Rhinebeck 2009 Workshop Signup!

Finally! The Dutchess County Sheep and Wool Growers Association have moved forward into the millennium and automated to online class registration! No more waiting weeks for snail mail to find out if you got into the class of your choice, just click, click of the mouse and your $$$ is spent. $330 later, these are the classes I chose:




Spinning for Purpose and Design
Two Day Workshop
Friday October 16, 2009 9:00am - 4 :00pm and
Saturday October 17, 2009 9:00am - 4:00pm
Cost: $ 245
Class Size: 15

Are you stuck in a rut, spinning the same yarn over and over again? Do you spin first, then worry about what you will make or if you have enough yarn? This workshop will push you out of your comfort zone. We will decide first what the finished project will be, determine the type of fiber best suited to it, spin an appropriate yarn, knit a proper swatch, then draft patterns for projects that will fit your body. You will also learn how to figure out how much yarn/fiber you will need to spin before you begin, and how to adjust commercial knitting patterns to fit your handspun yarn.
Skill Level: Students must have the ability to spin and ply a balanced yarn. Also, to be able to knit and purl.
Homework: None
Students must bring: Spinning wheel, at least 3 bobbins, lazy Kate, Niddy Noddy, Knitting needles – a variety of sizes of #3 - #9, if they have them.



Dyeing Self Striping Sock Yarn

Sunday October 18, 2009
1:00pm - 4:30pm
Cost:$75
Class Size: 12
How are self striping sock yarns done? The commercial yarn industry uses computers, but knowing the gauge of the knitted yarn, mathematically it can be determined how much yarn to dye for any number of rows. In this class, using a calculator and graph paper, you will design your self striping socks, then dye they yarn to make it happen. Students will dye 4 ounces of superwash sock yarn in their choice of colors and pattern, based on their calculations.

Students must bring: apron or old shirt, 2 large old towels, rubber gloves if they care about hands, calculator, pen, paper. There is no homework.