2013 Spring Workshop with Carol Rhoades
April 13 & 14th
10:30 – 5:30
$85 per session with a $10 materials fee per session
$50 non refundable deposit
held at the Roseneath Cottage
Intermediate Spinning
April 13
In this one-day class you’ll expand your basic preparation and spinning skills so that you can spin the yarn you want. You’ll get plenty of hands-on experience as well as technical information to help you understand the connections between fiber choice, preparation, spinning, and final product.
After a discussion of basic wool qualities and spinning terms (woolen vs. worsted), we’ll review wheel function and adjustments. We will then discuss how to sort and wash a fleece. Most of the class time will be spent practicing the two main methods of preparing and spinning wool and other fibers. You will learn which method works best for what fibers. We’ll start by focusing on handcarding lightly and easily. You’ll then learn both traditional and American long draw methods for spinning your rolags into light airy woolen yarns. Next, you’ll produce smooth, dense worsted yarns and then play with ways to add more loft to those yarns for semi-worsteds. We can try spinning from locks, the fold, and ends of tops and roving. For both woolen and worsted, we will discuss and practice ways to control the yarn twist, size, and handle so you can spin the best possible yarn for any project.
Level: For anyone who has had a beginner class
Class time: 6 hours
Class Size: maximum of 15
Materials: Students should bring a spinning wheel in good working order, handcards for wool, an extra bobbin for plying, oil and drive band for wheel (just in case you need them), flick card if possible, notepaper and pen. In addition to the items listed, Judy suggests bringing paper & pen, scissors, sandwich bags, small crochet hook, lunch & snack
Materials fee of $10.00 per student includes: handouts and a selection of fibers including several types of wool + mohair, alpaca, silk, and cotton
Spinning for Knitting
April 14
Knitting with handspun is a real joy. To make the most of that pleasure, it is worthwhile to consider the yarn you will spin for a project. In this class, you will learn how to choose fiber(s) and how to prepare and spin them for hand knitting. The main focus of the class will be on practicing the skills needed to have control over yarn production for a purpose. We’ll begin with a discussion of the qualities and production of commercial knitting yarns and what we like to knit with. Since most knitting yarns are woolen, we will practice carding and long draw spinning, producing lofty yarns from fine to bulky. We can also try spinning “lofty” worsted style yarns. We’ll finish with a discussion of matching yarns to knitting patterns, needles, and the desired look feel, and durability of the knitted project.
Level: For advanced beginner and beyond spinners
Class time: 6 hours
Class Size: maximum of 15
Materials: Students should bring a spinning wheel in good working order, handcards for wool, flick card if possible, notepaper and pen. Also bring your choice of knitting needles if you want to sample your yarns. In addition to the items listed, Judy suggests bringing paper & pen, scissors, sandwich bags, small crochet hook, lunch & snack
Materials fee of $10.00 per student includes: handouts and a selection of fibers including several types of wool and small amounts of various luxury fibers
Bio:
Carol Rhoades, Madison Wisconsin, has taught spinning and knitting around the U.S. and abroad for many years. Her particular interest is the connection between the qualities of primitive wools and the traditional knitting patterns and garments using those wools. Almost every bit of Carol’s handspun yarn is used for knitting and crochet. She was the Technical Editor of Spin-Off for several years and has published numerous articles in the magazine. Her articles and designs have also been featured in PieceWork, Interweave Knits, and Gavstrik (a Danish knitting magazine). Carol has translated many Scandinavian knitting books into English.
Roseneath Cottage
