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 […]
Together again
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. […]
Patterns, Part One
Patterns in basket designs and in Fair Isle designs have surrounded us this past week. Jeanette Biederman’s Splint-Woven Basketry: Independent Study class worked on baskets of all shapes, sizes and colors. The students in Sandy De Master and Mary Germain’s Fair Isle Techniques class had a choice of two colorways to make a teddy bear sweater, the small size allowed it to be completed in class. The little sweaters incorporated corrugated ribbing, two-color knitting, armhole and neck steeks and finishing. Many teddy bears, a sheep and a sock monkey came along to class for their “fittings”. New and continuing friendships were an important part of these past few days, a “pattern” that’s repeated in many classes at Sievers. […]
February Happenings
Our last Sievers in Winter class began this afternoon, a Knitting Retreat led by Mary Germain and Sandy De Master with 16 knitters, accompanied by hundreds of balls of yarn, needles and patterns…and projects? The 2016 print brochure is on its way to us so that it can be on its way to you. They should be all mailed out next week. Through our website, we’ve now registered over 255 students, a wonderful start for our summer/fall season. Mark your calendars to tune into Discover Wisconsin on Saturday, February 20 or Sunday, February 21. Specific broadcast times, channels and dates can be found on the Discover Wisconsin website, or watch it there online. The program can be viewed in certain locations […]
