PatsyZ, the Hand Spinnin' Guru
1 day
Pygora is a marvelous fiber that is making a comeback with heavenly clouds of fiber and glowing rovings. The result of crossing two breeds of goats had been a precarious ranching venture. Today the breed has a strict structure to insure 3 different quality fibers for spinning. Learn how to optimize your wheel for fine spinning as you learn how to make the most of this fine fiber.
1-2 days
Mohair is one of the most intriguing and confusing fibers on the market. The fiber comes in many grades and forms; has body and luster; plus charisma and cautions. This class is designed to help the spinner understand which grade of mohair, and which style of spinning is suitable for the desirable project, and what techniques are truly helpful. Starting with dirty mohair learn how to wash and dye the fibers before spinning.
1-2 days
What is regal, expensive, and reserved for the king? Alpaca! These fine, smooth fibers come in a multitude of colors, from two very different animal types huacaya and suri. What is light weight, warm, soft or strong? Fiber from the loveable llama! This friendly, personable, strong, brother-like, animal was part of the family carrying their heaviest loads. Today these wonderful fibers are available to spinners as fleece, roving, and cleaned top. Explore these fibers in class and choose your favorite.
1-2 days
Take control of your daunting precious fibers. Buffalo, cashmere and cashgora from goats, angora bunny, yak and camel down are downright daring after you paid the price. They can be spun with relative ease after learning how to properly tune-up your wheel, improve your preparation techniques and execute correct drafting styles. Learn which expensive fibers you like best. Add tussah silk for the final luxurious note
1 day
Angora bunnies are cute, fluffy, fiber producers. This fascinating fur fiber is in a category of its own, not wool, down or hair. The fiber can soften a yarn, create a fuzzy halo or imitate fur. Learn about the breed types and the special characteristics to consider when choosing and spinning this readily available fiber. Spend a day learning techniques for preparing, carding, blending and spinning angora.
half day
Which fiber has silk’s luster, cashmere’s softness, and wool’s spinning ease? Optim™ Wool Fibre. This 2004 Australian break-through process – permanently stretches fine wool fibers, reducing them to the diameter of cashmere, creating a very luxurious fiber with excellent qualities. Learn to spin and make the most of this exquisite fiber.
Bring a spinning wheel or lightweight spindles; learn how to prepare your wheel and your hands to spin and make the most of this exquisite fiber.
1 day
In the early 1900’s, science had shown the way to regenerate cellulose fibers This encouraged the next quest to create fiber from a protein, and led to the creation of fibers from items we recognize as foods – soy, milk protein, corn and banana (not the fruit but the stalk). These fibers are sold now as Soysilk, INGEO™ Silk Latte, and banana fibers. These are very soft, fine fibers, which mimic silk and cashmere. Learn the differences between these fibers as you spin and ply to make the most of their natural beauty.
2 days
Today’s spinners have a wide variety of manufactured fibers available for spinning alone or enhancing natural fibers by plying or blending. Learn the fascinating history of manufactured fibers that began with a quest to reproduce silk like a silkworm. Work with rayon, nylon, shiny Mylar fiber and even the newest fibers: Tencel, SOYSILK®, bamboo rayon, Ingeo™ fiber and Optim™ stretched wool. This class will help you decide why, when and how you might want to use these exciting fibers.
1-2 days
Hemp, ramie, Bamboo, and Tencel™, are all important cellulose fibers for today’s spinners to understand. Three are very old and two are very new. We will prepare, dye, spin and ply all of them to fully understand their differences. Blends, novelties and combination yarns will be taught so you will know how to spin the ultimate cellulose yarns for summer shawls, tops and scarves.
1 day
Flax is a classic fiber, albeit very different than wool. It’ll easily become another joy of spinning after you learn new techniques to manage its particular characteristics. This class teaches you quick ways to dress a distaff with long-line flax, wet-spin line or roving, and scour finished yarns. While fibers are provided, you’ll bring a spinning wheel or medium-weight spindle. Distaffs can be attached to your wheel, free-standing or one of several improvised creations from directions sent with supply lists.