EXPLORING COTTON: MAKE YOUR OWN YARN

Rooted in ancestral knowledge and practice, this offering invites you into the slow, intentional craft of processing farm-grown cotton by hand into yarn. Over the course of three weeks, participants will learn the foundational skills of cotton spinning while deepening their relationship with the fiber itself.

This beginner-friendly workshop combines interactive, discussion-based learning with guided, hands-on spinning practice. Together, we’ll engage in a tactile exploration of the cotton plant as we examine its unique qualities, reflect on its layered history and contemporary significance, deepen our understanding of sustainable cultivation, and transform raw fiber into yarn.

Price: $300 for the series

Location: 99 Scott Ave, Bushwick | Honey’s Rooftop

By the end of the series:

  • You’ll be able to confidently spin both 1-ply and 2-ply yarn using Brooklyn-grown cotton.

  • You’ll also leave with your own hand spindle, and printed instructional materials to support your continued practice and yarn-making journey beyond the farm.

MAKE YOUR OWN YARN (3-WEEK COTTON SPINNING SERIES)

This is a weekly class series! Over three weeks, you’ll build the skills and confidence to spin cotton by hand.

Spinning is a meditative process that calls for patience, presence, and care. Through guided practice, you’ll deepen your relationship to fiber, clothing, and the land it comes from.

WORKSHOP SCHEDULE

Workshop 1: Monday, September 14 (5:30pm - 7:30pm)

Introduction to the Cotton Plant

  • Indigenous history (The Americas, West African and Southeast Asia).

  • Exploring the properties of the cotton plant and fiber types.

  • Activity: ginning by hand and introduction to spinning (using a stick).

Workshop 2: Monday, September 21 (5:30pm - 7:30pm)

Western Colonization and the Cotton Industry

  • Digging into the role of cotton in Trans-Atlantic trade and enslavement in the Americas.

  • Activity: Introduction to spinning using a tahkli spindle.

Workshop 3: Monday, September 28 (5:30pm - 7:30pm)

Environmental Impact of Fast Fashion

  • Slow vs. fast fashion - exploring contemporary textiles.

  • Activity: Spinning with the tahkli spindle.

  • Sharing additional resources and reflections

Two additional practice sessions outside of formal lecture dates will be held in September, to be determined.

This workshop is made possible by support from New York State Council of the Arts (NYSCA)

Want to learn more on the farm?

Oko Farms offers educational courses, tours, and workshops.