SOW: an information session for "FLAX: a yearlong journey of exploration"

SOW: a free kick-off celebration and information session for year-long workshop series:

FLAX: a slow journey of exploration

Date: Saturday, April 26

Time: 11am-12:30PM

Description: Join Erin Carlson or Red Cottage Fiber Studio—in collaboration with the Rustbelt Fibershed—for a free kick-off celebration and information session for a series of workshops exploring the wonderful bast fiber FLAX: the fiber plant processed to create linen.

FLAX: a slow journey of exploration will take place in four parts (one info session, followed by 3 workshops) throughout the year of 2025, beginning in April with the sowing of the seeds and ending in December with your very own final project, a beautiful decorative frame loom dressed and woven with the linen we have made from the flax sown in April. Along the way you will pick up new skills (weaving, drop spindle,) learn the satisfying retting, breaking, scutching, and hackling process required to extract the line fibers from the flax plant, and learn about the history of flax and the mission and projects of the Rustbelt Fibershed. In addition, participants will be invited to join the Rustbelt Linen Project Circle Group and connect with other flax growers across the region. See schedule below.

APRIL 26 (SOW: an information session and kick-off event!) (free, registration required)

Join us at Contemporary Craft to sow the flax seeds for the year! This demonstration plot will allow us to observe the flax as it grows tall and its delicate blue flowers dance in the breeze. We will also sow the seeds of the project, answer questions, and talk throughwhat participants can expect in the workshops to come, as well as offer other learning opportunities to be on the lookout for through Contemporary Craft and the Rustbelt Fibershed.

Location: Contemporary Craft - Timmons Studios (5688 Butler St., Pittsburgh, PA 15201) Note we will begin in the studio, and then spend a short period of time outside, sowing the flax seeds for the demonstration plot.

If there are accessibility accommodations that we can offer to make your participation more easeful or welcoming, please let us know by calling 412.261.7003, we are happy to assist you.

Cancellations and Refunds: Workshop cancellations are decided three business days before the start date. If workshops must be cancelled due to insufficient enrollment, the entire class fee will be refunded by check, to your credit card, or Contemporary Craft account for future workshops.

Refund Policy: Student refund requests must be made at least three business days before a class begins. There will be a $25 cancellation fee. No refunds will be given without three-business days notice. Processing of refunds takes approximately three weeks.

If you require accessibility accommodations, please let us know by calling 412.261.7003 and we are happy to assist you.

Save the dates:

2025 Workshop Schedule: FLAX: a slow journey of exploration

(limited spots available: registration will open soon!)

JULY 26 (HARVEST) Join us at Contemporary Craft for the second installment of the FLAX journey: Harvesting. The morning will entail pulling the long flax stems up by the roots to keep the length of the fibers intact. We will then discuss the next step in the process, retting, in which the pectin of the plant breaks down, releasing the long fibers from the plant. We will then head inside for a drop spindle demonstration and workshop using flax grown and processed at Red Cottage Fiber Studio. After a light snack, participants will then began experimenting with their very own drop spindles to create the twist which turns these line fibers into linen yarn. (Tuition: $75 + materials fee; Time and teaching artists to be announced soon!)

SEPTEMBER 20 (PROCESS) Join us at Contemporary Craft for an energetic day of processing the retted flax stems into usable line and tow fibers! We will unravel the mystery of rippling, breaking, scutching, and hackling using robust hand tools and making a big mess. After an exciting morning, we will head inside for a light snack and a discussion about the work of the Rustbelt Fibershed, slow fashion, the future of flax, and ways to become more involved. To wrap up the day we will all pick up our drop spindles and begin spinning our freshly sown, grown, harvested, retted, and processed line fibers into linen! (Tuition: $75 + materials fee: Time and teaching artists to be announced soon!)

DECEMBER 13 (WEAVE) Join us at Contemporary Craft for a contemplative end to our yearlong journey. Jamie Boyle has created lovely small frame looms for each of you to weave your final project. We will dress the looms (meaning we will string them with the warp)using our spun linen fibers and participants will be encouraged to be creative with the weft, incorporating spun linen, dried flax stems and seed bolls, and other mementos collected along the way. A snack will be provided and there will be ample time for reflection. It will be a fitting end of the year and we hope from the seeds sown in April you will leave with a beautiful piece of art and also new Flax Friends. (Tution: $75 + materials fee; Time to be announced soon!)

About the Artist

Erin Carlson is a multidiscplinary fiber artist working and teaching in th Pittsburgh area for the last decade. She loves to help students explore their creativity through the use of fibers.