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Online and In-Person Basket Weaving Workshops Offered by Saint Meinrad
Saint Meinrad Archabbey will host a series of online and in-person basket weaving workshops titled “Basket Weaving: Beginning and Beyond,” taught by Br. Jean Fish, OSB.
Online Workshops:
Each online basket weaving workshop will meet for three days via Zoom for two hours each day. The workshop will cover the fundamentals for creating a twined basket. Along with learning how to form a basket, participants will learn how to incorporate patterns to add a personal touch to their work. No prior experience is required to take this workshop.
While a PDF version of the instructions will be provided, participants are expected to purchase their own materials. The list of materials can be found at saintmeinrad.org/visit-us/art-workshops/2026-virtual-basket-classes/.
Online workshops will be offered from 1–3 p.m. Central time on the following dates in 2026:
- September 25–27
- November 21–23
- December 4–6
Each three-day online workshop costs $75.
In-person Workshops:
The in-person workshops will be held on the Saint Meinrad campus. Participants will learn the fundamentals for weaving a twined basket by creating a set of two or three bowls. Demonstrations will cover topics such as how to start and finish a basket, how to modify the basket’s shape, and how to add patterned designs. Further art discussions will include topics such as color theory, proportions, and pattern generation.
While most of the supplies will be provided, participants are encouraged to bring a variety of cotton or wool yarn for weaving patterns into their baskets. Participants who choose to take the workshop again will learn more intermediate and advanced techniques. Some of the techniques and project options for returning participants include weaving a lidded jar or box, weaving a bag, adding a handle, and weaving a pattern with three colors. All skill levels are welcome.
Between weaving sessions, participants can spend time praying with the monks, walking Saint Meinrad’s various trails, or visiting the art gallery in the Archabbey Library.
In-person workshops will be offered on the following dates in 2026:
- September 14–17 for $655
- October 16–18 for $545
Basket weaving has a history associated with Western monasticism. While working with one’s hands, the process lends itself to contemplation. Taking a basket weaving workshop will provide some technical skills for learning a new craft, but it is also a way to engage with the rich history and spirit that are present at Saint Meinrad.
Br. Jean is a monk of Saint Meinrad Archabbey, originally from Poway, CA. He made his solemn vows at Saint Meinrad in January 2019. Along with teaching art workshops and retreats, he is a mentor for the men discerning a monastic vocation.
In 2013, Br. Jean completed a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology at Sonoma State University. He earned a Master of Arts in Theology at Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in 2019. In 2024, he completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in sculpture at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
The primary art medium that he uses is sculptural basket weaving. He learned this process while taking a week-long workshop at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in 2021. The process of basket weaving involves making each individual stitch by hand. The rigidity of a finished basket comes from the tension of the strings that make the basket. While pursuing his Bachelor of Fine Arts, his work explored grief and the role that contemplation can have during the search for peace.
His artwork can be viewed on Instagram at @brjeanfish and purchased at Saint Meinrad Books & Gifts; Traditional Arts Today in Ferdinand, IN; and Arrowmont in both Gatlinburg, TN, and Knoxville, TN.
To register, visit saintmeinrad.org/visit-us/art-workshops/ or call the Guest House and Retreat Center at 812-357-6611. Email Br. Jean at [email protected] with any questions.