SAGA HILL – Talks & Events

Image of book signing event

presentations & events on various fiber-related subjects, often with a historical perspective

To see an interview about my work,
go to Nordstjernan, a Swedish-American publication (pages 12-13).

Click here to read my article on Norwegian linen flax in
the Norwegian Textile Letter "Linen Flax in Norway – Past, Present, Future."

Photo of presentation
Presentations & Book Signings

A comment made by the president of the Västergötland Society after Wendy’s "The Threads That Connect Us" presentation…

Our speaker, Wendy Johnson was a well-kept secret! She is so gifted and talented, in all things related to textiles...specifically from Sweden...and more specifically, from the province of Västergötland. She has written books and is a pro regarding Swedish knitting! She covered Swedish wool, linen, and cotton textiles. The Ekelund Company is a premier textile manufacturer in Sweden...she challenged ASI to host an Ekelund Exhibit! Wendy...Tack sa mycket!..Tusen tack!...for an "over the top" presentation!

UPCOMING PRESENTATIONS, DEMONSTRATIONS, & EVENTS

The 2026 season is coming to an end, although some potential late-year events will be listed here. More expected in 2027!

ONGOING: BLOG ON GROWING AND PROCESSING FLAX
For three years, I have been championing a large plot of linen flax at Gale Woods Farm (an educational farm in the Three Rivers Park District) and have been blogging about the experience. In 2026, I included my experience growing my own linen flax plot at a private farm. Visit my blog to follow the projects.

PREVIOUS PRESENTATIONS

  • Keynote Address: Minnesota Federation of Weavers Annual Conference. "Flax to Linen: From Seed to Fiber, from Thread to Cloth" – Address on the history and growing of linen flax with a particular leaning towards fiber enthusiasts, and a demonstration of the mechanical steps of flax processing to create fiber for linen. Mt. Carmel, Alexandria, MN.
  • Gale Woods Farm Harvest Festival (2026). Ongoing demonstrations of linen flax processing using flax grown and biologically processed at Gale Woods Farm. Minnetrista, MN.
  • FinnFest 2026 (an annual national festival in the U.S. celebrating Finnish-American heritage & broader Nordic culture). Display showing the history and modern-day application of linen in Finland. Weavers Guild of Minnesota.
  • "Flax to Linen: From Seed to Fiber" – A presentation on the history and cultivation of linen flax and demonstration of the mechanical steps of flax processing to create fiber for linen. Carver County Library, Chanhassen, MN.
  • Minnesota State Fair (2026), Demonstration of Linen Flax Processing, presented jointly with Matt Holen, Research Scientist, University of Minnesota – Weavers Guild of Minnesota demonstration stage, Creative Activities Building.
  • Demonstration of Swedish Handcrafting – American Craft Council, Craft Fest (2026), American Swedish Institute handcrafting booth.
  • Holiday crafting workshop using linen flax fiber that Saga Hill processed from Gale Woods Farm flax stalks – Gale Woods Farm Sheep Shearing and Holiday Craft event.
  • Demonstrations of Linen Flax Processing using flax from Gale Woods Farm – Gale Woods Farm Harvest Festival.
  • Demonstration of Swedish Huck Weaving – Ingebretsen's Needlework Shop Annual Sale event.
  • Minnesota State Fair (2025), Demonstration of Linen Flax Processing – Weavers Guild of Minnesota demonstration stage, Creative Activities Building.
  • Demonstration of Swedish Handcrafting – American Craft Council, 2025 Craft Fest, American Swedish Institute handcrafting booth.
  • Demonstration of Processing Perennial Flax Fibers to Linen Fiber – Perennial Flax Field Day. An event sponsored by AURI (Agricultural Utilization Research Institute) and the University of Minnesota.
  • "Flax to Linen: From Seed to Fiber" – A talk on the history and growing of linen flax, and a demonstration of the mechanical steps of flax processing to create fiber for linen. RidgePointe, Minnetonka, MN.
  • Linen Flax Processing Demonstration – Three Rivers Park District, Gale Woods Farm, Fall Fest, using the flax grown and biologically processed at the farm.
  • Flax Spinning Demonstration – American Swedish Institute, Midsommar Festival
  • “Linen Flax: from seed to fiber” – a talk on the subject of linen flax growing and processing, and a flax processing demonstration – Weavers' Guild of Minnesota, Open Book Performance Hall
  • “Working With Flax: from seed to linen” – a talk on the subject of linen flax growing and processing, and a flax processing demonstration – University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Friends of the Library quarterly meeting
  • Flax Processing Demonstration – American Swedish Institute, Midsommar Festival
  • “The Threads That Connect Us: The rich history of the textile industry in Västergötland, Sweden – American Swedish Institute, Västergötland Society
  • “Fiber Is To Dye For!” – Llama Magic Festival
  • Guest Speaker “Behind the Scene – the Production of Yarn Works” – Minnesota Knitters’ Guild
  • Flax Processing Demo – Ingebretsen’s Needlework Shop
  • Flax Processing Demo – Gale Woods Farm
  • “Silk: Dyeing and Spinning an Ancient Luxury the Modern Way!” – Mother Earth News Fair
  • Flax & Silk Spinning Presentation, Workshop, & Book Signing – Carole’s Country Knits at Rocking Horse Farm

PREVIOUS BOOKSIGNING VENUES

  • North Star Farm Tour
  • YarnOver (Annual Minnesota Knitters’ Guild Conference)
  • Shepherd’s Harvest (Minnesota’s Annual Sheep & Wool Festival)
  • MidWest Weavers’ Conference
  • Mother Earth News Fair
  • Spelmanstämma/Hemslöjden (Swedish Handwork – Needle, Hook, & Shuttle)
  • The Bookcase (Wayzata, MN)
  • Ingebretsen’s Needlework Shop (Mpls, MN)
  • Gale Woods Farm – Three Rivers Park District
  • Iowa Sheep and Wool Festival
  • Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival
  • Knit One (Pittsburgh, PA)
  • New York Sheep and Wool Festival

If you have a venue in which you would like me to speak about my book, design process, fiber, spinning, dyeing, and/or knitting (particularly Swedish knitting tradition), please contact me.