UPCOMING WORKSHOPS & CLASSES
BY W.J. JOHNSON OF SAGA HILL
– 2025 –
AMERICAN SWEDISH INSTITUTE (ASI)
American Swedish Institute, 2600 Park Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55407; 612-871-4907. asimn.org
NORDIC HANDCRAFT WORKSHOPS AT ASI…I will have more workshops at ASI in 2025! My focus will be on linen and flax with two workshops in the late spring/early summer:
Start Knitting with Linen
Sunday, June 1, 2025, 1–4 PM
Linen is a wonderful fiber for summer knitting but has a reputation for being challenging to knit. Taking inspiration from the patterned knits of Sweden’s Halland province, instructor and knitting designer Wendy will share tips and tricks for knitting with linen while students cast on a small cloth, perfect for use as a washcloth. Students will cast on a small (approx. 6” x 5”) cloth, which will feature a subtle star surface design from a very old Halland pattern-knit style. While students knit, I will discuss the linen industry in Sweden, my experience with cultivating and processing flax for making linen, and present unique techniques for working successfully with 100% linen yarn. By the end of class, students will have learned about some of the early history of knitting in the Halland province and know how to read a chart pattern for flat knitting.
Experience level: Ability to cast on, knit, purl, and bind off. Suitable for ages 16+.
Materials: A $20 materials fee covers the pattern and the project’s linen yarn and is payable to the instructor in class. Students need to bring their own 24 inch wooden or bamboo (not metal!) circular needles in US 2, 3, or 4. Loose knitters should bring a size 2 or 3, and tight knitters should bring a size 3 or 4. Please also bring a tapestry needle and any other favorite knitting tools.
Cost: $70 ($60 ASI member) + $20 material fee
Click here for more details and to register at the ASI website.
Hands-on Flax Processing (Saturday, June 7, 2025—registration details will be available when the ASI Summer workshops are opened in the spring of 2025).
Return here soon for more details!
INGEBRETSEN'S NEEDLEWORK SHOP…
Ingebretsen's is a Nordic wares shop located at 1601 East Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN 55407. Click here to visit the Ingebretsen's website and register for classes.
Learn Tvåändstickning (Swedish Two-Ended Knitting)
March 29, 2025, Noon–3:30 PM
Learn the basics of tvåändsticking (Swedish two-ended/twined knitting) and begin a pair of wristlets or fingerless mitts. Two-ended knitting is a traditional Swedish knitting technique dating back to at least the 1600s. It uses two ends of yarn, creating a dense fabric. Students will learn how to knit and purl with the two-ended technique and start a pair of fingerless mitts or wristlets that are not only warm but extremely durable.(Note: The current photo does not show the final project.)
Experience level: Ability to knit and purl, and preferably some experience using double-pointed needles. Suitable for ages 16+.
Materials: The yarn may be purchased at the shop prior to the start of class. Students should bring a set of U.S. size 4 double-pointed needles (needles may also be purchased at the shop before class) and any basic knitting tools they may have. If you have them, it would be wise to bring a range of double-pointed needle sizes to confirm your gauge.
Cost: Registration is now open! Go to Ingebretsen's website to learn more details and register for the workshop.
Beginning Swedish Huck Weaving
Saturday, April 26, 2025, 12:30–3:30 PM (Note the time has changed from what was previously shown here.)
Embellish your own beautiful and useful hand towel using Swedish Huck Weaving! Huck Weaving blends surface embroidery with weaving, creating the appearance of complex geometric and linear designs from simple techniques. Suitable for ages 16+.
Experience level: None needed. Suitable for ages 16+.
Materials: A materials fee due in class covers the pattern, handouts, one prepared Huck hand towel (approximately 16x24 inches), and huck embroidery needles. Students may purchase the embroidery thread (3 hanks of #5 perle cotton in coordinating hues) in the shop prior to the class. If needed, plan to bring magnifiers or readers. Students are also invited to bring their own huck woven objects for class viewing.
Cost: Registration is now open! Go to Ingebretsen's website to learn more details and register for the workshop.
CITY OF PLYMOUTH, PARKS AND RECREATION
Plymouth Creek Activity Center, Education Wing, 14800 34th Avenue N., Plymouth, MN 55447.
Click here to visit the City of Plymouth Parks & Recreation website and register for these upcoming classes or look for the class link below. To select the class, look for the activity number for the class on their online registration form. The June and July classes will open up in mid-March, 2025. You will need to set up an online account with the City of Plymouth to be able to complete your registration.
Beginning Swedish Huck Weaving
Saturday, April 12, 2025, 1–4 PM
This workshop is almost sold out. Register soon!
Embellish your own beautiful and useful hand towel using Swedish Huck Weaving! Huck Weaving blends surface embroidery with weaving, creating the appearance of complex geometric and linear designs from simple techniques. Suitable for ages 16+.
Experience level: None needed. Suitable for ages 16+.
Materials: A materials fee due in class covers the pattern, handouts, one prepared Huck hand towel (approximately 16x24 inches), huck embroidery needles, and three hanks of embroidery thread. If needed, plan to bring magnifiers or readers. Students are also invited to bring their own huck woven objects for class viewing.
Workshop cost: $72 Plymouth residents/$80 nonresidents Register here through the City of Plymouth. Use Activity #15100-01.
Learn to Knit or Refresh Your Knitting Skills
Saturday, June 28, 2025, 1–4 PM
Learn or brush up on the basics of knitting, including casting on, purling, and binding off.
Experience level: None needed. Suitable for ages 16+.
Materials: Needles and yarn are provided by the insructor.
Workshop cost: $70 Plymouth residents/$80 nonresidents
Register here through the City of Plymouth. Use Activity #25182-01.
Make a Modular Knitted and Felted Bag
July 19, 2025, 12:30–4:30 PM
Modular knitting begins with a single square and easily builds into an object or garment with few seams. In this workshop, modular knitting techniques will be taught while making a small bag that may be felted at home.
Experience level: Students need to know how to knit and purl.
Materials: Size 10, 16-inch or 24-inch circular needles or a set of size 10 straight and size 10 double-pointed needles, a tapestry needle, and any general knitting supplies. The yarn and pattern (created by the instructor) will be provided by the instructor.
Workshop cost: $70 Plymouth residents/$80 nonresidents
Register here through the City of Plymouth. Use Activity #25146-01.
WEAVER'S GUILD OF MINNESOTA (WGM)…
The WGM is a nationally-recognized organization for the arts of weaving, spinning, and dyeing. It is located in the Open Book Building, 1011 Washington Avenue South, Suite 350, Minneapolis, MN, 55415. Click here to go to the WGM website.
Currently, I have no workshops scheduled at WGM, although there may be something scheduled in the future.Classes & workshops are added as opportunities come up.
Keep in touch!
If you're interested in any class or workshop shown but can't attend on the scheduled date, please contact me.
If you don't see a class or workshop that interests you, some of my previously taught subjects include: Swedish Heritage Knitting, such as Lovikka Mitten Knitting; Tvåändstickning (Two-Ended/Twined Knitting); and Halland/Binge Knitting. Other knitting workshops & classes I offer are: Beginning Fair Isle Knitting (two-color knitting; Beginning Lace Knitting; Beginning Knitting; Modular Knitting; Beginning Mitten Knitting; among others.
Among my spinning workshops & classes are: Beginning Spinning with Spindle & Wheel; Spinning Short Fibers; Silk Spinning; Flax Processing & Spinning; Spinning Camelid Fibers; Wool Fiber Processing; and Fiber Dyeing.
If any of these subjects spark your interest (or another subject), please let me know. Advance interest helps establish future offerings.
Private workshops & classes & Speaking Engagements
I am able to schedule in-person private workshops & classes for individuals and groups. I also speak before groups on the subject of Swedish textiles and their history. Please contact me for more information.