Perry's Fiber Festival returns this weekend with Alice in Fiberland theme

Thousands of granny squares have been crocheted for this weekend’s Fiber Festival of Perry.

Those squares were put together to form a larger-than-life Alice to go along with the Alice in Fiberland theme.

“We’re extremely giddy about the theme, just because this Alice is going to be massive and it’s going to be a statement piece on Second Street,” organizer Ashley Anderson said.

The Alice creation will be featured on the front of Atelier at 1109, which will host the Fiber Festival of Perry from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. The Fiber Art Fair originally began in 2017 to highlight local artists before shifting to the Fiber Festival of Perry in 2022.

Three-day retreat anchors festival prelude

This year’s event has expanded to include a three-day fiber retreat in the lead up to Saturday’s festival. The retreat includes a stay at the Hotel Pattee along with a variety of classes and a fiber mill tour. 

The retreat kicks off on Wednesday with a fiber night in Soumas Court. Classes will be held throughout the day on Thursday for crocheters, knitters and weavers. Friday's schedule includes a class about different fiber contents, followed by a guided tour of Twisted Sunset Sisters Fiber Mill.

Different ticket options are available, Anderson said, including bundles with hotel packages. Retreat-goers can also join the classes with a buddy pass.

A fiber dreamland

The fiber festival itself will return on Saturday at the Hotel Pattee. Around 15 vendors will have fiber art for sale along with fiber art supplies. Kids classes and a scavenger hunt will also be offered. 

The Perry Piecemakers Quilt Guild will have a quilt display in the lower level of the hotel, while the Des Moines Spinners and Weavers Guild will be located in the Courtyard Cafe.

A trio of beginner-level classes to learn more about knitting, needle felting or spinning will be offered on Saturday

Check out a functioning fiber mill

Savannah Scheufler, co-owner of Twisted Sunset Sisters Fiber Mill, encourages attendees to stop by for an open house on Saturday. Although the machines won't be running, everything will be set up for visitors to see how the mill works.

“Just be sure and head a couple blocks away from the main festivities and come see how we turn fluff into wonderful yarn,” Scheufler said.

The mill held its grand opening during last year’s Fiber Festival of Perry and Scheufler is looking forward to chatting with attendees.

“We love talking about everything fiber, wool, so we’re really grateful to be a part of it again this year,” she said.

Alice plans a visit to Perry

Carrie Cavanaugh, of Bluesy Daisy Knits, is looking forward to seeing the 14-foot-by-14-foot crocheted Alice installed on the front of Atelier at 1109.

“We started back in the middle of October so it’s been quite the project,” she said.

A yarn bombing installation and a hedge maze in Josh Davis Memorial Plaza will build on the Alice in Wonderland theme. The trees in Soumas Court and light poles along Willis Avenue and Second Street will also be covered in yarn.

Anderson said the yarn bombing installation is a unique way to draw attention to the Fiber Festival of Perry. 

Anderson encourages area residents to attend this weekend’s festival to learn more about fiber and its various forms, from quilting to felting to weaving and more.

“It’s a great way to go down the rabbit-hole, pun intended,” she said.

For more information on the Fiber Festival of Perry, visit the Atelier at 1109 Facebook page or website at atelierat1109.com.