Take a class with me!
As a fiber artist I am constantly excited and inspired to learn new techniques. Learning from those that have great tips and tricks makes more Ah-ha! moments happen. My passion is to share what I have learned so that you too can have Ah-ha! moments.
As a professional educator I strive to create the best possible experience for my students. I put a great deal of time into crafting clear, fun, and information packed workshops. It is always my goal for you to leave feeling confident and inspired!
Click below to read about the workshops I offer. If there is something that you or your venue would like me to teach, you can use the contact form to request something more specific to you or your group's needs.
12+ ways to spin painted top for color
Intermediate - Advanced (best seller)
Did you ever purchase a hand painted top and spin it only to be disappointed in the final color outcome? This workshop is based off of my book, "A New Spin On Color" and is a best seller. In it we analyze how dyed tops and rovings are painted and how the fiber can be spun in 12+ ways to yield different color combinations in the final yarn. The focus will be on color and how to achieve beautiful color results instead of mud.
Planning & spinning for a project
Intermediate - Advanced (best seller)
Now that your spinning skills are beyond the beginning stage you might be curious if you can spin for a specific project in mind. This workshop will focus on picking a project and how to spin the desired yarn for it. Fiber choices will be analyzed, drafting, spinning, and plying techniques will also be discussed to help you achieve the yarn you want. How to calculate the amount of fiber needed will also be addressed.
Spinning for socks
Intermediate - Advanced (best seller)
This workshop covers the best fiber choices for spinning sock yarn, analyzing yarn qualities that make a good sock yarn, spinning techniques to achieve spinning for socks, and plying techniques for durable socks.
Advanced-beginner spinning
Beginner
This workshop is aimed for a spinner that has recently come into spinning and they’ve just got the basics down but would like to learn tips and tricks to make spinning more enjoyable, to understand their wheels and what it can and can’t do, and how to improve their spinning consistency and plying techniques.
Copying a commercial yarn
Intermediate
Left (blue commercial yarn) Right (white handspun)
(Can you guess which is handspun? Hover over the picture to find out!)
This workshop will have students analyze the properties of a commercial yarn they want to copy, break down the yarn’s characteristics, and then try to copy these qualities in their own yarn.
Drop Spindling
Beginner
Learn how to create yarn using a simple tool called a drop spindle. You will have useable handmade yarn by the end of the workshop. Time permitting students will be taught how to Andean ply. No previous experience necessary.
Color theory in spinning
Intermediate-Advanced
This workshop focuses on how the color choices a spinner makes prior to sitting at the wheel influence the final outcome of color in their projects. It will help you as a fiber artist achieve the color combinations you want rather than making mud. Fiber preparation choices will be discussed and then techniques for spinning color will be the main focus.
Intermediate Spinning
Advanced beginner - Intermediate
Once you're able to spin a continuous (but not necessarily a consistent yarn) this workshop will help you elevate your spinning skills. This workshop focuses on how to get out of your go-to spinning rut once you’ve mastered spinning and plying on your wheel. Now that you’re able to make yarn, you might want to learn how to spin consistently, fine tune your yarn's thickness, and spin to suit specific projects. We'll build on your knowledge of yarn construction giving you more tools to put in your spinning repertoire.
Fiber prep: Carding & Combing
Advanced beginner - Intermediate
This workshop aims to teach spinners how to prepare fiber both from a clean fleece and commercially dyed wool to create fiber that is a dream to spin. Different fibers will be used so students can see how the fiber and its preparation can influence the final yarn.
Plying beyond the basics
Intermediate
Woolen & Worsted:
preparation & spinning
Advanced beginner - Intermediate
How to get out of your spinning rut
Advanced beginner - Intermediate
Just like there are many ways to spin fiber into singles there are many ways to ply those singles to create different yarns. This workshop starts off with basic plying using 2 bobbins and then builds on that knowledge to explore other plying possibilities for your handspun singles.
Understanding the way you draft fiber can help you control the look and function of the yarn you spin. This workshop focuses on different ways fibers can be prepared and spun and what the resulting spinning techniques yield in the final yarn.
Often after a spinner learns how to spin consistently, they can get stuck in a rut and spin one kind of yarn over and over again. What happens when you want to break out of your spinning rut? Students in this workshop will learn techniques they can use to alter the yarns they spin to achieve lofty thick yarns or finer more delicate yarns and everything in between.
Novelty Yarns
Intermediate - Advanced
Once you’ve mastered the basics of yarn construction the fun begins to try your hand spinning novelty yarns. In this workshop you will learn how to spin different types of novelty yarns both in the construction of the singles and the ply.
Kitchen Sink
Mixed level
Each participant submits one question about spinning prior to the workshop with a minimum of one month’s notice and the goal is by the end of the workshop each question will be answered. This allows each participant to leave learning something new and specific to help them on their personal journey with spinning but also see the interconnectedness of how choices influence our yarn creation. Due to the organic nature of this workshop students are asked to provide one question and a minimum of 1 month notice to prepare the materials for the workshop. Information about what students should bring to the workshop will be sent out via email two weeks prior to the workshop.