Join us for a special collaborative workshop with the fine folks at Needles & Bolts, one of our crafty shop neighbors here in Mt. Airy. Students will work at Wild Hand with teaching artist, Richie Wilde Lopez, to plan and weave fabric that will then be cut and sewn at Needles & Bolts into a short-sleeved boxy handwoven top with sewist and teaching artist, Beth Paolini, from the Needles & Bolts team.

Weaving
In session #1 students will meet at Wild Hand to plan their project - take measurements, calculate warp/weft yardage, plan the fabric design and layout of color and pattern relative to the finished garment, and select/buy yarn. The top design is customizable to any size and we will work with students to plan for the correct yardage based on their loom width and how they want the garment to fit. This is an all-gender style. Students will leave class with yarn and homework to warp their looms and return a week later for weaving time together at Wild Hand during session #2. Following session #2 students will have two weeks to complete their weaving before heading down the lane (literally, Carpenters Lane) to Needles & Bolts to cut and sew.

Sewing
Two weeks later students will meet for session #3 at Needles & Bolts with their finished woven, washed, and dried fabric that's ready to be cut and sewn using equipment and tools from Needles & Bolts (no need to bring a sewing machine or sewing supplies!). Some very basic machine sewing experience is helpful but not at all required - there will be lots of hands-on support from the amazing Needles & Bolts team. Students will spend two evenings at Needles & Bolts (session #3 and #4). Session #3 will be a 2-hour prep night with pattern planning, securing your edges, and cutting. The following night students will return for session #4 to sew their tops during a final 3-hour sewing and finishing session.

Dates & Locations
Please note that this workshop takes place at two separate locations, both of which are in Mt. Airy. Wild Hand is where you'll weave and is located at 606 Carpenter Lane. Needles & Bolts is where you'll sew and is located at 6819 Germantown Avenue.

Session #1 (Weaving & Yarn Planning) at Wild Hand 1/10 6:30-8:30PM
Session #2 (Weaving) at Wild Hand 1/17 6:30-8:30PM
Session #3 (Cutting & Prep) at Needles & Bolts 1/31 6:30-8:30PM
Session #4 (Sewing & Finishing) at Needles & Bolts 2/1 6:00-9:00PM

Skills + Materials
This is a beginner+/intermediate workshop. Students should know how to warp a Rigid Heddle loom on their own (or with the help of Ashford's awesome video!). Students will need to bring their own Rigid Heddle loom and tools to the workshop. If you don't have a loom, please reach out to the shop about renting one of our 16" looms for $25. You will be selecting and purchasing yarn at session #1 with guidance from the teaching artist. Students will be able to use a student discount to purchase yarn. At Needles & Bolts students will have access to machines, pressing & cutting tools, and notions - everything you need to complete your project. Students will need to buy machine sewing thread to match their woven fabric, which can be done during class and with a student discount. Students do not need any machine sewing experience to take this class.

Community Commitment
We're looking forward to sharing space with you! If you haven't had a chance to read our Community Commitment, pop over to the website and read about how we agree to share space. Feel free to reach out to the shop if you have any questions along the way - we're excited to welcome you wherever you may be on the learning curve.

Cancelation + Make-up Policy
We absolutely understand that things come up and you may need to cancel your registration. We've done our best to create a cancellation policy that honors how fickle life can be alongside our financial commitment to our staff and teaching artists. First, you may always transfer your registration to another student (just let us know in advance!). If you need to cancel your registration we are happy to offer a 50% store credit refund for cancellations made two weeks in advance of your workshop date. Unfortunately, we cannot offer refunds for cancellations made less than two weeks in advance. We are also unable to offer make-ups or exchanges for missed workshops.

Student Discount
Students get a one-time 10% student discount that is active at the first workshop session and expires two weeks following the final workshop session. When you arrive at your workshop there will be a QR code to scan and provide feedback on your workshop experience. After the short feedback survey the discount code will appear.