Purpose Driven
Meaningful employment for people with disabilities drives what we do.
Handcrafted Quality
Locally sourced fiber & traditional looms creates durable products.
Community Focused
We aren't just a shop, we are a hub for creatives and artists.
Wapsi Weaving began with our daughter, Brianna.
When Brianna aged out of the school system, we found ourselves asking a question many families face: What does meaningful work look like now? Brianna has Down Syndrome and hearing loss, and like many capable adults, she simply needed the right environment to thrive.
Our journey actually began with sheep.
In 2020 we started with just four sheep on our farm in Eastern Iowa. Curious about what could be made from their wool, we sent our fleeces to a small wool mill to be washed and spun into yarn. The mill owner later surprised us by weaving a rug from our wool. Seeing a finished rug made from animals we raised was a powerful moment. It connected the farm, the fiber, and the craft in a way we hadn’t imagined.
In 2021 we purchased one of the mill’s looms and began learning to weave ourselves.
As we learned more about wool and textiles, we discovered that Lincoln sheep, a historic heritage breed, produce long, lustrous fibers that create exceptionally strong and durable rugs. Their wool became the foundation of many of our woven pieces.
Later we added CVM sheep (California Variegated Mutant), another heritage breed known for its beautiful natural colors and slightly softer wool. Their fiber lends itself well to scarves and other textiles where a softer feel is desired.
Around this time we realized something important — Brianna had a natural ability for weaving. She enjoyed the rhythm and focus of the loom and quickly developed real skill. Not as a hobby. Not as therapy. But as meaningful work.
That realization became the beginning of Wapsi Weaving.
What started in a small space on our farm has grown into a weaving studio located inside an 1800s schoolhouse in Central City, Iowa, where we opened our doors in 2024.
Today, Wapsi Weaving is a working studio where people with disabilities weave alongside others in an inclusive environment built around real craftsmanship. Our weavers create handwoven rugs and textiles using wool from our own sheep along with other natural fibers.
At Wapsi Weaving, every piece tells a story — of sheep and wool, of heritage craft, and of the belief that everyone deserves the chance to do meaningful work.
What We Make
Every rug, runner, and textile in our shop is one of a kind.
Many pieces begin with wool from our own sheep or other regional fiber. Others are made from thoughtfully repurposed materials, like recycled denim.
Each item is woven on traditional looms using time-tested techniques that prioritize durability and design.
We don’t mass produce.
We don’t outsource.
We don’t rush the process.
What you’ll find here are heirloom-quality pieces made by real hands, with care and intention, ready to live in real homes.
Why It Matters
When you purchase from Wapsi Weaving, you’re not just buying a rug or towel.
You’re helping keep an inclusive workspace open in small-town Iowa.
You’re supporting skilled employment for individuals whose abilities deserve recognition.
You’re investing in craft, in land, in local fiber, in dignity.
Our weavers learn skills. They take pride in what they create. And our community grows stronger because of it.
That’s the heart of it.
More Than A Store
Wapsi Weaving is also a gathering place.
We host fiber nights, workshops, and classes. People come to learn, to watch, to try their hand at weaving. Conversations happen around looms. Friendships are formed. Craft becomes connection.
You can walk into our studio and see the work being done. You can feel the history of the schoolhouse. You can meet the makers.
It’s local. It’s real. It’s grounded in Iowa soil and small-town values.
If you value craftsmanship.
If you want your purchases to mean something.
If you believe beautiful things should carry a story.
We’d love to welcome you.
Every piece is one of a kind.
And every purchase helps keep this work — and this inclusive space — going.