In this unique combination course, woodworker Jess Hirsch and weaver Melba Granlund have collaborated to teach students both woodworking and weaving skills to first build a warp-weighted loom and then learn to weave on it.
Weaving on the upright warp-weighted loom dates to @7,000 B.C.E. and has been in constant use since that time in cultures around the globe to make cloth and clothing, coverlets and rugs. In this class students will build a tabletop version of this loom which is very portable and easy to store when not in use.
Students will learn how to use a table saw, miter saw, bandsaw, and drill to cut and assemble all the pieces of their loom on Friday, March 8. Once the loom is completed, students will attend 4 Tuesday night classes (March 12 - April 2nd ) in which they will first warp their loom with stone weights and then begin weaving either a rya or a Scandinavian squareweave known as rutevev in Norwegian or rölakan in Swedish. When completed, the finished piece may be used as a wall hanging or pillow top.
All materials will be provided. A variety of types and colors of yarns for warp and weft will be made available for weaving, but students may also bring other yarns or fleece locks for their piece. Woven samples and reference materials will be available for design inspiration. This course welcomes beginning and experienced weavers alike, and no woodworking experience is required. Students may not complete their weaving in class, but finishing techniques will be discussed and students can then complete their project at home.
The materials fee is $130 and is included in the admission costs.
*** We do require masking indoors, whatever your vaccination status***
---------------------------- Taught by Jess Hirsh and Melba Granlund
Make a cutting board while learning how to use power tools. We will cover using the electric planer, ripping on the table saw, cross cutting on the miter saw, curved cuts on the bandsaw, and finishing. This is a great chance to get to know, or brush up on the most powerful tools in the shop. Take home your very own cherry or maple cutting board at the end.
The materials fee for this class is $20 and is included in the admission cost.
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Taught by Julie Arnold.
It can be hard to find just the right picture frame--especially for one-of-a-kind art--and custom frames are expensive. Solve that problem by learning how to build your own! We'll use the table saw, chop saw, and drill to construct basic frames out of poplar. Students should come to class with dimensions of the piece they want to frame, and we'll take it from there!
The materials fee for this class is $15 and is included in the class admission cost.
Taught by Julie Arnold
Open shop is a time for you to bring in any projects or crafts you are working on and have access to the tools and the space. While we will have an instructor on staff to help open shop run smoothly and make sure tools are being used safely, this is a self-directed work time NOT class time. Open shop is capped at 8 participants and needs 6 participants to run.
Registrants of open shop MUST have taken power tools 101 or be comfortable and experienced using power tools. Every attendee of open shop must register. Please no guests without registration!
Please email fireweedwoodshop@gmail.com if you have any questions about open shop or what tools are available to use.
*** We do require masking indoors, whatever your vaccination status*** _________________________________
Facilitated by Bozena.
In this 2.5 day course, each student will build a post-and-rung stool out of ash and weave a shaker tape cotton seat. This class will focus on hand tools using spoke shaves and draw knives to shape the posts and rungs. The stool will be joined with mortise and tenon joints. Our final step will be weaving the tops with a cushion filled with wood shavings.
The materials fee for this class is $75 and is included in the admission cost.
*** We do require masking indoors, whatever your vaccination status*** __________________________
Taught by Jess Hirsch
Join us for a special BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) centered class to practice the basics of Power Tools
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Taught by Meena Mangalvedhekar (@meenanew) Bio 1. Bio 2.
Taught by Meena Mangalvedhekar.
Learn the basic ins and outs of using a chainsaw. You will be learning what each part of the saw is called, how to take the saw apart for cleaning and chain replacement, proper gas & oil maintenance, filing your chain, and most importantly how to safely start a saw. All saws have their own tips and tricks with starting them but knowing the basics should help you be able to start any saw.
Bring your own chainsaw if you've got questions specific to yours!
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Taught by Alex Gomez
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