Random Acts of Making

Soil to Cloth: A Land-Based Textile Field School

August 24th-28th, 2026 in Port Alberni, BC

In an immersive, hands-on workshop series, you will explore the full lifecycle of textiles — from soil and fibre to natural colour and finished form. You will learn to bridge traditional handcraft with contemporary garment design, where you will gain access to tools to create knitwear with intention, fit and personal expression. By working directly with the living systems that support cloth: land, animals, plants and natural materials, you will learn how textiles can emerge from regenerative and place-based practices.

This multi-day workshop will be hosted by MorningStar Woollen Farm, a 70 acre regenerative farm in the Alberni Valley, in the traditional unceded territory of the c̓išaaʔatḥ (Tseshaht) and Hupačasath First Nations.

day 1: fibre origins: sheep, wool & the living landscape

We will begin with the source of fibre itself. Participants are introduced to the sheep, pasture systems, and regenerative grazing practices that support wool production on the farm. This day centres on understanding fibre as something that begins in relationship with animals and the land.

LEARNING FOCUS:

• Introduction to the farm ecosystem

• Meeting the sheep and understanding their role in the land cycle

• Basics of wool structure and fibre properties

• Understanding breed qualities and fleece variation

• How wool responds to season, climate and care

HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES:

• Observing sheep and pasture practices

• Skirting and sorting fleece

• Washing raw wool

• Hand carding and preparation

• Introductory hand spinning or simple yarn making

day 2: Soil, plants and growing colour

This day explores how colour and fibre systems begin in healthy soil.

You will learn how regenerative agriculture supports both grazing systems and dye plant cultivation, building a deeper understanding of the ecological foundation of textile making.

LEARNING FOCUS:

• Soil health and fertility basics

• Composting and nutrient cycles

• Growing plants for natural dyes

• Seasonal rhythms of plant and growth harvest

• Relationship between soil and colour vibrancy

HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES:

• Building or observing compost systems

• Making compost tea

• Harvesting seasonal dye plants

• Exploring flower and leaf identification

• Preparing plant materials for dye work

day 3: harvesting colour: natural dyes & botanical printing

You will move directly from field to cloth, learning how the landscape imprints itself through colour. This day focuses on slow, experimental dye processes and plant-based mark-making.

LEARNING FOCUS:

• Principles of natural dyeing

• Plant to cloth colour extraction

• Fibre preparation for dye uptake

• Seasonal variations in colour

• Eco-printing and botanical impressions

HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES:

• Harvesting flowers and foliage

• Preparing dye baths

• Botanical printing / Eco printing

• Bundle dyeing

• Experimenting with fresh plant pigments on wool and cloth

day 4: hand knit garment creation: fit, form & wearability

The final day brings the journey from land to wearable textile full circle.

Using the wool and fibre knowledge developed throughout the workshop, you will explore how yarn becomes garment through hand knitting, shaping, and intentional construction. This session focuses on fit as a design tool — understanding how knitted fabric moves with the body, how measurements translate into stitch counts, and how shaping creates comfort, structure, and silhouette. You will learn how to create garments that are not only beautiful, but truly wearable.

LEARNING FOCUS:

• How knit fabric stretches, drapes, and recovers

• How fibre choices influence fit and wear

• Understanding the difference between structured and fluid knit fabrics

• How stitch patterns affect elasticity and shape

• How to take accurate body measurements

• Ease and wearability

HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES:

• Casting on and planning a simple wearable form

• Exploring gauge

facilitators: