These are thoroughly FUN
yarns! They make great design elements in just about anything you want
to create. Some of them take a little time and effort, such as the
boucles that take three passes through the wheel, but their uniqueness is SO
worth it.
HOMEWORK You will need to practice spinning a somewhat consistent ply
that will wrap at 25 - 30 wpi for this class. Also practice spinning a
soft thick single of soft twist.
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.
2. Know the basics of 2 ply plying.
3. Be comfortable changing your bobbins, tying on a leader and
tensioning your wheel.
4. Understand your whorls and how to make them work for the task at
hand
5. Be familiar with both woolen and worsted spinning techniques
Supplies you will need to bring:
Spinning wheel, 3 bobbins, your fast and slow whorl, a lazy kate (preferably a horizontal tensioned lazy kate),
a plastic bowl that is sized for your bobbins, wool cards, flicker, niddy noddy
(a small sample size is best)... ● 2 ounces
each of 3 different colored wool roving (natural or dyed)
● 2 ounces of multicolored wool roving
● 3 - 4 silk hankies (may be dyed)
● 1 oz kid mohair locks or roving (may be dyed)
● 1 oz cotton sliver (may be dyed)
● an ounce or so of any other fiber you wish to explore, such as alpaca,
llama, angora, cashmere, etc.
Bring at least a dozen note
cards, and notebook and pen or pencil. Bring two different colors of
strong cotton sewing thread. (we have a full
line of fibers to purchase in the shop) This
is a FULL DAY of spinning! COST: $60.00
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| WORKSHOP OUTLINE
I. CONTROL YARNS!
A. Things we can learn
B. Compromised yarns
C. Stabilizing yarns, making them stronger
II. CABLED YARNS
A. A lesson in making twist work for you
III. MAKING EXCITING SOFT TWIST YARNS
A. The single, drafting style, fiber prep
B. Marl yarns
C. Fuzzy yarns
D. Slub yarns
IV. MANY DIFFERENT SPIRAL YARNS
A. Making ply size and twist effects
B. Basic spirals
C. Wrapped yarns
V. GARNETTED YARN
A. Fiber prep effects
VI. ENCASED YARNS
VII. EFFECTS OF ENERGY IN MIXED TWIST YARNS
VIII. KNOT YARNS
IX. WONDERFUL BOUCLE
A. 3 pass boucle
B. 2 pass boucle
X. DESIGNING CONSIDERATIONS
A. Setting your goal
B. Considerations
1. fiber choice
2. crimp
3. blending?
4. strength and
body
5. hand
6. construction
XI. A TASTE FOR BEADS? (demonstration)
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The bobbin to the right shows some beads as they have been spun using a
fine ply of kid mohair and a silk thread.
The yarns to the right are all spun from the
same turqoise dyed kid mohair roving shown as #4. #1 is a fine
spiral yarn from the kid mohair and a fine ply of a dyed silk hankie
using mixed energy twists. #2 is a looped boucle, and #3 is a bead
yarn (the crystal clear beads do not show well in the photo). #4 is a
spiral yarn spun with a silver mylar and has been cabled. |
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The yarns on the left have all been spun with
the same
autumn dyed kid mohair locks.
#1 is an encased yarn, spun with 2 threads.
#2 is a different type of encased yarn spun onto
a fine
handspun wools single.
#3 is a fuzzy spun soft single mohair.
#4 is a wonderfully soft core-spun boucle that
has had
some gold Angelina flash carded into the mix.
#5 is some soft low twist singles. |
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The yarn at the top on the left is a wrapped yarn. The rest of the
yarns are knot yarns. There are three kinds of knots - cocoon
knots, the Turkish knot and the gimp yarn. All are distinctly
different.
There are many types of soft singles yarns to
make. The yarn on the right is a soft slub single that has been
plied with a finer spun neutral ground making a lovely spiral yarn with
lots of texture. It is really interesting when cabled as well. |
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