Handspinning Classes

Learn to Spin

Learn the basics starting with learning how the yarn moves through your hands before it is twisted on the drop spindle and graduate to the spinning wheel. You will learn how to make usable yarn, what makes a good yarn, how to ply, a little about different types of spinning fibers, and basic wheel maintenance. Includes all supplies and a drop spindle. Book is extra.

Required book: Start Spinning by Maggie Casey

Required equipment: Scissors, pen and paper, and niddy noddy. If you already have a spinning wheel in good working order, bring it for the second half of the class. If you have a used wheel that needs maintenance you must bring it in to the shop two weeks prior to class. $15.00 fee for tune up; repair charge may apply. Please call ahead.

Annie Szuch, $75 class fee per two-session class, includes drop spindle and wool.

2960 Spinning Boot Camp

Dates: Saturdays, 10/10/2009, 11/14, 12/12, 1/16, 2/13, 3/13, 4/10, & 5/8, 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm, 8 sessions

Tune up your wool spinning skills with this eight session study course. Just some of what we'll cover: measuring, documentation, plying, worsted and woolen spinning, color, texture, ultra fine spinning, singles for knitting and weaving, and spinning for a project. See handout for more details.

Required supplies and equipment: Spinning wheel, standard niddy noddy (1.5 or 2 yard), dog comb, 3x5 cards, Avery hang tags for labeling skeins, 3" notebook with sheet protectors. For class #2: hand carder (72 or 112)and flick carder; for class #3: wool combs. Fine spinning whorl/bobbin/flyer (depends on wheel).

Required Books: Spinning Wool: Beyond the Basics, Anne Field

Prerequisite: None

Cherie Cornick, $250 class fee, no materials fee

1901 Flax to Linen - A Spinning Experience

Dates: Sunday, April 19, 11:00 am to 5:00 pm, 1 session

Flax is seldom spun by today's spinners. Many consider it coarse, some think it is hard to spin. We'll test various preparations and you can see what place it has in your spinning agenda. We'll spin various preparations and see how long line flax differs from top, how bleached differs from natural, how blends behave and more. As an added bonus, learn about the entire process from seed to linen.

Required supplies and equipment: Participants should bring with them: Working spinning wheel with all whorls, spare drive band (just in case!), scissors, WPI measure, mini niddy noddy, three empty bobbins. Materials included in class fee: Linen strick, linen top, raimie top, bleached linen top, wool/linen top, unprocessed flax, hemp, tags and handouts (assumes all fibers commercially available at time of class).

Required Books: None

Prerequisite: None

Joan Hoover, $110 class fee, no materials fee