The Interwoven Institute

04/07/2026

Do you have a craft practice in your life that has been meaningful to you? Has your craft helped you feel more connected to yourself, to those around you, or to the earth? If yes, we would love to hear from you.

Our founder Sarah Manion, is a fiber artist, writer and ordained member of Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh’s Order of Interbeing. She is currently working on a book that aspires to share how to use craft as a dharma door; a way of practicing with the material world that may help us heal our disconnection and the suffering caused by our misunderstanding of ourselves as separate from each other and the earth.

As part of this project, she wants to hear from you - fellow crafters.

🧶 How has your craft practice has impacted you, your life, or your sense of wellbeing?

🧶What relationships have grown out of or through your craft?

🧶Why do you make things, anyway?

You do not need to be a mindfulness or meditation practitioner to share your story - just willing.

Each and every story submitted here will be read by Sarah. Some stories may be utilized in her book, which is expected to be published in early-to-mid 2027.

✨ Link for submission with more information in our bio ✨

04/02/2026

Things take time. ✨

Since we launched The Interwoven Institute last summer, we have already offered a retreat, an international trip, a weaving workshop, and several Craft Sangha meetings. We are feeling inspired and happy for the growth. We also, honestly, trying to balance our offerings with our commitment to practice.

Pictured here is a knitting project by our founder, . She purchased this naturally-dyed wool yarn at last fall from . There’s been some struggle with the pattern, and she has knitted and ripped out the sweater several times. This is her 5th go 😅. A reminder that some things take longer than others.

What are you planting, growing, creating this spring?

A reminder that we hold monthly craft sanghas - the next is April 20th from 6:30-8pm in Brewster. Please join us.

Spots are still available for our June 18-21 Weekend Craft Retreat at . Link in bio to register!

03/28/2026

Everyone! Check out this gorgeous weaving by , a participant in our recent Quahog Weaving Workshop at

It is so absolutely wonderful to share an approach to craft and then see it molded and reinterpreted through another’s eyes. What a gorgeous ode to the movement and color of sea and sky 💜🌊

If you missed this workshop, another opportunity is coming this summer. Stay tuned for me details!

03/24/2026

It has been a long winter, and the time of Spring - the time of creation - is just around the corner.

Join us for a 3-day Craft Retreat Weekend at historic Knoll Farm in Waitsfield, VT () creating space, time, and opportunity for your creative practice to unfold.

Not only is this a gorgeous location, it is also the home to a special flock of Icelandic sheep who are the subject of ‘s beautiful book The Salt Stones which is a VT Book Award finalist! The way that Helen describes her deep connection to land, beings, and life through the care of her flock is profoundly resonant with our mission to reconnect to ourselves, each other, and the earth through craft.

We’re excited to partner again with Nicole Cormier, RD, LDN () who will help us expand our understanding of creativity to include the practices needed for nourishment and healing.

What to Expect:

🧶 3 nights lodging at a yurt on the farm
🧶 Farm-to-table meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
🧶 Daily mindfulness practice
🧶 Personal time for craft, rest, and enjoying the land
🧶 Herbal teas and plant wisdom for nourishment + reconnection
🧶 Wood-fired hot tun and sauna
🧶 Evening community fires
🧶 Farm tour + sheep fleece processing demo
🧶 Opportunity to meet author Helen Whybrow

✨Registration is OPEN - link in bio✨

03/16/2026

Join us TONIGHT for March’s Craft Sangha! 🧶

A craft sangha is a group of people who come together to make things and practice mindfulness.

Together, we reweave connection to ourselves, each other, and the earth through our hands.

Bring any craft project that is small enough to fit in your lap or a small table.

All are welcome regardless of experience or root tradition.

Time: 6:30-8:00pm

Location: The Barn at First Parish Brewster UU (across the street from the church at 1969 Main St)

Directions & Parking:

We meet on the 3rd floor of “The Barn” of First Parish Church. This building is located across the street from the church. There is an upper parking lot on Harwich Rd, and a lower lot off 6A - park in either.

❗️Please note: This building is NOT handicap accessible. There are 2 short flights of stairs.

This is a free event, but we’d love you to register so we can send you a reminder and let you know about any schedule updates.

Link to register in bio!

03/04/2026

Moments from our Oaxaca Interwoven Mindful Craft Journey.

We spent a full week in the Oaxaca Valley visiting artisans while holding the question:

🌱 How can craft revive connection to ourselves, each other, and the earth?

In this region, the voice of Zapotec culture speaks loudly through landscape, tradition, and color. We visited traditional weavers, black pottery artisans, red pottery artisans, ancient ruins, and cave art echoing across time and space.

Each morning we began our days with mindfulness practice, and in the evenings we worked on small weaving projects to connect body, heart, and mind to place.

Through these trips, we aspire to create experiences that reweave connection to self, to place, to community, and to the earth. Interested in joining our next trip? Join our newsletter to hear about our next destination.

✨Thank you to our local and artisan partners including:




Casa Negra

02/20/2026

Gratitude to The Cape Cod Chronicle for spreading the word about our work!

(Re)connection to ourselves, each other, and the earth is deeply needed right now.

We’re happy to be offering craft as a practice, a pathway, a joy-filled way to experience the world as it is, through our hands 🙏🧶🐑

ttps://www.capecodchronicle.com/articles/4122/view/interwoven-institute-facilitates-mindfulness-connection-and-crafting

BREWSTER – When Calmer Choice closed its doors last year, former executive director Sarah Manion made a promise: the work wouldn’t end there. This...

02/13/2026

We were so surprised to receive our IRS tax exemption certificate in the mail yesterday - months earlier than initially expected!!

For anyone who has navigated the twists and turns of bringing a nonprofit legally to life, you may resonate with our excitement, relief, and sense of satisfaction that this organizational organism that we have been tending is growing up and into its own living life form.

We so look forward to continuing to grow, evolve, create, and learn how to breathe life into our mission of reviving connection through our hands, and our desire to realize a world where interdependence and mutual flourishing is the foundation of our shared experience.

We are so grateful for all the support and encouragement we have received so far, and we look forward to creating with (and being created by) you!

01/30/2026

🌱 We do not support killing.

🌱 We do not support any act of killing in the world, in our thinking, or in our way of life.

🌱 We know that harmful actions arise from fear, anger, greed and intolerance.

🌱 We will cultivate openness, non-discrimination, and non-attachment to views to transform violence, fanaticism, and dogmatism in ourselves, and in the world.

It is our mission to revive connection to ourselves, each other, and the earth through craft. Doing so requires us to acknowledge the inhumanity and unlawfulness of the current administration.

We are inspired by the creative action of our craft community, and honor the work of and for demonstrating the power of , and the impact of community coming together to make . Thanks to their work, $250,000 has already been raised from the sale of the hat (pictured here) to immigrant aid agencies. We invite you to join us to help craft a peaceful future.

About the Melt the ICE Hat:

In the 1940’s, Norwegians made and wore red pointed hats with a tassel as a form of visual protest against N**i occupation of their country. Within two years, the N**is made these protest hats illegal and punishable by law to wear, make, or distribute. As purveyors of traditional craft, we felt it appropriate to revisit this design.

All proceeds from the sale of this pattern go to the immigrant aid agencies who will distribute the funds to those impacted by the actions of ICE.

Get the pattern on Ravelry at: www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/melt-the-ice-hat.

There is also a crochet version of the hat available at: www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/melt-the-ice-crochet-version

Please support your local yarn stores.

On Cape? The wonderful has red yarn in stock right now!

🧶 used: Rios Worsted in Ravelry Red

01/23/2026

We are so excited to announce that we will be participating in Wool Works 206! is a new event celebrating the wonder of wool and the community it holds 🐑✨

🌱When: July 18th 2026

🌱Where: North Adams, MA

The mission of Wool Works is to educate and inspire the public about the science of wool, sustainable agriculture, and the artistry that connects field, fiber, and finished goods.

Join us in celebrating local agriculture, craftsmanship, and community! This event honors small farms, breeders, and creative makers who bring the world of wool — and wool-adjacent products — to life.

01/18/2026

Join us for an evening of making things together.
A craft sangha is a group of people who come together to make things and practice mindfulness.

Together, we reweave connection to ourselves, each other, and the earth through our hands.

Bring any craft project that is small enough to fit in your lap or a small table. 🪡🧶🧵

All are welcome regardless of experience or root tradition.

Time: 6:30-8:00pm

Location: The Barn at First Parish Brewster UU (across the street from the church at 1969 Main St)

Directions & Parking:

We meet on the 3rd floor of “The Barn” of First Parish Church. This building is located across the street from the church. There is an upper parking lot on Harwich Rd, and a lower lot off of 6A. Please park in the lower lot. You will see a sign for First Parish parking (on your right when heading to Orleans). After you turn, take your first right and park in the small lot behind the barn. Enter through the door and go up the stairs to the 3rd floor.

❗️Please note: This building is NOT handicap accessible. There are 2 short flights of stairs.
This is a free event, but we’d love you to register so we can send you a reminder and let you know about any schedule updates.

Register Here: https://www.theinterwoveninstitute.org/events/craft-sangha