SAORI Weaving Class

Friday, March 20 4:00P-8:00P AND Saturday, March 21 9:00A-12:00P
Cost: $139

Grab your weaving friends and join us for a fun weaving event hosted and taught by Heart of the Lakes Program Director, Diane Nelson.

This is a beginning weaving class and will include learning to warp a loom. If you already know how to weave and warp that is great too! 

It is about seeing the beauty in imperfection.

Join me in a time - 

to make
to feel
to be present at this moment!

It is about being in the moment while you weave.

It is about weaving what you feel. Here. Now. With no idea about what it will be.

In this class there are no rules- no "do it this way".

It is not about straight selvedges. 

It is not about regular patterns. 

It is not about perfection.

All fiber will be provided but feel free to bring any threads, yarn, beads and anything else you might think of adding to your weaving.

Your finished product will be a wall hanging.

Come and feel a joyful, free, intuitive, meditation in colour and texture and learn weaving techniques with Diane Nelson, an artist and gifted weaver as well as the director of the Heart of the Lakes Weaving program.  

* All AATC students receive a 10% discount on all looms, accessories, thread by the ounce and books. Use your 10% student discount to order any type of Schacht loom.

Nålbinding Beyond the Basics 

Date: Saturday, April 18, 2026
Time: 10:00A to 2:00P
Cost: $85 (materials included - two 50 gm skeins of wool yarn, 1 plastic yarn needle, 1 stitch marker)

Class description: 

In this intermediate class, we’ll build on the basics and explore two new stitches; a variation of Oslo, as well as a Finnish stitch introducing some new concepts.  We’ll take a closer look at different ways to connect stitches and how those choices affect fabric structure and texture. Students will apply these techniques by working a hat in the stitch of their choice. 

This class assumes the student has basic Nålbinding skills and ability to work the Oslo stitch. As a prerequisite, it’s recommended that you have taken the instructor’s Intro to Nålbinding class, or work through the Kasha’s Knits Beginner Nålbinding PDF Workbook available at kashasknits.etsy.com.  

Instructor Bio
Kasha Linn is a St. Cloud-based fiber artist and the owner of Kasha's Knits. Knitting and crocheting since childhood, she loves exploring all varieties of yarn and needle crafts. She lives in a small century-old farmhouse with her husband, two daughters, and two pets. Her Nålbinding classes focus on gaining confidence in the basic structure and technique behind this ancient handcraft. 

Intermediate Sketchbook Journaling

Date: Saturday, April 25, 2026
Time: 9A to 1P
Cost: $64

Take your sketchbook journaling to the next level in this new class with instructor Holly Bayer. Expand on what you have learned from Holly in our "It's Just A Sketch" class and keep learning and sketching, capturing your memories and days in new ways.

Do you have a sketchbook practice you picked up elsewhere? You're certainly welcome to join us too.

Come draw with Holly! 

Introduction to the Ancient Craft of Nålbinding
Date: Saturday, April 25, 2026
Time: 10:00A-1:00P
Cost: $75 (materials included - one 50 gm skein of wool yarn, a plastic yarn needle and stitch marker)

The Ancient Craft of Nålbinding
This ancient yarn technique was used by people across the world, from Egypt and Peru, to the Vikings in Scandinavia. It predates knitting and crochet, and has recently been considered an endangered heritage craft. 

The class will cover a short introduction to the craft and its history. Students will learn the Oslo stitch, and the class will work together on a small pouch. 

This is a beginner level class for adults. Knitting and/or crochet skills are not necessary, but can be helpful.

Instructor Bio:        
Kasha Linn is a St. Cloud-based fiber artist and the owner of Kasha's Knits. Knitting and crocheting since childhood, she loves exploring all varieties of yarn and needle crafts. She lives in a small century-old farmhouse with her husband, two daughters, and two pets. Her Nålbinding classes focus on gaining confidence in the basic structure and technique behind this ancient handcraft.  

Introduction to Mending/Sewing for Repair
When: Saturday, May 2 AND Saturday, May 9, 2026
Cost: $74 (supplies included)
Instructor: Katrina Darms

This 2-day course (over 2 Saturday's) will introduce a variety of hand sewing techniques to fix the wear and tear on your clothing. We will cover basic hand sewing stitches, how to hem, fix rips, patch holes and darn holes in knitwear. The class is aimed at hand sewing beginners but people who know how to sew but are interested in creative ways to repair clothing are welcome as well.

Day 1 (Saturday, May 2) - Introduction to Hand Sewing:

• Threading a needle, double vs single
• Running stitch
• Back stitch
• Button - tailor’s method
• Stitches for repairing rips- Satin stitch, Whip stitch, Parachute stitch
• Invisible stitch - Hems, Measuring, Blind hem, Catch stitch

Day 2 (Saturday May 9) - Repairing Holes:

• Sashiko for denim repair
• Basting stitch
• Whip stitch
• Sashiko patterns- Stairs and boxes - Spirals and circles
• Woven Darning

You are encouraged to bring damaged clothing to class to practice these skills on your own wardrobe and discuss how to approach your mends. We also ask that students bring a scissors.

Mandala Dot Painting - Lake Superior Rock

When: Saturday, May 16, 2026
Time: 10:00A-1:00P
Cost: $39 (materials included)

In the ancient language of Hinduism and Buddhism, mandala means “circle”. Traditionally, mandalas were drawn as a meditative practice by monks and patterns were utilized that represented the cosmos or deities in various heavenly worlds. A dot mandala is a form of art that involves creating intricate patterns using small dots. Different sizes of dotting tools and styluses are used to place dots of varying sizes and colors on a surface, typically in concentric circles or geometric patterns. Mandala dot painting can be done on pretty much anything…rocks, wood, cups, pots, glass, canvas, and much more.

Students in this beginner class will learn mandala dot painting basics: Mandala design, paints, tools, as well as prepping and finishing your painted surface. You will have the opportunity to “practice” using different size tools on cardstock and we will finish the class by painting a beautiful mandala design on a smooth Minnesota Lake Superior rock. All supplies are furnished: rock, dotting tools, cardstock and paints.

About the Instructor:

Pam Pringle has been dot painting for approximately 9 years and has been teaching classes in both Minnesota and Arizona for the past 6 years. It gives her great joy to introduce individuals to the art of dot painting and her goal is always to make class pleasant, relaxing, and non-intimidating. 

Mandala Dot Painting - Clay Pot

When: Saturday, July 18, 2026
Time: 10:00A-1:00P
Cost: $49 (materials included)

In the ancient language of Hinduism and Buddhism, mandala means “circle”. Traditionally, mandalas were drawn as a meditative practice by monks and patterns were utilized that represented the cosmos or deities in various heavenly worlds. 

A dot mandala is a form of art that involves creating intricate patterns using small dots. Different sizes of dotting tools and styluses are used to place dots of varying sizes and colors on a surface, typically in concentric circles or geometric patterns. Mandala dot painting can be done on pretty much anything…rocks, wood, cups, pots, glass, canvas, and much more.

Students in this beginner class will learn mandala dot painting basics: Mandala design, paints, tools, as well as prepping and finishing your painted surface. You will have the opportunity to “practice” using different size tools on cardstock and we will finish the class by painting a beautiful mandala design on a clay pot (dimensions 4" in diameter and 4" tall). All supplies are furnished: clay pot, dotting tools, cardstock and paints.

About the Instructor:

Pam Pringle has been dot painting for approximately 9 years and has been teaching classes in both Minnesota and Arizona for the past 6 years. It gives her great joy to introduce individuals to the art of dot painting and her goal is always to make class pleasant, relaxing, and non-intimidating.