Experience Level: Intermediate to Advanced (need to know how to knit and purl)

Learn about a traditional British Isle form of knitting at Advanced Knitting: Fair Isle Patterns on Monday, Feb. 23 from 6 to 8 p.m. in The Studio.

Fair Isle Knitting uses only two colors per row, worked in the round to make geometric patterns. Instructor Charlie Rainbow Wolf will help students learn how to read a pattern graph to knit with two different colors to create those patterns. Students must be comfortable with knitting and purling.

$65/person*. Registration will close Feb. 16 or when capacity is reached. All sales are final.

*Students should bring:— 2 balls of Lion Brand Woll-Ease worsted weight (No. 4) yarn or its equivalence. This is an 80 percent acrylic/20 percent wool blend which is machine washable and available from Lion Brand Yarn, Michaels and other yarn shops and online retailers. Choose two different colors; a good contrast will show up the stitch pattern best. Avoid softer yarns like Caron Simply Soft, Snuggle Wuggly or Facets, as they will not hold the pattern as well— Pair of US size 6 (4mm) single point 14” straight knitting needles— Pair of US size 8 (5mm) single point 14” straight knitting needles— Blunt end needle for sewing the back seam of the finished piece

Learn more about the space where your course will take place here. 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

Charlie Rainbow Wolf describes herself as an “old hippie” who has studied the “weird ways of the world for nearly 50 years.” She is happiest with her hands in the mud, either making pottery in her ‘artbox’ or tending things in her ‘yarden’ (yard + garden).

Astrology, tarot and herbs are Charlie’s greatest interests, but she has dabbled in most metaphysical topics in the last five decades — because life always has something new to offer.

She is a contributing author for Llewellyn Worldwide, is a ghostwriter for renowned psychic celebrities, and makes a wicked batch of fudge! Charlie lives in central Illinois with her very patient husband and special needs Great Danes.

About The Farms

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

Experience Level: Beginner

Join the barn quilt movement by creating your own painted quilt block to use on the inside or outside of your home at Barn Quilt Painting on Saturday, Feb. 28 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in The Studio.

Students will begin with one of three options on a pre-primed board with their choice of design already drafted (choose between three star and sunburst designs at registration). Students will tape and paint at their own pace, choosing from a wide variety of colors.

Instructor Jane Cade will share a 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. Registration closes Feb. 21 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 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

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.

About The Farms

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

Find the complete Spring Session schedule here.

Experience Level: Beginner

Learn what stars and constellations can tell you at a Beginner’s Guide to Astrology on Thursday, March 19 from 6 to 8 p.m. in The Studio.

In this introductory class, instructor Charlie Rainbow Wolf will share the background of astrology, the different types of astrology and astrological signs and planetary correlations. Students will look at how the planets and signs fall into their own chart — and what this could mean for them on a personal level.

$45/person. Registration will close March 12 or when capacity is reached. All sales are final.

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

Charlie Rainbow Wolf describes herself as an “old hippie” who has studied the “weird ways of the world for nearly 50 years.” She is happiest with her hands in the mud, either making pottery in an ‘artbox’ or tending things in her ‘yarden’ (yard + garden).

Astrology, tarot and herbs are Charlie’s greatest interests, but she has also dabbled in metaphysical topics in the last five decades — because life always has something new to offer.

She is a contributing author for Llewellyn Worldwide, is a ghostwriter for renowned psychic celebrities, and makes a wicked batch of fudge! Charlie lives in central Illinois with her very patient husband and special needs Great Danes.

Experience Level: Intermediate to Advanced (need to know how to knit and purl)

Learn a unique knitting technique at Advanced Knitting Skills: Knitting Lace on Monday, March 23 from 6 to 8 p.m. in The Studio.

This course is an introduction to the advanced knitting technique of knitting lace, which instructor Charlie Rainbow Wolf says is easy once you learn the basics. Participants must be proficient in casting on, knitting, purling and casting off.

$65/person*. Register here. Registration will close March 16 or when capacity is reached. All sales are final.

*Students should bring:— 1 skein of Lion Brand Wool-Ease worsted weight (No. 4) yarn or its equivalent. This is an 80% acrylic, 20% wool yarn that is machine washable and available from Lion Brand and Michael’s, as well as many yarn shops. Avoid yarns that are too soft like Caron Simply Soft, Snuggly Wuggly or Facets, as they will not hold the pattern as well.— 1 pair of US size 8 (5mm) single point, straight knitting needles.— 1 blunt end needle for weaving the ends of the finished piece.— A notebook and pencil to take notes.

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

Charlie Rainbow Wolf describes herself as an “old hippie” who has studied the “weird ways of the world for nearly 50 years.” She is happiest with her hands in the mud, either making pottery in an ‘artbox’ or tending things in her ‘yarden’ (yard + garden).

Astrology, tarot and herbs are Charlie’s greatest interests, but she has also dabbled in metaphysical topics in the last five decades — because life always has something new to offer.

She is a contributing author for Llewellyn Worldwide, is a ghostwriter for renowned psychic celebrities, and makes a wicked batch of fudge! Charlie lives in central Illinois with her very patient husband and special needs Great Danes.

About The Farms

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

Experience Level: Beginner (Ages 14+)

Lean the beautiful and traditional art of Ukrainian egg decorating at a Pysanky Workshop on Saturday, March 28 from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Greenhouse Auditorium.

Instructor Johanna James-Heinz will share the history of Pysanky before walking students through the use of wax and dyes to create an egg they will take home.

$45/person (Ages 14+) Registration will close March 13 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

Johanna James-Heinz is a landscape architect who enjoys dabbling in all kinds of arts and crafts. She started decorating eggs in 2012 and enjoys creating traditional Pysanky eggs as well as using the method to create more non-traditional designs.

Johanna has taught classes in Pysanky at Allerton, various libraries and at churches.

About The Farms

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

Experience Level: Beginner

Learn the basic mechanics of using a spinning wheel to make your own yarn at Learn to Spin Yarn on Wednesday, Feb. 11 and Thursday, April 9 from 5 to 8 p.m. in The Studio. 

After a brief introduction from instructor Stephanie Block, students will have time for hands-on spinning practice and the opportunity to spin alpaca fiber into yarn using Ashford scotch tension Traditional or Traveler wheels. Discussion of fiber production and preparation methods will also be included.

$130/person. Registration closes one week before each course begins, or when capacity is reached. All sales are final.

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

Stephanie Block is the co-owner of Sundrop Alpacas near Bement. She has been producing popular yarn from her own alpacas for more than nine years. Stephanie’s spinning style is self-taught, and she is continuously learning so that she can share that knowledge with others.

Experience Level: Beginner

Experience the fragrant joy of incense at Make Your Own Incense on Thursday, April 16 from 6 to 8 p.m. in The Studio.

Instructor Charlie Rainbow Wolf will walk students through making incense in a very hands-on way, covering suitable plants for incense, how to grow and gather them and ways of using incense for different purposes — spiritual connection, inner peace, moon phases, bug repellant, etc.

Students will make their own incense from a selection of herbs to promote a specific purpose or to make a seasonal blend. Each student will go home with their own incense and helpful resources to continue making more at home.

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

Charlie Rainbow Wolf describes herself as an “old hippie” who has studied the “weird ways of the world for nearly 50 years.” She is happiest with her hands in the mud, either making pottery in her ‘artbox’ or tending things in her ‘yarden’ (yard + garden).

Astrology, tarot and herbs are Charlie’s greatest interests, but she has dabbled in most metaphysical topics in the last five decades — because life always has something new to offer.

She is a contributing author for Llewellyn Worldwide, is a ghostwriter for renowned psychic celebrities, and makes a wicked batch of fudge! Charlie lives in central Illinois with her very patient husband and special needs Great Danes.

Experience Level: Beginner 

Learn the skills of improvisation, including scene creation and team dynamics at Improve Your Improv on Thursdays, April 23 through June 4 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Music Barn. 

Instructor Kyle Tasch returns to The Farms to teach this popular course, which will be jam-packed with improvisational fun that uses both short-form games and long-form scenes. 

This will not be a class to sit down, hear lectures, and take notes.  Students will be performing as much as possible to emphasize the mechanics needed to act out an entertaining and meaningful scene on the spot with no lines. There are many elements of improv that are not only useful on stage, but also in everyday life – wherever you might be put on the spot! 

Students who have already completed this class are welcome to join again. Beginners and those experienced in improv are all encouraged to join! 

$100/person for the entire series or $25/class at the links below. Registration will close on April 20 for the entire series or two days before each subsequent class. 

— April 23 
— April 30 
— May 7 
— May 14 
— May 21 
— May 28 
— June 4 

Learn more about the space where your course will take place here. 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 

Kyle Tasch is an improvisor, improv teacher, filmmaker, writer, actor, comedian and musician from the Chicago suburbs. He started performing improv in 2004 and has been improvising in front of audiences regularly since 2015. 

He has also taught classes both in-person and remotely at Westside Improv in Wheaton, Illinois. He performs live across the state in various comedy and music acts and has produced hundreds of videos and songs.