Workshops

You can find me teaching in my studio, the local yarn shop, and at several local area shows and guilds. I am happy to offer classes and mentoring to aid you in the discovery and enjoyment of spinning.

I am located in Port Ludlow, Washington. You are always welcome to visit the studio for mentoring or more formal instruction. Contact me about scheduling a workshop. I am happy to travel to your group as well. For upcoming workshops, see the Calendar.

I teach fleece skirting/selection/washing, carding, a variety of spindling techniques, spinning, knitting, off-loom weaving, nalbinding, coptic book-binding, felting, silk fusion, fiber preparation, and dyeing by arrangement to individuals or groups. For a full list of workshops and fees, see What Workshops Do You Teach?. Current offerings include:

• Learn to Spin on Spindle or Wheel: learn to spin singles, ply, and prepare wool for spinning.
• Intermediate Spinning on the Wheel: technical spinning, spinning color, fine spinning, spinning slippery fibers, spinning sock yarns, plying techniques, spinning soft singles, spinning art yarns -- many topics available
• Productive Spindling: explore techniques on top whorl, bottom whorl, and Turkish spindles
• Exotic Fiber Spindling: explore spindling fine fibers on featherweight and Akha spindles
• Support Spindles of the World: explore Navajo, Takli, Russian, and Tibetan spindles and a variety of support spindle techniques
• Lap Spindles: Portuguese/French/Italian and Icelandic spindles and lap spindle techniques using them
• Dyeing Self-Patterning Yarns: explore a variety of methods for patterned yarns on sock-weight wool yarn with acid dyes
• Handpainting Roving: handpaint wool roving with acid dyes
• Drum Carding A-to-Z: cover the basics and build your skills for creating terrific batts with wool, silk, mohair, and more
• Flick, Card, Comb: learn hand-processing of fibers and the methods used to spin them, includes a variety of wool, llama/alpaca and mohair
• The Perfect Worsted: discover how to make a true worsted yarn; covers hand combing, commercial top, spinning and finishing methods (wheel or spindle)
• The Fast Draw: did you know that long draw is the fastest way to produce yarn? learn how and you'll be filling bobbin and spindle faster than you can say "Butch Cassidy".
• The Perfect Skein: this is a review and feedback class on handspun yarn. Bring spun skeins and learn to evaluate your own work by taking a look at everyones'. We'll learn how to fill out judging sheets, preparing skeins for entry, and what information to provide whether it's asked for or not.
• Sock Machines 101 and 201: learn the basics of making a sock or mitten without a ribber; or learn the use of the ribber in making socks and fingerless gloves
• Rigid Heddle Weaving: learn fast warping and designing color-and-weave patterns on the rigid heddle

I am also happy to tailor a talk for your group, let me know what you are interested in and we can go from there.

To see recently taught workshops, see Publications.