Fiber Art Classes Spring Up at Old Slater Mill in March and April

(Pawtucket, RI) Spring is in there air, and the longer days will soon bring a burst of creativity and energy, and maybe even the motivation to try something new.
Trad Arts Studio at Slater Mill is just the place to learn some new skills, or expand on those you may already have.
On Saturday, March 31, the spring sessions of fiber art classes rolls out, and this historic place becomes a textile art studio on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings.
“Slater Mill’s fiber art classes take place inside the 1793 Old Slater Mill, very fittingly,” says Erika Davis, Slater Mill Program Director, about the historic landmark widely recognized as the birthplace of the American textile industry. “It’s a picture-perfect setting, from which inspiration can lead to a fiber-art masterpiece, or at the very least a dish towel or two.”

Students may choose from a 10-week Handweaving session with Suzi Ballenger or a 6-week Wheel Spinning session with Beth Fitz, beginning on March 31 (looms and wheels provided); and a 5-week Beginner Knitting session with Pam Sluter or a 6-week Chair Caning session with Steve Emma, beginning on April 11.
While Ballenger and Emma have emerged as perennial favorites at the studio, Sluter and Fitz are new to the Trad Arts Studio teaching roster.
Sluter is a pattern designer and teacher who taught sock knitting at Slater Mill Knitting Weekend this past January. She enjoys exploring new techniques and yarns, and the problem solving aspects of design. She enjoys teaching beginners, to give them a solid foundation from which to grow.
Fitz is the current president of the Rhode Island Spinners Guild, and a long-time instructor and champion of the fiber arts. She has been associated with Slater Mill for many years, and leads the monthly Guild meetings that are held at the mill.
“Whether you’re looking to challenge yourself with a new skill, or pick up a beloved old hobby with the guidance of an expert, there is a place for you in our studio,” adds Davis. “Just don’t wait too long, because these small-capacity classes fill up quickly.”
For information on registration, contact Davis at info@slatermill.org, or 401-725-8638 x.108. Slater Mill is located at 67 Roosevelt Avenue in downtown Pawtucket RI. The studio is accessible. Limited scholarships are available to local high-school students on request; contact Slater Mill for information.
Trad Arts Studio is sponsored by the Phyllis Kimball Johnstone Foundation, Berroco, the RI State Council on the Arts and the City of Pawtucket.