When you register for a class, you should only pay the registration fee ($35 or $70) for each class and the late fee (if necessary). Materials fees are different from class to class and they should be paid directly to each teacher at the beginning of class.   Please do not send materials fee with your registration.

Refunds:  If you must cancel your registration you can receive a 90% refund if we receive your cancellation before May 1st.  Registrations cancelled between May 1st and May 15th will receive 50% refund.   No refunds after May 15th. 

Confirmations will be sent after the registration deadline May 1st.

 

2010 Classes

Class size:  Max 15 students

This all day class is for the fiber artist with a closet full of fiber or the shepherd wishing to make something from his/her wool sheep.  Students will learn how to braid roving, felt the braids and sew the braids into a beautiful, fuctional rug.  In this class, students will complete a simple chair pad using minimal equipment.   We will braid in the morning, then the instructor will take the braids to a laundromat for felting, and the afternoon will be spent sewing.  Students can then create their own beautiful rugs at home.

Students should bring: about 1 lb. roving in 2 or 3 colors/shades. (or roving can be purchased from instructor)

Instructor will provide:  Instructions, extra materials, equipment (except for roving).

Materials fee [to be paid to instructor on class day]:  $15

Experience needed:  basic sewing skills

 

Class size:  8-15 students

Don't feel intimidated by cotton anymore.  Understand how to prepare your wheel, and a wide variety of the cotton fibers.  Several samples of cotton fiber preparations, including un-ginned fiber, ginned lint, and new natural color slivers are included in this workshop.  Hands on activities include ginning, carding, preparing punis, spinning and finishing.  Choosing, dyeing and using cotton will be discussed.

Students should bring: Wheel in good working order, (scotch brake or double drive preferred); hand cards or cotton cards, 3x5 file cards (about a dozen), scissors, hole punch, stapler or tape for attaching sampe yarns and fibers to cards, sandwich baggies (about a dozen), a hand towel.  Also bring oil, screwdriver, and other tools for your wheel in case they are needed.

Instructor will provide: unginned cotton, ginned lint, a variety of prepared natural color cotton tops, puni sticks, sandpaper, worksheets and  Handspinning Cotton booklet.

Materials fee [to be paid to instructor on class day]:  $15

Experience needed: Comfortable spinning and readiness for a challenge; intermediate beginner.

 

Class size:  5-15 students

Spend a day with natural dyes, and learn a new avenue into color possibilities from ancient traditions.   This class will cover some of the long history of natural dyes, the color possibilities they offer, mordanting techniques, the dyeing process and some color theory.   We will use readily available dyes like indigo, cochineal, osage, logwood, fustic and madder, as well as talk about the process for extracting dyes from common 'weeds' like Queen Anne's lace and goldenrod.  Students will take home dyeing instructions, many samples, and information on each of the dyes used and source lists on where to get them. 

Students should bring: apron, rubber gloves, 2 old towels, paper towels, plastic baggies, hang tags, calculator, paper and pen.

Instructor will provide: all fibers and dyes, extensive handouts, all pots, stoves, and all equipment needed to dye during the class.

Materials fee [to be paid to instructor on class day]:  $30

Experience needed: none.

 

Class size:  4-10 students;  16 years old and older

Let's hook with wool yarn!  Instead of cutting fabric strips, use wool yarns to make designs.  Easy to do - all original designs!

Students should bring: 4 - 6 inch embroidery hoop, small scissors. 

Instructor will provide:  Instructions, yarn and pattern on canvas, equipment.

Materials fee [to be paid to instructor on class day]:  $15

Experience needed: none

 

Class size:  max 20 students

Learn how those talented knitters and spinners from Orenburg perform feats of textile magic by turning the raw down from native goats into luxuriously soft, exquisitely fine yarn via supported spindle that ultimately results in the most elegant lace shawls and scarves in the textile universe.  In this class, Galina will introduce you to both the handspinning of as well as the more economical use of today's luxury fibers, e.g. cashmere, quiviut, pygora, etc.  Authentic hand-turned Russian supported spindles available for class use. 

Students should bring: enthusiasm

Instructor will provide: charts, use of original Orenburg spindles, variety of fleeces.

Materials fee [to be paid to instructor on class day]:  $5

Experience needed:  none.

 

Class size:  4 - 8 students;  12 years old and older

Woolen and worsted refer to the way in which fiber is drafted during spinning. Knowing the difference allows the spinner to create airy and fuzzy yarns, smooth and dense yarns, or anything in between.  This class is geared toward the advanced beginner who is ready to learn some new techniques and gain a better understanding of her or his current spinning method.  We will discuss woolen and worsted, the vast area between the two and when to use which method. 

Students should bring: working wheel and its parts, 3 bobbins, lazy kate. [Optional:  handspun for advice and feedback]

Instructor will provide: handouts, fibers.

Materials fee [to be paid to instructor on class day]:  $10

Experience needed: Ability to spin a consistent yarn.

 

Class size:  4-10 students;  12 years old and older

The felting process can add texture and strength to natural fibers.  Learn to harness this technique to diversify your spinning repertoire.  The first part of this class will cover the difference between felting and fulling, types of wool, and why felting occurs.  In the second part of the class you will learn to spin four different yarns that incorporate felting in different ways.  Techniques covered will include: bulky low-twist singles, encasement, boucle, and more.  No prior experience with these techniques is required.

Students should bring: pen and paper; scissors, working wheel, 3 bobbins, lazy kate, hand cards [some available to borrow]. 

Instructor will provide:  handouts, fibers.

Materials fee [to be paid to instructor on class day]:  $18

Experience needed: Ability to spin and ply a consistent yarn

Class size:  8-15 students

Spin the most expensive yarns, the fancy boucle styles.  Boucle yarns can be defined as yarns created with three parts; an 'effect' yarn bound down by two interlocking threads, or fibers spun on a core and bound down with another yarn or thread.  The possibilities are endless once you understand the ramifications that come with the choices.  Spend a day working through exercises, exploring the possibilities and learning the techniques for record keeping, which will allow you to repeat the yarns you wish to spin.

Students should bring:  a good working wheel (scotch tension or bobbin lead preferable, large orifice helpful), lazy kate and 3 bobbins (very important), hand cards, about a dozen 3x5 lined file cards, scissors, stapler or hole punch or tape for attaching sample yarns and fibers to cards, about a dozen sandwich baggies, a hand towel.   Also bring oil, screwdriver and other tools for your wheel.  Optional - a variety of swing threads, plain and fancy if you wish. 

Instructor will provide: various fibers incoluding alpaca, mohair, wool, etc.,  various spools of thread for use, worksheets, and Handspinning Boucle Yarns booklet.

Materials fee [to be paid to instructor on class day]:  $15

Experience needed: Comfortable spinning, plying, and readiness for a challenge; intermediate beginner.

 

Class size:  10-25 students, adult.

During this workshop, knitters will have the oppurtunity to learn and practice the style of knitting the instructor uses,  popular in Greece, Portugal, Egypt and Turkey.  The main characteristic is that the yarn is either wrapped behind the neck or looped through a pin attached to the shoulder in order to maintain a tension which is constant.

The advantages of knitting this way are:  It is faster than either the American or continental styles.  It requires less hand movement--great for those suffereing from arthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome. It helps maintain constant tension, even for beginners.  Blind knitters are overjoyed because they always know where the yarn is -- it is never dropped.  

Students should bring: knitting needles, yarn.

Instructor will provide: 2 knitting pins, 1 hat pattern.

Materials fee [to be paid to instructor on class day]:  $10

Experience needed: basic knitting skills, ability to cast on, knit, purl, bind off.

 

Class size:  max 20 students

This class is an introduction to the basic elements and pattern designs of Orenburg knitted lace.  Mouseprint, cat's paw, honeycomb--these are but three of the ten basic elements that form the basis of Orenburg's knitted lace, combinations of which result in the near-mystical pattern designs that evolve into Orenburg lace shawls and scarves.  In this class, Galina will introduce students to the basic elements, border and corner preparation, grafting methods...all in preparation to render each student capable of knitting their own heirloom shawl. 

Students should bring: note-taking materials, favorite needles (size 0-3) any style.

Instructor will provide: charts, color charts, all yarns for class, the use of a variety of needles (if necessary).

Materials fee [to be paid to instructor on class day]:  $10

Experience needed:  basic knitting experience.

 

Class size:  2-10 students

Color is one of the most magic aspects of fiber art.  This class will help you take the mystery out of deciding which colors go together and how.  Topics will include: basic color theory; using color tools, wheels and books; classic color combinations; etc.  Expect a lot of fun as you practice putting colors together and using your new skills.

Students should bring: photos or things with color combinations that you really like or really don't like.  Feel free to bring whatever color tools, books, swatches, yarn etc. you already have that you'd like to practice working with.

Instructor will provide:  handouts.

Materials fee [to be paid to instructor on class day]:  none

Experience needed: none

 

Class size:  6-12 students,  12 years and up.

Learn simples techniques to felt flat surfaced pictures and background fabrics.  Explore variations of the same art piece felted three different ways.  A variety of kits to choose, use and take home.

Students should bring: 1 big smile and a heart full of enthusiasm.

Instructor will provide: kits, 3 pads, dyed wool, felting needles, soaps, locks.

Materials fee [to be paid to instructor on class day]:  $15

Experience needed: none.

 

Class size:

Students should bring:

Instructor will provide:

Materials fee [to be paid to instructor on class day]:

Experience needed: none.