Learn to make by hand
in the historic village of Waterford.
Passing on knowledge and skills
The Waterford Craft School seeks to teach and preserve traditional methods used in craft and building arts. Enabling students to learn make by hand skills by offering classes to the public taught by experts in each field.
The school is part of the educational mission of the Waterford Foundation and works with the Waterford Fair in providing opportunities for artisans to demonstrate and teach and students to experience and learn.
What you will learn
Classes vary each session and include topics such as quilting, weaving, furniture-making, and basket weaving.
Classes in building arts are available. which focus on traditional construction methods for building restoration.
Course material is designed for students ages 18 and up. Classes are held in the Waterford National Historic Landmark in or around Waterford Foundation buildings.
Waterford Craft School in the News
Turkish Marbling Class
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TESTIMONIALS
what students say
Allen was outstanding – clear, knowledgeable, understandable, interesting.
It was exactly what I hoped to learn – and I am now not at all dissuaded to tackle my own windows.
Great lunch both days. Facility was clean and open. A lot of room.
Schedule
Four separate sessions in April, May, June and July of 2018. All classes are two-day classes unless otherwise noted.
Most classes are held at the Old School but a few are held outside or around the village as required for the class.
Working with Metal Clays in Jewelry
In this two-day class, students will learn the properties of the different forms of metal clay: silver, copper, bronze and steel. They will learn about the tools used and their care. They will reconstitute the base metal powders and learn about their storage. Next will be the manipulation of the clay, molding it and adding texture. The items made will then be fired which also burns off the binding medium resulting in a solid metal piece. After firing, finishing techniques will be learned.sent.
Splint Seat Weaving, One Day Class
In this one-day class, students will focus on weaving splint seats along with learning the history, origin, and preservation of their woven seats made using this technique. The materials fee is $20 for this one day class. Students will leave with a finished product.
Introduction to Knitting, One Day Class
Students will learn casting on, pearling, reading patterns, selecting yarn and needles and more! You will leave with a simple scarf of your own creation.
This class is Saturday only.
Barbara ErlandsonIntroduction to Lime Mortar
In this two-day class, students will learn the history, manufacturing methods and the correct uses of Lime. After learning how to turn calcium carbonates into lime, correct mixing methods, analyzing and matching mortar, then students will learn how to prepare failed mortar joints and install matched repointing in brick and stone.
Beginning Weaving
In this two-day class, students will use a 4-shaft floor loom which they will set up. They will start by winding a warp and then set up the loom to weave a sampler. Students from the 2017 beginner class may want to return and make a twill towel this time. The material fee for the sampler is $15 and $25 for the towel. Students will learn plain and twill weaving and then finish their item off with hemstitching and edge trims.
Weaving a Nantucket Basket
In this two-day class, students will learn the history of Nantucket Basket making and the step by step techniques necessary to make their own basket. After attaching the wood base of the basket to the mold, then you will learn how to prepare the staves. Then you will start to insert the weavers and weave to the top of the mold. After trimming the staves, then the rims are attached. Last comes the lashing of the basket to finish off your new basket.
Repair & Restoration of Old Windows
In this two-day class, students will focus on the repair and restoration of traditional putty glazes window sashes, typically found in houses built prior to 1940. Beginning with an overview of the components of a typical double-hung window, the class will follow the “best practices” recommend by the Window Preservation Standards Collaborative and the Window Preservation Alliance.
Beginning Rug Hooking
In this two day class, students will first learn the history of Hooking. They will then move on to learning how to pull loops, the required supplies and tools, how to buy and store wool, color planning and how to design rugs. Basic dying will be taught and then blocking and finishing of their rugs.
Windsor Milking Stool
In this two-day class, students will learn how to use a drawknife and spokeshave as they shape the seat and legs by hand while making their own milking stool. Using hand tools in the traditional way with the same type of woods, tools and joinery techniques is the earmark of this class.
Intermediate Rug Hooking
In this two-day class, students will cover the same general information as the beginning class but will concentrate more on hooking and color planning with a more complicated pattern.
Herbal Medicine Cabinet
In this two-day class, students will first learn what they might want to grow in their own gardens. And some plants used grow commonly around us and often are known as “weeds”. Students will then learn to harvest, dry and store herbs in a variety of ways. Then they will learn what to use them for as they make their own teas and tinctures to take home.
Introduction to Hand Woven Cane
In this two-day class, students will learn the history, origin, and preservation of woven seats. They will learn how to prepare the materials to be used and what size cane to use. Then they will learn the six-step standard pattern which is the most widely used and the strongest. The chair seat itself will be the “loom” with holes drilled around the frame for the cane to be woven through. When the six steps are finished, binder cane and lacing will be applied to cover the holes and knotted to finish the bottom.
Ms. Foster can provide a cedar folding “fishing” chair for students to cane for a materials cost of $100. If students want to provide their own chair to cane, it must have fewer than 70 holes. Materials would then be $20. This is a two day class. Students will leave with a finished product.
Pamela FosterInstalling a Dry Brick Walk
In this two-day class, students will be introduced to the methods for proper excavation, bed preparation, and crowning and then they will learn placement of the bricks for a traditional dry brick walkway.
Class prices
Hurry up and get the Early Bird prices while they are available
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Location
- 40222 Fairfax Street
- Send Email
- 540-882-3018
- 9:00am - 5:00pm