Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival 2026 Virtual Winterfest
Fiber Arts Seminars
January 24-25, 2026
Registration Information & Festival Policies
For more information on registration access and closure, the new policy on materials fees, class cancellations, refund policy & more, please visit the Registration Information page.
Winterfest Keynote Lecture
A Year in the Life of an Independent Dyer and Fiber Artist
with Jill Duarte
Ever wonder how a PhD in science could prepare you for a creative life in fiber and as an entrepreneur? Unabashed fiber nerd Jill Duarte of HipStrings will relate how their background in academia is now employed to manage their life as a dyer, maker, business owner and educator...
January 24, 1:00 pm - Learn More and Sign Up
Winterfest Shepherds’ Seminars
• January 24
Balancing Feed Rations – What to Feed, When to Feed It and What Alternative Feed Sources Can You Use, Jimmy Parker, 1 pm
Wool Testing – What to Test For, and How It Can Benefit Your Bottom Line, Dr. Russell Jessup, 2:30 pm
Winterfest Classes
Spinning
• January 24
Teach Your Old Wheel Some New Tricks, Maggie Casey, 10 am
Use Your Fiber Stash, Laura Linneman, 10 am
Zen and the Art of Supported Spindle Selection, TJ King, 10 am
Slow to Quick: Ease Your Way into Longdraw (A), Heavenly Bresser, 10 am
Spin a Sweater’s Worth, Amelia Garripoli, 10 am [JUST ADDED]
Coarse Fiber? Spinning Strategies to Soften and Smooth Longwools, Rare Wools & More, Kate Larson, 2:30 pm [JUST ADDED]
Secrets of the Turkish Spindle, Amelia Garripoli, 2:30 pm [JUST ADDED]
Hand Cards, Not Just for Rolags, Maggie Casey, 2:30 pm
Slow to Quick: Ease Your Way into Longdraw (B), Heavenly Bresser, 2:30 pm
Spinning for Socks 101, Laura Linneman, 2:30 pm
Understanding Fiber Blends (A), Jill Duarte, 3 pm
Understanding Fiber Blends (B), Jill Duarte, 7 pm
• January 25
Plying, Hints and Tricks (A), Maggie Casey, 10 am
Spinning to Knit (A), Laura Linneman, 10 am
Make Friends with Your E-spinner, Amelia Garripoli, 10 am [JUST ADDED]
All About Ombré: Handspinning Shades & Shadows, Kate Larson, 2:30 pm [JUST ADDED]
Super Singles: Thick to Thin and Then Some, Amelia Garripoli, 6:30 pm [JUST ADDED]
Fiber Speed Dating: Sheep Breeds Edition, Jill Duarte, 2:30 pm
Plying, Hints and Tricks (B), Maggie Casey, 2:30 pm
Spinning for Socks 201, Laura Linneman, 2:30 pm
Spinning Short Stapled Fibers, Jill Duarte, 6:30 pm
Spinning to Knit (B), Laura Linneman, 6:30 pm
Knitting and Crochet
• January 24
Fair Isle Knitting for the First Time (A), Joan Sheridan, 10 am
Fair Isle Knitting for the First Time (B), Joan Sheridan, 2:30 pm
Lacey Short Rows, Romi Hill, 2:30 pm
Stripes in the Round: Helical Stripes and Jogless Jogs, Kate Atherley, 2:30 pm
Provisionally Yours, Romi Hill, 7 pm
Socks Tips & Tricks, Kate Atherley, 7 pm
Deciphering Crochet & Knitting Patterns, Charts, & Stitch Diagrams, Kira Dulaney, 7 pm
• January 25
Swatching for Fair lsle, Joan Sheridan, 10 am
Introduction to Garment Alterations, Kate Atherley, 2:30 pm
Triangle Shawls: Beautiful Beginnings and Ends, Romi Hill, 2:30 pm
Hybrid Crochet (aka Tunisian Crochet), Kira Dulaney, 2:30 pm
Lace and Cable Surgery, Romi Hill, 6:30 pm
Felting
• January 24
Needle Felted Owl, Kristen Walsh, 10 am
Sheepdog Photobomb Needle Felted Landscape, Kristen Walsh, 2:30 pm
• January 25
Eek! A Mouse, Kristen Walsh, 2:30 pm
Weaving
• January 24
Freeform Rigid Heddle Weaving, Angela Tong, 10 am
• January 25
No Loom Weaving, Angela Tong, 2:30 pm
Fiber Prep
• January 24
Blending Color: Basics of the Color Wheel, Emily Wohlscheid, 10 am
Blending Color: Heathers & Tweeds, Emily Wohlscheid, 2:30 pm
• January 25
Blending Color: Inspired by Nature, Emily Wohlscheid, 10 am
Prep Like a Pro: Combs & Hackles (A), Heavenly Bresser, 2:30 pm
Prep Like a Pro: Combs & Hackles (B), Heavenly Bresser, 6:30 pm
Other Subjects
• January 24
Visible Mending (A), Kira Dulaney, 2:30 pm
• January 25
Visible Mending (B), Kira Dulaney, 6:30 pm
About the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival
The Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival is one of the largest festivals of its kind celebrating all things sheep, from hoof to handwoven.
Meet Lessonface, PBC
Lessonface's mission is to help students achieve their goals while treating teachers equitably. Since 2012, we've hosted more than 30,000 students and 2,000 teachers for over 500,000 music, language, and arts lessons and classes online. We've hosted the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival's virtual fiber arts seminars since 2021, and are very happy to be hosting these seminars for the fifth annual Winterfest January 24-25, 2026.
- More about Lessonface here.