Fiber Newsflash
Crockett Fiber Arts Studio will be closed from May 30 through June 9. I’m headed to another crank-in in Washington, hosted by Pat Fly, until June 5. Pat restores vintage machines and knows them backward and forward. I’m hoping to master the ribbing attachment while I’m there. I’m selling and making socks in Santa Rosa on Saturday, June 8, at Five Creek Farm, 5853 Petaluma Hill Road. It’s the annual Spinners’ Day on the Farm. Sunday, June 9 is the excursion to John Sanchez’s barn in Petaluma.
Free Event!
Fiber Artists’ Night Out, June 13, 7 to 9 p.m.
This month I’ll be working on my Shetland Wool Week hat! Going to this event is on my bucket list. Meanwhile, I knit the official hat every year. I’ve described it below, and the pattern is free. I’ll help you get started if you want to knit it. Just bring your needles and yarn!
Bring any project you happen to be working on. I’ll have coffee, tea, and water. If you wish to drink something else, you’ll need to bring it. Adult beverages are allowed.
Sign Up Now!
Visit to John Sanchez’s Barn to Buy Fleece, Sunday, June 9, 10:00 a.m. in Petaluma
Brunch to follow at Chef Gator’s Rustic Burger and His Creole Friends
Only nine spots left!
This is going to be so much fun! John Sanchez has agreed to meet us at his barn in Petaluma to purchase fleeces that he acquired when owners didn’t want them after he sheared. Some are easily identifiable, others are crosses of some sort or other, but it’s all lovely wool for a very reasonable price. He weighs the fleece you choose, and you offer him what you think it’s worth. Sometimes there’s a little dickering, but the price you agree on will be amazing. I”ll be inviting John to join us for lunch at Chef Gator’s Rustic Burger & His Creole Friends so you can ask him any wooly questions you might have.
If you’d like to carpool, you can meet at the Park and Ride in Crockett. It’s just off the freeway, with easy reentry. You’ll need to organize your own carpools, but I’ll send out a list of names of participants around June 6. If you meet at 9:00 a.m., you should easily arrive at the barn by 10:00.
This trip is limited to 15 people, just because of the size of the space we’ll be in. It’s first come, first served, but if there is a greater demand, I’ll arrange another date with John. Please register via this Google Form. or send me an email. The cost is $12, to cover my organization time and John’s brunch. You can send it to me via PayPal at melanie@crockettfiberstudio.com or you can pay the day of the event. Hope you can join us.
The 2019 Shetland Wool Week Hat Pattern is Out!
I knit the official hat for this wool festival every year. This year it’s called Roadside Beanie, designed by Wool Week Patron Oliver Henry. I think you’ll agree that it’s absolutely delightful, boasting two things you see lots of as you drive around the Shetland Islands: sheep and fishing boats. If you want to knit this hat and would like to have some help getting started, bring your needles and yarn to the next Fiber Artists Night Out, June 13, 7 to 9 p.m. The pattern is free, and you can download it here.
My friend Katie sent me a treasure box of wool yarn she has spun and can’t use in Florida where she is now living. I’m planning to dye it for this hat later this week. I’m going to try something new: a video podcast. I’ll show the dyes I use and how I paint the yarn. I’ll post it on my YouTube channel and send out a link when I have it ready.
Later, I’ll have podcasts of my progress knitting the hat and a discussion at Fiber Artists’ Night Out in June. I love trying new things, both in fiber and in life. Hope you’ll join me for this experiment in going higher tech.
Circular Sock Machine Crank In at the Studio
Saturday, July 13, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Crockett Fiber Arts Studio, 1322 Pomona Street, Crockett, CA, $30. The price includes Continental breakfast, pupusas by Judy for lunch (vegetarian and carnivore options), coffee/tea/snacks throughout the day, and some surprises. Parking can be a challenge in Crockett, so I’ll have a drop-off space saved in front of the studio. You can drop off your equipment and then find a place to park. I’ll be there to help you unload. I’m limiting the crank in to twelve, on a first come-first served basis. Use this Google Form to register. Receipt of payment through PayPal to melanie@crockettfiberstudio.com reserves your spot.
Beginning Nuno Felting is Here!
Didn’t have any sign-ups for the first date, so we’re working on getting another date in June. Stay tuned..
New Dyeing Classes
Speckle Dyeing
Don’t you just love those beautiful skeins of yarn that are covered with colorful speckles? This technique is way easier than you might think. In this class you’ll practice speckle dyeing on three, 200 yard skeins of yarn. You can choose to begin with white, start with a yarn already dyed a light color, or do a combination. Either way, you’ll love the results! Additional skeins are available for $5.00 each, or you can bring some from your stash to dye after you’ve practiced. I’ll have gloves to protect your hands. Please bring an apron to protect your clothes.
Sat., May 18, 12:00 noon, Sun., May 19, 3:00 p.m.; Sat., June 29, 11:00 a.m.,; Sun., July 28, 4:00 p.m.
One, two-hour class. $100, includes three skeins of wool yarn. Maximum of six students.
Painted Skeins
Painting skeins of yarn in colors you choose is not only a great creative outlet, but is also a whole lot of fun. There will be jars and jars of colorful acid dye solution waiting for you to dip in and create the yarn of your dreams. I’ll provide three, 200 yard skeins of wool yarn ready to paint and gloves to keep the dye on the yarn and off your hands. You bring an apron to protect your clothes. Additional skeins will be available for $5.00 each, or bring some from your stash to dye after you practice. I know you’ll love this technique.
Sat., May 18, 3:00 p.m., Sun., May 19, 12:00 noon; Sat., June 29, 1:30 p.m., Sun. July 28, 1:30 p.m.
One, two-hour session. $100 All materials are included. Maximum of six students.
Painting Sock Blanks for Self Striping Yarn
This is a new process for me and is super fun! I give you two long tubes of knitted yarn I have made on my circular sock machine and soaked overnight in water. You paint them with dye solution in colors of your choice. We microwave the tube to set the color, cool it, rinse it, and spin out all of the extra water. Once it’s dry, you frog out the tube into a ball of self striping yarn you can use to make just about anything! It would be wonderful for knitting, crocheting, or weaving. How about a hat? A scarf? Socks? It sure beats making a giant skein wound around chairs or on a warping board, makes longer repeats in self striping yarn quite manageable.
Sat., May 25, 3:30 p.m., Sat., June 29, 4:00 p.m., Sun., July 28, 11:00 a.m.
One, two-hour session. $100 All materials are included. Maximum of four students.
It’s Shearing Season!
Don’t know what to do with a raw fleece? I can teach you that! In my Wool Processing for Spinning class you’ll learn how to select a fleece, prepare fiber for washing, the washing process, and preparation of washed and dried iober for spinning using a drum carder, hand cards, and combs. You’ll also learn how to choose a preparation method for many types of fiber. You’ll leave with lots of fiber and an understanding of why preparing their own fiber is a passion for many spinners.
One, four-hour class with a 30 minute break half-way through: $125
Sat., May 25, 11:00 a.m., Sun., June 16, 11:00 p.m.; Sat., July 20, 11:00 a.m.
Spinning!
Now that you know how to prepare that fleece, spinning is on your mind. In Beginning Spinning and Plying, you’ll learn the basics of wheel operation and maintenance, treadling, pre-drafting, drafting, and spinning yarn. You’ll try spinning three different wool preparations: roving, rolags, and batts. We’ll also talk about spinning “in the grease;” what it means and the pros and cons of spinning unprepared wool. You’ll leave with a skein of two-ply yarn, fiber for practice, and a syllabus full of useful information. Bring your own wheel, or use one of mine.
One, three and a half-hour session (30 minute break half-way through). $125
Sun., May 26, 11:00 a.m.; June 22, 11:00 a.m.; Sun, July 14, 11:00 a.m.
Want to spin enough yarn for a sweater or other large project, but spinning 1500 yards or more of the same yarn feels daunting? Never fear! There are techniques that can help you spin quickly and efficiently, bringing large projects easily within reach. In Production Spinning: Spinning Yarn for a Large Project, you’ll learn the long draw spinning technique with a variety of fibers and preparations. Once you have some singles on a couple of bobbins, you’ll learn a wonderful “speed plying” technique that will insure your yarn has consistent twist. We’ll also do some speed drills to practice spinning quickly and consistently.
Sat., June 22, 3:00 p.m.; Sun., July 14, 3:00 p.m.
One, two-hour session $125
Don’t forget these other classes!
Felting, while rather counterintuitive for a spinner, is such a fun thing to do. Wet Felting is a regular at the studio and the results are always stunning. You can register here.
90 minutes, $60.
Sat., May 26, 3:00 p.m.; Sun., June 16, 4:00 p.m.; Sat., July 6, 3:00 p.m.
Ecoprinting is also happening soon. There are spaces available in the class on Saturday, April 27, at 11:00 a.m. Spring flowers offer a whole new range of possibilities in Ecoprinting. You can register here. Much of the time is spent waiting for projects to steam, so bring something to work on while you wait.
3 hours, $100.
Sat, July 6, 11:00 a.m.
In Beginning Rigid Heddle Weaving, you’ll learn to warp your loom, stitch the hem, weave a small piece, and finish with fringe. By the end of the class you’ll have all the skills you need to start creating beautiful woven fabric!
Sat., June 15, 11:00 a.m.; Sun, July 21, 11:00 a.m.
One, five-hour session with a 30 minute break halfway through. $150 register here
Check the website for lots more fibery fun!
Melanie