Alpaca Tracks Workshops
We offer scheduled and on-demand hands-on craft workshops at our shop in Merrickville (318 St. Lawrence St. Merrickville, ON). Please note classes are non-refundable and cannot be re-scheduled or transferred to another class. Our facilitators customize, purchase and prepare the materials for each participant in advance. If you would like to send someone else in your place, we will need you to provide their name and email address 24 hours before the class scheduled time.
"Kathy & Corinne are so welcoming & friendly - and they possess a wealth of knowledge and experience which they share in a fun & relaxed way, making for a most enjoyable learning and crafting experience!
As a trio of friends, we have travelled to attend a number of the workshops offered and have learned how to create unique items that are both useful and beautiful!
We are already planning our next felting project @
Alpaca Tracks!"
- Lori, Sandy & Joanne
Scheduled Workshops
Wet Felted Bird Pod Needle Felting Workshop
Instructor: Corinne Côté
Where: Alpaca Tracks T(h)read Lightly 318 St. Lawrence Street, Merrickville
Date: March 21st
Time: 12:00 - 4:00
Workshop Fee: $50.00
Skill Level: Beginner/no felting experience necessary
Level: Beginner/ No experience needed
Learn to make a bird pod using the age-old technique of wet felting. This eco-friendly wool habitat for birds has natural water repellant properties and will keep our little friends warm and dry. The vibrant colours will add a nice decorative feature to your yard.
Click here to book your spot
Needle Felted Easter Eggs
In this class, you will learn how to wet felt an Easter Egg that you can decorate at a later date. You can choose a coloured felted egg to decorate using different needle felting techniques and mediums. After the workshop, you will have one completed egg and a second wet-felted one that you can work on at home. The finished eggs make great gifts or Easter decor
Instructor: Lori Dalton
Where: Alpaca Tracks T(h)read Lightly 318 St. Lawrence Street, Merrickville
Date: Friday, March 27th, 2025
Time: 11:00 – 4:00 with a ½ hour break for lunch. Please bring your own lunch.
Workshop Fee: $50.00
Maximum number of participants per workshop: 8
Click here to book your spot
Ukrainian Easter Egg (Pysanky) Workshop
You will learn to decorate an egg with traditional Ukrainian folk designs using wax-resist (batik) method. The word pysanka comes from the verb pysaty, "to write", as the designs are not painted on, but written with beeswax. You will have enough time to complete two Easter eggs. Please note that you will be given options for different designs.
Where: Alpaca Tracks T(h)read Lightly, 318 St. Lawrence Street, Merrickville
Date: March 29th
Time commitment: 1 day (4 hours)
Workhop Fee: $45/participant
Level: Beginner / No experience needed
Click here to book your spot
Knit Your 1st Colourwork Cowl
During this class we will learn how to knit your first colourwork cowl. Students will explore colour dominance, two-handed knitting, and how to read a chart while working with soft alpaca yarn. Some knitting will be required at home to finish the project. There will be a variety of colours to choose from.
Please bring one 4mm circular needle, scissors, sewing needle, and 3 removable stitch markers. If you don’t have a 4mm circular needle, we will have some available to purchase at a 20% discount.
The workshop needs at least 4 participants to run. If the minimum isn’t reached, you’ll be notified by email and refunded in full.
Instructor: Nancy MacMillan - NancyKnot Designs
Where: Alpaca Tracks T(h)read Lightly 318 St. Lawrence Street in Merrickville
Date: April 11, 18 & 25 (three-session workshop; participants attend all dates)
Time: 2:00 – 4:00
Workshop Fee: $120.00
(includes instruction, a pattern designed by Nancy, and enough alpaca yarn to complete the cowl)
Skill Level: Intermediate
Click here to book your spot
Owl Fingerless Mittens
Transitioning to Spring, these fingerless mittens, with a quaint owl design, do a wonderful job of keeping your wrists and hands comfy and cozy. At the same time, your fingers are free for all the tasks that need to be done: texting, typing, knitting. The workshop fee includes 2 x 2 hour sessions, the pattern, and 2 balls of soft 100% alpaca yarn. There will be many different yarn colour options. Once you register, you are invited to visit our store to choose your yarn.
Please bring a pair of scissors, a yarn needle to sew in the ends, and some stitch markers. Pick up your yarn and pattern in advance so that you can knit the cuff of your first mitt before the first class. Four 2.5 mm double pointed knitting needles are required and will also be available for purchase if needed. Must know how to knit in the round on 4 needles.
The workshop needs at least 2 participants to run. If the minimum isn’t reached, you’ll be notified by email and refunded in full.
Instructor: Danielle Varriano
Where: Alpaca Tracks T(h)read Lightly 318 St. Lawrence Street in Merrickville
Date: April 11th & April 18th
Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm
Workshop Fee: $75.00
(includes instruction, pattern, and enough alpaca yarn to complete the mittens)
Skill Level: Confident Beginner
Click here to book your spot
Thrum Mittens
During this class we will learn how to make thrummed mittens. This unique design originated in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, designed for fishermen who needed to keep their wet hands warm. It involves incorporating stubs of roving wool in the mitts to add an extra layer of warmth.
The workshop will run for one 3 hour session. Price includes instruction and enough alpaca yarn and roving to complete one pair of mittens. Some knitting will be required at home to complete the project. If you don’t have the required knitting needles, we will have them available for purchase.
Level: Must be comfortable with casting on, knitting, purling, increasing, decreasing and knitting in the round on four needles.
Instructor: Catherine Johnson
Where: Alpaca Tracks T(h)read Lightly 318 St. Lawrence Street in Merrickville
Date: April 19th
Time: 1:00 – 4:00
Workshop Fee: $75.00
(includes instruction, enough alpaca yarn and roving to complete 1 pair of mittens)
If you don’t have the required knitting needles, we will have them available for purchase.
Skill Level: Confident beginner
Click here to request this workshop
On-Demand Workshops
We are happy to offer the following workshops at any time for groups of four or more participants. Contact Kathy today to book your workshop!
Fibrescape
In this one-day workshop, you’ll learn how to felt alpaca fibre and wool onto a piece of silk to create a piece of art that can be framed or made into a decorative cushion. We’ll supply all the materials you need, including a variety of colours and materials. Bring a photo for inspiration, if you’d like! At the end of the workshop, you’ll have made a one-of-a-kind piece of art.
Time commitment: 1 day (5 hours)
Cost: $75/participant
Level: Beginner / No experience needed
Click here to request this workshop
Nuno Felting Scarf
In this beginner class in Nuno felting, you’ll learn how to bond alpaca fibre into a sheer silk gauze to make a beautiful, lightweight scarf. We’ll supply all the materials you need. By the end of the workshop, you will walk away with a totally unique finished scarf.
Time commitment: 1 day (6 hours)
Cost: $65/participant
Level: Beginner/ No experience needed
Click here to request this workshop
Beginner Knitting
This workshop will teach you the basics of knitting and following a pattern. Over the course of six sessions, you will learn the knit stitch, the purl stitch, and how to start a project (cast on) and complete a project (cast off). We’ll supply everything you need to make your own hat!
Time commitment: 6 sessions, 2 hours/session
Cost: $65/participant
Level: Beginner/ No experience needed
Click here to request this workshop
Tri-Loom Workshop for Beginners
Make a cowl or small shawl in super soft alpaca wool using a triangular loom (tri-loom). By the end of the workshop, you’ll walk away with a gorgeous new garment in hand painted alpaca yarn—and your own 40-inch tri-loom and Tunisian crochet hook to keep for future projects!
Time commitment: 1 day (6 hours)
Cost: $200/participant
Level: Beginner/ No experience needed
Click here to request this workshop
Felting Soap and Dryer Balls
Learn techniques in wet felting and needle felting as you make two useful household items:
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Dryer balls are an eco-friendly alternative to disposable dryer sheets. They are hypoallergenic and help decrease drying time, which saves energy and money.
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Handcrafted soap lasts longer when it’s felted—and it provides light exfoliation!
We’ll provide all the supplies you need, and you’ll walk away with three dryer balls and a bar of felted soap.
Time commitment: 1 day (6 hours)
Cost: $55/participant
Level: Beginner/ No experience needed
Click here to request this workshop