Thursday, September 29

Full Day 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

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 Approachable Indigo Dyeing   Brooke Sinnes

Using 3 ingredients - indigo, lye, and hydros - plus filtered water, Brooke will show you how to make an approachable indigo vat at home.  This vat works equally well for protein and cellulose fibers.  We will also talk about strategies to make greens and purples in addition to blues. Materials fee $50.

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Flick Pop Card  Henry Clemes

Explore the wide range of possibilities with three of the most basic and popular fiber preparation tools: a Flicker, the Lock Pop, and Hand Cards. Newly minted fiber artists and seasoned veterans will discover new ways to process (or re-process) fleece, batts, braids, and more. Students are encouraged to bring their own tools and/or problem fibers should they have them but the instructor will supply equipment and fiber for all students. Materials fee $40.

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Seaming & Finishing for Knitting and Crochet  Kira Dulaney

Neat seaming and finishing make such a difference in a handmade project, but so many knitters and crocheters don't feel confident in their finishing skills. We will cover weaving in ends, seaming in various directions, picking up stitches, buttonholes, buttons, and zippers as well as both steam blocking and wet blocking. Materials fee: $0.

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Spinning for Speed   Stephenie Gaustad

We all have the same number of hours in our work day, yet there are choices we make that can result in more yarn at the end of that day. We will discuss fibers, choice and preparation, wheel efficiency, adjustment and drafting styles. Let’s put those choices to work during the class. Materials fee $10.

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Friday, September 30

Full Day 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Pacific

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When Plain Weave Is Not Plain  Hazel Spencer

Plain Weave does not mean Boring Weave! Plain one color, over-under weaves have lots uses in our projects but there are times when we want and need something more. This class will be about finding the unplain in plain weave using a pin loom. We'll be looking at color weaving and also at textures and show you can combine the two to expand possibilities in your projects. Materials fee $10.

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Blending Board Primer   Henry Clemes

Learn the basic techniques and use of a blending board from one of its original designers! The class will not only demonstrate the versatility of the blending board - blending fibers of various types, lengths, and colors - but also the strength of the blending board - quickly preparing fiber in rolags for woolen spinning. All carding and blending will be done on Clemes & Clemes Blending Boards with each student using their own board. All materials, boards, and tools will be provided by the instructor. Materials fee $40.

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Intro to Tapestry Weaving   Kira Dulaney

Weaving is an ancient art that is easy to learn yet has endless possibilities. We will use a simple frame loom to make an artistic wall hanging while exploring plain weave as well as rya fringe, soumak, and clasped weft weaving techniques. Materials fee $40.

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​Pick Up on the Rigid Heddle Loom   Sharlet Elms

Have you ever wanted to weave a lacy scarf or towel but only have a rigid heddle loom? Do you feel that the rigid heddle loom is too limiting? This class will teach you how to use a pick up stick to increase the range of possibilities in your weaving. Come enjoy the magic of pick up to add lace weaves to your repertoire. Materials fee $5; loom rental available for $20.

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Wet Felted Vessels   Sharon Mansfield

There is magic in making a vessel. We felt a double sided, flat circle with a resist inside, cut a slit in the center of one side and this creates a hollow sphere. Almost like magic! This exciting technique is the beginning of understanding how to construct purses, seamless garments, hats and much more. Materials fee $70.

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Spinning for Weaving   Stephenie Gaustad

It starts with easy stuff, like making the yarn small enough to fit through the eye of the heddle and reed if there is one. But weaving and knitting yarn “design” diverge just beyond appropriate size. The two yarns are not the same. Examination of yarn for the loom, cloth design from the yarn forward and sett will be followed by hands-on experience designing, spinning and weaving your singles yarns. Warp sizing will be encouraged and covered. Materials fee $15.

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Saturday, October 1

Half Day 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Pacific

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Indie Dyed Yarn  Alisha Bright

Creativity through color! Explore different methods of dyeing wool yarn including semi-solid, variegated and speckled. Each student will get to dye 2 skeins of yarn. Materials fee $40.

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Fractally Speaking   Amy Ross Manko

Tired of your usual and predictable barber pole skeins? In this class, we will look at hand-dyed fiber braids differently. Create spectacular skeins by learning to control the color repeats in your fiber through fractal spinning. We will prepare and spin samples to find our new favorites. Materials fee $20.

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Saturday, October 1

Full Day 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Pacific

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Drop Spindle Spinning   Linda Dean

The history of making yarns is a long one, but the basic approach is still the same. Learn how to use a drop spindle to create your own yarn, and in doing so learn what creates various structures of the yarn itself. Learn about fibers, drafting, twist and plying, and become more comfortable in your understanding about why some yarns are your favorites and what makes others more difficult for you to use. Materials fee $20.

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Spinning for Speed   Stephenie Gaustad

We all have the same number of hours in our work day, yet there are choices we make that can result in more yarn at the end of that day. We will discuss fibers, choice and preparation, wheel efficiency, adjustment and drafting styles. Let’s put those choices to work during the class. Materials fee $10.

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Saturday, October 1

Half Day 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Pacific

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Rare Breed Trek   Amy Ross Manko

In this class we will compare, contrast, prep, and spin the fleece of 6-8 heritage or rare breeds of sheep, learning both history and applications for today. Materials fee $25.

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Medieval Distaff and Spindle Spinning   Siobhan Harlakenden

Spin with an in-hand spindle technique and distaff as they did in Medieval Europe before the spinning wheel was invented. The distaff is a tool that holds a day's worth of fiber and can be tucked in a belt allowing you to spin while walking, or held between the knees to spin while sitting. You will learn how to dress your distaff, draft with one hand, and spin the spindle without the drop. Materials fee $40.

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Sunday, October 2

Half Day 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Pacific

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Sheep to Skein - Processing Raw Fleece for Funsies   Amy Ross Manko

Ever walk through the fleece sale at Lambtown Festival and think "this fleece is gorgeous and so cheap, I should process it myself!" only to lose your nerve and walk away because you don’t know how? Then this class is for you! We will talk about how to choose a great fleece and things to look for when selecting your next fiber adventure. We will discuss flaws that can be fixed and deal-breakers, then we'll do it ourselves! We will cover all the steps from dirty, raw fleece to ready to prepare to spin. We will also discuss the best methods for preparing the clean fleece for spinning, including flicking, spinning from the locks, carding and combing. Materials fee $20.

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Yarn Overload!   Linda Dean

So many yarns and fibers, so many different results! This class will introduce you to a wide array of fibers and yarns, as well as teach you the properties of each. Learn the qualities of alpaca, llama, mohair, silk, merino, Shetland, superwash wool, bamboo, angora, acrylic, and cotton, while also learning the different effects they create in your project. Learn how the attributes of yarn, such as the weight, twists per inch, and ply structure can affect how your stitches turn out. This class is designed to increase your knowledge in your materials so that you can improve the matching of your yarn to your project and get the results you desire. Materials fee $5.

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Medieval Distaff and Spindle Spinning   Siobhan Harlakenden

Spin with an in-hand spindle technique and distaff as they did in Medieval Europe before the spinning wheel was invented. The distaff is a tool that holds a day's worth of fiber and can be tucked in a belt allowing you to spin while walking, or held between the knees to spin while sitting. You will learn how to dress your distaff, draft with one hand, and spin the spindle without the drop. Materials fee $40.

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Questions? Email workshops@lambtown.org

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