Studio.  

In this hands-on workshop, Gaye Grant of 3 Penny Studio will teach students to create a charming 3-D heart brooch featuring a beautifully layered flower center. Along the way, participants will learn essential hand stitches and beginner-friendly soft sculpture techniques to bring their unique creation to life. 

$70/person*. Registration closes on Sept. 21 when capacity is reached. All sales are final.  

*Students should bring sharp scissors. 

Experience Level: All Levels

Learn the basics of basket weaving and take home a handmade basket at Basket Weaving: The Organizer on Friday, Sept. 25 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. in The Studio.  

Instructor Bonnie Rideout will teach techniques such as setting up a base, twining, start/stop weaving, pairing triple twining with an arrow weave, and the use of overlays.  This handy basket can be used anywhere! Faster weavers may be done in less time. 

$95/person. Registration will close Sept 18 or when capacity is reached. All sales are final.

Experience Level: Beginner

Craft a traditional witch’s brooms using locally grown dried flowers and foraged materials at Besoms: A Witch’s Broom Workshop on Tuesday, Oct. 6 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Illinois Arboretum Shed.

Learn about the lore and history of besoms in the world of the occult and witchcraft. This is the perfect Halloween or fall activity! Students will take home their own handmade besom made from natural materials!

$65/person. Registration will close Sept. 29 or when capacity is reached. All sales are final.

Learn more about the space where your course will take place here. If you will need disability-related accommodations 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.

Experience Level: All Levels

Create your own spooktacular basket at Basket Weaving: Little Boo! on Friday, Oct. 16 from 12-4 p.m. in The Studio. 

“Little Boo!” starts with a woven filled base. Techniques include setting up a woven base, twining, start/stop weaving and shaping! The color accents are Chocolate Brown, Walnut, Mustard and Rust. An Amish-made leather handle finishes the basket. A fall floral sprig and a Jack-O-Lantern adorn the front. This cutie is perfect anywhere you want to use it! 

$75/person. Registration will close Sept 18 or when capacity is reached. All sales are final.

If you will need disability-related accommodations to participate, please email Olivia at 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

Bonnie Rideout wove her first basket in 1994 and quickly caught the “basket bug.” She created a business — Bonnie’s Baskets in Decatur — in 2006 to teach others to weave. She is also a traveling instructor and has taught weaving in 18 states.

Find out more about Bonnie on her website, Facebook, Instagram and Etsy pages.

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.

Experience Level: Some weaving experience required

Have you taken Beginning Weaving 1 and want to continue your craft? Do so at Beginning Weaving II on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 17-18 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Greenhouse Auditorium.

This 2-day class with instructor Sharon Bowles will be a continuation of Beginning Weaving I, but instead of everyone doing the same article, students will pick their own project, measure the warp, beam the warp, thread the heddles to their selected pattern, thread the reed, tie the warp to the cloth beam rod, wind bobbins and weave a sample of their selected yarn. Students will then weave samples from the other looms, giving them a wide variety of weave structures they can try out.

This course is a great way to continue your weaving journey!

$250/person*. Registration will close Oct. 10 or when capacity is reached. All sales are final.

*Students should bring a 4-shaft loom if they have one. All other supplies will be provided, including a loom if needed.

If you will need disability-related accommodations 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

Sharon Bowles began weaving in 1990 and started teaching shortly after. She was taught to weave in a one-on-one class and wove two table runners in 12 (approximately) 2-hour lessons, and she teaches the same method when she teaches. Sharon has experience in weaving with silk, lace weaving, 8-shaft pattern weaving, parallel weaving, block weaves, and Shaker reproduction towels.

Sharon has experience in weaving with silk, lace weaving, 8-shaft pattern weaving, parallel weaving, block weaves, and Shaker reproduction towels. She has taught many workshops and classes to weavers’ guilds in Florida, Ohio, and Champaign-Urbana. She earned her Journeyman certification from the Weavers Guild of Boston in 2021 and a master’s certification in April of 2022.

Most recently, Sharon taught Beginning Weaving I & Weaving II at The Farms, and a 2-day workshop in 4 shaft patterns for the Champaign-Urbana Spinners and Weavers Guild.