From Fleece to Fiber: Processing Local Wool by Hand

with Rachel Meyers Hefferan
July 25, 3:00–6:00 p.m.
Tuition: $100
Materials Fee: $30

In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn how raw, freshly shorn wool is transformed into usable fiber for knitting, weaving, and other textile practices. Working with bespoke, ethically sourced wool from Jacob and Icelandic sheep raised in Southwest Michigan, we’ll explore the early stages of fiber preparation while building an appreciation for place-based materials and slow craft. Demonstrations will cover brushing, hard carding, and introductory spinning techniques, and participants will receive guidance through the tactile process of cleaning, aligning, and drafting wool. Time will be structured between demonstration and open making, allowing participants to experiment, ask questions, and develop a feel for the fiber as it changes form. Participants can expect to leave the workshop with a small length of prepared natural fiber and a foundational understanding of how raw wool becomes knittable or weavable material. No prior fiber experience is required—curiosity and a willingness to work with your hands are all that’s needed.

Plan to bring: comfortable clothing you don’t mind getting a little fuzzy, and a tote or bag for carrying your finished fiber home. All wool and core materials will be provided.

Location: Main Campus - 3435 Rupprecht Way, Saugatuck, MI 49453

Rachel Meyers Hefferan (she/her) is a textile artist and small-scale shepherd focused on sustainability in her art practice and lifestyle. Her artwork looks at microbial networks, connectivity, pattern, and fermentation, and most often takes the form of large-scale abstract weavings. Hefferan’s aim as a textile artist is to engage in holistic practice that brings natural and secondhand materials through the entirety of their life cycle without sacrificing aesthetics or color. She invites others into this practice through conversation, workshops, community, and other events. Hefferan holds an MFA in Studio Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and has been invited to lecture and/or lead workshops and demonstrations at the University of Michigan, SAIC, Saugatuck Center for the Arts, the Michigan League of Handweavers, and the Michigan Fiber Festival, among many others.

Photo Courtesy of Artist