FIBER ARTS | creating with fiber, fabric, dye and both ancient & modern techniques

San Diego Craft Collective offers a growing Fiber Arts Program, sharing the methodical, oft-meditative pleasure of this malleable, tactile, and grounding medium with all ages. The act of creating beauty and function with fiber is one of ancient simplicity. Creating with one’s hands and fibers from nature ties us to a larger, diverse community of dedicated, curious, creative individuals using traditional craft to engage in modern conversations, approaches, aesthetics and functions. Our Fiber Arts Program is supported by an engaged group of talented and active fiber artists who are passionate about their mediums and ready to share their techniques with you and your family using eco-friendly, sustainable materials and practices.

Read more about Craft Collective’s Fiber Arts Classes below and sign up to begin your learning journey today!


Fiber Arts for Children | 3-12 yearschild marks pattern on fabric

Craft Collective offers a variety of learning opportunities for children, including weekly Afterschool Craft Classes, Workshops and Seasonal Craft Camps.

Fiber Arts classes focus on age-appropriate techniques that engage curious and creative minds. Monthly Kids Sewing Skills, 8-12yrs classes provide a diverse and ever-rotating array of fun projects to help children explore handmaking with soft materials and endless ideas!

In addition, Craft Collective offers a monthly Family & Beginners Sewing Workshop series for adults to accompany children while learning how to use a sewing machine to learn the basics. Monthly Beginner Sewing project-based workshops are also available for new sewers to learn how to create fun, seasonal pieces. Students may bring their own sewing machine to learn on or use the studio’s machine. After exploring Family & Beginners Sewing 101: Sewing Machine Basics, students enjoy learning more skills in Family & Beginners Sewing 102: Cut, Press & Hem and Family & Beginners Sewing 103 | Zippers, Linings & More.


Fiber Arts for Teens & Adults | 12+ years
Closeup of textiles dyed in Acorn & Oak Gall Natural Dye and Shibori workshop

Craft Collective offers a wide range of fiber arts classes throughout the year, including a weekly Teens Sewing & Garment Construction, 13+yrs class, where teens learn machine sewing skills to explore making their own clothes. Students will gain confidence using a sewing machine; practice essential techniques like seam finishes, hems, and zippers; and explore how to read and follow a garment pattern, while working on beginner-friendly garment projects that build real sewing skills and result in wearable pieces.

Additionally, the Fiber Arts Program provides professional instructors who are skilled in their craft and enjoy inspiring and sharing the joy of handmaking with each student. Scroll down to check out each specific fiber arts medium we offer. Most of the classes below welcome Teens to attend!

NOTE | Classes fill up quickly, so save your space today. If a class is full or you would like to be notified of future offerings, join our Interest List to be notified when new dates or spaces are available.


Recurring Fiber Arts Workshops & CoursesPerson sewing fabric on sewing machine at craft collective

Sewing & Quilting Workshops are a fun and practical place to begin exploring the wide world of fiber arts. One of the oldest mediums, sewing workshops connect students to a highly engaging traditional craft. Sewing and Quilting Classes offered monthly include:
Family & Beginner Sewing 101 | Sewing Machine Basics
Family & Beginners Sewing 102 | Cut, Press & Hem
Family & Beginners Sewing 103 | Zippers, Linings & More
Sewing Fundamentals | Meet the Machine
Sewing Fundamentals | Pattern Reading 101
6-Week Sewing Fundamentals: Artist’s Apron
Intermediate Sewing | Learn to Hem
Intermediate Sewing | Belt Bag
Upcycling | Lino Carving & Block Printing
* New projects and workshops are announced each month. Some workshops require previous class experience.


Intuitive Weaving LoomWeaving Workshops are a wonderful starting point for those interested in exploring the craft of creating fabric by hand. In Craft Collective’s weaving workshops, students learn to warp looms, weave with a variety of techniques, and explore diverse fiber options and their effects on composition, structure and finished pieces. Weaving Workshops include:
RIGID HEDDLE LOOM WEAVING:
Warp & Weave on a Rigid Heddle Loom
Clasped Weft Weaving & Hemstitching on a Rigid Heddle Loom
TAPESTRY LOOM WEAVING:
Intro to Tapestry Weaving
LAP LOOM WEAVING:
Intuitive Weaving
Learn to Weave with Silk Fiber
* New projects and workshops are announced each month. No experience necessary.


Macrame Half CircleMacrame’ Workshops are a great place to begin, or continue, one’s exploration of the wide world of fiber arts. An ancient knotting technique adapted by sailors in centuries past, it is a simple and versatile craft that can be adapted to a variety of unique functions and projects. New macrame’ workshops are announced and offered throughout the year. Workshop projects include:
Macrame’ Crossbody Bag, Macrame’ Bottle Bag, Macrame’ Pillow, Macramé Phone Wristlet-Keychain, Macrame’ Earrings, Macrame’ Flower, Half Circle Wall Hanging, Macrame Driftwood Plant Hanger, Macrame’ Market Bag, Macrame Plant Hanger, Macrame’ Wall Hanging, Macrame’ Sandals, Macrame Pumpkin, Macrame’ Wreath, Macrame Snowflake Ornament, Macrame Shelf Wall Hanging
* New projects and workshops are announced each month. No experience necessary.


flowy pinks slow stitchStitch & Knitting Workshops are another fun portal into the soft, cozier aspects of Fiber Arts. Whether it’s learning a new embroidery stitch, exploring repetition and design, upcycling well-loved pieces, or learning to crochet or knit, the world of fiber arts is vast. Workshops include:
STITCHING:
Visible Mending | Upcycling Workshop
Sashiko & Kantha Embroidery | Creative Mending
KNITTING:
3-Week Knitting Fundamentals
CROCHET:
3-Week Crochet Fundamentals
3-Week Intermediate Crochet | Granny Squares
Crochet Club (meets once each month)
* New projects and workshops are announced each month. No experience necessary.


hand holding a pink and white wet felted flowerFelting Workshops are a wool-oriented fiber art that allows students to create new texture with overlay application. Connecting pieces through felting, either needle or wet felting, these timeless crafts are brimming with possibility, color and a vast variety of shapes and forms. Workshops include:
Wet Felting | Wool Felted Flower
Wet Felting | Wool Felted Soap
Wet Felting | Painting with Wool
Wet Felting | Felted Wool Bowl
Wet Felting | Family Felting with Wool Ball Diffusers

Needle Felting | Sea Pebbles
Needle Felting | Wool Felt Fairy House
Needle Felting | Wool Felted Sea & Landscapes

* New projects and workshops are announced each month. No experience necessary.


Bundle DyeNatural Dye Workshops focus on how to prepare fiber and fabric by applying necessary mordants, natural dye preparation, and dye-resist techniques. Craft Collective focuses on natural dyes in its commitment to sustainable and eco-friendly craft, and offers dye workshops in:
Intro to Natural Dye, Natural Indigo Dye & Traditional Shibori Technique, Fresh Indigo Natural Dye | From Leaf to Fiber, Acorn & Gall Natural Dye & Shibori, & Bundle Dye.
* New projects and workshops announced each month. No experience necessary.


Pine Needle BasketBasket Weaving Workshops are an exploration into the past, when basketry was a critical craft, as baskets were a daily necessity in every home and business. These days, basket making allows one to explore creating with one’s hands using eco-friendly, sustainable, and functional, aesthetic materials. In Craft Collective’s basket weaving workshops, students learn about basket weaving tools and materials; how to begin, weave, and finish a basket; how to add an assortment of beads and other embellishments; and how to create functional and decorative pieces.
Basketry workshop projects include:
Basket Weaving: Pine Needle Basket Weaving, Handwoven Lace Collar Basket, Round Basket with Rim, Handwoven Twill Basket Workshop, Bread Basket with Leather Handles

Broom Making: Broom Making, Two Handed Sweeper Broom, Cobweb Broom Making, Hand Broom Making.
* New projects and workshops announced each month. No experience necessary.


INTEREST LIST | If a class is full or you would like to be notified of future offerings, join our Interest List to be notified when new dates or spaces are available.

PRIVATE LESSONS | Available at request.

404’s | Many of our classes are monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly and seasonal. If a class is not currently offered it may lead to a 404 error at this time. Please check back, or add your name to our Interest List and we will contact you when a class is scheduled.

SUBSCRIBE | New projects and workshops are announced each month. Subscribe to SDCC to hear about what’s coming up!

QUESTIONS? | Email us at make@sandiegocraft.org with any questions.