Thursday October 15, 2009

9:00 am – 12:00 noon

Cost: $75

Class Size: 20

 

Learn this fast, relaxed method for spinning soft, lofty yarns! Once you learn the long draw you won’t want to go back to any other method. We will discuss the difference between worsted and woolen techniques, how to set up your spinning wheel to get the yarn you want, and semi-worsted and semi-woolen techniques. Amaze your friends with your newly-acquired one-handed spinning technique!

 

Students should bring: Spinning Wheel, extra bobbins, lazy kate, niddy noddy

 

Instructor will provide: Fibers

 

Skill Level: Beginner

 

 

 

 

Thursday October 15, 2009

1:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Cost: $75

Class Size: 20

 

We will start off by looking at a Leicester Longwool fleece and discussing the properties of the breed and longwools in general, as well as the uses of the yarn. Students will try their hand at combing the fiber and spinning prepared fibers in a variety of methods.

 

Students should bring: Spinning wheel, Lazy Kate, extra bobbins, wool hand cards, wool combs if they have them.

 

Skill Level: Students must be able to spin and ply.

 

 

 

 

Friday October 16, 2009

9:00 am – 4:30 pm

Cost: $150

Class Size: 15

 

Do you love lace knitting? Do you want to take it to the next level? Learn the secrets of designing your own lace patterns. We will take an in-depth look at the stitches that make lace happen and discuss the important roles they play and how to manipulate them. We will then look at existing lace patterns and learn to dissect them to see how they work. Students will learn to combine lace stitch patterns successfully and finally we will discuss strategies for designing you own stitch patterns.

 

Students should bring: fingering weight yarn in a solid color and appropriate needles for the yarn.

 

Instructor will provide: Fibers

 

Skill Level: Experienced lace knitters

 

 

 

 

Saturday October 17, 2009

9:00 am – 12:00 noon

Cost: $75

Class Size: 15

 

This class is a hands-on experimental drumcarding class. We will make a variety of different yarns by carding “stuff” into wool. Examples of things to be carded in: Cut sari silk, shredded clothing, shredded paper, dyed silk noils, cut up yarn, felt, natural plants materials and other experiments. Emphasis will be on freeing creativity and creating a sound yarn.

 

Students should bring: Spinning wheel, lazy kate, extra bobbins, wool hand cards, drum carder if they have one

 

Skill Level: Students should be able to spin and ply. Can be done on a spindle.

 

Instructor will provide: wool, fibers for blending, drum carder

 

 

 

 

 

(You may be interested in Beginning Handspindle with Donna Kay - click here )

 

 

Saturday October 17, 2009

1:00pm – 4:30pm

Cost: $75

Class Size: 20

 

Learn the magic of making your own yarn, no experience necessary! In this class we will take a stick with a weight on it and use it to turn a pile of fluffy soft wool into yarn. Students will learn about drafting, twist and how to drop spindle without dropping the spindle (much). Once you try this relaxing and ancient craft, you’ll want to make all your own yarn!

 

Students should bring a spindle if they have one. 

 

Instructor will provide: fibers and spindles

 

Skill Level: Beginner

 

 

 

 

Sunday October 18, 2009

9:00 am – 12:00 noon

Cost: $75

Class Size: 20

 

Learn to spin these dreamy soft luxury fibers! Cashmere, Yak and other down fibers can be easy to spin once you know how. We will discuss the properties of the down fibers, methods of spinning, and, of course, how to finish the yarn properly to get that lovely soft bloom. Students will go home with a lace sampler pattern to showcase these gorgeous fibers.

 

Students should bring: spinning wheel, extra bobbins, lazy kate, niddy noddy

 

Instructor will provide: Fibers

 

Skill Level: Should be able to spin and ply

 

 

 

 

Janel Laidman is the author of “The Eclectic Sole, Socks for Adventurous Knitters” and “The Painted Skein: A colorwork notebook for spinners and knitters”. She has been knitting for 26 years and spinning for the last 17 years and has participated in various fiberarts for most of her life. Janel is a new resident of Eugene, OR where she is hard at work on her next book. Janel is also the owner and editor of Spindlicity, an online magazine about handspinning.