We’re taking a break from workshops this year, but plan to resume in 2023. Sign up for our mailing list for a heads up when we update our calendar.
Our Yarn School Helper program gives our Helpers a more enjoyable Yarn School experience and a handsome discount, while still covering all our helper needs so we can keep the Yarn School prices low.
Here’s how it works:
Each helper will be responsible for a specific task. For the most part, they’ll be able to do this on their down time and still participate in most of all the normal classes. The one exception is the Dye Helper, who will miss their prep session (but is free to card and comb at will in their downtime) and shifts their own Dye Lab from Friday to the Sunday add-on Dye Lab session.
All helpers must be physically capable of spending a lot of of time on their feet, and going up and down stairs a good deal. Dish helpers must be able to lift about 30 pounds without difficulty.
In exchange, helpers get a discount (includes the group room discount–helpers stay in one of the group rooms).
Helpers do not get a BYOW bonus, but they do get the goody bag with the special Hello Yarn fiber, and everything else other students get, including 2 pounds of fiber to dye in the Dye Lab.
Fiber School Dye Lab Bonus: Assuming you’re in the first 10 enrolled and you’re not the Dye Lab Helper, helpers enrolled in both Fiber School Workshops do qualify for the bonus Dye Lab. (We do extend any open spots beyond the first 10, but it’s subject to availability.)
Contact Char with your first and second preferences if you’re interested.
Once Helpers are selected (usually within a month after registration opens), they’ll be directed to a password-protected registration site.
You register as usual at the discounted group room rate (leaving a 50% deposit like everyone else); at check-in, an additional discount will be deducted from your balance. Helpers register with the normal deposit, just like everyone else, because we’ve had helpers flake in the past & it really leaves us in a bad position. If you sign up to be a helper and bail after the refund deadline, you’ll forfeit your deposit just like anyone else canceling late would.
All Helpers will pitch in Thursday night, hauling food up to and dishes down from the Meet & Greet, and setting up for breakfast. This is the most labor-intensive moment, so we need all hands on deck. This will be a late night. After that, your duties are more specialized and less intense…
Dye Lab Helper (must be able to stay thru Monday morning): You’ll work all day Friday in the Dye Lab, assisting Adrian however she needs it, and rinsing, spinning, and hanging up everyone’s fiber. You’ll take your own Dye Lab session with the add-on group on Sunday, and help Adrian and Char rinse Sunday’s Dye Lab fiber, then clean up and clear the tables after Sunday’s dyeing (can be done during rinsing). Preference is given to helpers with Yarn School/Dye Lab experience. You need to be able to stay up late rinsing, so this is not a good fit for early birds.
Dish Helper, Breakfast/Lunch: You must be able to lift a heavy rack of dishes to load/unload the dishwasher (weight will vary by how it’s loaded, but a rack holds up to 20 plates). You’ll do the dishes for breakfast and lunch each day. We do have a commercial dishwasher, so for the most part, you’ll just be rinsing and loading/unloading/putting away dishes. Saturday’s lunch is usually served in paper-lined baskets, so that’s an easy one. This is the job best suited to early birds.
Dish Helper, Dinner Edition: You must be able to lift a heavy rack of dishes to load/unload the dishwasher (weight will vary by how it’s loaded, but a rack holds up to 20 plates). You’ll do the dishes for dinner each night. We do have a commercial dishwasher, so for the most part, you’ll just be rinsing and loading/unloading/putting away dishes. You’ll also be responsible for helping Char get the kitchen swept and cleaned at the end of the night, and helping Char set up the morning’s breakfast the night before. This can run late, also not a great fit for early birds.
Laundry Helper (must be able to stay thru Monday morning): You’ll run loads of napkins, Dye Lab rags, kitchen rags, and towels as needed. You’ll do a sweep of the bathrooms and shower rooms after each meal and make sure they’re stocked with towels, hand towels, bath mats, wash cloths, soap and toilet paper. You’ll strip the beds at the end of Yarn School and bring all the sheets down to the laundry room. This is the most physically taxing job because the laundry room’s in the basement, so you’ll spend a lot of time going up and down stairs.
Setup Helper (no dietary restrictions; must have attended a fiber workshop here in the past, have transportation to Harveyville, be over 26, & have a valid driver’s license): You’ll attend Yarn School as a normal student Friday thru Sunday afternoon, but you’ll arrive in advance Tuesday morning to help with setup thru breaking down after the Meet & Greet Thursday night. Setup might include dishes, laundry, making beds, helping in the Dye Lab, etc.–basically any odd jobs that need doing. You may also drive the shuttle (a minivan) to and from the airport. The time before Yarn School is crazy and I won’t have time or brain power to accommodate special diets, so omnivores only, please, unless you want to bring your own food. You can expect to be running around roughly from 10am to 6pm, minus lunch. Nikol & Char aren’t early birds, so this is a good fit for someone who likes to sleep in.
Cleanup Helper (no dietary restrictions; must have attended a fiber workshop here in the past, be enrolled in both Fiber School workshops, have transportation from Harveyville, be over 26, & have a valid driver’s license): You’ll attend Fiber School as a normal student Thursday – Wednesday morning, then stay until mid-day Friday after Rigid Heddle/Felt School to help clean up. Cleanup might include dishes, laundry, stripping beds, cleaning up gym & Dye Lab, etc.–basically any odd jobs that need doing. You may also drive the shuttle (a minivan) to the airport. We’ll be eating leftovers, so omnivores only, please, unless you want to bring your own food. You can expect to be running around roughly from 10am to 6pm, minus lunch. Nikol & Char aren’t early birds, so this is a good fit for someone who likes to sleep in.