Online Classes via Zoom
Classes from "beginner" to "advanced" are available for rug braiders. Scroll down to see all the class options!
Classes are $5 off for members (see coupon under "Members Only" info).
Classes range from one-time events... to weekly sessions with Homework!
Beginner Rug Braiding Classes via Zoom
Beginner Rug Braiding: Oval Rug**
More info coming soon!
Instructor: Mary Hibbard
Class Dates: TBA -- November 2021
Cost of class: TBA
5 students only
**Class is taught with folded edges opening to the left
Beginner Rug Braiding: Chair Pad
Instructor: Christine Manges
Class Times: 3 pm EST on Fridays, Sept 10, 17, 24, & Oct 1, 2021 over Zoom
Cost of class: $15/ each of 4 sessions = $60 for class (Members get $5 off with coupon(
5 students only
**Class is taught with folded edges opening to the left
Skills taught: T-Start, braiding and lacing double corners, making increases to keep the pad flat, color changes, and finishing with a taper.
Supplies needed:
Fabric: 1.25 yards total of different colors of wool. Wools should be washed and medium weight (washed Dorr weight, or The Wool Studio's new wool weight (unwashed), or 14-18 oz /yd).
Tools: Kit options available from instructor, or purchase supplies on your own. $20 Kit: Braidkin lacing needle, #13  tapestry needles, 50 yds cotton splicing cord, 5 to 6" hemostat, clothespin, rubber bands, safety pins. Additional Supplies: A set of 3 Braid-master braid-aids is recommended but not required. Table or floor clamps for braiders are recommended but not required.
Handout provided as an internet download.
Design Your Own Patterned Strip Rug
**Braid Level: Beginner & Up
Instructor: Christine Manges
Dates: 3 pm EST on Fridays, Oct 8, 22, 29, & Nov 5, 2021 over Zoom
Cost of class: $40 class ($5 off for members with coupon)
8 students only. Left Opening Braiders.
Working with dark and light wools, the instructor will help you to design a 2' X 3' strip rug that will emphasize the creation of different braiding patterns. Choose from the patterns above plus a few others; calculate wool requirements and braid and lace the rug. Options for finishing the edges (fringe, binding, Reverse-T-Ending) will be presented. Each student will create their own uniquely patterned rug!
Supplies: 2.5 yards of a LIGHT-colored wool, and 2.5 yards of a DARK-colored wool.
$25 Basic Braiding Kit or purchase your own: Braidkin, #13  tapestry needles, 150 yds cotton splicing cord, 5 to 6" hemostat, clothespin, rubber bands, safety pins. Additional Supplies: A set of 3 Braid-master braid-aids is recommended but not required. Table or floor clamps for braiders are recommended but not required. Sewing Machine needed to finish the ends with a fringe.
Handout provided as an internet download.
Shown left: Braid Patterns of: Chain, Diamond, Dots, Zigzag, Dots, Diamond, Chain
Intermediate Rug Braiding Classes via Zoom
Butting, Patterned Borders on Curves, Spiral Hexagons,
Multistrands, Snowflakes, and Fancy Borders!
Butting Methods: Work with Instructor to Master Techniques
Annie's Fanny Butt & the Triangle Butt remain consistently popular techniques due to their relative ease. New evening sessions available! Handouts with clear diagrams provided via internet download. Sessions recorded for repeat viewing. Each class is a separate session. Left-Opening braiders.
Instructor: Christine Manges
Cost: $20 per session. (Members get $5 off with coupon)
A. Annie's Fanny Butt: Wed, Sept 8, 2021 @ 7 pm EST over Zoom. $20
B. Annie's Fanny Butt: Wed, Nov 10, 2021 @ 7 pm EST over Zoom. $20
A. Triangle Butt: Wed, Oct 13, 2021 @ 7 pm EST over Zoom. $20
B. Triangle Butt: Wed, Dec 8, 2021 @ 7 pm EST over Zoom. $20
3-Braid Spiral Chair Pad w Patterned Border -- Sept Braid-Along
**Braid Level: Intermediate
Instructor: Christine Manges
Dates: Fridays in Sept at 1 pm EST: 9/3, 9/10, 9/17, 9/24
Cost of class: $30 for 4 hang-out sessions ($5 off for members with coupon)
Not really a class; more of a "hang out and braid together" time... with attention to the techniques of: 3-braid spirals, "no-spike" tapers, arranging large patterns (without increases) around butted curves, and placing a picot edge to complete a diamond or zigzag pattern. Christine will provide a handout and work with you to follow the pattern. She will demonstrate pertinent skills at the start of each session.
6-Braid Spiral Hexagon Trivet or Rug -- October Braid-Along
**Braid Level: Intermediate
Instructor: Christine Manges
Dates: 4 Fridays in Oct at 1 pm EST: 10/1, 10/8, 10/22, 10/29 (no class 10/15)
Cost of class: $30 for 4 hang-out sessions ($5 off for members)
Not really a class; more of a "hang out and braid together" time... with attention to the techniques of: counting loops between double corners, lacing "stacked" double corners, and creating blunt corners with enclosed ends. Create several small trivets (photo above left) for Christmas presents, or make a larger spiral rug (photo above right). Christine will provide a handout and work with you to follow the pattern. She will demonstrate pertinent skills at the start of each session.
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Chair Pad w Butted Multistrand Border -- November Braid-Along
**Braid Level: Intermediate
Instructor: Christine Manges
Dates: 3 Fridays in Nov at 1 pm EST: 11/5, 11/12, 11/19
Cost of class: $24 for 3 hang-out sessions ($5 off for members)
Not really a class; more of a "hang out and braid together" time... with attention to the techniques of: braiding a chair pad, butting a row, and adding a 5, 7, 9, or 11-strand multistrand braid of your design choice ("lined triangles" pattern shown above).... and butting the multistrand braid. Christine will provide a handout and work with you to follow the pattern. She will demonstrate pertinent skills at the start of each session.
Butted Snowflake Trivets w Variations -- December Braid-Along
**Braid Level: Confident Intermediate / Advanced
**must know how to butt by Enclosed End Butt method for the smallest centers
Instructor: Christine Manges
Dates: Fridays in Dec at 1 pm EST: 12/3, 12/10, 12/17
Cost of class: $24 for 3 hang-out sessions ($5 off for members)
Skills we'll focus on: making small round centers including the 6-DC center and the Quickie-6 center... and surrounding them with patterned braids to create snowflake designs. Colors need to be stacked in particular ways to make the patterns. Learn how to place and make a hanging loop. Instructor will provide a handout and work with you to follow the pattern. She will demonstrate pertinent skills at the start of each session. These make wonderful hostess gifts, Christmas gifts, Hanukkah gifts, and can make a striking chair pad center.
Fancy Borders -- Braiding & Butting
Instructor: Christine Manges
Dates: First Thursday a month at 1 pm EST; Sept 2, Oct 7, Nov 4, & Dec 2.
Cost of class: $20 for each session (Members get $5 off).
Supplies: usual braid supplies, plus a round 8-10" braided center to lace onto (except Castle Top, see below). Unlace the round center to re-use for multiple classes!
Sept 2 -- Knotted Arches -- a knotted row of braid followed by a 2nd row of braided arches.
Oct 7-- Castle Top** requires a square or rectangular center for lacing the border.
Nov 4-- Scalloped -- We'll make the two-row, small-petal version.
Dec 2 -- Snowflake -- only one row of braid but with many, many corners!
Knotted Arches
Castle Top
Snowflake Border
Scalloped Edge / Flower Border
Advanced Rug Braiding Classes via Zoom
Advanced / Individualized Classes
Do you have a particular skill that you want to learn? Contact Christine to set up a class. If she can't teach you, she'll find someone who can!
Instructor: Christine Manges
Dates: Will be determined
Cost of class: $20 for each 1 hour session (Members get $5 off with coupon)
Teachers of Rug Braiding: Classes via Zoom
Teaching Braiding Over Zoom
Instructor: Christine Manges
Date: Sunday at 1 pm EST, Sept 12, 2021, over Zoom
Repeat class will be offered in January
Cost: $15 (Members get $5 off with coupon)
Learn how to teach braiding to students effectively over Zoom. We will cover: how to use a second camera (phone, or plug-in camera) to show handwork; how to "point" with enlarged cursors to students' work to correct errors, how to share screen and utilize Zoom features. Handout provided.
Teachers: Illustrating Class Handouts Simply
Instructor: Christine Manges
Dates: Sunday at 1 pm EST, Sept 26, 2021, over Zoom
Cost: $15
Supplies: graph paper, copy paper, pencil with eraser, markers, and a light box or simply a sunlit window.
Drawing braids for illustrating handouts doesn't have to be intimidating: each braid loop can be represented with a combination of a square and a quarter circle. Working with simple tools, learn how to draw braid loops for simple and complex (double- and triple-cornered) braids. Simple techniques for incorporating these illustrations into your handouts will be suggested.
