Spinning Workshops

Whether you’ve never sat at a spinning wheel before or you’ve been spinning for years and want to broaden your skills, this workshop is a great jumping-off point. We will start at the very beginning and build the skills you need to spin great yarns. You will learn the basic mechanics of your spinning wheel and how to make your wheel work best for you. Then, working with wool rovings and tops, you will learn to spin singles in both worsted and woollen styles of drafting and how to ply a balanced yarn.

 

Topics covered will include:

 

-spinning wheel mechanics (how YOUR wheel works)

-understanding commercial wool preparations

-drafting worsted-style singles

-drafting woollen-style singles

-plying methods for 2-ply and 3-ply yarns

-finishing techniques

-discussion of fibre characteristics and how they affect yarns

Participants must bring:

 

• Spinning wheel in good working order with minimum 3 bobbins and a lazy Kate (or rent a wheel from Olds College)

• A niddy noddy (if you have one)

• Ziplock bags to hold fibre samples

• Sharpie marker for labelling samples

• Notebook and pen for taking notes

You’ve learned to spin a pretty good yarn, but now what? This advanced beginner workshop will give you the tools you need to expand your spinning repertoire. We will examine the basics of yarn design, including twists per inch, diameter control, and considerations for specific end uses, then apply these new techniques to a variety of different fibres. This workshop is intended for beginners who can comfortably spin a consistent yarn and may be used a refresher for experienced spinners, as well.

 

Topics covered include:

 

- fibre selection

- tpi and controlling twist

- yarn diameter control

- spinning yarns for specific end uses

- troubleshooting your yarns

- spinning beyond wool (new fibre sampler/blends)

Participants must bring:

 

• Spinning wheel in good working order with minimum 3 bobbins and a lazy Kate (or an Olds College rental)

• A niddy noddy

• Handcards (optional)

• Ziplock bags to hold fibre samples

• Sharpie marker for labelling samples

• Notebook and pen for taking notes