Instructors
The instructors listed below are members of the Potomac Fiber Arts Guild who are also available to teach classes in their area of expertise. The Potomac Fiber Arts Guild does not certify or train instructors. They are listed here as a benefit of membership, and as a resource to the public.
If you are a Guild member and want to be listed here as an instructor, please fill the online form here.






Hidden Item
3D Fiber
Maria Simonsson
Description: 5 hour workshop-participants make a bird sculpture; 5 hour workshop-participants make a simple fiber vessel
Location: metro DC and beyond
Contact: Maria Simonsson
Beading
Jennifer Ammentorp
Description: Peyote, Brick stitch, amulet neck purses, applique, size 15 seed to pony beads, ages 8 and up
Location: Hampton Roads, New Kent, Richmond, or mutually agreed location.
Contact: Jennifer Ammentorp
Joanne Strehle Bast
Description: Off-loom beadwork stitching of jewelry & non-jewelry items
Location: Anywhere
Contact: Joanne Strehle Bast
Website: JBast.com
Marilyn Harrington
Description: Beginning on and off loom bead weaving
Location: Ashburn, VA 20147
Contact: Weaving Ivory
Crochet
Jennifer Ammentorp
Description: Beginner to advanced basic crochet ages 8 and up, Broomstick Lace, Laced handkerchiefs
Location: Hampton Roads, New Kent, Richmond, or mutually agreed location.
Contact: Jennifer Ammentorp
Soozie Brendler
Description: Bead Crochet Jewelry, Crochet – beginner – advanced – finishing
Location: Instructor or student home or another mutually agreeable location.
Contact: Soozie Brendler
Anja Caldwell
Description: Classes for kids and adults at all levels
Location: Live online instruction
Contact: Anja Caldwell
Website: www.fiberart.studio
Stacy Cantrell
Description:
1. All forms of crochet (beginning to very advanced). Teach all ages, individual and/or large groups.
2. Sculptural crochet, yarn-bombing curation, mixed-media crochet, large community art projects.
Location: Laurel, Maryland or mutually agreed upon locations
Contact: Stacy Cantrell
Website: stacycantrellart.com
Marilyn Harrington
Description: Beginning to advanced
Location: Ashburn, VA 20147
Contact: Weaving Ivory
Nimi Rao
Description: Private or group classes in beginning to advance levels
Location: Rockville or mutually agreeable location
Contact: Nimi Rao
Dyeing
Candace Edgerley
Description: Immersion, low-water immersion
Contact: Candace Edgerley
Marilyn Harrington
Location: Art League School, Alexandria VA or Home Studio, Leesburg VA
Contact: Weaving Ivory
Shirley T. Waxman
Description: Hand painting on silk, abstract and defined
Location: Potomac, MD
Contact: Shirley T. Waxman
Doll-making
Embroidery
Soozie Brendler
Description: Embroidery/Crewel
Location: Instructor or student home or another mutually agreeable location.
Contact: Soozie Brendler
Heather Kerley
Description: Embroidery: Basic and advanced techniques
Location: DC Area
Contact: Heather Kerley
Website: heathermccawkerley.com
Shirley T. Waxman
Description: Yemenite embroidery: meaning, history, folklore
Location: Potomac, MD
Contact: Shirley T. Waxman
Felting
Soozie Brendler
Location: Instructor or student home or another mutually agreeable location.
Contact: Soozie Brendler
Irina Smirnoff
Description: Nuno felting classes to any age. Monday through Saturday. Class is usually 4 hours long with a tea break. Ages 12 and up.
Location: Vienna, VA
Contact: Irina Smirnoff
Fiber Sculpture
Stacy Cantrell
Location: Laurel, Maryland or mutually agreed upon locations
Contact: Stacy Cantrell
Website: stacycantrellart.com
Maria Simonsson
Description: One day or multiday workshops in 3-D fiber construction
Location: Anywhere
Contact: Maria Simonsson
Hand Stitching and Applique
Jewelry
Marla Rudnick
Description: Woven or knitted metal
Location: Instructor or student home
Contact: Marla Rudnick
Knitting
Jeanne Bohlen
Description: Knitting
Location: Bethesda, MD
Contact: Jeanne Bohlen
Janet Bowen
Description:
Beginner to advanced knitting, with specialty in colorwork, sweaters that fit, and techniques to streamline and perfect your knitting
Location: Silver Spring, Maryland agreeable location.
Contact: Janet Bowen
Soozie Brendler
Description: Knitting – beginner – advanced – finishing
Location: Instructor or student home or another mutually agreeable location.
Contact: Soozie Brendler
Anja Caldwell
Description: Classes for kids and adults at all levels
Location: Live online instruction
Contact: Anja Caldwell
Website: www.fiberart.studio
Marilyn Harrington
Description: Beginning to advanced
Location: Ashburn, VA 20147
Contact: Marilyn Harrington
Nimi Rao
Description: Private or group classes in beginning to advance levels
Location: Rockville or mutually agreeable location
Contact: Nimi Rao
Laritza M. Rodriguez
Description: Beginner, intermediate, and advanced techniques. Individual instruction and groups of 2-10. All classes are a minimum of three hours. Students must provide the materials and a place to meet. Many years of experience teaching groups with success.
Locations: Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia
Contact: Laritza M. Rodriguez
Marla Rudnick
Description: Metal knitting: learn how to make stunning metal jewelry using fiber technique
Location: Instructor or student home
Contact: Marla Rudnick
Macrame
Jennifer Ammentorp
Description: Basic Macrame ages 8 and up, Wall hangers, hanging basket holders, apparel and accessories
Location: Hampton Roads, New Kent, Richmond, or mutually agreed location.
Contact: Jennifer Ammentorp
Metal Work
Marla Rudnick
Description: Learn how to make stunning metal jewelry using fiber techniques
Location: Instructor or student home
Contact: Marla Rudnick
Needlepoint
Description: Needlepoint/Embroidery/Crewel: instruction and finishing (washing and blocking)
Location: Instructor or student home or another mutually agreeable location.
Contact: Soozie Brendler
“Tree of Life” project – Needlepointer in Residence
Quilting
Cindy Grisdela
Description: Quilting, beginner to advanced, particularly improvisational techniques and free motion quilting
Location: Reston, VA
Contact: Cindy Grisdela
Website: cindygrisdela.com
Heather Kerley
Description: Quilting: Variety of adult classes through Smithsonian Associates program.
Location: DC Area
Contact: Heather Kerley
Website: heathermccawkerley.com
Sewing
Shirley T. Waxman
Description: Prayer shawl, laws, construction, embroidery
Location: Home, Potomac, MD
Contact: Shirley T. Waxman
Silk Painting
Clara Graves
Description: Abstract and representational painting on silk using either dye or silk paint, all skill levels
Location: Silver Spring
Contact: Clara Graves
Website: Clara Graves Silk Art
Spinning: Supported Spindle
Laritza M. Rodriguez
Description: Spinning with supported spindles. Individual instruction and groups of 2-10. All classes are a minimum of three hours. Students must provide the materials and a place to meet. Many years of experience teaching groups with success.
Locations: Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia
Contact: Laritza M. Rodriguez
Spinning: Wheels and eSpinners
Elaine Thompson
Description: Beginning and intermediate spinning. Private or small groups, evenings/weekends. Groups must provide a place to meet.
Locations: Wheaton-Glenmont MD or mutually agreed on location
Contact: Elaine Thompson
Storycloth-making
Lisa Raye Garlock
Description: History and creation of narrative textiles for adults, with healing and human rights focus.
Locations: Takoma Park, MD
Contact: Lisa Raye Garlock
Website: storyclothdatabase.org
Surface Design
Candace Edgerley
Description: Blockprinting on fabric; fabric painting techniques
Contact: Candace Edgerley
Clara Graves
Description: Many techniques for painting on silk, beginner to intermediate
Location: Silver Spring
Contact: Clara Graves
Website: Clara Graves Silk Art
Heather Kerley
Description: Surface Design: Mixed media fiber art, color theory, and design for fiber artists
Location: DC Area
Contact: Heather Kerley
Website: heathermccawkerley.com
Tapestry Weaving
Tea Okropiridze
Description: Beginning, intermediate and advanced Tapestry weaving .
Beginning Rigid Heddle Loom weaving
Locations:
Alexandria, VA (Art League School)
Washington DC (Smithsonian Associates)
Manassas, VA (Artists Studio)
Contact: Tea Okropiridze
Website: teaokro.com
Textile Conservation
Cathleen M Zaret
Description: Textile conservation, and mounting for display.
Locations: Potomac, MD
Contact: Cathleen M Zaret
Weaving
Janet Bowen
Description:
Weaving on rigid heddle, tapestry, multi-shaft looms
Location: Silver Spring, Maryland agreeable location.
Contact: Janet Bowen
Marilyn Harrington
Description:
Beginning to advanced floor loom weaving in person and on-line
Understanding Fiberworks-PCW (weaving software)
Warp painting
Beginning and advanced Triaxial weaving (off-loom weaving using 1 warp and 2 weft elements.
Location: Art League School, Alexandria VA
Contact: Marilyn Harrington
Tea Okropiridze
Description:
Beginning, intermediate and advanced Tapestry weaving .
Beginning Rigid Heddle Loom weaving
Circular loom weaving for adults
Location:
Alexandria, VA (Art League School)
Washington DC (Smithsonian Associates)
Manassas, VA (Artists Studio)
Contact: Tea Okropiridze
Website: teaokro.com
Mary J Pflueger
Description: Weaving, beginning to advanced
Location: The WGGB Weaving School, Catonsville, MD
Contact: Mary J Pflueger
Wearable Art
Stacy Cantrell
Description: Crochet
Location: Laurel, Maryland or mutually agreed upon locations
Contact: Stacy Cantrell
Website: stacycantrellart.com
Nimi Rao
Description: Knitting, crochet
Location: Rockville or mutually agreeable location
Contact: Nimi Rao