Com see us at GORE PLACE. For more information: https://goreplace.org/sheepshearing-festival

Join us for our annual Sheephearing Day. A wonderful opportunity to watch our longtime shearer Sam Patty give our Longwools their annual haircut. Learn about what we do once the fleece comes off, put your hands in some raw wool, and take in the farm’s beauty and history. We will be joined by the Rhode Island Spinners Guild, Blue Dog Natural Dye House (see the opportunity to be introduced to indigo here: Intro to Indigo Additional vendors and exhibitors TBA.

Dana McInnis from Blue Dog Natural Dye House will be introducing you to Indigo. Details on how to sign up are below. There are 4 sessions. Space is limited so don’t delay! SIGN UP FOR INDIGO

Join Nancy Butler of Lyric Hill Farm to create your own piece of functional art work!  In this class we will learn how to wet and needle felt soap; no felting experience necessary!  Students will learn how to choose and blend wool, wet felt, and transfer and needle felt designs to create a whimsical masterpiece for display or use.  All materials will be provided. Ages 13 and up. $65

A great event for Mothers Day weekend!

TO REGISTER:

We are thrilled to return to beautiful Coggeshall Farm for their annual Sheep & Wool Day. A fun, family-friendly event on one of Rhode Island’s oldest farms. A don’t miss day for sure. For tickets: https://coggeshallfarm.org/event/sheep-wool-festival/

This FREE event is particularly organized as an add-on for those or our customers who have purchased a dye-garden kit from Lucayda Farm this season, but others are welcome to join in! We’ll tour the farm’s gardens, with a special focus on our botanical dye beds, talk about harvesting, check in on the sheep and wind our way to Hurricane Hill’s own farm fiber shed. We will stop in the wool room to look at the sustainable products we produce and talk a bit about why we do this work, then move on to the drying room to talk about taking fresh blooms to their dried state and finally, we will gather in the dye and fleece processing shed for a beverage and general discussion. This will be a casual and fun time to share stories and ask questions. Kids are welcome.

YOU DO NEED TO REGISTER (so we know how many are coming!) You can do that HERE

Please note: parking is at 682 Natick Ave. Please enter the field slowly and park along other vehicles you see. Arrow signs will guide you to the meet up location!

Meet a Sheep/Make a Sheep!

Needlefelting with Jen McCarthy of the Felted Bee

(Ages 13 and up)

BOOK HERE

Join Shepherd Drake from Hurricane Hill and Jen McCarthy, the creative mind behind The Felted Beein a farm and fiber adventure in needle felting. You’ll meet some sheep and learn a bit about how fleece goes from their back and into your hands. Then, we’ll gather in the big barn and get to work on teaching you some skills!

 This beginner-focused class learning the basics of needle felting. We will cover safety, materials and tools and finally, the magic tips and tricks you need to know to help you become comfortable with the possibilities of needle felting in 3D. We will spend two hours together getting you started on your personal sheep friend and you will take everything home with you to complete your project.

 Students are encouraged to bring a lunch and stay after class to picnic, re-visit the sheep or take a walk on the farm. BOOK HERE

 NOTES:

Parking is at 682 Natick Avenue. Follow signs to our big black barn.

Mobility issues? We have a limited number of spaces at the big barn (686 Natick Ave).

Do you remember the thrill of reading those "Choose Your Own Adventure" books, where every choice you made led to a new and exciting ending? Now, imagine translating that journey to indigo dyeing, one of the oldest and most magical forms of plant dyeing! 🌿✨

Join Blue Dog Natural Dye House here at the farm for a hands-on indigo dyeing workshop where you can choose what you dye and how deeply you dye it. Indigo dyeing is an amazing process: dipped fiber leaves the vat a metallic-looking green that gradually oxidizes to blue, and the more you dip, the deeper the blue you get. We'll have some basic resists on hand to help you make your indigo dyes your own.

To sign up: www.https://bluedogdyehouse.com/shop/ols/products/yarn-dyeing-at-hurricane-hill-farm

Always wanted to learn to work with a single needle? Need to tune up your skills? This one-day intensive is for you! Join Shannon Corey of Shananigans Crafts to get your crochet on. We’ll spend time learning basic process, break for a BYO lunch, then reconvene for a short farm tour and then get back to crocheting. This class is designed to give you a solid introduction to this needle art and get you started on your first project. Class fee includes everything you need, including your very own crochet needle to take home.

Open to students 9 and up (those under 13 must be accompanied by an adult). $75 REGISTER HERE

Transform Your Closet with Indigo Magic!

Do you have a closet full of clothes that you don't wear anymore? It's time to give them a new life with our Indigo Dyeing Workshop on Sunday, July 13. Join Blue Dog Natural Dye House for a creative and fun-filled experience where you can upcycle up to three items (no bigger than a t-shirt) into stunning indigo-dyed masterpieces.

Limited Spots Available! Each session is limited to six participants, so secure your spot today REGISTER HERE

All-Inclusive Experience: Whether you’ve dyed before or are trying indigo dyeing for the first time, this is a great opportunity to bring some diversity to your closet. This workshop is perfect for all ages (children under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian). Come create, explore, and start your own personal indigo dyeing adventure. 

What to Expect:

• Clean & Prep: We'll help you clean your items and provide basic resists to create unique designs.

• Dyeing Magic: Dive into the world of indigo dyeing with expert guidance from Blue Dog.

• All Supplies Included: Blue Dog Natural Dye House provides all dye supplies and services. Just bring your creativity and up to three fiber items!

• Learn About the History of Indigo Dyeing: Drake Patten of Hurricane Hill Farm will take the time to tell you more about indigo's rich history.

Workshop Details:

• Fee: $50 facilities and dye instruction fee per participant, plus $18 per item to be dyed.

• Materials: Bring pre-worn or used items for upcycling (at least 50% natural fiber like cotton, linen, wool, or silk). Items that are 100% polyester or similar will not take dye.

• Take Home: Don't forget a waterproof bin or bag to bring your dyed fibers home.

When you register, you will choose one of these slots:

11 AM - 1 PM: Dyeing with Blue Dog (11-12:30) + Indigo Talk by Hurricane Hill (12:30-1)

1 PM - 3 PM: Dyeing with Blue Dog (1-2:30) + Indigo Talk by Hurricane Hill (2:30-3)

3 PM - 5 PM: Dyeing with Blue Dog (3-4:30) + Indigo Talk by Hurricane Hill (4:30-5)

Note: No refunds will be granted. Please be sure you can make the workshop prior to enrolling. 

Have you been looking for a way to use visible mending to repair your hand knit garments? Maybe some of your favorite clothes need a little love (ours always do!) and you want to learn how to easily darn socks or mend a hole in a sweater? Join Katy of RI’s own KATRINKLES and learn how! Register HERE

Katrinkles Darning & Mending Loom Kit includes all of the tools you need to repair a hole in a knitted garment, making it easy to do it yourself. Katy will walk you through the process, or you can follow the enclosed simple instructions. You’ll be mending clothing and accessories in no time!

Thanks to the unique construction of their Darning Loom, accomplishing more creative or complicated mends is easier than with a traditional darning egg or darning mushroom.

13 and up, $75 per person YOU CAN REGISTER HERE

EACH student will receive a Katrinkles Darning Loom Kit:

1 x Darning Loom
1 x Heddle (approximately 1.5" long) 1 x Elastic Tie
1 x Tapestry Needle
1 x Instruction Pamphlet

List of supplies each student should bring:

* a hand knit or commercial knit sock to mend, with or without a hole (ideal would be a hand knit sock with a hole to mend) *a pair of scissors

*some fingering weight yarn (a few yards of a color that contrasts the sock)

 Ready to transform plain yarn into a vibrant masterpiece, even before you make something with it? 

Calling all yarnies! Join us on Sunday, July 27 from 11 am-3 pm for an unforgettable experience at our natural "dye bar!" Dana from Blue Dog Natural Dye House will help you dive into a world of natural dyes like indigo, cochineal, marigold, and walnut to dye yarn exactly the colors that you want.  You'll be able to variegate colors to create a yarn rainbow: pink, blue, purple, yellow, brown, and green. And you'll also have access to a "real" bar with summery alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, as well as a delicious spread of sandwiches, fruit salad, and sweets to keep you energized. Between the dye bar and the real bar, you are guaranteed to have a great summer afternoon. REGISTER HERE

Each participant will receive:
- 10 mini skeins (87 yards each, 870 total yardage) of luxurious fingering weight cashmerino yarn (80% extra-fine merino, 10% cashmere, 10% recycled nylon) pre-treated for natural dye

- A "dye" menu from which to pick your colors

- Time at the dye pots and indigo vats to dye the yarn 

- Two beverages - choose from summery brunch-focused alcoholic beverages or mocktails

- A brunch sandwich paired with fresh fruit and a sweet treat

- Time at a working fiber farm with an opportunity to meet and greet with the farm animals, including the heritage sheep, goats, ducks, chickens, and resident llama.

This is a perfect outing for knitting and crochet groups, but it's also ideal for weavers and other fiber artists!

SIGN UP HERE

SEWING 101: A Stitch in Time-Learning the Basics of Sewing by Hand

$95 (13 and up) SIGN UP HERE:

 Sewing allows you to mend, alter and create clothing or functional objects. Sewing is also, importantly, a sustainable practice, allowing you to keep your wardrobe in good shape over time and (if you like it!) to sew your own garments from good cloth. In short, sewing can be a radical act.

 Learn hand sewing to help you repair and enhance your own clothing! Start off learning basic hand stitches including running stitch, back stitch, and overstitch, then use your new skills to practice darning. Complete the workshop by decorating your initial with your new-found skills!

Some of what we will cover:

·       Basic hand sewing stitches

·       Fancier hand sewing stitches

·       Select an iron-on letter to practice and gain confidence

·       Difference between needle sizes, when to use different types of thread and floss, even dental floss!!

By understanding all of this, you can confidently tackle a variety of projects and repairs. Practice regularly, and soon you'll be proficient in the art of sewing, ready to explore more advanced techniques and projects.

Whether you are a beginner or looking to refresh your skills, understanding basic stitches is fundamental to mastering the art of sewing.

We provide everything you need, so just bring your good self and lots of enthusiasm!

  SIGN UP HERE:

Elizabeth A. Denton has been sewing ever since her mother taught her and has the Girl Scout sewing achievement badge to prove it! She started costume designing in college, and that career path led her to Disney on Ice, where she toured nationally and internationally as the wardrobe supervisor. After almost twenty years of working in theatrical wardrobe, Elizabeth enjoys making her own clothes, and sharing her love of sewing.

SEWING 201: Taking it Up a Notch: An Introduction to machine sewing.

$95 (13 and up) SIGN UP HERE:

Machine sewing can produce simple or complicated projects but knowing the basics of using a machine and learning to sew with one is fundamental to your success. Overcome your fears of sewing machines and learn how to do basic repairs and make basic items!

Some of what we will cover:

• Master threading a sewing machine. Once you can confidently thread one, you can thread any machine!

• Straight stitches, circle, zig zag, over lock, blind hem.

We provide everything you need! Leave the class with a basic tote bag of your own design. If you have taken our Sewing 101 class, you might add your hand sewing item to the tote bag.

 You will leave this class feeling comfortable with most machines you encounter. And take note, you will love it so much you will want your own machine. The good news? Old machines are affordable and widely available. A truly sustainable choice for your sustainable wardrobe.

SIGN UP HERE:

 Elizabeth A. Denton has been sewing ever since her mother taught her and has the Girl Scout sewing achievement badge to prove it! She started costume designing in college, and that career path led her to Disney on Ice, where she toured nationally and internationally as the wardrobe supervisor. After almost twenty years of working in theatrical wardrobe, Elizabeth enjoys making her own clothes, and sharing her love of sewing.

info to come: our first NY show!!!