List of All Classes &
Their Availability
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Color Key:
- Class Filled
- Class & Wait List Filled
- Class Cancelled
Friday Classes
Morning Classes- Beginning Inkle Loom Weaving – Leslie Verts
- Learn to Spin Using a Turkish Style Spindle – Amelia Garripoli
- Ooops! Correcting Mistakes and Learning to “Read” Your Knitting – Harry Wells
- Spinning Tweed – Jacey Boggs Faulkner
- Woolen Watercolors – Tammy Jordan
- Beginning Rigid Heddle – Diane McKinnon
- Beginning Wheel Spinning – Linda Hansen
- Dye Your Own Gradient Yarn - Terry Mattison
- Exploring the Drum Carder – Henry and Roy Clemes
- Spinpossible – Mission Objective: Spinning 201 – Next Steps – Michael Kelson
- Water, Time and Patience: Creating a Wet Felt Hat – Sara Gibson
- Lovely Twists and Turns – Harry Wells
- Needle Felted Sheep or Goat – Anna Anderson
- Perfect Pairs – Blending Wool with Exotic Fibers – Jacey Boggs Faulkner
- Pine Needle Basket – Jaqui Eicher
- Upgrade Your Power Spinning – Amelia Garripoli
Saturday Classes
Morning Classes- Basic Core Spinning – Charan Sachar
- Short Row Magic – Harry Wells
- Spinning the Orenburg Way – Galina Khmeleva
- Spinning Your Dream Yarn – Jacey Boggs Faulkner
- Spinpossible – Mission Objective: Doing More with Less – Michael Kelson
- The ABCs of Drop Spindling – Teresa Waldo
- Advanced Pick-up Inkle Weaving – Leslie Verts
- Adventures in Drum Carding – Henry and Roy Clemes
- Design and Dye Your Own Warp – Terry Mattison
- Fiber Prep 101 – Tammy Jordan
- One Pot Dye Wonder! – Diane McKinnon
- Colorwork the Easy Way: Mosaic Knitting – Harry Wells
- Fundamental Elements and Pattern Design for Orenburg Lace Knitting – Galina Khmeleva
- Short Steps to Long Draw – Ruth Northrop
- Spinpossible – Mission Objective: Spinning for Sweaters – Michael Kelson
- Supported Spindle Spinning – Teresa Waldo
- The Art of Plying – Jacey Boggs Faulkner
Sunday Classes
Morning Classes- 2-D Needle-Felted Sheep Faced Tote Bag or Pillow – Anna Anderson
- Amigurumi Antics! – Teresa Waldo
- Artsy Nuno Scarf – Lauralee DeLuca
- Defining Sustainability in Apparel and Textiles to Harness It as a Marketing Tool for Your Fiber or Farm Business – Allen Mesick
- Exploring Fiber from Foreign Breeds – Lois Olund
- Intro to Blending Boards – Henry and Roy Clemes
- Intro to Mushroom Dyeing – Sara Gibson
- Russian Style Continental Knitting – Galina Khmeleva
- Spinning Cabled Yarns – Jacey Boggs Faulkner
- Advanced Inkle Weaving 2 – Leslie Verts
- Delightful Drafting – Ruth Northrop
- Grafting with a Russian Twist – Galina Khmeleva
- Kumi-What?! Kumihimo – Diane McKinnon
- Make a Pine Needle Basket – Jaqui Eicher
- Spinning Silk Hankies without Tears – Barbara diJeannene
- Spinning the Long Wools – Lauralee DeLuca
- Stranded Knitting with Portuguese Purling – Teresa Waldo
- Turkish Spindle Productivity – Amelia Garripoli
Workshop Descriptions
SATURDAY, JUNE 29, MORNING CLASSES
Basic Core Spinning
Charan Sachar 20 studentsSaturday, June 29, 9am-12pm
Cost: $80 Plus Materials Fee: $35 – includes fiber, core yarn, ply thread.
Class Description: What core to use? Should I pre-twist my core?My core-spun yarn always has extra twist, how do I fix that? What fiber prep can I use for core spinning? If you haven't tried core spinning because of these questions (or more), this will be the perfect starting place where the basics of core spinning will be covered. Core spinning is a great basic skill set to have for making simple and complex art yarns.
Skill Level Required: Must be familiar with your wheel, can spin a continuous thread, and make a plied yarn.
Students Bring: Spinning wheel with large orifice (½" or more) to accommodate textured yarns, at least two bobbins, lazy-kate, note taking materials.
Instructor's Bio: Charan Sachar is an artist whose work reflects his passion for the fiber arts, like knitting, spinning, weaving, quilting, and he uses it as an inspiration for his clay work. In all the fields that he works in, Charan loves to accept challenges and approach the making with a "what if..." attitude. Charan specializes in creating art yarns with textures, using traditional spinning techniques, and pushing them an extra step to create unique yarns. As a teacher, he shares his preferences and his learnings along his journey, but also encourages his students to try techniques/materials by themselves and then decide for themselves.
Short Row Magic
Harry Wells 20 studentsSaturday, June 29, 9am-12pm
Cost: $80 Plus Materials Fee: $2 – printed materials
Class Description: Inserting short rows can create angles and curves, making amazing shaped knitted shawls, angles on garments, and additional shaped ease in areas like busts. In this class you will learn and practice five methods of shorts rows: Wrape and Turn, Japanese, German, Yarn-Over, and Shadow. Examples of applica-tions will be covered with worksheets and specific patterns for easy projects suggested.
Skill Level Required: Advanced beginner/intermediate; Partici-pants should be able to accomplish basic long tail cast-on, and basic stitches such as knit, purl, K2tog, SSK, and YO without assistance.
Students Bring: Worsted or DK eight wool yarn in light or medium color (no dark colors), needles you usually use with that weight yarn, locking stitch markers or knitters' pins. Homework: With the medium or light colored DK or Worsted weight yarn from the supply list, and with size of needle appropriate to your yarn, CO 28 sts. Knit 4 rows (garter stitch) and then work 4 row of stockinette stitch. Leave yarn attached and bring to class.
Instructor's Bio: See Oops! Correcting Mistakes and Reading Your Knitting in Friday's morning listing for bio.
Spinning the Orenburg Way
Galina Khmeleva 20 studentsSaturday, June 29, 9am-12pm
Cost: $80 Plus Materials Fee: $15 – extensive handouts and fiber packet
Class Description: Come join renowned lace knitting and handspinning instructor Galina Khmeleva, author of Gossamer Webs, The History and Techniques of Orenburg Lace Shawls, and Gossamer Webs, The Design Collection, as she introduces you to the magical handspinning techniques of Russian spinners using the Russian supported spindle. This technique results in creating the yarns for the famous scarves and shawls of the Orenburg region. In this workshop the emphasis will be on the spinning of luxury fibers, i.e., cashmere, qiviut, pygora, buffalo, etc. You will learn the significance of gauging the proper thickness and length of these fibers, while learning the more economical use of luxury fibers, helping you conserve precious yardage.
Skill Level Required: Students must have some spinning experi-ence on either a wheel or spindle and be able to spin a continuous thread.
Students Bring: No advanced preparation required. Please bring a support spindle and bowl to class if you have them. Instructor will have some for use in class if you do not have them. Homework: None.
Instructor's Bio: Galina Khmeleva, lace knitter, spinner, and educator extraordinaire, is the author of Gossamer Webs, The History of Orenburg Lace Shawls, and Gossamer Webs: The design Collection. She has mentored classes all over the globe, including Great Britain, Italy, Australia, the United States, and Craft Cruises "Baltic Cruise." Galina's work has appeared in the industry's leading magazines including Piecework, Interweave Knits, Spin•Off, Knitting Tradi-tions, Knitter's Magazine, Cast-On, Wild Fibers and Verena USA. Galina was born and educated in 1950 in Leningrad, Russia (known today as St. Petersburg). It soon became clear that her interests lie more in the field of art and less in science or mathematics, so Galina took advantage of every opportunity to participate in special after school art programs and continues to pursue and pass along her lifelong passion through teaching.
Spinning Your Dream Yarn
Jacey Boggs Faulkner 18 studentsSaturday, June 29, 9am-12pm
Cost: $80 Plus Materials Fee: $20 – includes all fibers used in class\
Class Description: If you've ever said, "I used to spin a nice bulky yarn and I can't spin anything but fine now!" or "Everything I spin looks the same!," here you'll learn a simple spinning method that allows you and your wheel to work in harmony to spin the perfect yarn for projects you have in our mind's eye. We'll look at diameter control and how to change your spinning style to get the yarn you need to create the fabric you want
Skill Level Required: Students should have a good working relationship with your wheel and be capable of spinning a consistent single.
Students Bring: Students should bring their wheel and all its parts – even the ones you don't use, 4 bobbins if you have them and a lazy-kate.
Spinpossible-Mission Objective: Doing More with Less
Michael Kelson 16 studentsSaturday, June 29, 9am-12pm
Cost: $80 plus Materials Fee: $25 – includes all fiber and samples used in class
Class Description: We sometimes come across small amounts of rare and unusual fibers that we want to incorporate into our spinning (e.g. qiviut, guanaco, bison, yak, cashmere) but often we're not quite sure what to do with them. This class will discuss techniques for making small amounts of a precious fiber go a long way. We will discuss blending with complimentary fibers, percentages in blend-ing, and how to spin to take advantage of the characteristics of the blended fibers most effectively. We will also discuss spinning more finely and consistently (spinning a thinner diameter single is a good way to stretch your fiber) and plying with commercial or hand-spun silk (like the Orenburg spinners!) to increase the yardage of that special fiber.
Skill Level Required: Successful students should have a good working relationship with their spinning wheels, be able to spin a consistent single, and have some experience plying and finishing yarn.
Students Bring: Spinning wheel in good working condition with extra bobbins, and lazy-kate. Students should bring a pair of cotton cards and any fiber you would like to practice with and note taking materials.
Instructor's Bio: See Spinpossible-Mission Objective: Spinning 201: Next Steps in Friday's all-day listing for bio.
The ABCs of Drop Spindling
Teresa Waldo 20 studentsSaturday, June 29, 9am-12pm
Cost: $80 Plus Materials Fee: $15 – includes fiber and printed hand outs
Class Description: If you have always been intrigued by spinners demonstrating their craft, have been curious about yarn construc-tion, and / or have always wanted to learn to spin yourself, then this class is for you. We will begin with some background knowledge on drop spindles (history, types, anatomy, weights and mechanics, and supplemental tools). Then we will get down to the business of learning the steps to spinning a single on a spindle (choosing a spindle and fiber, starting with or without a leader thread, drafting techniques, winding on and building a secure cop). After spinning for a while and fine tuning our techniques, we will explore winding off options, plying options, and how to finish your yarn. And yes, you will go home a spinner! This class is also great for wheel spinners who want to master a spindle!
Skill Level Required: None
Students Bring: Bring a drop spindle (instructor will have some for use in class if you do not own one of your own).
Instructor's Bio: Teresa Waldo combines her passion for teaching with her passion for crafting. She is a retired elementary teacher and has taught adult crafting classes for ten plus years. Teresa has been knitting since age five and has fallen down other fiber related rabbit holes (spinning, weaving, crocheting) in the last 20 years. Teresa loves sharing her excitement for anything fiber related with others and has keen ability to break a skill down into manageable steps. She makes sure all her students are successful and that they leave with a new skill. Teresa has taught various knitting, spinning, little loom weaving, and crocheting classes in shops around the Pacific North-west and at regional conferences. She resides in Auburn, Washing-ton and is a member of NwSFA, Arachne Guild, Moonspinners Guild, Yarning for Community, and Covington Knitworms.
SATURDAY, JUNE 29, ALL-DAY CLASSES
Adventures in Drum Carding
Henry and Roy Clemes 16 studentsSaturday, June 29, 9am-12pm and 1:30pm-4:30pm
Cost: $150 Plus Materials Fee: $50 – includes all fiber carded during class, and use of blending boards and other equipment.
Class Description: This is the companion class to "Exploring the Drum Carder." In this class, we will continue to demystify the drum carder. Batts will be prepared both semi-worsted and woolen. Students will learn different techniques to create an art batt, prepare batts for spinning sock yarn, and learn to add silk or bamboo onto woolen batts. Students will also learn to remove fiber as rolags and pencil-sized sliver through a diz. An ambitious goal of 5 batts produced during class means students will have ample carded fiber for spinning and small projects after class. All carding and blending will be done on our Elite Series Drum Cardera with each student using their own electric carder. All materials, carders, and tools will be provided for use by the instructors.
Skill Level Required: None
Students Bring: Students should bring an attitude for learning. All tools and materials will be provided by instructors.
Instructor's Bio: See Exploring the Drum Carder in Friday's all-day listing for bio.
Advanced Inkle Weaving
Leslie Verts 15 studentsSaturday June 29, 9am-12pm and 1:30pm-4:30pm
Cost: $150 Plus Materials Fee: $10 – handouts and heddles
Class Description: Students will learn the pick-up technique of pattern design in inkle weaving. This is an easier method of doing pickup work.
Skill Level Required: Advanced
Students Bring: Need functioning inkle loom with a tension bar, inkle weaving shuttle; need three colors (white with a dark color [black, and dark brown, blue, red, or purple] and a bright contrast color) of 5/2 cotton thread.
Instructor's Bio: See Beginning Inkle Weaving in Friday's morn-ing listing for bio.
Design and Dye Your Own Warp
Terry Mattison 12 studentsSaturday, June 29, 9am-12pm and 1:30pm-4:30pm
Cost: $150 Plus Materials Fee: $35 – includes dye, cotton warps, and handouts.
Class Description: Design your own warp, first on paper and then we'll get the dyes out and hand paint our own warps. The instructors will provide multiple bouts of cotton warp and fiber reactive dyes for students to use. Paint a warp that is one color, two colors, or more. Asymmetrical or symmetrical? Students will take home dyed and wrapped warps to finish curing at home. There will be discussions on color blending, theory, and design ideas. Students will blend their own colors using primary color dye solutions.
Skill Level Required: None
Students Bring: Apron, gloves, sketchbook, pencil, eraser, color pencils or crayons, four or five 1" wide foam brushes, plastic tape measure, 1 roll of paper towels, gallon Ziplock© bag to seal and transport your warp home in.
Please note: This class involves the use of pre-wound warps with a cross at one end, meant for multi shaft looms. They can only be used on a rigid heddle loom if you know how to warp your loom using lease sticks, one method of indirect warping.
Instructor's Bio: See Dye Your Own Gradient Yarn in Friday's all-day listing for bio.
Fiber Prep 101
Tammy Jordan 15 studentsSaturday, June 29, 9am-12pm and 1:30pm-4:30pm
Cost: $150 Plus Materials Fee: $20 – includes 2-4 ounces raw fiber, wash tub, 4 ounce bottle of Unicorn Power Scour, gloves, mesh bag for washing, line and pin to dry, and a detailed resource guide, handouts, best practices, tips and tricks for processing fleece. Students will take home all materials provided for class.
Class Description: Are you new to fiber processing or wanting to learn how to start from the beginning? If so, this is the perfect class for you! In this class we'll cover the basic types of wool and best preparation practices including skirting, picking, washing, carding, and combing. There will be plenty of time for questions and for those who have experience to spin some of the fiber if they choose to. In the morning we will go over types of wool sand washing fiber, and in the afternoon, we will process it for spinning.
Skill Level Required: Beginner – no prior experience required.
Students Bring: Instructor will provide all materials.
Instructor's Bio: Tammy is a 4th generation fiber artist who enjoys sharing her passion with everyone she meets. Tammy's fiber arts business is "Goldieknots Montana," specializing in Montana-grown wool, yarn, spinning fiber, and "Made in Montana" gift items. Prior to moving to Montana she lived in Southern California and in the Pocono mountains where she was a Humane Education specialist for the SPCA. Tammy's teaching style is fun, creative, and interactive. When Tammy is not in her studio creating, spinning, knitting, or felting, you will find her spending time with her dogs, horse, sheep, and other animal friends.
One Pot Dye Wonder!
Diane McKinnon 12 studentsSaturday, June 29, 9am-12pm and 1:30pm-4:30pm
Cost: $150 Plus Materials Fee: $20 – includes all fiber used in class, use of all dye equipment such as pots, burners, spoons, measuring utensils, etc., during class and a detailed handout.
Class Description: Using the Kettle dyeing technique, you will dye six different fiber types simultaneously in one dye bath to achieve some surprising results. People will wonder, "How'd you do that?!" In this class, we will cover the basic use of the color wheel, how to mix the three primary colors to achieve different secondary hues, and then dye six different fiber types at once to see the various results each fiber type produces. You will leave class with six unique samples of dyed fibers and the knowledge and ability to pursue more of these exciting results on your own.
Skill Level Required: All level students from beginners to ad-vanced who have an interest in learning how to dye natural protein fibers.
Students Bring: Apron or dye-able clothes, rubber gloves, pen/pencil, and a sense of adventure!
Instructor's Bio: see Beginning Rigid Heddle Loom Weaving in Friday's all-day listing for bio.
SATURDAY, JUNE 29, AFTERNOON CLASSES
Colorwork the Easy Way: Mosaic Knitting
Harry Wells 20 studentsSaturday, June 29, 1:30pm-4:30pm
Cost: $80 Plus Materials Fee: $2 – includes printed materials
Class Description: Mosaic slip-stitch patterns can boast amazing colorwork without the hassle of stranding or working with multiple colors in a row! Along with the basic mosaic knitting techniques for garter and stockinette, learn to predict when combinations of varie-gated and solid color yarn work together and when they will not, how charts are written and read differently for mosaic knitting and practical tips about navigating the technique. Also covered are examples of adding slip stitch to basic garter and progressively adding one, two, and three colors to achieve stunning colorwork results with so little effort!
Skill Level Required: Advanced beginner. Participants must be proficient at casting on (basic long tail cast on is preferred), knitting, purling, and basic increases, and decreases, (K2tog, and SSK, etc.). Familiarity with reading basic knitting charts is helpful.
Students Bring: Straight needles or 16" circular in size 6 or 7, two to four small balls (25 grams each) of worsted weight wool yarn in contrasting colors for swatch practice in class, stitch markers. For scarf project to start in class bring worsted weight wool or wool blend yarn in two colors (highly contrasting – MC and CC), 100 grams each.
Instructor's Bio: See Oops! Correcting Mistakes and Reading Your Knitting in Friday's morning listing for bio.
Fundamental Elements and Pattern Designs for Orenburg Lace Knitting
Galina Khmeleva 20 studentsSaturday, June 29, 1:30pm-4:30pm
Cost: $80 Plus Materials Fee: $20 – includes handouts, all yarns and charts
Class Description: Mouseprint, Cat's Paw, Honeycomb, Fisheye…these are but four of the ten basic elements that form the core foundation of Orenburg knitted lace, combinations of which result in the near-mystical pattern designs that evolve into Orenburg lace shawls and scarves. In this class, Galina Khmeleva, author of Gossamer Webs, The History and Techniques of Orenburg Lace Shawls, and Gossamer Webs, The Design Collection, will introduce students to the basic elements and discuss how the knitters of Orenburg combine specific elements to form the motifs that adorn their exquisite lace shawls and scarves.
Skill Level Required: Intermediate knitting experience
Students Bring: Students bring their favorite needles, any style in sizes 0-3, and note taking materials.
Instructor's Bio: See Spinning the Orenburg Way in Saturday's morning listing for bio.
Short Steps to Long Draw
Ruth Northrop 14 studentsSaturday, June 29, 1:30pm-4:30pm
Cost: $80 Plus Materials Fee: $25 includes all fiber to be used in class, handouts.
Class Description: Does your wool run away with you when you try to spin soft and fluffy yarn? Long draw method of drafting is traditionally used to spin these types of yarn, but it can be tricky. In this class we will break down the skill of long draw into simple steps that really are easy to learn. We'll progress from one step to the next, until you can spin an airy yarn that won't fall apart.
Skill Level Required: Must be able to spin a viable single and then ply it into yarn.
Students Bring: A wheel in good working order that you are comfortable with, 3-4 empty bobbins, ball winder if you have one, hand cards if you have them.
Instructor's Bio: Ruth has been spinning for over twenty years and her yarns have won several awards. As a first grade teacher, Ruth likes to make learning new skills easy and fun. Ruth lives in Southern California with a fabulous husband and a splotchy cat named Chloe.
Spinpossible-Mission Objective: Spinning for Sweaters
Michael Kelson 16 studentsSaturday, June 29, 1:30pm-4:30pm
Cost: $80 plus Materials Fee: $20 – includes all fiber and samples used in class
Class Description: There are many factors that we, as spinners, should consider when we embark on our first sweater spin. The core characteristics of the fiber (e.g. crimp, fineness, hand, prep) will influence the choices we make in spinning and the fabric in our final garment. This class will explore several fibers that might be great choices for your sweater. We'll take a look at fibers you're probably familiar with (Merino, Rambouillet, BFL), and some blends (Shet-land / Silk, Merino / Yak / Silk, and some fibers that might be new to you (Romney, Cheviot, Manx Loaghtan). We will work on diameter control and consistency, plying and finishing techniques, and how to evaluate your final yarn to make sure you'll have the perfect fabric for the sweater of your dreams.
Skill Level Required: Successful students should have a good working relationship with their spinning wheels, be able to spin a consistent single, and have some experience plying and finishing yarn.
Students Bring: Spinning wheel in good working condition with extra bobbins and a lazy-kate. Students should bring any tools you might like to use (hand cards, mini combs) and any fiber you would like to practice with and note taking materials.
Instructor's Bio: See Spinpossible-Mission Objective: Spinning 201: Next Steps in Friday's all-day listing for bio.
Supported Spindle Spinning
Teresa Waldo20 studentsSaturday, June 29, 1:30pm-4:30pm
Cost: $80 Plus Materials Fee: $15 – includes extensive handouts and fiber packet
Class Description: You spin to relax, right? Well, come learn this ultimate relaxing way to spin – SUPPORT SPINDLING! You can do this with your feet up lying in bed, or even while driving (well not anymore with the distracted driving laws). Did you know any fiber can be spun on a supported spindle? In this class the instructor will give you a wealth of information on supported spinning and will take you step by step through the process of spinning on a supported spindle. And yes, you will have the hang of it before our time is up. You will also have the chance to try different types of fiber, spindles and spindle bowls.
Skill Level Required: Students must have some spinning experi-ence on either a wheel or spindle and be able to spin a continuous thread.
Students Bring: No advanced preparation required. Please bring a support spindle and bowl to class if you have them. Instructor will have some for use in class if you do not have them. Homework: None
Instructor's Bio: See the ABC's of Drop Spindling in Saturday's morning listing for bio.
The Art of Plying
Jacey Boggs Faulkner 18 studentsSaturday, June 29, 1:30pm-4:30pm
Cost: $80 Plus Materials Fee: $20 – includes all fibers used in class
Class Description: Plying is an art just like drafting a beautiful single. It is the basis of most novelty yarns as well as lovely classic yarns like gansey. In this class, we'll learn not only how to ply but why to ply. We'll learn how to choose the best type of ply for the fabric you're designing whether it is knitted or woven. We'll make a variety of plys – everything from a two ply to a six ply, plus several novelty plies. You'll learn lots of tips and tricks plus ways to make your own equipment to help you ply successfully.
Skill Level Required: Students should have a good working rela-tionship with your wheel and be capable of spinning a consistent single.
Students Bring: Students should bring their wheel and all its parts – even the ones you don't use, three extra bobbins or storage bobbins, optional: singles you'd like to ply.
