Call for Ideas & Sessions: Shape the Fiber+Fabric Craft Festival

Thank you for your interest in teaching at the 2026 Fiber+Fabric Craft Festival, taking place April 30 – May 3, 2026, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL. This is your opportunity to educate, inspire, and connect with passionate makers and creatives from across the country.

We welcome proposals from instructors across all areas of the creative community, including but not limited to fiber and fabric arts, sewing, quilting, knitting, crochet, cosplay, embroidery, spinning, weaving, beading & jewelry, scrapbooking, mixed media, DIY, painting, felting, and more. Sessions should focus on teaching techniques, sharing skills, and offering attendees meaningful hands-on or project-based learning experiences.

Our primary focus remains the fiber and fabric sector, but we aim to celebrate and include the full spectrum of crafting and making.

Applications are due by August 31, 2025.

Class Types

Craft Talk – 45 minutes, open to all attendees, not ticketed, no compensation. Designed as a TED Talk for makers. This format supports panels, fireside chats, and dynamic presentations. Ideal for thought leaders, trendsetters, and community stories. Hosted on the show floor during show hours. No travel stipend is offered.

Mini Lab – 45-minute action-oriented demo or make-and-take with kits. Must include a hands-on experience. Great for quick skill-building or trying a new product or technique. Hosted on the show floor during show hours. No travel stipend is offered.

Craft Lab – 90-minute hands-on class. Perfect for detailed instruction and guided techniques. Handouts are required.

Studio Session – 2.5-hour immersive workshop. Best for deeper project work or mastering mid-level techniques.

Maker Intensive – 4-hour deep dive. Designed for sustained, focused learning around a specific technique or project.

Master Workshop – 6+ hour full-day session. Premium, certification-level experience or large-scale project completion.

Session Tracks

Cosplay

Costume-making, prop design, styling, and crafting for cosplay and fandom-inspired creations.

DIY & Maker Projects

Hands-on sessions focused on upcycling, home décor, accessories, and creative reuse for fun, functional projects.

From Hobby to Business

For creatives ready to grow their side hustle or launch a full-time venture—covering branding, pricing, marketing, selling online, and business operations.

Garment Making

Design, patternwork, and sewing techniques to create custom clothing and fashion-forward pieces.

Mindful Making & Community

Creative practices that support well-being—includes slow stitching, mindful crafting, journaling, and meditation for crafters.

Mixed Media & Paper Crafts

Scrapbooking, card-making, painting, stamping, journaling, and layered artistic techniques across paper and fabric surfaces.

Multilingual & Cultural Sessions

Sessions taught in languages other than English or exploring global craft traditions and cultural storytelling.

Needlepoint

Timeless and contemporary needlepoint projects with decorative and functional applications.

Pop Culture & Niche Crafts

Crafting with personality—projects inspired by pop culture, niche hobbies, memes, trends, and fandoms.

Quilting (Traditional & Modern)

Patchwork, improv quilting, block design, and expressive techniques for both classic and modern quilt styles.

Yarn & Needle Arts (Knitting, Crochet)

Knitting, crochet, macramé, amigurumi, and other yarn-based techniques for all skill levels.

Suggested Session Topics

These are only suggestions. Please don’t limit yourself to this list—if you have a great idea, we want to hear it! Supported categories may receive enhanced promotional visibility.

  • Amigurumi

  • Basket Weaving or Rope Bowls

  • Beading & Jewelry Making

  • Block Printing on Fabric

  • Candlemaking

  • Contemporary Embroidery on Denim

  • Cosplay: Costume-making, Props, Character Design

  • Craft Photography 101

  • Craftivism & Social Impact Projects

  • Creating Community Through Craft

  • Creating Crafting Content for Social Media

  • Creative Branding for Fiber Artists

  • DIY Clothing & Upcycling

  • Eco Printing on Fabric

  • Fabric Marbling

  • Fiber Art Journaling

  • Handmade Paper with Fiber Inclusions

  • Handmade Throw Pillows

  • Hand Embroider

  • Hand-Spinning Your Own Yarn

  • Intro to Crafts for Little Hands

  • Intro to Rug Hooking with Yarn Scraps

  • Knitting

  • Making Your Hobby Into Making Money

  • Mixed Media Greeting Cards

  • Mini Canvas Painting

Mini Modern Quilt Blocks

Modern & Traditional Quilting

Modern Punch Needle Art

Multilingual or Culturally Rooted Projects

Natural Dyeing 101: From Kitchen to Cloth

Needlepoint

Painting Personalized Items (Initials, Names, Affirmations)

Paper Quilting or Collage

Parent-Child Collaborative Projects

Personalized Painting: Wood Signs, Wine Glass Totes, Coasters

Pop Culture & Niche Crafts

Punch Needle & Rug Hooking

Quilt Techniques: Improv, Patchwork, and More

Rock Art

Scrapbooking

Sewing / Garment / Home Accessories

Spinning & Weaving

Spanish Language Classes (any topic)

Teaching Craft Classes Online

Teen Maker Classes

Textile Wall Art

Upcycled Home Décor

Visible Mending & Sashiko

Wood Sign Making

Yarn Crafts & Fiber (Macramé, Wall Hangings, Plant Hangers)

Zero-Waste Sewing Techniques

Selection Criteria

  • Classes must focus on fiber, textile, and craft arts — including but not limited to sewing, yarn work, painting, scrapbooking, beading & jewelry, spinning, and weaving. 
  • Content must be educational in nature, enhancing attendee skills or knowledge. 
  • Each class must demonstrate a technique or teach a clear concept. 
  • Instructors must complete their session within the scheduled time. Time limits are enforced. 
  • Applications will be evaluated on class content, quality of photos, clarity of description, references, and interview (if needed). 
  • Duplicate topics will be considered based on strength of proposal or may be refined in partnership with show staff. 

Classroom Setup & Provided Equipment

  • Lavalier microphones
  • LCD projector and screen (instructor provides laptop)
  • Power Extension Cords
  • The following items are available upon request:
    • Document camera
    • Easel, flip chart, and markers
    • Irons and pressing stations in hands-on rooms

Kits & Student Supplies

While kit fees are flexible, we ask instructors to keep costs appropriate for class outcomes. All classes must include a clear supply list.

Basic student tools expected: scissors, pins, seam ripper, seam gauge, tape measure, chalk, needles, etc.

Instructor Compensation Preferences

We know compensation matters—and we want to do it right.

Rather than assume a one-size-fits-all approach, we want to hear directly from you: How do you prefer to be compensated? We’re inviting instructors across all experience levels and disciplines—quilting, scrapbooking, cosplay, knitting, crochet, and beyond—to share their expectations with us.

Some sessions may be quick 45-minute make-and-takes. Others might be three-hour deep dives. Because of this range, we’re committed to building flexibility into how we structure compensation.

Please indicate your preferred compensation model when submitting your class idea. You’ll be able to specify:

  • Total Amount Requested
  • Amount Requested Per Attendee
  • Stipend + Student Fee
  • Or suggest something else entirely under “Other”

Our goal: to meet educators where they are and ensure they feel valued, respected, and fairly compensated for their time, talent, and creativity.

Let’s build a program that uplifts the entire community—together.

Additional Instructor Expectations

  • All proposals must include a sample photo of the class project or related work (with reproduction rights).
  • Instructors with market place exhibits  are preferred for extended attendee connection.
  • We encourage scheduling follow-up time outside class hours for students to ask questions and engage.
  • Instructors are kindly asked to adhere to their allotted class time to ensure the event schedule runs smoothly.
  • The show organizer reserves the right to develop sponsorships around all programming.
  • If your session is selected, a contract agreement will be issued.
  • If your session is selected, we will coordinate with you on the final list price of the session.