Join Us For Winterfest 2026

Posted: October 30, 2025

Dates: January 24 & 25, 2026

To register, use the button below or go to https://www.lessonface.com/sheepandwool.

Download the Winterfest class schedule here

Download the Winterfest class descriptions here

Download the Winterfest instructor bios here

Class List

Free Keynote Lecture

A Year in the Life of an Independent Dyer and Fiber Artist with Jill Duarte – Saturday, January 24: 1 pm to 2 pm

Schedule Sorted By Craft

Fiber Prep

Blending Color:  Basics of the Color Wheel with Emily Wohlscheid – Saturday, January 24: 10 am to 12 pm

Blending Color: Heathers & Tweeds with Emily Wohlscheid – Saturday, January 24: 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm 

Blending Color: Inspired by Nature with Emily Wohlscheid – Sunday, January 25: 10 am to 12 pm

Prep Like a Pro: Combs & Hackles with Heavenly Bresser – Sunday, January 25: 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm

New Second Session! Prep Like a Pro: Combs & Hackles with Heavenly Bresser – Sunday, January 25: 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm


Spinning

New Class! Spin a Sweater’s Worth with Amelia Garripoli – Saturday, January 24:  10 am to 12 pm

Use Your Fiber Stash with Laura Linneman – Saturday, January 24: 10 am to 1 pm 

Teach Your Old Wheel Some New Tricks with Maggie Casey – Saturday, January 24: 10 am to 1 pm

Zen and the Art of Supported Spindle Selection with TJ King – Saturday, January 24: 10 am to 1 pm

New Second Session! Slow to Quick: Ease Your Way into Longdraw with Heavenly Bresser – Saturday, January 24: 10 am to 1 pm

New Class! Coarse Fiber? Spinning Strategies to Soften and Smooth Longwools, Rare Wools & More with Kate Larson – Saturday, January 24: 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm

Hand Cards, Not Just for Rolags with Maggie Casey – Saturday, January 24: 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm

New Class! Secrets of the Turkish Spindle with Amelia Garripoli – Saturday, January 24: 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm

Slow to Quick: Ease Your Way into Longdraw with Heavenly Bresser – Saturday, January 24: 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm 

Spinning for Socks 101 with Laura Linneman – Saturday, January 24: 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm

New Second Session! Understanding Fiber Blends with Jill Duarte – Saturday, January 24: 3 pm to 6 pm 

Understanding Fiber Blends with Jill Duarte – Saturday, January 24: 7 pm to 10 pm

New Class! Make Friends with Your E-spinner with Amelia Garripoli – Sunday, January 25: 10 am to 12 pm

New Second Session! Spinning to Knit with Laura Linneman  Sunday, January 25: 10 am to 1 pm

New Second Session! Plying, Hints and Tricks with Maggie Casey – Sunday, January 25: 10 am to 1 pm 

New Class! All About Ombré: Handspinning Shades & Shadows with Kate Larson – Sunday, January 25: 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm

Fiber Speed Dating: Breed Edition with Jill Duarte – Sunday, January 25: 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm 

Plying, Hints and Tricks with Maggie Casey – Sunday, January 25: 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm 

Spinning for Socks 201 with Laura Linneman – Sunday, January 25: 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm 

New Class! Super Singles: Thick to Thin and Then Some with Amelia Garripoli – Sunday, January 25: 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Spinning to Knit with Laura Linneman – Sunday, January 25: 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm 

Spinning Short Stapled Fibers with Jill Duarte – Sunday, January 25: 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm 


Knitting and Crocheting

Fair Isle Knitting for the First Time with Joan Sheridan – Saturday, January 24: 10 am to 1 pm 

Lacey Short Rows with Romi Hill – Saturday, January 24: 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm 

Stripes in the Round: Helical Stripes and Jogless Jogs with Kate Atherley – Saturday, January 24: 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm 

New Second Session! Fair Isle Knitting for the First Time with Joan Sheridan – Saturday, January 24: 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm 

Provisionally Yours with Romi Hill – Saturday, January 24: 7 pm to 9 pm 

Deciphering Crochet & Knitting Patterns, Charts, & Stitch Diagrams with Kira Dulaney – Saturday, January 24: 7 pm to 9 pm 

Socks Tips & Tricks Knitting with Kate Atherley – Saturday, January 24: 7 pm to 9 pm 

Swatching for Fair Isle with Joan Sheridan – Sunday, January 25: 10 am to 1 pm 

Introduction to Garment Alternations with Kate Atherley – Sunday, January 25: 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm 

Triangle Shawls: Beautiful Beginnings and Ends with Romi Hill – Sunday, January 25: 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm 

Hybrid Crochet with Kira Dulaney – Sunday, January 25: 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm 

Lace and Cable Surgery with Romi Hill – Sunday, January 25: 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm 


Weaving

Freeform Rigid Heddle Weaving with Angela Tong – Saturday, January 24: 10 am to 1 pm 

No Loom Weaving with Angela Tong – Sunday, January 25: 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm


Needle Felting

Needle Felted Owl with Kristen Walsh – Saturday, January 24: 10 am to 1 pm 

Sheepdog Photobomb Needle Felted Landscape with Kristen Walsh – Saturday, January 24: 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm 

Eek! A Mouse with Kristen Walsh  – Sunday, January 25: 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm 


Other

Visible Mending with Kira Dulaney – Saturday, January 24: 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm 

New Second Session! Visible Mending with Kira Dulaney – Sunday, January 25: 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm 


Shepherd’s Seminars

Balancing Feed Rations with Jimmy Parker – Saturday, January 24: 1 pm to 2:30 pm 

Wool Testing: What to Test for and How It Can Benefit Your Bottom Line with Dr. Russell Jessup – Saturday, January 24: 2:30 pm to 4 pm 


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2026 Catalog Cover Artist Andrea Wisnewski

Find out more about our 2026 cover artist Andrea Wisnewski.

Schedule of Events

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It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Mary Streaker, one of the founders of the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival. Mary passed away yesterday, just two months shy of her 95th birthday.Mary's influence on our Festival, the Howard County Fairgrounds, and countless individuals cannot be overstated. She was a teacher, mentor, artist, leader, volunteer, and friend whose passion for education, creativity, and community helped shape the Festival we know today.Many of us were fortunate to know Mary personally. Even in recent years, she continued to attend Festival meetings when she was able, reconnecting with the volunteers and friends who had worked alongside her for decades. Her wisdom, enthusiasm, and deep commitment to preserving and celebrating the fiber arts inspired generations of volunteers, exhibitors, artists, and fairgoers.Mary's legacy lives on through the Home Arts Department, the Fine Arts and Photo Competitions, and the many traditions she helped establish and nurture. The Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival exists today in part because of the vision, dedication, and countless hours of service that Mary and her fellow founders invested so many years ago.On behalf of the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival community, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Mary's family, friends, students, and all who were touched by her remarkable life. We are grateful for her contributions, her friendship, and the enduring example she set for all of us.Mary will be deeply missed and fondly remembered.Visitation will be held at Haight Funeral Home, Sykesville, Maryland, on June 17 from 2:00–4:00 p.m. and 6:00–8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held on June 18 at 10:00 a.m., followed by a Celebration of Life luncheon at 12:30 p.m. in the Howard County Fairgrounds Dining Hall. ... See MoreSee Less
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LOST AND FOUND!2026 MD Sheep & Wool If you lost an item at the Festival please contact gro.loowdnapeehs@ofni. We do have a few items that were left behind and will work with you to determine if any of them are yours! Glasses, wallets, journal, necklace, scarf, etc., etc. We'd like to see you reunited!! ... See MoreSee Less
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🐑 All the final details are coming together and we are excited to see everyone!!! Please expect heavy traffic on Sat am, so plan ahead! SO much to see and do all weekend! Come out and support local, small, creative owned businesses and agriculture at the #mdsw sheepandwool.org ... See MoreSee Less
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