MAWS - Montana Association of Weavers and Spinners
Cabin Fever Virtual Workshops
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You can now register for all 4 workshops at once on PayPal or select individual workshops below.
Contemporary Krokbragd Weaving with Color
DATE: 1/10/2026
TIME: 10 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. MST
INSTRUCTOR: Angie Parker
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Angie has taken rug handweaving in the U.K. by storm and has a beautiful new book released in October, 2025, Krokbragd: Contemporary Weaving with Color. Angie has taken the time-honored, 3 shaft, Scandinavian weaving technique of Krokbragd to new and dizzying heights using sizzling designs and bold, daring colors with contemporary appeal- or zeal! Her presentation will run about 2 hours as she takes us along on her Krokbragd journey. She will also introduce us to the practical aspects of weaving and designing Krokbragd. The program is designed for weavers of all abilities and for other fiber artists looking for color inspiration. For a sneak peek at Angie’s work, check out her website, www.angieparkertextiles.com. She also has a Textiles and Tea presentation in the HGA archives. “There is a fizz about Angie’s work, the vibrant colors, the bold contemporary designs and the sheer enthusiasm she radiates. She has explored Krokbragd in great depth, and made it her own.” Wendy Morris, Judge. craft&design Awards 2015
REGISTRATION: Fee $10 must register before 1/8/2026​​
Rare Sheep and Their Wool: Treasures We Can’t Afford to Lose
DATE: 2/07/2026
TIME: 10 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. MST
INSTRUCTOR: Deborah Robson
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This class is an introduction to treasured and rare breeds of sheep as defined by The Livestock Conservancy (North America) and the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (British Isles). Deb will discuss who decides when a breed is rare, and how, and what breeds are rare, and why they are designated as such. Then Deb will discuss why we need to protect these breeds and how to work with their wool. If time allows, Deb will cover the different channels for processing wool and what to expect from each. Deb Robson co-authored “The Fleece & Fiber Sourcebook” and authored the “Field Guide to Fleece” and the DVD “Handspinning Rare Wools” available from Spinoff. “When I began spinning in the 1970s, prepared fiber wasn’t available, so I learned by using raw wool and immediately became interested in the different breeds of sheep and the types of fleeces they grew. Not too long after that, I noticed that the breeds of sheep that most handspinners valued above others were listed as “at risk of extinction” by the livestock conservation groups. I’ve devoted most of my adult life to the exploration of sheep and their wool, and all the ways we can use these miraculous natural fibers to enrich our lives.” This session will be recorded and available to registrants for 3 weeks post program.
REGISTRATION: Fee $10 must register before 2/5/2026​​
Introduction To Sprang
DATE: 3/14/2026
TIME: 10 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. MST
INSTRUCTOR: Carol James
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This class will include a hands-on portion as well as discussion of the history of sprang and its contemporary uses. Based in Winnipeg, Carol is acknowledged as the foremost international expert on sprang and has taught classes across North America and Europe. While traveling, she has examined historic examples of sprang. She has successfully reproduced several historical items, including George Washington’s silk sprang sash. She has also created garments worthy of conference fashion shows. Carol is the author of numerous articles and eight books, including “Sprang Unsprung” and sprang lace pattern books and DVD’s. Sprang is a versatile ancient fiber art used throughout the world. Examples exist from approximately 1500 BC in Scandinavia and China and later in Briton, Peru, and Egypt. Sprang was used for hair nets, fishing nets, bags, belts, and clothing including stretchy garments in Ancient Greece and vertically striped leggings in the Renaissance. Carol excels at demonstrating the techniques very clearly and is quite busy teaching on-line and in person which included two sessions at Convergence 2026. Check out her website SashWeaver - front page and her HGA’s Textile and Tea feature, Episode 21. For the hands-on portion of this class, you will need 9 yards of worsted weight cotton or wool yarn, a chopstick or dowel, painter’s tape, and about 16” of yarn in a contrasting color. No sticky yarns such as mohair! Prepare your 9 yards as shown in this video and start wrapping your mind around the wonder of sprang. https://youtu.be/aBDJv7ARapE?si=KEt8hTh5TmYPXNmC This session will be recorded and available to registrants for 3 weeks.
REGISTRATION: Fee $10 must register before 3/12/2026​​
Introduction To Sprang
DATE: 3/14/2026
TIME: 10 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. MST
INSTRUCTOR: Carol James
​
This class will include a hands-on portion as well as discussion of the history of sprang and its contemporary uses. Based in Winnipeg, Carol is acknowledged as the foremost international expert on sprang and has taught classes across North America and Europe. While traveling, she has examined historic examples of sprang. She has successfully reproduced several historical items, including George Washington’s silk sprang sash. She has also created garments worthy of conference fashion shows. Carol is the author of numerous articles and eight books, including “Sprang Unsprung” and sprang lace pattern books and DVD’s. Sprang is a versatile ancient fiber art used throughout the world. Examples exist from approximately 1500 BC in Scandinavia and China and later in Briton, Peru, and Egypt. Sprang was used for hair nets, fishing nets, bags, belts, and clothing including stretchy garments in Ancient Greece and vertically striped leggings in the Renaissance. Carol excels at demonstrating the techniques very clearly and is quite busy teaching on-line and in person which included two sessions at Convergence 2026. Check out her website SashWeaver - front page and her HGA’s Textile and Tea feature, Episode 21. For the hands-on portion of this class, you will need 9 yards of worsted weight cotton or wool yarn, a chopstick or dowel, painter’s tape, and about 16” of yarn in a contrasting color. No sticky yarns such as mohair! Prepare your 9 yards as shown in this video and start wrapping your mind around the wonder of sprang. https://youtu.be/aBDJv7ARapE?si=KEt8hTh5TmYPXNmC This session will be recorded and available to registrants for 3 weeks.
REGISTRATION: Fee $10 must register before 3/12/2026​​
The Science Behind Stunning Hand-Dyed Yarns
DATE: 4/11/2026
TIME: 10 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. MST
INSTRUCTOR: Kim McKenna
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We are fortunate to have Kim present her class, “The Science Behind Stunning Hand-Dyed Yarns”, a class for dyers who want to go beyond the use of recipes and truly understand the dying process. Kim will teach about the science behind dyeing wool with synthetic dyes and how to achieve consistent, solid and semi-solid colorfast results. Even if you are not an experienced dyer, but have always wanted to dye, you will learn valuable information in order to begin a successful dyer’s journey. Seasoned dyers will glean valuable information to add to their dye knowledge base and learn to accurately create the color palettes they’ve longed for. Topics include: Self-shade vs. Mixed Pigments; Mixing Stock Solutions; Adjusting Depth of Shade (DOS); Auxiliary Materials; Essential Equipment; Variables That Affect Dye Results; and Dye Take-up & Bleeding. By the end of the session, you’ll have a much deeper understanding of the dye process. Kim’s Science Degree has enabled her to research the arts of spinning, weaving and dyeing; she has a thorough understanding of the science involved in these processes. In addition to writing and teaching, Kim is a regular contributor to Spin Off magazine and teaches through Sweet Georgia Yarns, in-person and through the online school. She also teaches workshops and retreats through Sanjo Silk in Vancouver, BC. and is a part of the Silk Weaving Studio on Granville Island, BC. Check out her website: Claddagh Fibre Arts – Kim McKenna – Dyeing, Spinning & Weaving to see her full bio. “The spinning workshop I took from Kim McKenna still ranks as one of the best workshops I’ve taken in 45 years”, Pam Refling. This session will be recorded and available to registrants for 3 weeks.
REGISTRATION: Fee $10 must register before 4/9/2026​​