About Sievers School of Fiber Arts
Sievers School of Fiber Arts is a three-season craft school on Jackson Harbor Road. Walter Schutz founded it after he and his wife, Sophie Sievers Schutz, a skilled hobby weaver, wrote a booklet on how to weave; classes began in 1979 with 33 students in a one-room schoolhouse built in 1890. Today Ann and Butch Young own the school, which has added a dormitory, a teachers' cottage and two air-conditioned studios.
More than 20 instructors teach over 35 classes a year to about 350 adult students. Subjects include weaving, basketry, knitting, crochet and spinning, quilting, surface design such as dyeing, paper arts, jewelry and stitchery, plus open studios. Classes run two to seven days, and in 2026 tuition ranged from $320 for two days to $790 for seven. Students must be 16 or older, and dorm housing is available on site.
You don't have to enroll to enjoy the place. The shop in the refurbished Jackson Harbor Schoolhouse sells original work by more than 60 Sievers teachers and students, including baskets, handwoven textiles, pottery, handknits and jewelry, along with yarns, weaving tools, quilting supplies, craft kits and more than 425 book titles, including books about Washington Island. In 2026 it opened May 18 and runs through October 31.
Fragrant Isle Lavender Farm & Shop is a few minutes' drive away on the northeast side of the island, so a stop for handmade textiles pairs well with a walk through the lavender.
What to do
- Browse handwoven textiles, baskets and handknits made by teachers and students
- Stock up on weaving and knitting yarns, tools and quilting supplies
- Sign up for a two- to seven-day class in weaving, basketry or quilting
- Look for books about Washington Island and fiber arts
- Stay in the on-site dorm during a class week
Season, hours and prices
- Season
- Shop open May 18–October 31 (2026); classes run through the same three seasons
- Hours
- 2026 shop season: opens 10 am, May 18–October 31; reduced hours on Sundays and holidays
- Admission
- Shop free to browse; 2026 class tuition $320 (2 days) to $790 (7 days), materials paid to the instructor
Good to know
- Reservations
- Classes by registration; registration for 2026 opened February 1
Tips for your visit
- Popular classes fill early; registration opens February 1 with a lottery for overfilled classes
- Students must be 16 or older
- Sunday and holiday shop hours are shorter
Pair it with a lavender farm
Fragrant Isle Lavender Farm & Shop · about 5 minutes away
Both are on the north and east side of the island, a few minutes apart, so browse the fiber shop and then visit the lavender fields.
Getting there
Questions
Can I visit the Sievers shop without taking a class?
The shop posts public hours, opening at 10 am from May 18 to October 31 in 2026, with shorter Sunday and holiday hours.
How long are Sievers classes?
Two, three, four, five or seven days; 2026 tuition ran $320 to $790.
Is there an age limit for classes?
Yes. Enrollment is limited to ages 16 and older.
🗺️ Part of the guide Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of Door County, Wisconsin
Checked in October 2026 against the business’s own website and local tourism pages. Hours and seasons change, so check with them before you go. How we check listings · Is this your business? Claim it free
