A day full of hands-on activity, history and lots of artisanal shopping is in store atHallockville Museum Farm(6038 Sound Ave., Riverhead, 631-298-5292).
The annual Fleece & Fiber Festival is back on May 16 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Expect over 20 vendors selling handmade items; shearing, spinning and weaving demonstrations; food trucks and live music fromOld Time Jam.
Avid knitters will be thrilled to hear that Patty Lyons, a nationally recognized knitting teacher, will be leading two workshops during the festival.
The acclaimed artist has been featured in publications likeVogue Knitting,Interweave Knits,Knit Purl,Knitter’s Magazine,Cast On,Knit Style,Creative KnittingandTwist Collective, and also contributes toModern Daily Knittingwith her knitter’s advice column titled “Ask Patty.” She is a repeat guest on PBS’sKnitting Daily TVand has published a book and workbook sharing knitting lessons.
“She’s really well known for teaching the ‘why’s’, not just the ‘hows’ of knitting,” says Karen Calabria, owner ofNorth Fork Fiber Arts(195 Love Lane, Mattituck, 631-298-7181) a business helping to coordinate the festival.
Lyons will lead a Knitting Bags of Tricks workshop from 9 a.m. to noon and an Advanced Knitting Fixes workshop from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m., both of which are $100 to register and require materials and prior knitting experience.
Barbara Blossey Chuvalas, a local, experienced basket weaver, will guide a workshop on her craft from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a $50 registration fee and $45 material fee.
If you’re looking to dip your toes into the weaving world,Paumanok WeaversIntroduction to Weaving workshop is your best bet, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. requiring registration and a $100 fee.
And Shamma Murphy ofEwes and Coos Feltedwill guide Painting with Wool: Flat Needle Felting workshop, where students can make a rustic farm landscape from wool from 2 to 4 p.m. for $50.
“Anybody who wants to get crafty, whether they’re beginning or more advanced, has an opportunity,” Heather Johnson, executive director of Hallockville Museum Farm, says — even if that’s bringing your work-in-progress to one of the picnic tables at the festival to continue crafting with other artists around you.
Source: The Suffolk Times
