The Art of Yarn Painting (Introductory to Advanced Level) – Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design
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WORKSHOP INFO

Location:
Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design
Date:
October 3, 2025 - October 4, 2025
Instructor(s):
Rachel Cheechoo
Fee(s):
Fee: $165 plus HST (Members) | Fee: $188.10 plus HST (Non-Members)

The Art of Yarn Painting (Introductory to Advanced Level)

The Art of Yarn Painting (Introductory to Advanced Level)
Date: October 3 & 4, 2025 (Friday and Saturday, 2 days)
Time: Friday, 9:00 am to 3:30 pm & Saturday, 10:00 am to 3:30 pm
Instructor: Rachel Cheechoo
Fee: $165 plus HST (Members) | Fee: $188.10 plus HST (Non-Members)
Kit Fee: $10 payable to the instructor (includes artist board and beeswax)

Yarn Painting started with the Huichol people in Mexico, many centuries ago. They made visual pictures as a way to communicate with their ancestors and gods. Bright colours are plentiful. Check out Wikipedia under Huichol Art for an indepth history of the artform.

Traditional yarn art is made by brushing 6 layers of beeswax (1 layer at a time) on a wooden board or hard backed canvas and tracing a design onto the wax. Followed by impregnating yarn, ribbon, roving, and small beads into the beeswaxed board to create a picture or design. Students should bring a lunch-30 minutes. Maximum students 15

Rachael is really looking forward to teaching you the Art of Yarn Painting.

Rachael Cheechoo – Since retiring as a Registered Nurse in 2015, Rachael has embraced her passion for fibre art, dedicating more time to this creative pursuit as her athletic activities – soccer, racewalking, and pickleball have been limited by aging knees. Not one to be discouraged, Rachael has taken up golf and, more notably, expanded her repertoire of fibre crafts.

Rachael’s most recent artistic venture is yarn painting. In February 2022, she participated in a five-day Zoom class with Len DeGraf, hosted by the Rug Hooking Guild of Nova Scotia. The experience proved both inspiring and thoroughly enjoyable, adding a fresh dimension to her creative journey.

Other Fibre Crafts:

  • Rug Hooking: Rachael began rug hooking in 2016 after a visit to the Moose River Rug Hooking Studio in Clementsport. The experience left a profound impression, prompting her to exclaim to the owner, Leslie, “I have to learn how to do this!” With Leslie’s encouragement, she quickly took to the craft.
  • Cross-Stitching: Her cross-stitching journey began in 1989, working primarily from patterns. Post-retirement, Rachael ventured into cross-stitching from photographs and began incorporating appliqué to enhance scenery. This exploration led her to fabric collage, a skill she learned from Rachael Ryan of Greenwood, Nova Scotia. She often creates cards and occasionally crafts pictures.
  • Crochet: In the spring of 2020, during the COVID pandemic, Rachael taught herself to crochet, utilizing books and YouTube tutorials to develop her abilities.
  • Sewing: Rachael’s introduction to fibre crafts began with sewing at the age of 13 through Home Economics classes. This foundational skill has remained a source of enjoyment throughout her life.

Rachael’s fibre art journey exemplifies a lifelong commitment to creativity and learning, demonstrating how retirement can open new avenues for exploration and self-expression.

Registration starts now!

(How to become a member with Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design)

For more information on this program or to register, email tammy@capebretoncraft.com