Spring Classes at Shadeyside!

All classes are held in our shop/studio here at the Farm and are kept small to insure lots of one-on-one instruction and attention.  Each class will be taught during the week and on a weekend - choose one of the class dates that fits in your schedule (you do NOT attend both dates - pick the weekday date OR the weekend date) - or if there are enough people requesting the class for a specific date, Nancy will make arrangements with you for that date.  The instruction fee for each class is $35, with materials fees to be paid separately; payment for the class must be received with your registration to ensure your place in that class and must be received at least 1 week before the class date.  Spring deal: sign up for 3 classes by April 15 and only pay $75 for the 3 classes!

Spinning Silk - April 12 or April 14 - 1 to 4:30 pm each day
Advanced beginner/intermediate spinners
Not sure of the difference between tussah and muga or eri?  We'll spin all the many forms of silk (cocoons, mawata, tops, and noils), learn specific properties of each type, tips for spinning each, and you'll go home with lots of samples and ideas.  Materials fee: $20

Blending Silk with Many Fibers - April 19 or April 22 - 1 to 4:30 pm each day
Advanced beginners/intermediate spinners
So many fibers - but why would you want to blend them with silk?  Learn the many tricks to blending silk with other fibers, and percentage blending.  Hand carding, drum carding, and machine carding will be discussed.  Materials fee: $20

Blending Alpaca with Many Fibers - April 26 or April 29 - 1 to 4:30 pm each day
Advanced beginners/intermediate spinners
Do you have so much alpaca fiber that you don't know what to do with it all?  Try blending it with other fibers to change the look and feel!  Alpaca will be blended with: wool; mohair; silk; bamboo; cotton; nylon; and more.  We'll "play" with combing and carding, percentages of blends, and dyed and natural colored fibers.  Materials fee: $20

Unraveling The Sock - May 17 or May 20 - 1 to 4:30 pm each day
No experience needed
The many colors of sock yarn are SOOOO tempting - this class will have you dyeing replications of 3 of the most popular dyed sock yarns that are available using Superwash wool yarn and acid dyes.  You'll go home with enough yarn for 3 pairs of socks dyed your way!  Materials fee $20

Rainbow Dyeing Fibers - May 31 or June 3 - 1 to 4:30 pm each day
No experience needed
Multi-colored, one-pot dye method for many protein fibers using acid dyes.  Learn dye basics and safety, dyeing greasy wool locks and washed mohair locks, and a discussion on working with the dyed fiber to maintain or blend the colors.  You may bring up to 8 ounces of a protein fiber to dye in this class (recommended: grease wool with distinct locks, such as Border Leicester, Romney, Lincoln, Cotswold, Wensleydale, and some Finn; unwashed alpaca; and washed mohair, any grade).  Materials fee: $15

Knitting or Crocheting With Silk Mawata - June 14 or June 17 - 1 to 4:30 pm each day
Basic knitting or corcheting skills
Learn to knit or crochet from silk Mawata squares and/or caps, and all the tricks to easily knit or crochet a scarf.  Nancy recently had an article in the Winter eMagazine from Interweave, SpinKnit, featuring her knitted scarf pattern using this technique.  Materials fee: $10

And then we're in to summertime.........