Places to take classes

Where can I learn to ... in the Upper Valley?

If you wonder this, with ... filled in with a fiber craft, you've come to the right place. This is not an exhaustive list, but a good first look. You can phone or stop in anywhere, of course, and other options for finding out about classes are listed with the individual locations.

Hanover:

• League of New Hampshire Craftsmen (felt, braiding, upholstery, repurposing clothing, needlepoint)
  13 Lebanon Street
  Hanover, NH 03755
  603-643-5384
  How else to find out: Check the Mixed Media class listing.

Hartford:

• The Upper Valley Sew-op (sewing, quilting, mending, alterations, crochet, embroidery)
  Upstairs at the Upper Valley Food Co-op
  193 North Main Street
  White River Junction, VT 05001
  802-295-5804
  How else to find out: Scroll through the Co-op's calendar, or get on the mailing list for all upstairs events. Stopping in, in this case, means stopping into the food store: announcements and signups are in front of the registers.
   
• White River Yarns (knitting, crochet, needle felting)
  49 South Main Street
  White River Junction, VT 05001
  802-295-9301
  How else to find out: Watch their webpage or Facebook page, or sign up for their email newsletter.

Lebanon:

• AVA Gallery (occasional art-oriented fiber classes)
  11 Bank Street
  Lebanon, NH 03766
  603-448-3117
  How to find out: Visit AVA's education page or sign up for their newsletter (electronic or paper).
   
• Country Woolens (knitting, spinning, needle felting)
  160 Mechanic Street
  Lebanon, NH 03766
  603-448-1840
  How to find out: Sign up for twice-yearly mailings, for classes in the fall and winter.

Norwich:

• Northern Nights Yarn Shop (knitting)
  In Norwich Square, 289 Main Street (corner of Elm and Main)
  PO Box 382
  Norwich, VT 05055
  802-649-2000
  How else to find out: Check the last page of the first section of the Valley News for class advertisements.

Last Minute Valentine

I'm back with another post full of last minute gift ideas for you procrastinators out there. Valentine's Day is this Friday and there is still time to whip up a crafty gift for someone you love.

Sew Mama Sew has many fantastic gift ideas on their blog, but this idea for stitched cards attracts my eye because it is fast, creative and extremely portable. No sewing machine required.

 I'm not much of a knitter but when I am tempted by a pattern it's usually for something useful. Like these adorable heart-shaped tawashis. These little scrubbies are another fast and easy project and a great way to use up scrap yarn.

 This one is tougher to hide from your intended recipient. And perhaps a bit of a stretch for the topic of this blog but it uses yarn which is a fiber so... I'm in love with this sign idea and have one started for my dining room. I think you could easily craft a simpler version with a Valentine message in an evening of dedicated wrapping.

And finally, these little monster stuffies were featured in a workshop at the Sew-op as a last minute Christmas gift but they'd be equally welcome on Valentine's Day.