Tag Archives: Fiber

New England Fiber Festival

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Wandering fleece returns home

IMG_8915 IMG_8917 roving returns IMG_8938 Spinderella’s Fiber Mill has done another beautiful bang up job with my fleeces. Spinning is one of the few things I can do safely when I’m not feeling well and as I seem to be coming down with a nasty cold, some of the BFL roving has already made it onto the wheel.

Rhinebeck shopping list

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Strike a pose

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I was hoping to squeeze in a visit to Gale’s “Strike a pose” at some point during the day so when Kristen asked if we’d join her I jumped right in. I’d brought a handspun shawl and hat and I wore socks of my own pattern but when my friends saw the Orenburg shawl I’d bought they insisted I wear that and right they were. Gale took photos of the four of us together and then announced she’d like to photograph us individually as well at which point there was a mad stampede and I was left standing alone to go first. I don’t normally take very good people pictures but with Gale directing, I managed to get some nice ones when it was their turn. I can’t wait to see what she does with these!

Twisted Fiber Festival

Just in case you were wondering where I have disappeared to:

I have been organizing this with the help of two lovely ladies who are, like me, going to be vendors also. As you can see below, I am teaching a class as well.

Twisted! Details

Vendors:
Alpacas at Orchard Hill
Knit n Spin
Tiny Dino Studios
Twisted Sisters
Th’red Head
Blushing Ewe
Shirley’s Succulents
Tom Swayne Woodworking
Prairie Productions
Laura’s Pygoras
Creations by Anna
Rouse House
Images in Time 3D
The Wicked Stitch
Elaine Kruger’s Sewing
Barb’s Nuno Felted Wearable Art

TWISTED Fiber Festival
FREE Classes/Demos
Saturday, November 3, 2012

The Potwin Fiber Artisans are happy to offer the following FREE
classes/demonstrations during the course of the TWISTED Fiber Festival! Each of the demonstrators is an artisan in the subject matter of their class/demo and many have scheduled classes in January so that you can build upon the knowledge and techniques you learn during the festival. Each session is 45-55 minutes long and the artisans will have tools available for you to utilize during the class; some will have tools available for purchase, and many vendors at the festival will have fibers available for purchase!

10am- BEGINNING KNITTING with Jenny Binfield
Jenny will show you how to caste on and begin knitting, and will have a handout with her basic knitting tips and techniques. Needles and yarn will be available, or you can bring your own needles and purchase some delicious handspun from one of the vendors.

11am- BEGINNING CROCHET with Susan Hudgens
Learn the basics of crochet, including slipknot, chain, slip stitch, single crochet & double crochet. Bring a crochet hook, yarn and scissors-some materials available, first come, first serve.

Noon- SPINNING with Marla Holt
Learn drafting techniques that allow you to quickly and easily spin fun thick n thin yarn and lofty thick singles on your spinning wheel. Please bring your spinning wheel and about 4 ounce of fiber you are familiar with spinning.

1pm- EMBROIDERY BASICS with Susan Hudgens
Learn the skills needed to complete a simple embroidery project including choosing materials, overhand knot, back-stitch, overhand stitch, French knot, satin stitch,, Lazy Daisy and as many other as we can fit in. Bring scissors, aida cloth, needles & floss-some materials available, first come, first serve.

1pm- DRUM CARDING DEMONSTRATION with Jennifer Beck
With an eye for color and texture, Jennifer creates beautiful art batts! Come watch her show you just how fun and easy it is to create an amazing fiber batt on a drum carder, ready to be spun into a unique OOAK yarn or used in your next felting project.

2pm- MAGIC LOOP KNITTING with Meg Wickham
The Magic Loop Technique allows you to make something small and circular by using one long 32″ or longer circular needle. Bring 75 yards of worsted weight (very soft) yarn and US sz 7 needles at least 32″ if you want to try alongside the instructor.

3pm- DROP SPINDLE SPINNING with Lori Warren
Lori will cover the basics of using a drop spindle: getting started, prepping your fiber, drafting, starting a leader, and park & draft spinning. She will also demonstrate how to skein and finish your handspun yarn. Drop Spindles, made by Lori, will be available for $10.

4pm- NEEDLE FELTING BASICS with Anna Walker
Stab something into existence and learn from @FELTit herself! With a barbed needle and some pretty fiber, learn the basics of needle felting as you create your own little cyclone! Basic needle felting instructions will go home with you along with your felting needle and a foam block!

I might not be very present until all of this is over, but when it is, look for the relaunch of the Tiny Dino Studios Etsy store and lots and lots of knitting!

Rhinebeck meetups

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There are a few nice vendors at the New York Sheep and Wool festival that I can’t see elsewhere but the real reason I endure the crowds and traffic most years is so that I can see friends I wouldn’t otherwise see and meet new ones. That always makes that long drive well worth it!

Rhinebeck color

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Vermont Dreaming

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This is the yarn I spun from the first half of the roving I dyed in Vermont a couple weeks ago. It’s very slow going as this is not the best roving to make laceweight yarn with but there wasn’t much and I really wanted enough yarn for a project. I’ve got about 270 yards from the first half so by the time I’m done, I should have enough for a little project of some sort.  Thanks again Kristen for an excellent and fabulously fun workshop!

Tarragon progress

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Slowly but surely I’m making my way through the roving. Because it’s thin I’m being really picky about removing nepps. I’m pretty sure I’m going to navajo-ply this to preserve the color sequence.

Tarragon on the wheel

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The Tarragon roving I dyed last weekend has been calling my name so last night I abandoned my knitting for a little spinning. I am wishing I’d dyed more but all I need to do is order some dyes and I can easily make that happen. My little notebook says I used chartreuse, spruce, and Aztec gold.