Dyeing 101 with Pat Pietsch and Kathleen Wright:
Date: Friday, April 15, 2011. Time: 10am - 1pm. Class Size: 7
In this class participants will learn about acid dyes, definitions, properties, brand names, chemical composition, and the mechanics of the dyeing process. Hands on experience will focus on space dyeing with the opportunity to make samples of four techniques. The materials fee covers roving, yarn and dyes used in the class.
Experience Needed: No Experience Needed
Cost: $30. + $10. (Materials Fee: For Roving, Yarn and Dyes) Total: $40*

Akha Spindle Class with Eileen Van Bronkhorst:
Date: Friday, April 15, 2011. Time: 2pm - 5pm. Class Size: 12
Traditionally the Akha spindle is used in Southeast Asia and used for spinning cotton and short fibers. Learn how to make your own spindle and understand the drafting technique with this light weight spindle. It can be used to spin long and all short fibers using the long draw. We will start with wool to understand the drafting technique and move on to shorter fibers. No matter if you are 'protein fiber' spinner or a 'plant fiber' spinner, you will be well versed in both after this class!
Cost: $30 + $5 (Materials Fee) Total: $40*

Braided Wool Roving Rug with Amelia Garripoli:
Date: Saturday, April 16, 2011. Time: 10am - 1pm. Class Size: 20
Your basic three-strand braid can be used to create a lovely rug from wool roving. These types of rugs date back to colonial days. In this class we'll braid and sew chair pads to learn how it's done. Fiber and tools (needle and thread) will be supplied. Taught by Amelia Garripoli, instructor, author, and blogger known as Ask The Bellwether. Each participant will take their chair pad home, and written instructions on how to make them.
Experience Needed: No Experience Needed
Cost: $30. + $10 (Materials Fee: For Fiber and Printed Instructions) Total: $40*

Life At A Farmer's Market...Selling The Whole Sheep with Susie Wilson:
Date: Saturday, April 16, 2011. Time: 10am - 1pm. Class Size: 20
Susie and her husband Dan are one of the many vendors at the prestigious Portland Farmer's Market. Together they sell their lamb as well as a variety of wool products that they raise on their farm through this venue. Come and find out how to get started at a Farmer's Market and what products that ewe can produce to turn a profit.
Cost: $30 + $3 (Materials Fee: For Handouts) Total: $33*

Productive Spinning with Amelia Garripoli:
Date: Saturday, April 16, 2011. Time: 2pm - 5pm. Class Size: 20
Expand your spindle skill-set in this fun class: increase your spindle enjoyment and results. We'll match the right spindle for fiber and yarn, and play with a variety of top whorl tricks, bottom whorl tricks, and handy techniques to get more out of your spindling: true Andean plying, Peruvian wind-on, Kick-spinning, Navajo plying, Bottom whorl speed-plying, and more. Bring your favorite spindle and try several others in class. You're invited to bring any spindles and fibers you'd like advice on spindling. The spindle doctor is in!
Bring: Your favorite spindle. Optional: bring additional spindles for advice on their best use, and any fiber you'd like advice on spindling. Some Spindles will be available during class to spin on.
Experience Needed: Basic spindle spinning (top or bottom whorl), or wheel spinning a continuous single.
Cost: $30. + $6 (Materials Fee: For Fiber and Handouts) Total: $36*

Why Milk Sheep? with Gretchen Wilson:
Date: Saturday, April 16, 2011. Time: 2pm - 5pm. Class Size: 20
Want to make a profit from sheep? Are you missing out on that "3rd product" from your flock? 13 years ago there were no dairy sheep in Washington. Now, there are 7 USDA-Grade A, licensed sheep dairies milking hundreds of sheep. It is THE only growing sector in the US sheep industry at this time. But maybe you just want to snatch a little from that "too milky ewe" for your own use? How? What is it good for? What does it taste like? In this class we will have a basic introduction to: the history of sheep dairying in the US and abroad; dairy sheep breeds; dairy sheep products; and milking systems large and small. We will sample many sheep milk products and.......we'll make some cheese--it tastes great!
Experience Needed: No Prior Fiber Skills Are Expected
Cost: $30 + $10 (Materials Fee: Handouts and Cheese Samples) Total: $40*

Dyeing 201 with Pat Pietsch and Kathleen Wright:
Date: Saturday, April 17, 2011. Time: 2pm - 5pm. Class Size: 7
This class focuses on color theory and its application to fiber dyeing with acid dyes. Terms relating to color will be defined and demonstrated. Mixing of colors and forming pleasing color palettes will be covered. Hands on experience includes: making a color wheel and producing at least five samples of dyed fiber. The materials fee covers the roving, yarn and handouts used in the class.
Experience Needed: Some Dyeing Experience Needed
Cost: $30 + $14 (Materials Fee: For Roving, Yarn and Handouts) Total: $44*

Making Designer Batts with Amy Wolf:
Date: Sunday, April 17, 2011. Time: 10am - 1pm. Class Size: 10
Come and have fun making sumptuous carded batts using dyed wool, mohair, alpaca, and silk. Leave with enough to make a pair of mitts or a hat.
Experience Needed: No Experience Needed
Cost: $30 + $10 (Materials Fee: For Fiber and Handouts) Total: $40*

*Include materials fee with entry fee.