The Black Sheep meet from 11am-3pm on the second Saturday of every month. All events are held at All Saints Church, 347 Ridge Rd., Lansing NY unless otherwise noted.
Next meeting: June 8th.
Guild News:
The guild will be hosting spinning teacher Robin Russo on Nov. 2 and 3, 2013.
Robin Russo is a n accomplished spinner and popular workshop teacher. She regularly teaches at SOAR and at Rhinebeck. She has published numerous articles in Spin Off. These should be informative, fun, and productive days.
Nov. 2: Silk workshop. Robin says we will cover everything about silk from raising silkworms to spinning every form of silk available. The class involves a little science, geography, history, and lots of spinning. We examine silk fabrics, threads, and fibers with magnification devices, reel cocoons, make our own hankies, and blend silk with other fibers.
Nov. 3: Exotic fibers. This class will cover cashmere, yak, camel, qiviut, llama, alpaca, mohair, pygora, and angora. Each animal's geography, history, and fiber properties will be discussed. We also will spin from raw fiber, commercially prepared fiber, and our own fiber preparations. Wheel adjustments, spinning techniques, and fiber preparation will be highlighted.
The cost will be 75/day or 140 for both days for members, and 85/day for non-members. Registration is currently open for member, and will open in the early fall for non-members. To register, download the May newsletter and follow the instructions.
Abby Franquemont, author of the book "Respect the Spindle", recently presented a series of classes to the guild. At this class, several resources were mentioned, and I've provided links to the ones I remember below.
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Black Sheep spinning class alumni thread on Ravelry
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A clip from her Interweave-published video
Respect the Spindle
-Amazon link to Abby's book
Respect the Spindle
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A clip from her Interweave-published video
Drafting, the Long and Short of It
-Intro to Spinning,
Part 1 and
Part 2
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Spinning Cotton on a drop spindle
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The superfast Andean Plying Technique in action
The guild has been amassing some papers of educational and historical interest to spinners and fellow guild members. This collection is still a work in progress, but you may view this progress
here.
We are on Ravelry! Join the conversation: Black Sheep Handspinners Guild Ravelry Group
Several members of the guild have been meeting recently to find ways of supporting and encouraging new members. As an initial step they have put together this
FAQ for new spinners and guild members. If you have any questions, you can contact the guild via the menu to the left or write to new_members@blacksheephandspinnersguild.org.
The Black Sheep Handspinners Guild of Ithaca NY, is interested in promoting and continuing the art of handspinning all kinds of fiber.
Member interests range broadly within and beyond handspinning, from fiber plant farming and animal husbandry to dyeing, blending, knitting, crocheting, lace-making, weaving, felting, fly-tying, bow-string construction and beyond.
Anyone with an interest in fiber is welcome to attend meetings. You need not be a member. For more information, including on becoming a member, press the Contact the Guild button.
Happy Spinning!
