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Spinning

Basic Spinning on a Hand Spindle or Wheel | Learn to Spin | Plying Techniques and Plying for Designer Yarns | Private Spinning Class | Washing a Fleece and Preparing it for Spinning

S101 - Learn to Spin (Self Paced)

Paulette's hands drafting roving to spin Paulette Holt
Call to arrange with instructor.
$20.00/hr plus materials

Prerequisites: None

Learn the basic techniques of spinning natural fiber into beautiful yarn. Beginners and intermediate spinners will explore characteristics, preparation and spinning methods for different fibers, such as wool (different breed types), silk and alpaca. Learn how to wash a fleece and how carding methods affect your yarn. Cover basic skills of spinning fiber with a spindle to produce a single ply yarn and cover techniques of plying. Also explore the different types and anatomy of spinning wheels to determine the equipment best suited to you. In this class, you are encouraged to progress at your own rate.

holding yarn with respect to the flyer Supplies needed:

Complete Spinner's Guide by Bobbie Irwin, $19.95
notebook & pen or pencil
apron to protect clothing
comfortable shoes or socks
plenty of patience

Note: If you have raw fiber that you want to learn how to wash and process, bring a sample to the class.

S200 - Private Spinning Class

When: Call Old Oaks Ranch to arrange a date and time.
Class Description: Arrange a private session to learn any aspect of spinning or solve a spinning problem. I am always happy to teach basic spinning or plying on a one to one basis. I am also willing to teach children who show a strong interest in spinning or knitting.
Prerequisites or Class Prep: None
Class Level: Beginner
Fee: $40.00 for two hours
Instructor: Carol Wyche

* One on one suggestions:
Beyond Sheep: Wool is the easiest fiber to spin but you don’t have to stick to wool. Spin your own critter’s coat; alpaca, llama, angora, dog or cat. Receive detailed information on appropriate techniques of spinning, blending fiber, dyeing characteristics, knitting or weaving characteristics. You may use either a wheel or a hand spindle but should have some spinning experience.
Spinning Silk: Silk needs a different approach and many people find it difficult. Learn spinning from silk hankies, silk bells, and silk roving, and particularly how to prepare the silk so you get a fine smooth yarn without getting sore fingers. This class requires spinning on a wheel.
Basic Carding: If you know how to spin but missed out on fleece preparation you can learn this now. Using hand carders or a drum carder, prepare fleece for spinning or for blending fibers to make interesting textures and colors. Use your handspun for knitting/weaving: Learn how to adapt patterns or use basic geometry to design your own. Also learn how to figure out if you have enough yarn and what to do if you don’t, how to figure out gauge or sett - all the questions you have about using your own handspun for a fine finished product.

S201 - Basic Spinning on a Hand Spindle or Wheel

Handspun yarns, kniddy knoddy, kniitted cap

When: This class is offered three times a year. Saturdays - 10:30AM - 3:30PM (short lunch break, brown bag)
February 7, 2009 - May 2, 2009 - September 19, 2009
Class Description: This class will begin with practice on a hand spindle to make a singles yarn and proceed to using the spinning wheel. This class entitles students to 2 extra hours of spinning wheel use at the studio upon completion of the class.
*Note: Plying usually necessary to make a balanced yarn will be covered in a separate class the next month. Students are encouraged to plan to take both classes.
Prerequisites or Class Prep: Bring a wheel or hand spindle if you have one. Students who took the fleece washing/carding class may also bring their rolags to try out at the end of class.
Class Level: Beginner
Fee: $50.00 plus $5.00 for materials (4 oz fine wool roving for all students. Spinning wheels and hand spindles are available to borrow or purchase from Old Oaks Ranch).
Instructor: Carol Wyche

S202 - Plying Techniques and Plying for Designer Yarns

When: This class is offered three times a year. Saturdays - 10:30AM - 3:30PM (short lunch break, brown bag)
March 7, 2009 - June 6, 2009 - October 3, 2009
Class Description: After basic spinning, comes plying…twisting the yarns together for strength, loft, and balance. Learn simple two and three ply yarns, while improving over spun yarns on both hand spindle and wheel. Make a shoebox lazy kate for plying from bobbins or cops.
Prerequisites or Class Prep: New or experienced spinners who want to improve their plying skills or anyone wanting to learn to ply commercial yarns to produce a custom yarn of their own. Bring your handspun if you have any, a spinning wheel and at least one empty bobbin and a lazy kate or bring a shoe box and some 12" knitting needles to make a lazy kate. If using a hand spindle, bring a medium weight hand spindle or two, and a couple of bowls. You may rent a wheel from the studio (limited supply) or buy a drop spindle.
Class Level: Beginners to Advanced
Fee: $50.00 plus $10 for materials (commercial yarn for plying and handouts)
Instructor: Carol Wyche

S203 - Washing a Fleece and Preparing it for Spinning

When: Saturday - April 4, 2009 - 10:30AM - 3:30PM (short lunch break, brown bag)
Class Description: Learn how to skirt, choose best parts for spinning, wash/dry, and card wool, mohair, llama, or alpaca. While fleece is drying, learn techniques of carding using hand cards and drum carder to prepare for spinning or felting and flick carding for spinning from locks of fiber. Students who bring a dirty fleece will be able to go home with all or a good part of it skirted and washed (dependant upon size of fleece and class). Due to drying time we will not card the same fleece we wash. A sample pack of wool, mohair, alpaca and llama will be provided for the carding portion of the class.
Prerequisites or Class Prep: Bring hand cards and/or flick carders if you have them or purchased from Old Oaks Ranch and a container for carded samples. A dirty fleece (optional) and waterproof container for damp fleece. If the student does not choose to bring a fleece, she/he may simply observe the process.
Class Level: Beginner
Fee: $50.00 plus $10 for materials (handouts, washing materials, clean fleece for practicing carding).
Instructor: Carol Wyche