More than 70 light poles in Perry’s Downtown Cultural District — along with bike racks, benches, hand rails, you name it — are sheathed in colorful yarn this week in preparation for Saturday’s Fiber Art Fair, sponsored by Art on the Prairie and La Poste.
“This is the first year of the event,” said Jenny Eklund, an organizer of the fiber festival, “and we are expecting people from all over the Midwest to participate. There’s a number of venues throughout our historic Downtown Cultural District showcasing various fiber art pieces, and many craft persons will be sharing fiber art techniques.”
A daylong spinning and crafting circle will be active, and visitors are encouraged to bring their own spinning wheel, drop spindle, WIP or finished project to show off or to work on.
The day will also be filled with classes and demonstrations in an interactive and creative environment, Eklund said, and freshly baked cookies will also be available all day.
“Join us for a fun day in beautiful Perry, Iowa,” Eklund said. “A fine selection of local vendors will have yarns, spinning wheels, drop spindles, woven and knit goods, fiber arts supplies and much, much more for sale.”
Live music by Reggie Greenlaw will enliven the fair 10 a.m. until 2:45 p.m., and Perry Perk will have lattes, espresso, coffee and tea all day. Mimosas and Bloody Marys will be served at the Whiskey Bar in the basement of La Poste.
The lineup of vendors and demonstrators for the Fiber Art Fair includes Two Cedars Weaving, Adel Quilting, Three Smooth Stones, Leilani McDonald, Gayla Low Designs, Born in a Barn Fiber Arts, Pointy Stix, Designs By Ross, Girl with a Sword Productions, Lorinda Inman, Creations Looming and Diane Corson.
The Perry Piecemakers Quilt Guild will conduct activities at several downtown venues:
- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Quilt display in the Citizen Bank Gallery at Second and Warford streets
- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Hands-on Sewing for the community at the Perry Public Library
- 11 a.m. to noon, Mary Ann Holcomb presents “Quilting with rulers on a domestic sewing machine”
- 12:30-1:30 p.m., Jo Anne Schnebly presents “How to recycle scrap material (also your stash)”
- 2-3 p.m., Marti Klatt humorously presents “Chicken Linen” or vintage feed sacks, including a small display of quilts.
- Daylong activities at La Poste, Mary Rose, Ben’s Five and Dime and Peterson Design.
Five Fiber Arts Fair classes will also be conducted during the fair:
Cabled Coffee Cozy — taught by Diane Corson 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., $25)
Skill Level: Easy. Students should have made at least one knitting project prior to taking this class.
Learn the basics of cable knitting and make a wrap-around coffee cup “blankie” that makes a great gift for yourself or a friend. Students should know how to cast on, knit, purl and bind off. Bring a skein of worsted weight yarn in a solid color and Size 6 needles (either 16″ circular or 10″ straight — bamboo or plastic work best) plus the usual knitting tools (scissors, tape measure, tapestry needle, a cable needle if you have one, a notebook and pen for taking notes.) Enjoy a latte or a Bloody Mary as you learn or relearn a new skill.
To register: Contact Diane at 515-231-4193 or girlonayellowbike@gmail.com
Beginning Crochet — taught by Tasha Wells of Cozily Covered (10-11 a.m., $15)
Skill Level: easy, no experience required.
Students will learn how to make a chain and how to make a single crochet. Other stitches will be taught if time permits. Bring 1 skein of worsted weight yarn in a light color, 1 H or I crochet hook.
To register: Contact Tasha at 515-979-0994 or cozilycovered@gmail.com
Spinning with a Drop Spindle — taught by Maggie Howe of Girl With A Sword Productions (10 a.m. to noon, $45)
Skill level: No prerequisites; come with a sense of humor
Learn how to turn wool into yarn, using a simple, portable drop spindle. You will use and take home your own wooden drop spindle, and we will provide several kinds of roving. Come with a sense of adventure and a sense of humor. This is a tricky skill, and it takes time, but you can do it. We will talk about wool, its various preparations and how to buy it, and we will learn to spin wool roving into yarn using a drop spindle.
To register: Contact Maggie at 515-490-7801 or girlwithasword@yahoo.com
Beginning Knitting – or, Learn to Knit a Bunny! — taught by Diane Corson (1-4 p.m., $25)
Skill level: no previous knitting skills needed. Should be able to read and follow instructions. Sense of humor is useful.
Learn knitting basics and make something besides a dishcloth. Learn to cast on, knit, purl and bind off. Then turn the resulting square of knitted fabric into an adorable stuffed bunny. Along the way you’ll learn to sew a seam that’s almost invisible, make a Pom-Pom (the bunny’s tail, of course!) and learn a little about knitting abbreviations and pattern reading. This fun class requires no previous knitting experience. Bring one skein of bulky weight yarn in a light, solid color and some size 11 needles. Come prepared to have fun! Bring one skein of bulky weight yarn in a light, solid color and some size 11 needles.
To register: Contact Diane at 515-231-4193 or girlonayellowbike@gmail.com
Spinning with a Spinning Wheel — taught by Maggie Howe, Girl With A Sword Productions (1-3 p.m., $50)
Skill Level: easy, no experience required.
Learn to spin wool on a spinning wheel. If you have a working wheel you may bring it to use, otherwise we will provide wheels to use during class. Wool roving also provided. Limited class size, so sign up early. No previous experience necessary. We have three or four wheels available for use. If you have your own working wheel, you may bring it to use. Let us know when you register if you have your own wheel or need to use one of ours.
To register: Contact Maggie at 515-490-7801 or girlwithasword@yahoo.com
For more information about the Fiber Art Fair, contact La Poste, 515-360-2010
