Andrea Vail

Reworking Textiles For Function and Concept

November 6 - 9, 2025

Open to All Skill Levels

Textiles, Sculpture

Overview

This beginner-friendly workshop is an introduction to transforming preowned textiles into something new. Focused on creative reuse, participants will learn rag rug-making techniques to repurpose materials like sentimental garments, old clothes, textile home goods, and fabric scraps. Students may work conceptually or focus on making functional rag rugs, exploring multiple methods including crochet, knotless netting, no-sew braiding, and hand and machine sewing. Students will create samples and leave with either a small completed project or the skills to finish a larger in-progress piece. Students are encouraged to bring textiles to use and also participate in a materials swap. All skill levels are welcome.

Course Fee : $506.00

Download The Materials List

Scholarships & Material Fees

Need help covering workshop costs? Arrowmont offers financial aid opportunities to broaden access to our arts and craft programs. We believe a diverse community enriches the learning experience for all.

Material fees are not included in our national workshop costs, but are included with the cost of our winter short workshops. A material list with estimated costs will be emailed about 30 days before the national workshop begins.

TUITION & FEES

SCHOLARSHIPS

Cost Breakdown

Registration Fee

$50.00

Weekend Workshop Tuition

$506.00

Estimated Cost*
*Fees exclude housing and meal plans

$556.00

VIEW HOUSING & MEAL PLAN COSTS

Artist Bio

Andrea Vail

Andrea Vail is an interdisciplinary artist based in Western North Carolina who explores connections between objects, people, and their collective communities. Her work has been exhibited nationally at venues including Form & Concept in Santa Fe, the Wiregrass Museum of Art in Alabama, the Oregon College of Art and Craft, and across North Carolina at CAM Raleigh, the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum, Hodges Taylor, and the Mint Museum. Vail has taught in university textile programs, led technique-specific workshops, and recently facilitated her community-driven project, Collecting Pile, with Goodyear Arts in Charlotte, North Central College in Naperville, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, the Cameron Art Museum in Wilmington, and various community partners in Winston-Salem. Andrea holds a BFA from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and an MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University. Andrea serves on the boards of Surface Design Association and Blue Ridge Fiber Guild.

Artist Website

Explore the Textiles Studio

Located on the second floor of the Turner Building, the Textile Studio looks out over a sunny hill towards the Wood Building and downtown Gatlinburg. A bright and spacious space equipped for all things fabric and textiles, the workshop rotation in this space is as diverse and wide-reaching as the students and artists that populate our campus. A peaceful atmosphere with intimate corners for quiet sewing and contemplation give way to joy and laughter when the room is filled with the repetitive whir of the sewing machine or the plop of a freshly dipped garment in a vat of dye.

Explore the Textiles Studio