Most new spinners
start with wool as their first spinning fiber. While spinning
different types of wool can present their own specific challenges and
techniques, spinning cotton can be altogether different, challenging and
very rewarding! The bast fibers, such as flax and ramie, can't be beat
for gorgeous table dressings, and are again, very different fibers to spin.
They are also some of our oldest spinning fibers. So, in this
workshop, we will work with these old world fibers and some of the "newest"
world fibers on the market today. This is a one day workshop of 5 - 6
hours. There will be a $20.00 supply fee for all the sample fibers.
Skills you will need to bring to the class:
1. Be able to spin a somewhat consistent medium and smaller ply
effortlessly, with adequate twist, making consistent joins as needed.
Treadling and spinning should be consistent. You should have had some
experience working with your smallest whorl.
2. Know the basics of 2-ply plying.
3. Be comfortable changing your bobbins, tying on a leader and
tensioning your wheel.
Supplies to bring to class:
Sample sized niddy-noddy, a distaff**, towel for your lap, small water
bowl that can sit comfortably into your lap or tie to your wheel, index
cards, notebook, pen, a pair of cotton hand cards.
** You can make a distaff quickly and inexpensively. Click on this
LINK and download the .pdf file. You
will need Adobe Reader to view it. If you do not have it, contact me
and I will mail you the instructions for the class.
This is a FULL DAY class
COST - $60.00 plus a $12.00 supply fee for
fibers
CLASS TOPICS
WORKING WITH YOUR WHEEL
1. Double drive wheel adjustments
2. Scotch tension (single-drive flyer lead) wheel adjustments
3. Irish tension (single-drive bobbin lead) wheel adjustments and
pointers
CONSIDERATIONS OF TWIST
Spinning for crochet
SPINNING THE DIFFERENT COTTON FORMS
1. Unginned, seed cotton
2. Ginned cotton, lint
3. Hand carding and spinning perfect punis
4. Cotton rovings: carded slivers and top - woolen and
worsted techniques
5. Proper yarn wet finishing
SPINNING THE NEW AGE FIBERS
1. Properties of Soy Silk, spinning techniques and wet finishing
2. Properties of Silk Latte, spinning techniques and wet finishing
3. Properties of Ingeo, spinning techniques and wet finishing
4. Properties of Bamboo, spinning techniques and wet finishing
MORE OF "THE OLD"
RAMIE
Properties, spinning techniques and wet finishing
FLAX FORMS
1. Flax top and carded roving
2. Strick
A. How to dress a distaff
B. Wet-spinning
C. Tow
3. Plying
4. Wet finishing and hammering or lustering
FLAX POTS - by Sandi McFarland
I have designed these little pots so that they can be hung on your wheel for
wet spinning. The back of the pots are flattened so that they hang
solidly, without rolling. They are fully glazed and will keep all your
water in the pot, and not on your wheel! Sandi does beautiful pottery
and has done an exceptional job on these pots. The glazes are
certainly unique and they are far prettier than the photo can capture!
The glazed pots (without the cutwork) are $8.00, and the pots with the
decorative cutwork are $12.00. All are signed by Sandi. (The
flowers are the blooms of the flax plant).
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