Drop Spindle Spinning
The Workshops
I offer two drop spindle spinning workshops.
Drop spindle spinning workshop: A full day workshop where you turn a raw fleece into a workable yarn
Introduction to drop spindle spinning: A half day workshop where you are introduced to the basic techniques required for each stage.
Where?
These workshops take place in the visitor centre at Catanger Farm in Weedon Lois near Towcester, the home of my little fibre herd of llamas and alpacas.
The space is open and welcoming with a view of the llamas and alpacas right out of the window. In the colder months we'll sit beside a blazing log burner and in the warmer months we can picnic outside beside the llamas and alpacas in our breaks.
An informal low pressure environment where you can learn at your own pace, take your time and enjoy learning a new skill!
Absolutely no experience or skill with crafts needed!
If this workshop isn't available to book get in touch to find out about future dates or organise your own private group or individual tuition.
Full Day Drop Spindle Spinning Workshop
A cosy one day (6 hour) workshop where you will learn how to process a whole fleece and spin it into homemade skeins of yarn.
We will explore hand based techniques that have been used by herders for thousands of years.
The workshop includes your own drop spindle to take home with you and fibre to get you started (or bring your own!).
An informal low pressure environment where you can learn at your own pace, take your time and enjoy learning a new skill!
Time for a packed lunch and lots of tea/coffee and home baked goods.
Absolutely no experience or skill with crafts needed!
In this workshop you will be introduced to the basic techniques of:
-
Skirting a fleece (preparing it for use)
-
Carding (encouraging all of the fibres to move in the same direction)
-
Creating rolags (preparing the carded fibres for spinning)
-
Spinning (using a drop spindle to hand spin the fibre into a single thread)
-
Plying (strengthening the threads by plying them together using a traditional hand method)
-
Winding a skein (finalising your yarn using a traditional no tools method)
Included in the price of the workshop:
-
Drop spindle to use during the workshop and take home with you
-
Carders to use during the workshop
-
Fleece to take home to continue your spinning
-
A massive discount on entire raw fleece blankets if you wish to buy your own for future projects
-
Unlimited hot drinks
Numbers are limited to six to ensure enough attention for each attendee.
If this workshop isn't available to book get in touch to find out about future dates or organise your own private group or individual tuition.
Half Day Introduction to Drop Spindle Spinning Workshop
A cosy half day 3 hour workshop where you be introduced to the process of turning a whole fleece into yarn using a drop spindle, carders and hand based techniques.
We will explore hand based techniques that have been used by herders for thousands of years. .
An informal low pressure environment where you can learn at your own pace, take your time and enjoy learning a new skill!
Time for a packed lunch and lots of tea/coffee and home baked goods.
Absolutely no experience or skill with crafts needed!
In this workshop you will get to try a little of each of these steps:
-
Skirting a fleece (preparing it for use)
-
Carding (encouraging all of the fibres to move in the same direction)
-
Creating rolags (preparing the carded fibres for spinning)
-
Spinning (using a drop spindle to hand spin the fibre into a single thread)
And I will demonstrate quickly these techniques if time allows:
-
Plying (strengthening the threads by plying them together using a traditional hand method)
-
Winding a skein (finalising your yarn using a traditional no tools method)
Included in the price of the workshop:
-
Drop spindle and carders to use during the workshop
-
A massive discount on entire raw fleece blankets if you wish to buy your own for future projects
-
Unlimited hot drinks
Numbers are limited to six to ensure enough attention for each attendee.
If this workshop isn't available to book get in touch to find out about future dates or organise your own private group or individual tuition.
How I found spinning
I spent a decade facilitating women's yoga and circles of women in nature and a further two managing an alpaca farm and the herd before finding my very own.
We produced thirty six fleeces a year and I needed to start making my way through them, so I began spinning as a way of processing the fleeces we produced and continued as a way of processing my mind and emotions.
And over time I've found something very special happens when we gather together as women to spin yarn and process fleeces as we have for thousands of years.
I travelled to spinners and weavers guilds and hunted around for someone to teach me but no one was willing to teach me using alpaca.
They all told me alpaca was too hard and would need blending.
I kept thinking of the high altitude herding families who have been spinning pure alpaca by hand for 6,000 years. So I headed to the books and I discovered how the women of the Andes span their fleeces.
I taught myself their hand based methods and I have never looked back.
It is these methods I offer in my workshops with the option of spinning alpaca, llama or sheep depending on your interest and what you'd like to make.
You can bring your own fleeces or work with the ones I have on offer.
