Join Erin Carlson or Red Cottage Fiber Studio—in collaboration with the Rustbelt Fibershed—for a free kick-off celebration and information session for a series of workshops exploring the wonderful bast fiber FLAX: the fiber plant processed to create linen.

FLAX: a slow journey of exploration will take place in four parts (one info session, followed by 3 workshops) throughout the year of 2025, beginning in April with the sowing of the seeds and ending in December with your very own final project, a beautiful decorative frame loom dressed and woven with the linen we have made from the flax sown in April. Along the way you will pick up new skills (weaving, drop spindle,) learn the satisfying retting, breaking, scutching, and hackling process required to extract the line fibers from the flax plant, and learn about the history of flax and the mission and projects of the Rustbelt Fibershed. In addition, participants will be invited to join the Rustbelt Linen Project Circle Group and connect with other flax growers across the region. See schedule below.

APRIL 26 (SOW: an information session and kick-off event!) (free, registration required)

Join us at Contemporary Craft to sow the flax seeds for the year! This demonstration plot will allow us to observe the flax as it grows tall and its delicate blue flowers dance in the breeze. We will also sow the seeds of the project, answer questions, and talk throughwhat participants can expect in the workshops to come, as well as offer other learning opportunities to be on the lookout for through Contemporary Craft and the Rustbelt Fibershed.

Location: Contemporary Craft – Timmons Studios (5688 Butler St., Pittsburgh, PA 15201) Note we will begin in the studio, and then spend a short period of time outside, sowing the flax seeds for the demonstration plot.