Our fiber crafts are made with as much natural and recycled material as we can source. We spin and weave with wool purchased from responsible regional farmers. When using recycled fabrics we strive for as close to 100% natural materials as we can get. Shara has a particular passion for weaving with wool, especially handspun wool, and for making colorful, sturdy rag rugs out of recycled materials. Each piece is unique and made by hand!
Custom items of a certain size or color, memorial items, or re-weaving of a worn out rag rug are also available. For more hands-on experience we offer individual or small-group spinning lessons, weaving lessons, weaving activities at events, and technical assistance with restoring or maintaining your own spinning wheel or weaving loom.
Contact Shara at 218-259-1314 to learn more about all things fiber related!
Why is fiber important?
Fiber and fabric surround us throughout our whole lives – When we are born, we are wrapped in cloth. When we die, we are wrapped in cloth. In the time between we dress ourselves in cloth. We walk on rugs, don scarves and hats in winter, wash with a washcloth and dry off with a towel, carry items in purses and bags, sleep on top of sheets and under blankets, etc.
How might your relationship to the fabric in your life change if…
…the fiber it was made from was locally sourced?
…it was made from natural or recycled materials?
…it was handmade by your neighbors?
…you learned to make it by hand yourself?
Spinning
Once upon a time, our ancestors discovered that twisting shorter fibers together made a longer, stronger fiber that could be used for all kinds of new things in life, including making the first items of clothing. The advent of industrial spinning machines means we no longer need to spend hours a day spinning yarn, but in exchange, our modern society lost the knowledge of how to create something useful just by simply twisting fibers together. It’s time to collectively reclaim our ancestral knowledge and practice the craft of handspinning!
Shara offers one-on-one or small group lessons for spinning wool. It’s recommended for beginners to learn on a hand “drop” spindle before graduating to a spinning wheel, but lessons are tailored to each individual. She also has a fondness for antique spinning wheels and can help with their repair or restoration.
SPINNING RATES
Lessons at your home: $20/hour, per person, for 1-3 people, including travel up to 40 miles from the farm (round trip). An additional $0.70 per mile is charged after that.
Lessons at the farm: $15/hour, per person, for 1-3 people. No mileage charge.
Add $10 for a basic hand spindle (if you choose to purchase it after the lesson)
Add $10 per person if we supply the practice wool fiber (or you can obtain your own before the lesson)
*Lessons are from 1-4 hours long and tailored to each person/group. Kids can learn to spin, too! Lessons are great for eager students age 7 and up.
Weaving
One-on-one lessons can be tailored to your interests and held either at our farm or at your home, depending on the type of project. Shara also teaches a class or two per year through the Itasca Area Community Education program. The craft of weaving encompasses so many opportunities for creativity that once you start weaving, you’ll have a lifetime of exploration ahead of you!
WEAVING RATES
One-on-one lesson at your home, on your loom (or one of our portable looms): $30/hour, including travel up to 40 miles from the farm (round trip). An additional $0.70 per mile is charged after that.
One-on-one lesson at the farm: $25/hour. No mileage charge.
Add $20 for materials if we provide them (enough for a small beginner project)
For lessons at the farm, if a project isn’t completed in the first lesson, you’ll need to schedule another session to finish the project.
*Lessons are from 1-6 hours long, tailored to each person and what you’re interested in weaving. Kids can learn to weave, too! Lessons are great for eager students age 7 and up.
Custom Weaving
- Custom sizes or colors of rag rugs (using your own recycled fabrics if you want!).
- Custom sizes or colors of wool scarves, shawls, or blankets.
- Re-weaving of a rag rug that has seen better days: I take the fabric strips out of the old rug and weaving them into a fresh new warp essentially gives you a ‘new’ rug!
- Memorial items such as rugs or wall hangings woven from a loved ones’ clothes, or scarves or wall hangings incorporating a beloved pet’s fur.
*If you are looking for a custom weaving, please contact Shara at 218-259-1314. Rates and deposits for custom items will vary, and will be discussed and agreed on prior to work being started.
Events
Do something different at your next family gathering – work together to create a one-of-a-kind decorative wall hanging to commemorate the event!
Here’s an example of how it works:
You’re planning your baby shower and want a fun activity for guests. You and I talk about your color scheme for the nursery and pick out a selection of colors and materials to fit the decor. I bring my traveling rigid heddle loom to the baby shower, all set up and ready to weave on. As your guests visit the weaving station throughout the event, I’ll guide them as they each weave a section of fabric. At the end of the event I’ll finish tying up the ends of the weaving, and you’ll have a unique handmade wall hanging for baby’s nursery, created collaboratively by each person who attended their baby shower!
This is a fun and unique activity perfect for:
- Baby showers
- Birthdays (anyone age 7 and up)
- Family reunions
- Grad parties
- Crafts retreats
- And more! If you have an idea for an event that could incorporate weaving (or spinning!) let’s chat!
EVENT RATES
$120. Includes: 2 hours weaving at your event, all prep and finishing work, materials, and travel up to 40 miles from the farm (round trip). An additional $0.70 per mile is charged after that.
Restoration, Maintenance and Troubleshooting
We love restoring old looms and spinning wheels! If you’ve got an antique or heirloom loom or wheel that needs some tlc, we’re ready to help. Or, maybe you have a more modern loom in need of initial setup or regular maintenance – we can help with that too. Give Shara a call to talk more about looms and wheels.
RATES
$30/hour including travel up to 40 miles from the farm (round trip). An additional $0.70 per mile is charged after that.
Additional costs for replacement parts must be approved and paid for prior to purchase/installation.
Wild Edges Farm 