http://knitviktim.blogspot.com/2011/01/workshop-di-filatura-lucca-e-milano.html
At last I can post details of the spinning workshops that I will be giving in Italy in April. With help from local friends, we are planning 3 workshops in Lucca and 3 in Milan
If you have any questions about the workshops, please leave a comment, with your contact details (e-mail address) so I can get in touch with you.
Here are the dates and prices:
Date | Duration | Cost | ||
Fibre Preparation | Sat 9 April morning | 3 hrs | €50 | |
Drop-spindle spinning | Sat 9 April Afternoon | 3 hrs | €50 | |
Spinning Wheel basics | Sun 10 April | 5 hrs | €80 | |
MILANO | ||||
Fibre Preparation | Sat 16 April | 5 hrs | €80 + €25 room hire | |
Drop Spindle spinning | Sun 17 April | 5 hrs | €80 + €25 room hire | |
Spinning wheel basics | Mon 18 April | 5 hrs | €80 + €25 room hire |
The Lucca workshops will be in the Lucca Centre for Contemporary Art (Lu.C.C.A) which is a lovely venue within walking distance from the train station.
The Milan venue is still to be confirmed.
Here are some details of what the workshops will cover:
Fibre preparation workshop
Milano: Saturday 16 April. 5 hours (plus a 1 hour break for lunch (not included in the price))
€80 + €25 room hire per person
Some lovely new fleeces which arrived yesterday!
All specialist equipment and materials are supplied (you can bring your own carders, combs or fibres if you have any)
Please bring: a washable apron, a cloth bag e.g an old pillowcase, a box with a lid (e.g. a shoebox)
As we will be using unwashed wool you might prefer to wear latex or rubber gloves but these are not really necessary
This workshop is for people who have little or no experience of preparing fibres for handspinning. We will spend most of the time preparing a raw sheep’s fleece, which will be shared between the students. We will also look briefly at preparing other fibres such as silk, and if time allows we may also touch on blending fibres
Handcarders and combs are relatively inexpensive tools and easily portable so we will use these in the workshop. We will discuss the use of drumcarders. (If anyone can bring a drumcarder, let me know, as we can incorporate a practical demonstration)
The workshop covers:
A look at fibres:
- What makes wool so good to spin?
- What other kinds of fibres are available for spinning
- Pre-prepared fibres: Carded or combed, tops, roving or sliver
- Storing raw and clean fibres
Sorting and grading wool from a raw fleece
Carding wool by hand
Combing wool staples
Preparing silk from caps and cocoons
(Blending fibres ) – if time allows
You will be able to take away the fibre that you prepare during the workshop.
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Beginners’ Drop-spindle spinning workshop
Milano: Sunday 17th April. 5 hours (plus a 1 hour break for lunch(not included in price)) €80 + €25 room hire per person
Equipment and materials supplied (bring your own if you prefer)
This workshop is for people who have little or no experience of handspinning. It gives a good foundation for people who want to learn to spin using a spinning wheel, and is also suitable for those who intend to continue to develop their skills with a drop-spindle.
A drop spindle is a simple, inexpensive and very portable tool which can be used to produce a huge variety of yarns. With a spindle, we can slow the spinning process right down so the learner can develop a good understanding of what needs to happen during the spinning process, and how to control it to produce good quality yarns. This is directly transferable to spinning with a spinning wheel.
The workshop covers:
A look at fibres:
- What makes wool so good to spin?
- What other kinds of fibres are available for spinning
- Pre-prepared fibres: Carded or combed, tops, roving or sliver
Types of spindles
Getting started – spinning a singles yarn
Thickness and twist
Plying – why and how
Finishing yarn – setting the twist
Measuring thickness and quantity, and comparing with commercial yarns
You will be able to take away the wool that you spin during the workshop
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Spinning Wheel basics workshop
Milano: Monday 18th April €80 + €25 (room hire) per person
5 hours (plus a 1 hour break for lunch- not included in the price)
Equipment and materials supplied (10% discount if you bring your own spinning wheel – please let me know in advance what type it is)
This workshop is for people who may have tried spinning with a drop spindle, but who have little or no experience of using a spinning wheel. If you have already learned the basics of using a drop spindle you will get on better in this workshop, but it is not essential.
This workshop gives you the skills for spinning a wide variety of yarns using a spinning wheel, we will spin wool but you will also get a good foundation for continuing to develop your skills with other fibres.
Ashford Traditional spinning wheel Ashford Kiwi spinning wheel
Modern spinning wheels are versatile and robust, they are much easier to use than antique spinning wheels which often have parts missing or broken, and were often made for spinning one specific type of yarn
The workshop covers:
A look at fibres:
- What makes wool so good to spin?
- What other kinds of fibres are available for spinning
- Pre-prepared fibres: Carded or combed, tops, roving or sliver
Types of spinning wheels
Getting started – spinning a singles yarn
Thickness and twist. Twist ratios and band tension
Plying – why and how
Finishing yarn – setting the twist
Measuring thickness and quantity, and comparing with commercial yarns
You will be able to take away the wool that you spin during the workshop
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Optional extras only available for workshop partcipants
‘Student’ drop spindle €7
72pt curved Carders €39 per pair
Niddy Noddy €18
Ashford Kiwi spinning wheel €295 ) Ashford spinning wheels come with
Ashford Traditional spinning wheel €385 ) spare bobbins and Lazy Kate
Shetland wool combed tops – natural colours €3 per 100g
Shetland wool combed tops – dyed €4.50 per 100g
(see http://www.shetlandwoolbrokers.co.uk/ for colours)
Carders, niddy-noddy and drop spindles
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Teaching will be in a mixture of English and Italian. Translators will be on hand to help with any language problems. I have over 25 years experience of teaching spinning in the UK
Places are limited to 8 for Fibre Preparation and Drop-spindle spinning workshops, and 5 for spinning wheel basics workshops. Equipment will be provided but will have to be shared - if you choose to purchase equipment from the 'optional extras' listed above you will not have to share it.
If you have any questions about the workshops, please leave a comment, with your contact details (e-mail adress) so I can get in touch with you.
I have always been interested in this activity but unfortunately i don't think i will able to take part in these workshops as i am crammed with work :(
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