Sheep to Spindle: Local Wool Processing and Natural Dyes Workshop (May 8–12, 2025)

During this 4-night workshop, participants will learn how to process wool from local Great Basin sheep and forage natural dyes from the high desert Summer Lake landscape. We will begin the workshop by harvesting natural dye materials from the PLAYA land. Once our dye pots are simmering, we will visit a farm in Paisley, OR to meet the ranchers and sheep our wool came from and discuss how to source local wool. There will be an optional educational hike into Fremont National Forest, learning how to judge native from non-native plants. On Saturday, we will heat-set our dyed fiber, and practice carding and spinning wool. The workshop will conclude with lessons in wet felting and needle felting projects with our finished wool. 

This workshop will teach the basics of: wool sourcing, mordanting, dyeing, carding, spinning, and felting, and the ethics and methods of foraging natural dye materials.. Participants will leave with the skills to seek local wool from their home regions, process wool and investigate natural dyes wherever they go.

Click each cabin below for the full workshop agenda/details and cabin descriptions.

Cancellation policy: $50 cancellation fee. Six or less days before arrival NO refund; seven-14 days before arrival 50% refund; 15-28 days before 75% refund.

Showing all 14 results