Coast Salish Wool Weaving: Processing Fibers ~ Tulalip Nation

This weekend-intensive course will be held at the Tulalip Nation, roughly two and a half hours north of Olympia. It focuses on Coast Salish fiber arts practices with special attention to Tulalip tribal traditions.

This is part of a four-course sequence that applies the art and science of fiber preparation to the completion of a shawl. Students will learn to process both customary and contemporary fibers, including the skirting, picking, and washing of raw fleeces. They will also explore techniques for blending and aligning fibers, using tools such as hand carders for creating rolags and drum carders for producing batts. Through hands-on practice, demonstrations, and interactive participation, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of how to transform raw fleece and plant fibers to prepare them for spinning. By the end of the course, students will have processed and produced their own rovings and batts.

This is the first of four courses that make up the Coast Salish Wool Weaving Certificate. Courses must be taken in sequence.