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Louie García

Louie García is a Piro Pueblo/Chicano textile artist with over 30 years of experience. He is the president and founder of the New Mexico Pueblo Fiber Arts Guild and regularly teaches Pueblo weaving to Pueblo tribal members as a means of revitalizing the Pueblo textile tradition. Louie also cultivates native cotton varieties from heritage seeds and processes the fiber from the cotton he grows by hand with the help of his wife and two daughters, who are now 13 and 18 years old. Louie’s work is featured in several private and public collections and museums, including the Indian Arts Research Center at the School for Advanced Research in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the Albuquerque Museum, and others.

Charan Sachar

Charan Sachar is an artist whose work reflects his passion for the fiber arts, like knitting, spinning, weaving, and quilting, and he uses it as an inspiration for his clay work. In all the fields that he works in, he loves to accept challenges and approach the making with a “what if..” attitude. Charan specializes in creating art yarns with textures, using traditional spinning techniques and pushing them an extra step to create unique yarns. As a teacher, he shares his preferences and his learnings along his journey, but also encourages his students to try techniques/materials by themselves and then decide for themselves. Learn more at creativewithclay.com.

Stephanie Flynn

Stephanie Flynn is a fiber fanatic experienced in teaching and motivating students in many fiber arts. She has a diverse expert background that includes spinning, weaving, knitting, felting, and dyeing. Her interest in learning about fiber arts started at a very young age, and she trained in accessory design at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Stephanie continues expanding her expertise by seeking out the best in the industry. Her online weaving class can be found on craftsy.com and online spinning classes on Schacht School of Textile Arts. Stephanie is coauthor of the book Woven Scarves: 26 Inspired Designs for the Rigid Heddle Loom with Jane Patrick. Her other projects can be found in Spin Off, The Weaver’s Idea Book, and Little Looms. She loves to spread her contagious enthusiasm for fiber with everyone she meets and vows that students are sure to find inspiration in any class she teaches.

Maggie Casey

Maggie Casey has been addicted to spinning since the last century, and while some people are proud of their wine cellars, she much prefers her basement full of fleece. Maggie was co-owner of Shuttles Spindles & Skeins in Boulder, Colorado, until it closed in 2020. She teaches at events around the country, including Estes Park Wool Market, Harrisville Designs, John C. Campbell Folk School, Maryland Sheep & Wool, PlyAway, and SOAR. She holds Part 1 of HGA’s Certificate of Excellence in Handspinning and is the author of Start Spinning, many articles, and several videos from Long Thread Media.

Heavenly Bresser

Heavenly Bresser is an award-winning handspinner, teacher at major fiber events, spinning wheel collector and restorer, and the founder of Heavenly Knitchet. She is excited to share her love of knitting, crocheting, spinning, weaving, and all things fiber related with the world. Some of her areas of passion include a love for working with color, working from fleece, and researching historic information for antique spinning wheels. Heavenly has made it her mission to help fiber artists of all levels expand their knowledge of their craft and try new things. Learn more at heavenlyknitchet.com.

Kate Larson

Kate Larson (she/her) is the editor of Spin Off and loves using fiber arts as a bridge between her passions for art and agriculture. She keeps a flock of Border Leicester sheep and teaches handspinning and knitting throughout the United States. Kate is the author of The Practical Spinner’s Guide: Wool (Interweave, 2015), many articles and patterns, and several videos, including How to Spin on a Charkha (Long Thread Media, 2022).

Treenway Silks

You’ll find the largest variety of Silk Spinning Fibers, Silk Yarn, and Silk Threads & Ribbons at www.TreenwaySilks.com. Choose from a rainbow of hand-dyed colors. Love natural? Our array of wild silk and silk-blends provide choices beyond white.

Greenwood Fiberworks

Greenwood Fiberworks is an indie dye company that specializes in hand-dyeing luxury fibers and yarns. When you visit our online store you'll find a selection of yak, camel, merino, bamboo, blends, and more, all celebrating our love of spinning and fiber. When we aren't in Utah dyeing fiber, we are on the road and look forward to seeing you again in Colorado. Visit www.greenwoodfiberworks.com or email us at [email protected].

Louët

Our legacy of making high-quality, innovative spinning and weaving equipment continues as owner Paul Vervoorn and the entire Louet team create new products to fuel your passion. You can expect to find our newest wheels and spinning tools at SOAR. Visit our website at www.louet.nl and remember that our support line is always available with hundreds of support articles so you can find answers to your questions when you need them. Open a ticket by sending an email to support.

Yarn Barn

Yarn Barn of Kansas is your ultimate destination for all things fiber since 1971. Nestled in downtown Lawrence, we offer an extensive selection of knitting and weaving yarns, looms, kits, and accessories to fuel your creativity. Our knowledgeable staff is here to assist you with any questions or project ideas. Whether you’re a local or connecting with us online, we strive to be your trusted partner in every fiber endeavor.

TheDancingGoats

TheDancingGoats makes historic and prehistoric reproductions and re-imaginings of fiber arts tools. Focusing on the prehistoric textile traditions of the Northern Roman Provinces, the Northern Isles, and Western Europe. Shuttles, heddles, looms, spindles, and whorls. Tools are made in wood, stone, pewter, copper alloys, ceramics, and glass. The advanced CNC Laser at TheDancingGoats is dedicated to making fiber arts tools and folklore inspired creations.

Long Thread Media

Long Thread Media serves content for the handspinning, handweaving, knitting, and traditional needlework communities online, in person, and in print. We are proud to publish Handwoven, Easy Weaving with Little Looms, Farm & Fiber Knits, PieceWork, and Spin Off, as well as offer information, education, and community to crafters in those fields.

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• CLASSES
• ITINERARY
• FAQ
• SPONSORS
• INSTRUCTORS
• TICKETS

Intensive

Extraordinary Singles

Heavenly Bresser
Most singles are spun with the intent to ply, but there are wonderful benefits to working with singles yarns just as they are. In this intensive, you will learn how to set up your wheel/e-spinner and start spinning both low-twist and high-twist yarns. Heavenly will share her approach to taking accurate measurements, including grist and angle of twist, for record-keeping and replication. Discover key factors for spinning singles with integrity while using different fibers and drafting techniques. On day two, we will dive into fun ways to spin S- and Z-twist singles using combination drafting and interesting colorplay to design your own yarns. Heavenly will help you troubleshoot consistency issues with tips and tricks, and when the spinning is all done, we’ll shift gears to evaluating and finishing yarns that will last. Ready for a new kind of spin? By the end of this intensive, you just might want to create a variety of extraordinary singles!Required supplies for class:
Spinning wheel or e-spinner in working condition, at least 3 empty bobbins, notebook, writing utensil, niddy noddy (or equivalent)Optional supplies:
Students may bring additional fibers from their stash to spin

Intensive

From Wool to Socks: Spinning and Knitting in the Moroccan High Atlas

Irene Waggener
Deep in the High Atlas mountains of Morocco, women use supported spindles called izdi to spin wool into yarn for their male family members to knit into socks, pants, and other articles of clothing. This class will take you through the process from wool to socks using High Atlas spinning and knitting techniques. Instructor Irene Waggener teaches this class with encouragement from her knitting teachers Hussein Mardi and Muah Ahasali, who collaborated with her to create the book, Keepers of the Sheep: Knitting in Morocco’s High Atlas and Beyond. It is their hope that others will be interested in learning about these spinning and knitting techniques that are no longer being practiced as widely as they once were. Knitting skills needed: You should be comfortable working in the round on double-pointed needles and these basic sock-knitting techniques: cast on, pick up and knit, increase, and decrease.Required supplies for class:
Set of 5 double-pointed knitting needles (any size, but recommended range is US 3 to 7) and handcardsOptional supplies:
N/A

Intensive

Spinning for Self-Striping Color Effects

Kate Larson
Stripes are a fun way to incorporate more colors into our textiles, but weaving in all those ends can be a drag. Join Kate for a two-day deep dive into creating self-striping effects that increase our color options without all those loose ends. Using several different yarn structures that can be harnessed for color effects, you will create stripey samples that range from gentle color undulations to clear, hard stripes. Then, using an intuitive approach, we will discuss how to adjust the striping scale for specific projects large and small. The focus will be on creating self-striping handspun for knitting, but crocheters, weavers, and more are welcome!Required supplies for class:
A working wheel or e-spinner, extra bobbins, lazy kate, handcards, and tape measure. Knitters: we will be knitting swatches, so bring at least three needle sizes that correspond to the gauge yarn you typically spin. Bringing additional sizes or an interchangeable set is recommended. If you are not a knitter, no problem! Contact Kate prior to class to discuss: [email protected]Optional supplies:
N/A

Intensive

Ravenstail Textile Sampler Wall Hanging

Lily Hope
Learn about the tradition of Ravenstail weaving and the beginner-level techniques needed to create a small, finished textile with Tlingit weaver Lily Hope. Using warps prepared by Lily, you will learn to use a vertical frame to weave a 4 x 6-inch finger-twined textile utilizing historic patterns. You’ll walk away with a completed textile that you can hang on the wall or sew to some fabric to create a small bag for carrying your favorite things. Learn more about Lily, traditional spinning materials used in Ravenstail and Chilkat weaving, and the textile traditions she carries forward at spinoffmagazine.com.Required supplies for class:
ScissorsOptional supplies:
You will need a rectangular or square basket for mounting the warped loom Lily will provide. Measurements should be roughly 10 x 12 x 14 inches. Lily often suggests inexpensive wastebaskets for use in class. A basket will be available for you to use during class if you do not bring your own.

Intensive

Spin Goldilocks

Maggie Casey
Medium-wool breeds are the best! Not too long, not too short, they are just right. Using fleece from some well-known breeders, we will use handcards, combs, flickers, and other tools to prepare the locks to spin woolen, worsted, and all the in-betweens. For extra fun, we’ll also spin some medium-wool braids. You will be delighted to know just how useful and versatile wool from these breeds can be.Required supplies for class:
Spinning wheel in good working condition and all its parts or several spindles, lazy kate and at least 3 bobbins, wool handcards, and flick cardOptional supplies:
Extra flick cards, dog comb, and Viking or medium combs if you already own them

Intensive

Low-Whorl Spindles: Ancient Textile Tools of the Northern Roman Provinces & Beyond

Robin Goatey
Connect with spinning traditions of the ancient world with toolmaker and fiber artist Robin Goatey. Learn to use a distaff to spin and ply wool on three European low-whorl spindle forms recreated or reimagined in The Dancing Goats studio: ceramic whorls of the ancient Near East, pewter whorls of the Roman/Celtic La Tène cultures, and soapstone whorls of the far north proto-Viking cultures. You will also have a chance to use a nøstepinne and Roman/Norse-style wool combs. Wool fibers used during class are gathered from Robin’s flock of Jacob, Border Leicester, Shetland, and Finn sheep. Class discussion and handouts will focus on the works of British historian John Peter Wild’s research on the Roman northern provinces and Roman Britain.Required supplies for class:
No additional supplies are neededOptional supplies:
Students are welcome to bring any rare or unusual fiber that they wish to discuss and spin during class. If you plan to bring fiber, please bring enough for everyone in class to taste-test

Intensive

Flax to Fabric: Spinning and Weaving Inspired By the Past

Tom Knisely
Looking closely at antique linens, we can see the incredible skill of makers from the past. Join Tom for a two-day workshop held at Red Stone Glen Fiber Arts Center, learning about the properties of flax and how it is prepared, spun, and woven into handmade cloth. You will spin flax roving and also be shown how to dress a distaff using long line flax fiber. We will also discuss how to finish the thread after it is spun to prepare it for weaving. Tom will prepare a warp during class and have a loom to show you how to easily warp it for weaving fabric. Learn a few tricks to make the warping process go easily for you and to make your first linen weaving project a total success. There will be numerous antique textiles, such as sheets, pillowcases, towels, and coverlets, from Tom's personal collection for you to look at and handle to inspire you to weave with your linen thread.Please Note: This class will be held offsite at Red Stone Glen Fiber Arts Center and requires navigating a single step into the building and a second single step to access the classroom area. If you have questions about assistance needs for this class, please contact us. Transportation for this class will be provided.Required supplies for class:
Notebook with pen or pencil, spinning wheel in good working order, three bobbins, sample size niddy noddy, a cup to put water in for spinning, a threading hook, spinning oil, and any additional tools that you like to use as you spinOptional supplies:
Camera or your cell phone to take pictures during the workshop

Sampler

Island Sheep: Spin and Experience Rare Breeds

Amy Ross Manko
In this class, we will experience several breeds of sheep from islands around the world. Included will be some you may have worked with before and some you may never have even heard of yet! Amy scours (see what we did there?) the fields looking for rare breeds to bring to class, and she hopes you’ll find a new favorite. We will start with her favorite American breed that developed practically ferally on an island and then spend time with some UK islanders. Amy will talk about not only the history and attributes of these awesome sheep, but also their application in your fiber arts journey.Required supplies for class:
Basic fiber prep equipment, including flick card, handcards, and combs; a working spinning wheel or spindle; a niddy noddy or ball winder; and preferably 4 or more bobbins (there are work-arounds if you don’t have 4)Optional supplies:
Notebook, pencil, small baggies for storing samples

Sampler

Prep Like a Pro: Combs

Heavenly Bresser
Wool combs are beloved tools that can be a great benefit to a spinner's experience with fiber. In this session, you will learn how to comb fleece safely with ease and less waste. There will be opportunities to practice proper loading techniques for combing clean fleece and proper posture and ergonomics to avoid combing “burnout.” Heavenly will share the ins and outs of various wool combs available for handspinners, including their many uses and applications. Prepare yourself for discovery: Heavenly has plenty of tips and tricks for using a diz to remove fibers from wool combs and effectively removing combed top by hand without a diz. Whether you want to build or fine-tune your skills for making your own combed top or explore a relaxing new technique, this session is for you.Required supplies for class:
Small set of hand combs, either double row or single row is fine; a lap cloth or apron for protecting clothes from debris. A few sets of combs will be available to borrow, and you must contact the SOAR staff to reserve at the time of registrationOptional supplies:
Students may bring additional fibers to comb

Sampler

Knitting Socks: Techniques from Armenian Knitters

Irene Waggener
Knitting has a long history among the Armenian people. Socks were a particularly important knit item that were made by women as gifts and as part of their dowry. While the old designs are no longer as fashionable as they once were, some women still use older techniques for knitting toes and turning heels. In this class, you will learn how to knit socks in the style popular with Armenian knitters from Hadrut. These socks are knit from the toe up. Instructor Irene Waggener teaches this class with encouragement from her teachers at the Hadrut Children's Development Center in Yerevan, Armenia. Knitting skills needed: You should be comfortable working in the round on double-pointed needles and these basic sock-knitting techniques: cast on, pick up and knit, increase, and decrease.Required supplies for class:
Set of 5 double-pointed knitting needles (US size 0, 1, or 2)Optional supplies:
Additional knitting supplies, such as stitch markers, extra needles, or yarn bowl. Millspun yarn will be provided, but you can also bring handspun fingering-weight yarn

Sampler

Inspired by Tweed: Blending and Spinning for Complex Color

Kate Larson
Tweed fabrics often draw us in with their complex colors and wooly texture, but the subdued hues of most tweeds often begin as a collection of shockingly vibrant colors. Join us as we explore the intersection of easy color theory, spinning fibers, and history. We will use dyed locks, rovings, and combed tops to make our own blends, yarns, and textile inspirations.Required supplies for class:
Spinning wheel in working order, e-spinner, or several spindles; handcards; and lazy kateOptional supplies:
Extra bobbins for your wheel or e-spinner

Sampler

Ravenstail Textile Tasting

Lily Hope
Join Lily Hope for a three-hour intro to Ravenstail weaving. You’ll get a brief overview of the history and significance of this Northwest Coast artform. You’ll spend some time thigh-spinning Ravenstail warp and finger-twining a small keychain utilizing historic patterns in the style of Ravenstail. Walk away with one square inch of ceremony and a beginner’s understanding of how to weave Ravenstail textiles. Learn more about Lily, traditional spinning materials used in Ravenstail and Chilkat weaving, and the textile traditions she carries forward at spinoffmagazine.com.Required supplies for class:
ScissorsOptional supplies:
NA

Sampler

Teach Your Old Wheel Some New Tricks

Maggie Casey
It is always the wheel, not the spinner (well, maybe not always, but a lot of the time). Sometimes just the smallest adjustment to your wheel can make a world of difference. Because spinning wheels, like people, need a little TLC, we will start the session by cleaning and oiling and adjusting our wheels. When the wheels are tuned up and happy, we will play some tricks with them to make them more responsive. Sometimes all it takes is a new drive band or an adjustment here or there to let your wheel do things you didn’t know it could.Required supplies for class:
Spinning wheel in good working condition and all its partsOptional supplies:
N/A

Sampler

Clasped Weft, a Not So Plain Fabric

Sara C. Bixler
Join Sara Bixler for an introduction to weaving clasped weft. Although woven on a plain weave foundation using simple looms such as rigid heddle, they are anything but "simple" or "plain." Students will not only weave a beautiful, one-of-a-kind fabric that can be transformed into a wearable cowl but also gain critical tips and tricks to plan and construct amazing fabric with your handspun yarns. You will have a chance to see many of Sara's samples highlighting unique materials, scale differences in threads, and variations in projects such as table linens, wearables, and even rugs. Have fun in this low-pressure class that is accessible to even the most novice of weavers. Looms will be pre-warped and a variety of yarns will be available to sample.Required supplies for class:
Notebook, pencil/pen, colored pencils, and camera or phone for taking photosOptional supplies:
Feel free to bring along some of your handspun in a variety of sizes if you like, but it's certainly not necessary. All other supplies and handouts will be provided by your instructor