Note: This class is offered through Lessonface.  Please click here to register on their website. 

Kudzu is a semi-woody, twining vine native to Asia and northern Australia and a member of the legume family. With approximately 15 species originating in China, Taiwan, Japan, and India, kudzu has a long and complex history. First developed in China, it is believed to be one of Asia’s oldest textile fibers, dating back to the New Stone Age, prior to 3150 BCE.

Introduced to the United States as an ornamental plant in 1876, kudzu was later promoted for erosion control before being removed from the government’s approved crops list in 1954 due to its aggressive growth. While often targeted for eradication, kudzu has also been embraced by modern herbalists, basket makers, and fiber artists who recognize its remarkable versatility. Join Paula Vester as she explores the fascinating history of kudzu and shares her personal journey working with this prolific plant as a material for weaving and papermaking.

Paula Vestor has been spinning and dyeing for 45 years, sharing her passion for fiber with others and researching and experimenting with yarns, dyes, and techniques.  Throughout the years, she has been active in her local guilds, both in Savannah where she first learned to spin and weave, and in Atlanta as one of the founding members of Peachtree Handspinners Guild. She has taught workshops for all ages, demonstrated and talked history all over the Metro Atlanta Area, and traveled the U.S. teaching at Wool Markets and Fiber Conferences. Since 1996 Paula has explored kudzu as a weaving fiber and explores ways to fit kudzu into her fiber art and encourage other artists to begin their own journeys

$0 -$5

Additional Supply Fee:  None. 

Scholarship Available: No.

Level: Open to all levels.

Class Schedule: Class will meet online from 6-7 pm EST on July 10, 2026.

Note: This class is offered through Lessonface.  Please click here to register on their website.