Free Community Fibre and Textile Programs
Date: Workshops from June, 2024 to February, 2025
Location: At the Centre
Free of Charge
Presented by three of Neilson Park Creative Centre’s Resident Groups and funded by the Canada New Horizons for Seniors Grant 2024-2025.
We welcome seniors and the community to participate in a series of workshops centred around handweaving, quilting, rug hooking and more!
These workshops will be offered to participants at no cost, with each workshop focusing on a fine craft medium.
All workshop will be held at Neilson Park Creative Centre: 56 Neilson Drive, Toronto, ON M9C 1V7
Please view the schedule below and register accordingly.
For queries, please email [email protected] or call 416-622-5294.
Fall Programs
| Date | Time | Instructor | Program | Registration Link | Description | |
| Saturday, Nov 16, 2024 | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Karen Cooper and EQG Team | Slow Stitching (Ages 13+, youth 12 and under must be accompanied with an adult) | F24ANHEQG8 Full, Waiting List Only | Participants will try numerous, simple hand stitches to find their rhythm. This may include big stitching, sashiko, darning, and patchwork. Experimentation and combination of techniques will be encouraged and the session will provide ideas and allow for practice opportunities. Participants will create an item to take home to showcase their new skills. All materials and equipment are supplied. | |
| Wednesday, Dec 4, 2024 | 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM | Lori Bond and Gillian Clarke | Braiding Techniques (Ages 18+) | F24ANHEHS5 Full, Waiting List Only | This workshop will show you 3 types of braiding techniques using different tools. You’ll get a chance to try all 3 techniques, using various yarns and tools like a lucet. All materials and equipment are supplied. |
Winter Programs
| Date | Time | Instructor | Program | Registration Link | Description |
| Wednesday, Jan 11, 2025 | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Elizabeth Betsch and EQG Team | Textile Art Experimentation (Ages 13+, youth 12 and under must be accompanied with an adult) | W25ANHEQG9 Full, Waiting List Only | Discover the joy of working with colourful fabrics, threads, and embellishments. Using simple designs and stitches, the team will help you create an avant-garde pendant, boho bracelet, or Valentine decoration. Or bring your best ideas, and the team will help you stitch them into being! Our focus will be on fun, not perfection. All materials and equipment are supplied. |
| Saturday, Jan 18, 2025 | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (lunch break from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM) | Carole Adams and Jennifer Curran | Family Punch Weekend (Ages 18+ with a bit of experience) | W25ANHER7 Full, Waiting List Only | This workshop is designed for someone wanting to start their first piece in either Punch Needle or Rug Hooking. All materials and equipment are supplied. |
| Wednesday, Jan 22, 2025 | 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM | Gloria Williams and EHS Team | Wet Felting – Felt Along With Us! (Ages 18+) | W25ANHEHS6 Full, Waiting List Only | Make a coaster or trivet with wool using wet felting techniques. Enhance your creation with silk and shiny threads! All materials and equipment are supplied. |
| Wednesday, Feb 8, 2025 / Feb 9, 2025 (1 Saturday & 1 Sunday Session) | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM | Cindy O’Malley | Learn to Weave on a Rigid Heddle Loom (Ages 18+) | W25ANHEHS7 Full, Waiting List Only | Learn to weave using a simple rigid heddle loom. Start with how to warp (put yarn onto the loom), how to roll the warp onto the beam, and then weave using a stick shuttle. Choose from a variety of yarns in class and make a lovely scarf. Class will break for lunch from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. We have a fridge and microwave in the kitchen, feel free to bring a lunch. All materials and equipment including looms and tools will be supplied for your use in class. |