Textile Center

10/07/2026

Take the tension out of your approach to machine tension! Build the knowledge, confidence, and skills needed to master machine tension.

Knowing how to adjust the tension for a variety of different sewing applications will free you to explore more creative and advanced sewing skills!

Mastering Machine Tension
with Steve Pauling
Saturday, October 10, 2026
10 am - 1 pm
at Textile Center

Learn more + register online at https://textilecentermn.org/product/mastering-machine-tension-october-2026/

10/07/2026

We have several upcoming 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 for the 𝗠𝗰𝗞𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗙𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗙𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳!

On Zoom: Tuesday, Oct 13, 5:30 PM
In Person: Thursday, Oct 29, 5:30 PM at Textile Center (3000 University Ave SE, Minneapolis)
On Zoom: Wednesday, Nov 11, 5:30 PM
On Zoom: Tuesday, Dec 1, 5:30 PM

Join us to learn more about this incredible opportunity for Minnesota fiber and textile artists, midcareer and beyond.

Find all the details and RSVP for an upcoming info session at https://textilecentermn.org/mcknight/

(Photos: Past Fellows Rick Kagigebi [2024], Christine Novotny + Shannon Lucas Westrum [2025], and work by 2026 Fellows Amy Usdin + Joe Savage)

10/05/2026

Ever wanted to learn block printing on fabric? Looking for something festive to do this spooky season? Join us for Block Printed Jack-O’-Lantern T-Shirts! 🎃🕸️

In this 4-hour class, you’ll learn the basics of relief printmaking and transform a plain T-shirt into a one-of-a-kind piece!

Carve a set of eyes, a nose, or a mouth onto a linoleum block. Then, get ready for a printing frenzy! Share your block with fellow students to mix and match designs and create a full jack-o’-lantern face.

You’ll leave with a festive T-shirt to wear to Halloween parties and beyond, plus the skills to carve your own blocks for future fabric-printing projects!

Register: textilecentermn.org/classes

10/04/2026

Congrats to 2025 McKnight Fiber Artist Fellow Shannon Lucas Westrum - Artist!

Shannon Lucas Westrum’s piece ‘Interruptions,’ made from rattan and Lake Superior driftwood, was selected for the Homo Faber Biennial.

10/02/2026

Only a week left to see the 2026 𝘼 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙤𝙣 𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 Member Exhibition! Don’t miss this chance to see 136 incredible works by our member artists that feature a vast array of fiber art techniques. The exhibition is on view through Saturday, October 10!

Today, as a part of our 𝘼 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙤𝙣 𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙎𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙎𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨, we’re featuring five more members and their work in the show:

𝙁𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙮 𝙏𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙨 - 𝙖 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝙎𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠, Amanda Grimm
𝙊𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝘾𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙇𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙚, Alexandria Treziok
𝙎𝙖𝙡𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙙𝙤𝙬, Deborah Zionts
𝙋𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙤𝙯𝙤𝙞𝙘 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙮, Lisa Lamb
𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙞, Gabrielle Bliss

𝙁𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙮 𝙏𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙨 - 𝙖 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝙎𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠, Amanda Grimm


𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗔 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁.

My project is my 100 days stitch book. This is my second year participating in this project hosted by Ann Wood. The goal of the project is to stitch a bit each day. It’s an idea factory. A way to try new things. A way to be creative. A friend and I decided to use the theme Fairy Tales for our projects this year. We picked 8 tales and then each did our own interpretation. My two favorite pages are 3 Little Pigs and Jack and the Beanstalk. For Jack, I found myself loving the shape of beans. So, I cut a bunch of them and played with the arrangement. Then it was fun to add denim, yarn, sequence, the embroidery of the little stalk. I’m intimidated by color but pushed myself to try different color combinations and I love how they turned out. It’s abstract (not usually me!) but absolutely there. I like watching people look at it and then “get it” after they start seeing the bean shapes.

𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹?

I used all materials from my stash. Most of which comes from years of shopping the Textile Center Garage Sale.

𝙊𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝘾𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙇𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙚, Alexandria Treziok

𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗯

10/01/2026

The 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳 𝗠𝗰𝗞𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗙𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗙𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 application period is open!

Each year, this program awards two fellowships to Minnesota fiber artists whose practices are beyond emerging and demonstrate exceptional proficiency, a deep and sustained practice, and commitment to the field.

𝗙𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀:
- Unrestricted $25,000 cash award.
- Access to Textile Center’s staff expertise, networks, retail shop, state-of-the-art dye lab, and library of 35,000+ books and periodicals.
- Exhibition at Textile Center.
- Critiques and discussions with nationally renowned professionals in the field.
- Professional development support from Springboard for the Arts.

Applications are open through December 7, 2026 at 5 pm CT.
Find the full details online at: https://textilecentermn.org/mcknight/

Textile Center is honored to be a Foundation program partner.

(Photos: 𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 by Amy Usdin and 𝘉𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘸𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘉𝘦𝘭𝘵 by Joe Savage, 2026 McKnight Fiber Artist Fellows)

09/28/2026

Join Textile Center and artist Colleen Kahn for a discussion all about Santa costumes during this special 𝙉𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝘾𝙤𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙨 Art Speaks series! ❄️

Art Speaks • Notes from Costumers: Santa Suits
with Colleen Kahn
Saturday, October 3, 11 am - 12 pm
Sliding scale
Hybrid, at Textile Center + virtual on Zoom

Colleen Kahn is an accomplished garment maker based in the Twin Cities. Colleen’s experience building Santa suits introduced her to the International Brotherhood of Real Bearded Santas, where she has worked with members to create costumes and has exhibited her work at their local chapter’s gatherings.

During this presentation, Colleen will share some tips and tricks on how to create convincing, comfortable and well-constructed costumes – focused on the Santa variety!

Learn more + register: https://secure.givelively.org/event/textile-center-of-minnesota/art-speaks/art-speaks-notes-from-costumers-santa-suits

09/27/2026

There are only a couple of weeks left to see our 𝘼 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙤𝙣 𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 Member Exhibition!

Today, as a part of our 𝘼 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙤𝙣 𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙎𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙎𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨, we hear from member artist and Teaching Artist Karen Searle. Karen Searle

𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗔 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁.

𝘾𝙤𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙚 𝙎𝙝𝙤𝙥 𝙇𝙖𝙙𝙮 is a small needle lace portrait stitched in copper and silver wire. She is based on a quick sketch I made in a coffee shop several years ago. I started working on this image as a class demonstration and I liked the result so much, I had it framed.

𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹?

I have done a lot of sculptural fiber work in knitting, crochet, and weaving. Needle lace allows me to create graphic imagery as well. I like to keep exploring and experimenting — my hands don’t like to be idle!

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𝘼 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙤𝙣 𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙, Textile Center’s biennial member exhibition, is on view through October 10, 2026! Stop by and see 136 works of fiber art by our member artists.

09/25/2026

A warm drink in hand, a friend at your elbow, a new project on your hook, and new fiber fun fall decor to shop! What’s better than this? 🍁

09/24/2026

There are only a few weeks left to see our 𝘼 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙤𝙣 𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 Member Exhibition!

Today, as a part of our 𝘼 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙤𝙣 𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙎𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙎𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨, we hear from member artist Debora Pritchett Gilson about her piece, 𝙎𝙝𝙞𝙛𝙩.

𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗔 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁.

I took an intensive class in natural dyes and was amazed by the colors that were created on cotton, silk, linen, and wool. I became inspired by these colors and wanted to express the way we change through life, in a progression of color. I chose Navajo Churro wool because it took on the dye so beautifully.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴?

The beauty in the world. Other people’s art. Nature. The calmness and satisfaction I feel when working with textiles.

𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹?

Sometimes I think about all of the hours that go into a piece. The planning, the gathering, the dyeing, the weaving, the finishing. Yet, it can get lost in an instant. What remains is the pleasure.

___

𝘼 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙤𝙣 𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙, Textile Center’s biennial member exhibition, is on view through October 10, 2026! Stop by and see 136 works of fiber art by our member artists.