The 2024 Ann Arbor Fiber Arts Expo (AAFAX) takes place on Sunday, February 11 from 10am to 5pm at the Downtown Library!
This fiber-filled day will have a full slate of hands-on programs, demos, and presentations, and a lobby full of local vendors. You can learn about knitting, crocheting, weaving, and spinning. Try your hand at macrame, embroidery, and more!
Vendors will be on hand selling accessories, patterns, books, dyes, and all things fiber related!
If you have any questions, please contact aafax@aadl.org.
2024 Schedule of Events
Vendors and Demos
1st Floor Lobby, 10 AM - 5 PM
Stop by to chat with and buy specialty supplies from our fiber arts vendors! Demos will take place throughout the day.
11 AM - 12 PM | Secret Lab
Simple Embroidery Sampler
Learn four basic but essential embroidery stitches. Get started on a simple sampler that you can take with you to continue your practice.
11 AM - 12 PM | Multi-Purpose Room
Learn to Knit a "Hang in There Cat" with Mochimochi Land's Anna Hrachovec
Join Mochimochi Land's Anna Hrachovec for a simple "hang in there” cat tutorial! Knitters will get started on this project at this one-hour program and be given instructions to finish on their own. This activity is intended for knitters who know how to cast on, knit, and purl. This event includes a signing with books for sale.
12 PM - 4 PM | Story Corner
Drop-In Fiber Frenzy
It's a fiber frenzy in the Youth Story Corner where we'll have kits for Jellyfish Bracelets and Knitting Nancies! Drop by and learn the skills for these "walking taco" crafts which you can take and make on the go!
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM | 4th-Floor Meeting Room
I Can Crochet. Now What?
So... you can crochet. You've made things. They're gorgeous. But how far can sc, hdc, fpdc get you? Did you know that there are a LOT of other styles of crochet? This is not a tutorial but an answer to "What else can I make with yarn and a crochet hook?" This program will introduce you to a wide variety of crochet techniques and styles and show off sample pieces made from each. Presented by Angel Garrison.
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM | Multi-Purpose Room
Macrame Wall Hangings
Create a lovely little wall hanging with this entry-level macramé craft. Using the most essential macramé hitches and knots, this project is perfect for beginners and experts alike.
12:30 PM - 2:30 PM | Secret Lab
Drop-in Indigo Dyeing Workshop with Rosemarine Textiles
Drop-in to try your hand at indigo dyeing with Meghan Navoy of Rosemarine Textiles.
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM | Multi-Purpose Room
Drop Spindle Spinning
Learn to spin your own yarn using a drop spindle. Drop spinning is an ancient craft that uses simple materials to make a spindle that spins sheep's wool or other fibers into yarn. Carol Ullmann from Spun will teach you how to draft fibers and begin to spin them into yarn.
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM | 4th-Floor Meeting Room
Stitching Memories: A Journey in Fiber Arts with Fatema Haque
Join Bangladeshi American fiber artist Fatema Haque as she describes her work as a portraiture. Haque will share examples of her hand-embroidered portraits, discuss the (somewhat) unusual ways she taught herself embroidery, and the stories behind her portraits.
4 PM - 5 PM | Multi-Purpose Room
Tiny Tapestries
Learn the basics of tapestry weaving on a little loom. We provide the loom, the warp, and the weft, and some simple tools to get you started on your own tiny tapestry.
4 PM - 5 PM | 4th-Floor Meeting Room
A Brief History of Knitting
Learn about the history of knitting with Meg Croft, owner of Woven Art Yarn Shop. Where does knitting fit into the larger context of textile history? What are our earliest surviving examples of knitting, and what does that tell us about knitting's past? We will explore these topics as well as the spread of knitting around the world, its progression through the centuries, and how knitting has become an art form and method of visual protest.
2024 Vendor List
Ann Arbor Fiberarts Guild is an educational social club for fiber artists founded in 1956. Fiber techniques from members include Basketry, Beading, Crochet, Doll Making, Embroidery, Felting, Garment Design and Construction, and more.
Ann Arbor Modern Quilt Guild We are a branch of the national Modern Quilt Guild, featuring quilters from the greater Ann Arbor area. As modern quilters, we enjoy creating quilts with a modern look-and-feel.
AnnOtherDay Ann Asplund has spent the last 15 years indulging in the love of fiber and history, learning, teaching, and practicing medieval, traditional, and modern techniques of sewing and textile crafts. AnnOtherDay combines Anne's knowledge of ancient crafts with modern shapes and ideas, bringing it all together in a style of her very own.
Bellwether Yarn Artisan Fiber, from sheep to skein. Our local yarn is spun from the wool of our Shetland sheep. We’re a microfarm in Chelsea, just minutes away from Ann Arbor.
Blue Bird Makery Thoughtfully Designed Tools for Knitting & Fiber Arts. Made in Michigan.Utilizing her knowledge of fiber arts and skills as a designer, Ruth Blohm-Hunter strives to create fiber arts tools that are both useful and aesthetically pleasing.
Chapman Design Handwoven hats, bags, and cowls.
Comfy Chameleon Handcrafted knits by Mary Sue made with attention to detail that will inspire old-fashioned creativity in children and self-expression in adults.
Crochet by Rachel Brauer Rachel Brauer crochets scrap yarn into sustainable, whimsical pieces designed to stand the test of time. With Mother Nature as her muse, Rachel's rich and bold stylistic choices are always coupled with a commitment to making her craft as eco-friendly as possible.
Danni Little Handmade with Love Handmade baby knits & cute little crochet plants.
Dan Lorraine Designs makes hand-embroidered garments, tote bags, necklaces, and décor. Dan's work is heavily inspired by the natural world and often contains plants and animals.
Erin McKenna joyfully makes quilts with hand-painted silks that celebrate color and pattern.
Faun Louise Creating small batch indie dyed yarns + fibers for your scrumptious consumption
Friends at Front Porch Mary Underwood uses the finest quality natural fiber yarns including her handspun wool and silk; Mongolian yak and baby camel, merino/silk, alpaca/silk; Swedish cottons/linens, fine silks, vintage yarns, and US mill spun to create handwoven textiles for home and body. Cathryn Amidei creates naturally dyed printed linen toweling.
Future Yarns began in 2019 to bring the most beautiful and responsibly made yarns directly from the factory to your door. Frustrated by the selection of yarns to work with locally, Future Yarns began a quest to help others find the joy of creating with the best quality of fibers and yarn.
Greenshields Macrame Macrame, crystal charms, keychains, plant hangers, wall decor, owls, peace signs, etc. since 2018.
Happy Little Whales is dedicated to crochet for good, crafting crochet marine animals, and donating a portion of proceeds to marine conservation.
Jackie Blue is a textile artist and performer who specializes in crocheted garments and art pieces!
Kellie’s Crochet Crochet animals, blankets, and wearables.
Lair of the Llama Hand dyed in small lots from Lair of the Llama's studio in Michigan, each skein is unique and special and is made with tons of love and respect!
Mich Mitts The original sweater texting mittens. All mittens are made from upcycled sweaters and lined with cashmere and/ or merino wool. Sweater mittens you can text with.
nat s-p Soft art creations that are interactive and wholly tactile. Materials speak for themselves in their unique textures and combinations. No two pieces are the same, all have softness and invite you to explore their compassion and oddity.
PLAIDhats Adding a little whimsy to life with handmade crocheted hats! Perfect for infant or young child photo shoots, or older kids to add some fun to their winter wardrobe. I offer a variety of seasonal hats, animal-inspired hats that make excellent additions to Halloween costumes, as well as traditional handmade hats. With sizes ranging from infant to adult, there is something for everyone.
Ohmi Fibers Mother and daughter dup who love fibers and want to share their passion for yarn, materials, and textiles.
Samaaj Fibers are naturally dyed items such as silk pillowcases, silk scarves, and silk scrunchies.
Spooky.toot Printed Textile Jewelry and Stitched Illustration pieces.
Stitch Crafted Yarn Handmade knit and crochet accessories including hats, scarves, baby dresses, shawls, ponchos, baby blankets, hair accessories, ear and neck warmers
Taneko Says Hello encourages you to play with your food—and words and animals. Through plush friends and art, the Taneko brand seeks to share a moment of joy (or multiple moments, an extra large helping of a moment—ideally, several significant scoops) with you. Sometimes, it’s a harsh, hard world we live in: it wouldn’t hurt to nurture ourselves with a bit more softness.
Weave By The Lake Handwoven home decors & handspun art yarn. My woven wall hangings are minimalistic, neutral, and modern style and most of them are one-of-a-kind.
Wild Edge Felt features handmade wool felt and eco-printed silk clothing items, eco-printed home decor such as pillows and throws
WoollyMammothDesign Multi media fiber art with a primary focus on embroidery featuring the natural world; and with a focus on creative reuse and sustainability.
Woven Art Yarn Shop Specializes in natural, indie-dyed, and American-sourced yarns.
The Woven Good Sumptuous handwoven cloth accessories and home goods, made from sustainable fibers, all woven on a four-harness loom. I strive to make handmade goods that are both beautiful and useful, with the help of my yarn-tangling assistant (my cat Bea).