Classes offered by Longbranch Fiber Farm are unique from other classes because
you decide when the class will be held. Rather than try to schedule a group of people to all show up at the same time, I provide
individual classes around your schedule, at our farm. Our farm is located Southwest of Gig Harbor on the Key Peninsula. Classes
typically take 4-6 hours depending on the topic and how much information your brain can take! I provide snacks if the class
is at my farm. You should bring a sack lunch if the class is held during the day. All classes are $75.00 per person and prices
include all materials unless noted otherwise. If you have a group of three or more people, all classes are $70.00 per person.
Visa & Mastercard are accepted.
New for 2006 My Favorite Ornament: I call it that because it uses all my favorite
techniques! A wet felted ball decked out with copper wire, glass beads and charms creates a fabulous contrast of texture.
Bring your bead stash and wire working tools if you have them or get a peak at my stash...it is big enough to share. 3-4 hours.
New for 2006 Sculpted Felt Flowers 2 day workshop: On
day one we will make the wet felted flower base. On day two, after the base has stopped dripping water, we will sculpt and
adorn the flower. Very fun creative process! 8 hours over two days. $150.00 per student.
Flat Needle Felting: Learn to use a color palette of dyed alpaca
fiber to "paint" onto a prefelted fabric background with felting needles. In the class we will make an 8 X 10 picture that
can later be framed or sewn into a pillow or bag. You will learn the techniques for fine detail and building texture that
could then be applied to clothing, pillows or anything from the furthest reaches of your imagination! 3-4 hours.
Sculptural Needle Felting: In this class learn to use felting needles to sculpt, as you would clay. We will needle the basic shapes and then assemble
them into a three dimensional figure. We will cover making facial details. Learn some tricks about making eyes and getting
faces to look friendly. 4-5 hours.
Alpaca Felted Purse:
Learn the basics of wet felting. Most of the skills needed to felt are learned by feel. I will explain how, why and what is
happening to the fibers as you felt and the particulars of felting with alpaca fiber. When you are taught to felt with the
feel of the fibers explained, it will make your future projects sooo much easier than trying to learn from a book. In the
class we will use a relief pattern to make a small purse. This class provides what you need to know to make hats, clothing
or anything your imagination desires. 4-5 hours.
Fiber Dying: This
class uses a microwave oven to set acid dyes on alpaca fiber and covers vat dying techniques. Learn to mix a stock solution
and the chemistry behind the process. The microwave technique can be used on loose fiber, yarn or fabric of any protein based
fiber. The results are different than vat dying, in that the fiber will have light and dark values of the colors applied instead
of a uniform shade. 3-4 hours.
Basic Fiber Processing:
In this class we will start at the beginning. Literally! I will explain shearing equipment and techniques for getting the
fiber off the alpaca, skirting and sorting the fiber, and storing the fiber. I will demonstrate how to wash, pick and card
fiber and show you examples of equipment and finished products. 3-4 hours.
Classes may also be arranged to be held on location. If an overnight stay
will be required to complete travel to class location, expenses for accommodations and travel will be charged to the sponsoring
group and a daily rate of $300.00 for up to 8 hours of instruction and/or demonstrations. If materials for classes must be
shipped to location, all expenses for shipping will be charged to the sponsoring group and a materials fee will be charged
for each student.
