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A tale of two classes

July 17, 2020 By Carolyn Foss

Back in February, we had no idea that it would be July before the first Sievers class of 2020 would take place. In May, we weren’t sure when and if we could hold a class. Then guidelines were issued and we hoped some of our classes would work with precautions in place. Many factors are being taken into consideration for each class. Can an instructor teach from a six-foot distance? Depending on the subject, how many students can be accommodated in the studio? Are students using any shared equipment? What level of comfort is there from all involved in travelling and gathering with others? All that being said, we have so far been able to hold two classes, Quilt Design […]

Filed Under: Dyeing/Knitting/Spinning, Quilting Tagged With: Ellen Graf, Fair Isle Knitting, Jamieson & Smith, Mary Germain, Quilt Design

Knitting with friends

October 9, 2019 By Carolyn Foss

Many hands were in motion throughout last week’s Creative Knitting Retreat with Sandy De Master and Mary Germain and in the Open Knit Studio. Each person was working on a different project, (actually on multiple projects!) and that made for a “stone soup” of pattern, yarn and project ideas that any knitter would savor. As always, there were new and returning projects brought to class, including lots of color work, Fair Isle knitting and Latvian or Estonian mittens. New friendships were made and returning friendships enriched. Many came to class together as established friends. Two “Sievers stories” are shared here, first from Eileen P., “My friend Cindy and I have been coming to classes at Sievers for years. These retreats […]

Filed Under: Dyeing/Knitting/Spinning Tagged With: Creative Knitting Retreat, Mary Germain, Open Quilt Studio, Sandy De Master

Give them a hand…

July 31, 2019 By Carolyn Foss

…for all the knitting and quilting and learning that took place in both Sandy De Master and Mary Germain’s Baltic Knitting Extravaganza and Ellen Graf’s Balance in Quilt Design classes! From the smallest Latvian mini-mittens to a full-size quilt, there were new and renewed projects in both studios. Following traditional designs or adapting and creating new ones were options in both classes. Both were equally wonderful! Studio visit times allow everyone to share and show the work of their hands, demonstrating a quote often associated with Walter Schutz, “Happiness is in your hands…and it keeps you young!” From the Reader’s Digest article Walter found that quote in, the last sentence reads, “We need the sense of self-confidence, self-respect, that comes […]

Filed Under: Dyeing/Knitting/Spinning, Quilting Tagged With: Baltic Knitting, Ellen Graf, knitting, Latvian Mitten, Mary Germain, Quilting, Sandy De Master

K2Tog (Knit two together)

October 11, 2018 By Carolyn Foss

Can you knit both yarn and two groups of people together at the same time?  Of course! It all happens during the week of Sandy De Master and Mary Germain’s Creative Knitting Retreat class and the companion Open Knitting Studio. Returning students, new-to-Sievers students, past and present students of Sandy and Mary, Carol Anderson, Carol Huebscher Rhoades and others “K2Tog”, picking up and knitting from year to year, working as established. In both groups, students bring projects of their own choosing.  It can be a time to focus on mastering color work as in Fair Isle knitting, starting, working on and/or finishing anything from shawls, cowls, sweaters, hats, mittens, socks, a knitted pig (it’s true!) and more. The Creative Knitting […]

Filed Under: Dyeing/Knitting/Spinning Tagged With: Creative Knitting Retreat, knitting, Mary Germain, Sandy De Master

Technique & Design

July 30, 2018 By Carolyn Foss

Although those words were incorporated into only one of the class titles this past week, they certainly apply to all three that were in session! In the first class, Landscape ‘Painting’ with Fabric with Susan Hoffmann, students worked with fabrics to create a woodland scene.  Basic art techniques were covered as they apply to these textile landscapes. Although the designs of the finished products are similar, each person interprets their view differently, some incorporating birds or other background elements.  As an added bonus, students had time to work on four-season fabric postcards.        At the same time, in the second session, Open Quilt Studio, there were so many techniques and designs between the quilters, many of whom were working on more than one project, that I’ll […]

Filed Under: Dyeing/Knitting/Spinning, Quilting Tagged With: Landscapes, Latvian Mitten, Mary Germain, Open Quilt Studio, Sandy De Master, Susan Hoffmann

Handmade Treasures

October 14, 2017 By Carolyn Foss

We probably could’ve included the words “handmade treasure” in each of this year’s class descriptions or titles, but it officially appeared in only one: Handmade Treasure Boxes.  We’re taking the liberty of applying those words to the two previous classes, as well, Creative Knitting Retreat with Sandy De Master and Mary Germain and the Open Knitting Studio session held in the Walter Studio, where eleven knitters worked independently on a variety of projects. The Creative Knitting Retreat class saw a number of knitters working on Latvian or Estonian-patterned mittens, Fair Isle, sweaters of all kinds, baby blankets and more.  Help in solving fit issues as it applies to hand knits, substituting yarns and deciphering patterns are just some of the talents Sandy and Mary bring to class […]

Filed Under: Book Arts/Paper Arts, Dyeing/Knitting/Spinning Tagged With: knitting, Mary Germain, Nancy Akerly, Paper Arts, Sandy De Master

Fiber in common

July 17, 2017 By Carolyn Foss

Do baskets, barks and mittens have anything in common?  Yes, especially when they’ve been the focus of recent classes at Sievers School of Fiber Arts!    Stacks of baskets were created in Jeanette Biederman’s Splint-Woven Basketry: Independent Study class, with some completely finished and some ready for the final touches at home.  Next year, the plan is to take a photo that includes all the baskets made during the week.  Might need to stand over by the barn to fit them all in the camera lens!       Instead of a stack of baskets, how about class time spent on one perfect Winnebago Picnic Basket?  Even Schoolhouse Beach may not be ready for this beauty!    Learning the techniques of making Latvian mittens  followed by a separate class on Latvian Mitten Design with Sandy […]

Filed Under: Basketry/Furnishings, Dyeing/Knitting/Spinning Tagged With: Bark and Roots Basketry, Basketry, Jeanette Biederman, Karen Tembreull, Latvian Mitten, Mary Germain, Sandy De Master

Together again

October 11, 2016 By Carolyn Foss

It didn’t seem like an entire year had passed since the Creative Knitting Retreat with Sandy De Master and Mary Germain and Carving Songbirds class with Jerry Landwehr met again at Sievers this past week and weekend.  Coming together like caramel and apples, or turkey and stuffing (if you were on Washington Island over Columbus Day weekend, you know what I’m referring to…), the knitters and woodcarvers had the opportunity to savor a favorite hobby or get a taste of something new. A lot of knitting projects were out on the tables during the week, but a main focus was spending time catching up with knitting friends.          Projects included Fair Isle knitting, lace, color knitting and working with beautiful Washington Island handspun yarn.    […]

Filed Under: Basketry/Furnishings, Dyeing/Knitting/Spinning Tagged With: Creative Knitting Retreat, Jerry Landwehr, Mary Germain, Sandy De Master, Woodcarving

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