YarnCon is Chicago's own yarn-centric exhibition -- a place to promote, sell, and celebrate the yarny arts.

Workshops 2009

Check the program at the show for exact class times and locations!
Classes are free except where noted.

Felted Pumpkin Pins with Natasha Lehrer of Esther's Place
Come make a pumpkin pin! Ever tried needle felting? Looking for ideas of new things to create? Natasha Lehrer of Esther’s Place will teach about fibers, shaping, and also demonstrate sachets, three-dimensional shapes, embellishments, and much more. All supplies are included, and this is great for all ages! Join us for this half-hour class and celebrate fall with fiber.

Beginners Knitting Workshop with Allyson Dykhuizen of The Sweatshop of Love
Get a crash course beginner knitting lesson! Learn to cast on, bind off, and the knit stitch in this two-hour workshop. Bring some needles in the 6-9 size range and some worsted weight standard yarn and leave with stitches on your needles and a new-found love of the craft!

Basic Cable Workshop with Allyson Dykhuizen of The Sweatshop of Love
Sure, they look a little scary, but after this workshop you will be cabling your heart out in no time! Cables work with any needles and any yarn, so bring whatever you have lying around. After one hour you will want to add cables to every project you knit from now on!

Flower Pins from Recycled Felted Wool with Denise Handwerker
Sew a beautiful flower pin from recycled felted wool! Using three layers of luscious felt, construct a pin approximately 2-4" in size. By the end of the class you will have a perfect accessory for your handmade sweaters, purses, hats or jackets. This class is suitable for anyone who can safely use sharp scissors and thread a needle.
$10 includes materials. Needle and thread will be supplied. Please bring your own scissors.

Introduction to Spinning with Vera Videnovich
Vera Videnovich will demonstrate how to spin on a spinning wheel, and will be available to answer questions for the beginner and more advanced spinner. Vera will also be at her booth with her spinning wheel throughout the show.

Beaded Toggle Closures for Garments with Melanie Silver of Crystal Feather Studios
Create a toggle closure to fasten your newly knitted or crocheted sweater or shawl. Create a new, different look for your beautiful creations!
$35.00 per person, includes materials

Let Me Ease Your Day with Inga Hamilton of Rockpool Candy
Random acts of kindness oil our society and ease our day. Yarn bombing, or leaving pieces of knitted and crocheted work in public spaces, has proved to be a popular activity, but beyond a smile, does it serve a purpose? LET ME EASE YOUR DAY takes yarn bombing and purposes it, encouraging people to create textile pieces, primarily in the shape of cushions and rugs to be left in public spaces: initially bus stops and park benches. Each cushion will bear the slogan LET ME EASE YOUR DAY and be secured to a bench with corner ties.

Polly E. Cotton and the Windy City Knitting Guild
Ongoing
Learn how to knit, get help with stitches, or just sit and knit a while on Polly E. Cotton's ever-growing multifiber dress.