31 May 2012

The Twisted Threads Fiber Arts Guild is pleased to announce:

HOW TO MAKE THE YARN YOU WANT TO MAKE: AN ADVANCED SPINNING CLASS

Continuing spinners, gain inspiration and skill at making the yarn you have in mind.   What gives your yarn personality? How can you consistently make LOTS of it? Examine fiber prep, spinning methods,twist and plying options and then play,play, play with color and fiber combinations.

Martha began her adventure in spinning at the John C. Campbell Folk School, (founded in 1925), in Brasstown, North Carolina in 1978.  Since 1980 her extended family has included sheep and angora rabbits, currently Corriedale/Merino, Romney, Shetland with a little Blue faced Leicester for fun.  Also a banjo player and known to tell a story or two, Martha’s interest in sheep and wool, music and dance, have carried her quite literally and joyfully around the world.  Her children say she is a wool nerd but her sheep say she is outstanding in her field!

Martha became a member of the Southern Highlands Craft Guild in 1988, is  Resident Artist at the  John C. Campbell Folk School in spinning, knitting, felt making, and dyeing, and is a co-owner of Yarn Circle in Murphy, NC, a store catering to fiber enthusiasts.  She has been teaching spinning, natural dyeing and knitting design since 1984. (She taught her first class of thirteen students how to card and spin with a one month old nursling in a wind up swing as her assistant.)

The class will be held August 18 – 19, 2012 from 9:30 am – 4:30 pm each day (1 hour lunch) at the NC State University Crafts Center (2241 East Dunn Ave., Raleigh NC 27607).  Class fees are $120 for Twisted Threads Guild members and $150 Non members.  A materials fee is to be paid directly to the instructor, not to exceed $25.  A spinning wheel is  required.

The registration form is available here.  Dues paying Guild members can register immediately; non-members can register after June 21, 2012.

19 March 2012

Fiber of the Month: Silk

Silk is a protein fiber produced by the larvae of various moth species; it is also produced by spiders. It is a smooth, lustrous and strong fiber much desired for its light weight; 1 ounce of silk can produce a small shawl.


The information below is a summary of the presentation made by Jane and Jame at the March 15, 2012 Twisted Threads Fiber Arts Guild meeting.
References
wormspit.com
Interweave Spin-Off articles
Summer 1994.  Has many articles on silk including one on the history of sericulture in the U.S.
Spring 1997. Silk, a Spinner’s Survey.  Several articles cover spinning silk bricks to silk noil.
Winter 1999. Wild Silk, part 1.
Spring 2000. Wild Silk, part 2.
Fall 2000. Spin silk for Braiding.
Spring 2003. Silk Road to Mexico. Silk Scarves.
Spring 2004. Silk Embroidery Threads. Wool and Silk Plied.
Fall 2004. Duet for Silk Brick.
Spring 2005. Spinning a Navajo 3-ply to make crochet bead ropes using hand-painted silk.
Winter 2006. Working with silk hankies.
Fall 2007. Dyeing with hankies.
Winter 2007. Back-page essay on raising silk worms.
Summer 2009. Handspun silk ribbons.
Fall 2009. Raise your own silkworms.
Fall 2011. Spinning silk carrier rods.



Knitty articles


Brief summary of types of silk preparations available to handspinners (see also wormspit.com)
cocoons - rawest form, may or may not have the larvae removed
hankies & bells - a minimally processed cocoon that has been de-gummed and stretched over a frame
noil - silk waste leftover after combing or carding; produces a yarn with lots of texture and can be added to other fibers to add color and texture.
rods - silk that gathers on rollers during the reeling process
top - silk strands that are combed
reeled silk - premium silk reeled in a continuous strand from stifled cocoons.

Sources 
Handpainted silk top (and wool or wool/silk blends):
Dyepot.com
Miss Babs
Chasing Rainbows

Other silk:
Carolina Homespun - usually has the Louet top, along with some Eri and Muga
Little Barn - has the lowest prices for Tussah top - quality varies
Northeast Fiber Arts - noil, rods, and most species as top
Treenway Silks - lots of yarn, usually a variety of top
Webs - has the Louet top, some handpainted top
Detta's Spindle - has noil, other preparations