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2026 North Dakota Handspinners Conference Oct. 30-31, 2026
Gather with other fiber artists, spinners, weavers, and wool enthusiasts at the historic Nome Schoolhouse in Nome, North Dakota. Enjoy short break-out sessions, dye yarn, try out the carders, blending boards, drop spindles, different spinning wheels and more.
Whether your passion is spinning, weaving, knitting, crocheting, or felting, the North Dakota Handspinners Conference is your chance to connect with a welcoming community that shares your love for all things fiber!
Dedicated This Year To
Some Woolly Women
Ellenor Kristiansen
Gloria Bock
These women were exceptional fiber artists and just plain great people! They left a big hole in our spinning group when they passed (Ellenor 2018, Gloria 2024)
Both were supporters of the Handspinners Conference and so this year's special knitting class Seamless Starts & Flawless Finishes: Cast Ons and Bind Offs with Cori Eichelberger of IROCknits is hosted in honor of these women. This class is included with your registration fee.
What's It All About?
The NDHSC is open to all who enjoy the fiber arts, not limited to North Dakota residents. Enjoy two days of learning, sharing, and relaxing while being creative.
Nome Schoolhouse, Nome, ND, October 30-31, 2026
FEES: $145
The conference officially opens at noon Friday. You can come earlier, but The organized activities don’t start until after noon
What's Happening This Year?
Our featured event! Cori Eichelberger of IROCknits will teach a knitting class on Saturday morning (Oct. 31). Seamless Starts & Flawless Finishes: Cast Ons and Bind Offs. This is the same class she sold out at the Dallas Fiber Festival, it's included in your registration fee, no extra charge.
Friday night David Brown of Geneva Hills Farm will lead a demonstration on breeds of sheep and their fiber. David has been our raw fleece and skirting demonstrator for the past few years, and we're excited to feature his producer knowledge about fleeces from different breeds. David's fleeces won grand champion at the Columbia Nationals this year and also at the ND State Fair.
Yes, there will be dyeing! Your goodie bag will include two skeins "in the white" that you can dye in Clink's room. Other skeins will also be available for purchase if you're interested.
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Friday afternoon we will have rigid heddle looms available so you can weave a chair pad from core spun alpaca yarn. It's a super bulky yarn that works well for a project like this.
​The Tool Shed is Back! Throughout the weekend, we'll have cards, blending boards, drum carders, looms, drop spindles, spinning wheels and e-spinners available for you to try. Two new items we're adding are:​
Ashford E-Carder - a full 17” wide drum
BAM Self-cleaning drum carder - new design carder made in the US
These are going to be fun! Some of these items will also be available for purchase. This will give you the chance to try before you buy.
As always, you can bring your favorite project and just use the time to work on it, away from family and commitments. Or you can grab your Handspinners custom braids (included in your goody bag) and spin with them. Purchase some fiber from the retail store at Nome Schoolhouse or from our vendors at the event.
PS: You didn't think we'd forget the Mystery Project? Saturday afternoon, it's something we haven't done before, and doesn't require previous experience. Plus all the supplies are yours to keep.
Register
Just $145 for all classes, meals, supplies and more! Hotel stays are not included
The Schoolhouse is fully booked. But we are pairing with the GrandStay in Valley City for more rooms. The Nome Schoolhouse shuttle will be available to bring you to the hotel Friday night and back Saturday morning if you want.
Call GrandStay Valley City: 701-490-3500
Special Guests
Carol Simonsen of Dakota Pygoras will have fiber for sale during the weekend. On Saturday, Grand Valley Icelandics will be bringing raw lamb fleeces and Icelandic yarn. Friday night David Brown of Geneva Hills Farm will be talking about the different breeds of sheep and what each fleece is good for. And, of course, you can arrange for a tour of the fiber processing mill (available separately) and purchase yarn and fiber in the Nome Schoolhouse retail store.
