Classes

Following is a list of the classes I am offering in 2013/2014. I can teach these at fiber festivals, conferences or at your local fiber store. Contact me for details about how to get me to come to you!

 

Breed Study [ 1 or 2 day - 2 day includes How to Buy a Fleece]

Why would a spinner want to spin Southdown? What is the best way to prepare a Longwool for spinning? Why is Merino such a fussy fiber? This class demystifies the what, why and how of sheep breeds.

Luxuriate in 12 (1 day) or 18 (2 day) different sheep breeds and learn how to choose the best breed for any project you have in mind. You’ll also learn the best preparation and spinning method for the type of yarn you want to make from the breed you choose.

We’ll start with an overview of sheep breeds and their 5 categories. Then you’ll get your hands wet learning to wash raw wool to maintain the lock structure, washing lock by lock as well as washing in small batches.

Next, you will try a variety of processing tools – handcards, flick cards, combs and even just your hands, to learn which methods work best for which breed types.  Now it’s time to spin! We’ll use different spinning techniques, to create yarns for specific types of knitting and we’ll spin some weaving yarns. There will be lots time for you to experiment with different processing tools and spinning techniques, to see what works for you and your style of spinning.

When you finish with this class you’ll never look at a sheep breed the same way again!

2 day workshop includes How to Buy a Fleece

Please Bring: Hand Cards, Flick, Hand Held Combs (if you don’t have them a few will be available to lend) Spinning wheel in good working order or a spindle, pen, one empty bobbin, a lap cloth is useful for flicking.

Spinning Level: Students must be able to spin a continuous thread.

 

 

How to Buy a Fleece [1/2 day]  (For Fiber Festivals)

Don’t fear the fleece barn! In this class we’ll learn how to select a fleece perfect for a project you have in mind. We’ll walk through the steps of choosing a sound fleece including hearing that ping, considering lock length and a closer look for hidden problems. We’ll also learn what makes a superior fleece and fleece barn etiquette.

Then it’s off to the fleece barn for the hands on portion of the class, actual fleece shopping.

Come to class with a fleece worthy project in mind.

Please Bring: Note taking materials

Spinning Level: All levels

 

Spinning Fine Yarns – 6 hours

This class will get you spinning finer than you ever thought possible! You will learn the mechanics of spinning fine yarn, including how to adjust your wheel for spinning fine, what spinning ratios mean and the types of drafting methods that make spinning fine yarn easier. You’ll go from spinning DK weight yarn to cobweb lace in no time at all.

 

In addition, we’ll look at the wide range of fibers that are great to use for spinning fine yarns, including commercially prepared fibers and washed fleece. We’ll work with the finest of fibers like cashmere to wools you never would have thought of for fine yarn. You’ll also learn how different fiber preparations will give the great results for fine yarn, and how to best utilize those hand combs, hand cards and flick cards.

 

Please Bring: A Spinning Wheel in good working order, hand held combs, flick and hand cards if you have them (Some tools will be available to share), note taking materials, small bags for extra fibers, hang tags for labeling. Please bring your wheel’s original flyer to use during class, Woolee Winders are not recommended for getting the most out of this class.

Spinning Level: Students must be able to spin a continuous thread.

 

 

Wool Sampler Shawl – 6 hours

 

More and more fiber folks are offering different breeds of commercially prepared fiber to spin. How is Corriedale different from Rambouillet , and just what is Polypay? How do I figure out how to spin them? This class answers those questions and more.

 

13 breeds in four different categories will be sampled and discussed in this class

 

If you are curious about spinning and knitting with the different sheep breeds it helps to know something about wools, from lock to yarn .What are their strengths and weaknesses? What are the things they do best?

Using commercially prepared fibers we will talk about how to spin different fiber types, with an emphasis on creating knitting yarns best suited to each breed category.

Knitters who spin can benefit greatly from knowing the properties of the different wool breeds so they can make informed decisions about appropriate uses.

In the end we will work on getting yarn consistency for a beautiful final shawl project to be swatched in class and finished at home. We will spin and knit small swatches of each fiber discussing how breed and style of spinning affects the knitting yarns for our shawl.

Students will leave with a shawl pattern designed for just this purpose.

 

Please Bring: A spinning wheel in good working order, 3 empty bobbins, lazy kate, hang tags for labeling samples and wool, knitting needles in a variety of sizes, and a wpi measuring tool

Spinning Level: Students must be able to spin a continuous thread.

 

Working Toward Consistency – 3 Hours

 

In this class I will show every trick I know to spinning more consistent yarns.

We will explore how drafting, twist and ply effect a finished yarn and how to manage each one for a consistent yarn.

We will talk about how twist can effect the yarn thickness just as much as drafting.

You will learn how to get an even amount of twist throughout the skein. We will also work on tweaking our drafting techniques to help even yarns out, and you’ll learn how to keep your plying consistent. I’ll give you lots of tips and tricks for keeping your yarn consistent throughout an entire project.

I will show examples of my own inconsistent yarns to demonstrate the points being made. You will have an opportunity to play “What Went Wrong” a spinners game that diagnoses the specific problems in finished yarns that aren’t quite right.

 

Please Bring: A spinning wheel in good working order, 3 empty bobbins, lazy kate, and note taking materials.

Spinning Level: Students must be able to spin a continuous thread.

 

 

Drafting Methods – 3 Hours

Woolen? Worsted? Semi-woolen? What is it? How do you do it? What kind of yarn does it make? Can’t I just draft the same way I always do?

This class will answer all of your questions and teach you 5 different drafting method – short forward draw, short backward draw, supported long draw, and long draw.

We discuss which drafting methods work best for different types of fiber, and why knowing and using different drafting methods is a good thing.

You’ll even learn which method of drafting will give you the best type of yarn for your knitting or weaving project.

Get out of your drafting rut and make beautiful yarn!

 

Please Bring: A spinning wheel in good working order, bobbins, note taking materials.

Spinning Level: Students must be able to make a continuous thread.

 

 

Finish that Skein – 3 Hours

Do you spend time deciding what drafting and plying method you will use to get a specific yarn? Then do you use the same one finishing method you always do?

 

There are many ways to finish those freshly spun skeins. It can be a bit confusing and overwhelming deciding how to choose the finishing technique. Some finishing techniques work beautifully with certain spinning techniques to get exactly the yarn you want. At other times, that tried and true finishing method is not the best.

 

In this class I will teach you 4 different finishing method and talk about what the benefits and drawbacks are of each method.

I’ll show you how to choose which finishing method is best for the type of yarn and type of project you are spinning for. We’ll spin different yarn and different fibers and see what works beautifully and what doesn’t work at all.

 

You will leave this class with a new set of ideas and information about finishing your skeins.

 

Please Bring: Spinning Wheel in good working order, at least 3 bobbins, lazy kate, note taking materials.

Spinning Level: Must be able to spin a continuous thread.

 

 

For the Love of Longwools – 3 Hours

The Longwools category of wool sometimes gets a bad rap. What do you think Masham or Lincoln or Wensleydale is good for? Many spinners will say it’s too scratchy and is really only good for upholstery or carpets.

 

It is good for both of those things if you spin it for those purposes BUT there is so much more to this category. It makes wonderful lace that really shows off all of those important holes. It is great for outerwear because it spins into a denser yarn that pills much less than other shorter stapled fibers.

 

This class will focus on the preparation and spinning 3 to 4 breeds with a 5”staple or longer .  We will learn how to get this fiber to do the things you want, including the secret to getting next-to-the-skin yarns from longwools. We will use commercially prepared fibers as well as prepare our own from washed fleece. By comparing and contrasting you’ll see what benefit there is to processing your own Longwool fleece and how bring out the best in these wools.

 

 

Please Bring: A spinning wheel in good working order, hand held combs, note taking materials. A lap cloth is also helpful.

Spinning Level: Students must be able to spin a continuous thread.

 

 

Springy Bouncy Down Breeds – 3 Hours

 

When you hear Suffolk, Southdown or Clun Forest do you think about dinner or do you think about cushy, hard to felt handspun yarn?

 

I am convinced that the Down and Down Type breeds are the most underappreciated and misunderstood of fibers. Even sometimes the shepherds who raise these sheep are unaware of their fabulous powers of spring and loft. In this class we will deconstruct and demystify down and down-type fibers, through hand preparation and sample spinning.

 

The crimp is the place to start. That spiral crimp that keeps each fiber separated from the next is what makes this wool so fantastic. It is springy and bouncy and airy. It makes the warmest of cardigans and the squooshiest of socks. The natural resistance to felting is an added bonus.

 

Combs or cards? Washing in a huge batch or by the lock? Spinning worsted ort woolen? What knitting stitches work best with these fibers? How should they be spun for weaving? We’ll answer all of these questions and find the gold hidden in these breeds.

 

Please Bring: A spinning wheel in good working order, hand cards, note taking materials, hang tags for samples. If you have a flick and/or hand combs bring those too for experimenting.

Spinning Level: Students must be able to spin a continuous thread.

 

 

Mastering Wool Combing – 3 Hours

 

Still don’t feel comfortable using hand combs? Not quite sure how to load then or how to spin the fiber from them? Or maybe you’re just a little scared of those sharp teeth.

 

Using hand combs to process your fiber isn’t hard or complicated (or dangerous) at all! It’s a very satisfying way to prepare your fiber and gives you beautifully ordered fiber to spin from.

Though it can be tricky, with a little practice everyone can use these fabulous tools to make worsted preparations. This preparation method is wonderful for bringing out the luster of wools as well as removing any neps, second cuts or weak fibers that might add unwanted texture to an otherwise smooth yarn.

Beyond using combs to process raw locks they can be used for blending colors and different fibers. You will learn how to safely use hand combs and also learn 3 methods of removing the combed fibers to spin and the differences these techniques can make in the finished yarns. We will spend time spinning gorgeously smooth and lustrous worsted yarns from our freshly combed fiber. You won’t believe the difference it makes.

 

Please Bring: Hand Combs or English Combs, spinning wheel in good working order or a spindle, note taking materials.

Spinning Level: Must be able to spin a continuous thread.

 

 

Woolen and Worsted – 3 hours or 6 hours

 

Woolen and worsted are two simple words that are the core of spinning.

 

Is it about the fiber preparation or the spinning style? There are so many different ways to look at woolen and worsted. Experts have been arguing for decades about the right and wrong of it.

 

In this class we will explore woolen and worsted wool in both preparation methods and drafting methods. After we look at all the technicalities of the words we will break it down into methods that are easy to understand and then combine the techniques in different ways to get wonderful yarns that are perfect for any project you can imagine.

 

You will use hand combs, hand cards and flick cards to prepare several different wool breeds and see what happens when you follow the rules and when you learn how to break the rules for a specific effect.

We will spin processed top and roving to look at the differences between machine and hand processed fibers.

You will leave with a deeper understanding of what the words Woolen and Worsted mean in spinning and how those two small words can open up worlds of possibility with their spinning.

 

 

Please Bring: A spinning wheel in good working order, hand cards, hand combs, flick if you have them. A few will be available to lend in class, lap cloth, hang tags for labeling and note taking materials.

Spinning Level: Must be able to spin a continuous thread.

 

 

Plying [3 hours]

Plying can make or break your final yarn.  Starting with a simple 2-ply yarn we will investigate how ply structure effects finished yarn. We’ll try out 6 plying techniques including chain ply, cable ply and more than three ply yarns. I’ll teach you Andean style plying, plus two other hand playing methods (that are less confusing) for those extra yards of singles that are always left on one of your bobbins. You’ll learn when and when not to ply from a center pull ball. We’ll also discuss which type of ply is best for different types of knitting and weaving.

Please Bring: Three bobbins half full of singles, one empty bobbin, a spinning wheel in good working order, note taking materials and a ball winder if you have one.

Spinning Level: Students must be able to spin a continuous thread.

 

Beginning Spinning on a Wheel [6 hours]

Go from beautiful fiber to beautiful yarn in just one day! Learn everything you need to know to make a good yarn including drafting and plying.  This class will get the you going in the right direction and get your hands and feet working together to make yarn that will make your proud. You will leave this class able to spin lovely yarn on your own and ready to learn more.

Please Bring: A spinning wheel in good working order and three empty bobbins, lazy kate, and note taking materials.

Spinning Level: Beginner

 

Fiber Preparation WOOLEN [3 hours]

A woolen yarn is lofty and warm. The key to an amazing woolen yarn is a woolen preparation.

Learn to create beautiful rolags, cigars, and batts using hand cards. Spin them into lofty yarn and see how the differences in rolags, cigars and batts will affect your yarns.

You’ll explore blending techniques for fibers and colors and discover how to get a consistent blend over your entire project. We’ll use 3 different breeds of fleece as well as dyed fibers and silk to make our woolen batts, rolags and cigars.

Please Bring: Spinning wheel in good working order, hand cards, note taking materials.

Spinning Level: Students must be able to spin a continuous thread.

 

 

Fiber Preparation WORSTED [3 hours]

The smoothest of yarns begin with worsted prep. It doesn’t hurt that worsted yarns are toughest wearing and show great stitch definition in knitting.

Bring your favorite set of combs and we will cover 4 techniques to get different yarn effects from your combed fibers. We will comb 3 different breeds of wool and spin them to see how the breed effects the yarn,. You’ll learn how to blend of colors and fibers how to get a consistent blend before beginning your spinning. I will tell you everything you’ve always wanted to know about all of the different types of combs that are available, and I’ll bring some different kinds for you to try.

Please Bring: Spinning wheel in good working order, hand combs or English combs, note taking materials.

Spinning Level: Students must be able to spin a continuous thread.

 

 

Buying your next (or first) wheel [3 hours] – this is only for drivable distances.

Are you ready for a new wheel? Don’t buy a spinning wheel without taking this class.

In this class you’ll learn what wheel is perfect for the way you spin right now. I’ll evaluate your spinning style, the types of yarns and fibers you spin, throw in a discussion about if you travel with your wheels and your budget and I’ll match you to a dream wheel. Plus there’s a spinning wheel petting zoo, try before you buy!

Bring your own wheel for some spinning hints and tips and a bit of a tune up.

Please Bring: Your favorite spinning wheel, note taking materials, about 2 ounces of fiber to spin.

Spinning Level: All levels

 

 

Featured Breed Study (3 hours) –  [I will give you a list to choose from, or let me know what breed your guild is interested in and I’ll do my best to find the fleece]

Everything you want to know about [featured breed]! We’ll start with the basics the history, the lineage, the ins and outs of fiber – crimp, staple, and category. Then we’ll put our hands on it and comb, card and flick the locks to see what happens. Finally we’ll spin at least 9 different yarns from this one fiber, all along the way learning what it best used for.

Please Bring: a spinning wheel in good working order or a spindle, hand combs, flick, hand cards (if you don’t have these a few will be available to lend), note taking materials.

Spinning Level: Must be able to spin a consistent thread.

 

 

 

 

Resume

Owner of the Spinning Loft ltd – 2006 to Present

 

 

Workshops and Teaching

2013 Vashon Island, Washington

Breeds Study, Spinning Fine Yarns

 

2012 Carolina Fiber Fest

Wool Breeds Study, Spinning Fine Yarns, Drafting Methods, Mastering Wool Combing

 

2012 Stringtopia – Ohio

Drafting methods, Spinning Fine Yarns, Wool Breeds Study

 

2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 Spinning Loft

Beginning Spinning, Spin the Fine Wools, Spin the Long Wools, Down Breeds (Not just for

Dinner), Those Other Wools and how to spin them, Drafting Techniques, Spinning for Lace,

Spinning Silk, Beginning Rigid heddle Weaving, Beginning Weaving on a Floor Loom

 

2009, 2012 New York State Sheep and Wool Festival

Beginning Spindle Spinning, Long Draw, Spinning Downy Fibers, Spinning Leicester Longwool, Wool Breeds Study, Spinning Fine Yarns, Drafting Methods, Mastering Wool Combing, How to Buy a Fleece

 

2012 England – Northern and Southern

Wool Breeds Study, Spinning Fine Yarns

 

2009, 2010, 2012 TNNA Columbus

How to Teach Beginning Spinning, Spin a Fiber Sampler – How to choose fiber to sell in your

yarn store.

 

2010 Spinner’s Flock

Spin the Breeds – Knowing your wool and choosing the best processing technique to get the

yarn you want.

 

2011, 2012 Michigan Fiber Festival

Beginning Spinning On a Wheel, Beginning Spindle Spinning, Getting More from Your spindle,

Wool Breeds Study, Plying, Hand Combing,

 

2011 Spin Off Aurumn Retreat

Fiber to Finish, For the Love of Longwools

 

Publications

 

Spin Off Magazine

Set Yourself Apart Spring 2013

Spinning with the Crimp in Mind, Winter 2011

Scotch Tension Brake Bands, Spring 2011

How to Finish Manufactured Fibers Summer 2010

Bamboo Scarf Summer 2010

Spinning for Beginning Weaving Winter 2008

 

Knitty

Locked Up – Washing and Spinning from the Lock Winter 2008

Longwools into Lace Fall 2009

Indian Summer Shrug Fall 2009

 

Spindlicity

In Praise of Longwools Autumn 2008

Spinning From the Fold Autumn 2008

Tying a Leader Autumn 2008

Down Breeds Winter 2009

Russian Spindle Spinning Winter 2009

Entangled

Desert Island Sheep, Fall 2012