Spinning is where it all began at the Fiber Garden! More than 25 years ago the very fi
rst class was offered and it was Beginning Spinning. The tradition continues today, although we have expanded a bit! We want your experience learning to spin and expanding beyond beginning to be one of your best creative experiences ever. You can expect small class size, individualized attention with positive encouragement, and a welcoming environment to learn and create.
For beginning spinning workshops, spinning wheels are provided for your use from Ashford, Kromski, Louet. We are also a dealer for Schacht. Wheels in class are new and available for sale at the end of class should you fall in love with one and want to take it home with you to continue spinning.
Beginning spinning classes are weekend/3 day classes, typically beginning on a Friday afternoon or evening (depending on the schedule of the students) and concluding early Sunday afternoon. Weekday class dates are also available upon request. Spinner’s Workshop classes offer multiple lengths to accommodate your schedule or learning “wish list”.
A deposit will be due at the time of registration to guarantee your space. The balance of the workshop fee will be paid at the conclusion of class along with any material costs.
Please check the Upcoming Events page for specific dates workshops are being offered, fees, and to register.
Beginning Spinning. Learn to turn wool into your own unique yarns! Workshop will explore handcarding, drumcarding, spinning single and multi-ply yarns, and finishing yarns. We will also talk about washing fleece, create art batts, and demonstrate some basic dye techniques. You’ll experience spinning from rolags, batts, roving, and top. No previous spinning experience required. Workshop fee includes all materials and equipment, and the perfect atmosphere to bring out your creative side!
The following workshops can be scheduled for private groups:
Blending Fibers…Bringing Out the Best! This one or two day workshop will explore characteristics of many fibers including wool, alpaca, silk, cotton, tencel, nylon, and more! We will keep busy with blending experiments…blending multiple fibers together to create yarns that accentuate the best qualities of each fiber. In two day classes we will spin the blends and create sample notebooks. You will leave with a notebook filled with information on various fibers, carded samples of blends, and handspun yarn samples. You will leave with greater confidence to utilize multiple fibers to create that perfect yarn! Students should bring a drum carder if they have one, or handcarders if they do not have a drum carder. Pre-requisite: beginning spinning.
Combing. Combing is a fiber preparation process that produces wonderfully chaff-free fibers aligned parallel to each other to create a “top”. This preparation technique is fun to spin from and the best preparation for worsted spinning. Our llama-loving friends are addicted to combing for llama wool! One-half day or full-day. In the full-day class, we will learn to blend multiple colors on the combs for multi-colored ready-to-spin top. Pre-requisite: beginning spinning.
Fiber Preparation for Spinning. This workshop will focus on everything BEFORE you start spinning! We’ll explore all of the various techniques for preparing fiber for spinning including picking, flicking, hand and drum carding, combing. Learn the best preparation techniques for the fiber you’re spinning and the yarn to want to create. Experiment, experiment, experiment…and most important, have fun! Pre-requisite: beginning spinning. Full day. Fee includes all fibers. You are also welcome to bring some of your own fibers that you’d like to learn to prepare for spinning.
Handspinners Sampler. Join us for a day or more of fiber exploration! We will work with fibers such as alpaca, silk, angora, tencel, bamboo, ramie, linen, and cotton! Each fiber has it’s own unique preparation and spinning techniques. And each brings unique characteristics to a yarn. This is a great workshop to expand your spinning skills! Fee includes all materials. Pre-requisite: beginning spinning. Length: one or two days. A two-day workshop will provide you with more time to get comfortable with the new fibers and provide an opportunity to experience a couple of additional fibers.
Spinning Art Yarns. The possibilities for designing your own unique yarns are endless! We’ll explore many elements of yarn design including the use of texture, color, fiber type, plying techniques. You’ll spin a beautiful sampler of designer yarns including cabled, knot, insertion, boucle, beaded and more! Pre-requisite: beginning spinning. Length: one or two days. Participants will be encouraged to bring one or two bobbins of single ply handspun yarn to experiment with. A two-day class will provide opportunities to explore additional yarn designs.
Spinning for a Project. One of the challenges for spinners can be adapting their spinning to create a yarn suited for a specific knit or woven project. Much of the time it’s simply a matter of gaining confidence as a spinner. Come to class with a knitting or weaving project that you would like to spin the yarn for (for weavers this will include weft AND warp!). We will begin by discussing the characteristics that you are seeking in your finished yarns…color, texture, loft, etc. Then you will practice creating a yarn with these qualities. You can bring your own fiber to spin or choose from the wide range of fibers available at the Fiber Garden. Yarns spun in class will be the start to that perfect handspun-handknit or handwoven project! Pre-requisite: Beginning spinning; must be comfortable spinning wool.
Spinning Silk. Silk fiber comes in many different forms…come spend a day exploring this luxurious fiber! We’ll dye silk hankies to create a beautiful silk rainbow yarn, then we’ll explore cocoons, bricks, noil, top. Practice the various preparation and spinning techniques of silk to create special yarns from this amazing fiber! Pre-requisite: beginning spinning. Length: one day.