In light of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, Fabric of Life has made the difficult decision to cancel all in-person events for the remainder of 2020. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to being together with you all again very soon, virtually for now, hopefully in person in the near future.

Instructor: Carole Adams

Carole Adams has a small farm with 5 sheep in the beautiful hills of Colrain, Massachusetts.  She leaned to spin in 1983. She has raised fiber animals from Elliott the Llama to Angora Rabbits and of course sheep..  She has been very active in the spinning and sheep world for many years. In the late 90’s she taught at Hampshire College, then at a local knitting shop and at the farm.  Sharing her love of this craft is part of her life and you can see her spinning at local craft fairs.

Program Description

Session 1: During the first session students receive reference paperwork and 2 to 3 different types of fleece to take home and wash. We discuss the different type of sheep, where and how to get sheep, rabbits, or llamas if they want them and what to look for. We then will practice treddling their wheel ( an important pre- spinning process),  working on the hand foot connection with each student. Each student receives some roving to take home to practice on.

Session 2: During the second session students review how the preparation of their fleece the practice with the roving has gone. Support is provided for any questions or concerns around this and then the wool is carded and the spinning begins! During this class day students will also explore angora, flax, and perhaps even cotton. More paperwork is shared with students that explains the wheel parts and the art of spinning.

Students will have a better understanding of choosing a good fleece with confidence, knowledge of the spinning wheel and how to care for it, how to wash a dirty fleece and carding of the wool, the pinch and pull method of spinning and the S and Z twist and plying and how to set the twist. Discussion of owning sheep or fiber animals will also be explored.

A $20 materials fee has already been included in registration; you may bring your own wheel if you wish. If not, you will be provided one during the program. If you do not have a wheel to practice on through the week, you may rent one for $50. Payment for this can be taken care of during the first class session.

Please contact us with any questions at office@fabric-of-life.org.