Delve into the fascinating world of pattern making by learning to create sewing patterns directly from existing garments. Start with a simple T-shirt to grasp the basics, then a woven shirt to learn essential elements like closures, darts, pockets, and other pattern making fundamentals. Next, test and perfect your pattern by making a muslin. Finally, copy a garment of your choice including pants and knitwear. Leave with a complete pattern for your garments as well as detailed instructions.

Empower and build your confidence working in a blacksmithing shop while learning various metalsmithing techniques. Plan and create a small project during class which will incorporate steel and bronze. Expect instruction in coal forge maintenance, tool use, forge welding, and metal casting. Open to all skill levels.

Turn small hollow forms–or anything else you would like–to embellish with texturing, carving, and painting. Explore how to turn small hollow forms from the top or the bottom and learn different methods for carving and/or texturing your work before painting with milk paint. All levels welcome!

Cables, lace, colorwork–so many beautiful patterns that are lovely on only one side of the fabric. This is fine in a garment, but not so much in shawls, scarves, blankets, collars, cuffs, or hoods. Explore a wide range of ways to work reversibly in stockinette, textures, cables, lace, and more. If you can work 1×1 ribbing, you're ready. These techniques are accessible to competent beginners; stretch your skills with 3D effects and amaze even knitting veterans. Convert patterns you already have!

Discover the process of creating intaglio drypoint print images with an added pop of color. Choose your image, then use the process of drypoint printmaking and watercolor techniques to make images using nontoxic media. The Folk School’s campus, heritage, and community are brimming with inspiration for creating unique monoprints and embarking on a personal artistic journey. $

Choose from various patterns provided by the instructor to carve a hillbilly hiker, caricature butler, or other option carved in the round. Beginners will build their skills on basic projects while more advanced carvers can learn to add more detail and work on facial expressions. Discuss everything from carving tools and safety to patterns, tool sharpening, and wood finish. Plan to go home with at least one completed and painted carving.

Learn the ancient art of cloisonné enameling with basse-taille (low-relief) background while making a pair of earrings, a pendant, or a jewel for your own metal setting. Use sparkling transparent enamels on silver and focus on shading techniques while also learning about wire work and the properties of enamel. We'll cover etching, roll printing a pattern onto silver, applying enamels, working with a kiln, particulars in making matching earrings, and troubleshooting. All levels welcome.

Bring 10-20 small/medium bisque-fired pieces of cone 7-10 clay and learn to load and fire a gas kiln. Discover the difference reduction firing with gas makes on glazes. Also, spend a few days taking your wheel-throwing skills to the next level. Work made in class may be bisque-fired, if time permits. Intermediate and advanced potters welcome; students must be able to center. 

Gourds aren't just for birdhouses! Create functional items such as bowls, trays, and vessels, along with jewelry, instruments, decorative masks, and sculptures. Employ woodburning, carving, filigree, weaving, and basketry techniques to create designs and enhance rims. Add an element of color while maintaining the gourd's natural beauty by using inks, dyes, stains, waxes, and paint. All levels welcome. $ 

Pastels are easier than you think! Explore background washes, color contrast and complements, light and dark emphasis, blending techniques, foreground and background structure, overall composition, how the eye and mind see art, and matting and framing pastel paintings. Create a number of finished pastel paintings as you expand and refine your understanding of best practices. All levels welcome.

Make small brooches, pendants, and earrings while playing with some tried and true methods of inlay. Discover a colorful cast of characters that includes wood, metal, and shell, and create elegant pieces that draw from sources of profound creativity. Jewelry makers, luthiers, and woodworkers alike will find that both inspiration and technical resourcefulness abound in this approach to inlay work.

Explore Swedish rosepath threading to use for rugs, table runners, and placemats. Learn rug-warping techniques, along with weft fabric calculation and preparation, and become comfortable with rag rug-weaving fundamentals. Weave samples of rosepath with tabby, double-face rosepath, unbalanced rosepath, and many others, then weave a 2 foot by 4 foot rug in the technique of your choice. Rug-weaving experience is not required, but must be able to warp a loom independently.

Discover the rich tradition of wildcrafting in the Southern Appalachians! Join an experienced instructor for campus walks and field trips to identify edible and medicinal plants while learning regional folklore and practical uses. Enjoy preparing your harvest for a delicious picnic and take home recipes, remedies, and tips for growing native plants. Participants should be comfortable on uneven ground. All experience levels are welcome in this hands-on, nature-rooted journey.

Wish you could paint watercolor? You can! Learn how to use watercolor brushes, paints, and papers. Explore basic techniques, color theory, principles of mixing color, design, and composition. Paint from personal photographs and still-life setups and learn how to make a painting successful. This class is designed for beginners, but all levels are welcome. $

Do you have an old box or chest that is missing some hardware? Maybe you’re a woodworker who makes boxes and would like to learn to make hinges and handles for them. Come explore the process for creating hinges, handles, latches, and other box and chest hardware. Bring a box to work on or–with advanced notice–your instructor can provide a chest/box for you to purchase and finish. All levels welcome.

Don’t know what to do with that beautiful piece of hand-dyed fabric, vintage table runner, or skein of yarn that needs a new life? Discover the art doll as a means of creative expression for textile and fiber lovers. Learn the basics of constructing a cloth doll and explore design principles, inspiration, and methods for adapting various materials to create a one-of-a-kind figure. Experienced students will have the option to take on more advanced techniques. Basic sewing skills are required.

Create narrative pots using handbuilding techniques such as slab building, coiling, pinching, and bisque molds. Develop the storry of your critter by attaching sculptural elements that extend off the surface of the form. Paint and carve on the surface building up colorful imagery and patterns through layers of underglaze, slip, and transfers. Learn strategies to develop ideas and build confidence in drawing on clay. Approach making with playfulness and curiosity! Bisque fire as time allows.

Join this unique week of instruction for both mountain and hammered dulcimer players. Enjoy personalized and intimate group instruction from four experienced instructors; for novice, confident beginner, intermediate, and advanced musicians. Throughout the day practice skill-level appropriate technique and repertoire, review back-up chords, harmonies, and more. With the larger group, put those techniques into practice and expand on arrangement possibilities.

Learn centuries-old green woodworking skills to transform a fresh log, branch, or hunk of wood into functional spoons and a bowl. Starting with spoons, focus on wood movement, grain pattern and orientation, and proper carving techniques. Move to bowl work midweek, including blank selection, layout, and design. Learn to use your tools safely, and wrap up the week discussing finishing processes for your dried carvings. Moderate hand and upper-body strength are needed.

Introduce your taste buds to the many facets of Italian cuisine. Move beyond pasta and explore home cooking the Italian way: simple, healthy, and beautiful! Create and enjoy complete meals including antipasti, insalata, i primi, i secondi, and i dolci. Students with dietary restrictions should contact the instructor prior to registration. All levels welcome.