American & English Longdraw - Professional Development

Vicky B., Brianna F., Salli A., Colleen J., Dawn P, and Cinde P. prepare cotton bolls for
spinning to learn how to spin with short fibers. 

Saturday afternoon, nine spinners learned the difference between American and English Longdraw and how the techniques can be used with different fibers.

By holding on to the seed in the cotton, spinners were able to spin the
short cotton fibers on to their yarn. 

 Maggie Casey gave each participant a cotton boll and showed them how to fluff the cotton fiber, hold on to the see within it, and spin the short cotton fibers. By working with cotton, students could see how they might use the technique when spinning with other short fibers like cashmere.

Sandy W. and Sabrina S. prepare some yarn
for a lesson. 

Spinning participants display their yarn
Dawn P., Salli A., Colleen J., Sandy W., Maggie Casey, and Cinde P.
Kris P., Kylie S., Brianna F., Sabrina S., and Vicky B.
Not pictured: Laura B.
Riverton, WY
September 26, 2015

Boucle Spinning - Professional Development

Saturday morning's class was eager to learn a new technique.
September 26, 2015

Saturday morning, nine spinners brought their wheels for the second day of classes with Maggie Casey. The morning class spun two fibers together (merino and adult mohair) to create a boucle yarn.

Sandy W., Sabrina S., Kylie S., and Vicky B. first spin with merino
Riverton, WY
September 26, 2015

Salli A., Laura B., Colleen J., and Dawn P. prepare their first assignment
to spin a length of merino roving. 

First the students spun a section of merino and then added the mohair.

Colleen J.  

Laura B. begins the process of "abusing" the yarn
 to create the boucles.

Once the spinners had a length of merino and mohair spun, then they headed to the kitchen. The sample hanks were submerged into very hot water with dish soap and used sink plungers to agitate the wool. After a time, the yarn was then plunged into ice water to force the fibers to shrink; thus, causing the mohair to create the boucle loops. The process was repeated at least twice.

Vicky B. whacks her yarn on the kitchen counter.

The final step in the process was whacking the yarn against the kitchen counter or on the railing outside the building. The "abused" yarn became curly boucle.

Drop Spindle Class - Professional Development

Maggie Casey explains how to determine fiber length  to Sandy W.,
Dana H., Vicky B., Jeni V., and Sabrina S.
September 25, 2015
Riverton, WY

Every two years the Guild offers opportunities for members to receive instruction from professionals. The topics (spinning, weaving, knitting/crochet) are covered on a rotation schedule, and 2015 was the year for spinning.

Two years ago, the Workshop committee contacted Maggie Casey,  a well-known spinner and author from Boulder, CO, and booked her for two days of professional development.

Maggie Casey demonstrates how to determine fiber length

On Friday, Maggie povided a full day of instruction on Drop Spindle spinning to five eager students. All but one of the students had a wide range of experience with the drop spindle, but Maggie provided new techniques for the participants. The group learned the proper way to handle the drop spindle, determine fiber length, spin the fiber into yarn, wind bobbins, and ply the yarn.

Vicky B. tries a new method of holding
the fiber

Sabrina S. concentrates on getting the right twist.

Maggie Casey assists Jeni V. with her technique.

Dana H. enjoyed spinning and visiting. 

Maggie Casey uses the Spolmaskin to transfer the yarn from
the drop spindle to a bobbin.

After spinning enough yarn for two bobbins,
 Sandy W. prepares to ply the two together
using a lazy kate. 

Sandy W. plies the yarn from two bobbins.

Vicky B. and Jeni V. ply yarn
onto Vicky's spindle. 

Plied yarn is wound on a niddy noddy 

Sample of yarn that was spun and plied
by the students.

Drop Spindle students proudly show their success.
Jeni V., Sabrina S., Sandy W., and Magie Casey
Vicky B. and Dana H.
September 25, 2015
Riverton, WY

Quilter's Cache

A good source of free quilt block patterns can be found at Quilter's Cache.  Quilters will find 60 pages of block patterns (scroll toward the bottom for a list of pages) and the option of searching for blocks alphabetically or by specific size.

Near the bottom of the page are buttons/links that offer quilt labels, kid's patterns, paper-piecing templates, simple appliqué shapes, square animals and quilt borders.

Spinzilla 2015

Are you ready to join Spinzilla, a world-wide spinning event where competing teams and individuals challenge each other to see who can spin the most yarn in a week?

The winning team is awarded a year’s worth of bragging rights, the traveling Golden Niddy Noddy, and $25 gift certificates for all team members! Spinzilla also offers individuals a way to participate in the Rogue Spinners category.

Spinzilla is the challenge to generate a very big number to show the yarn universe and beyond what spinners can do when they put their mind to it.

Spinzilla allows individual spinners to spin more and worry less! It doesn't matter what kind of yarn they spin: the goal is to grab a tool, any tool, and get spinning because the more that they spin, the better spinner they will become. Any registered spinner who spins at least a mile (1,760 yards,) is entered into a special drawing for random prizes. All spinners who register are also eligible for random prizes.

If this introduction has piqued your interest, then visit the official Spinzilla website and look around. 

Registration is open until October 2, 2015, and Spinzilla runs from October 5 - 11, 2015

Want to organize a Fremont County Spinzilla team? Send an email to the Guild - address given at the top of the righthand column, and someone will put you in contact with some other spinners who may be interested. 

Show and Tell - September

Linda W. finished her first stranded knitting
project - a pillow, knit in the round

Dana H. is knitting a round baby blanket

Jeni V. finished a shawl

Laura B. shared a ice-dyed, silk scarf

Cinde P. is knitting a sweater with yarn that she dyed

Nancy P. displays a knit sock that featured a "wicker" stitch

* all photos - courtesy of Katheryn E. 

Make It With Wool

The Wyoming Wool Growers Auxiliary is once more sponsoring the Make It With Wool contest, and the district level for Fremont County will be held on November 14, 2015 at the REACH Foundation, 622 N. Eighth St. W., in Riverton, WY.

A wool swap will be held this year from 10 a.m. to noon. Community members and former contestants are encouraged to donate lengths of wool or wool garments for the exchange.

Wool contest entries must be constructed from 60 percent or more wool, and all wool must be tested. Participants should send their wool samples to the state director by November 1, 2015. The 4 x 5 inch samples and $4 testing fee should be sent to Lynda Jordon Johnson, P.O. Box 215, Encampment, WY 82325 before the deadline.

A multiple range of ages may enter the contest: preteens, 12 years old and under; juniors, 13 to 16 years old; seniors, 17 to 24 years old; and adults, 25 years old and older.

Categories for garments include one-piece items, two-piece items and ensembles, which consist of three or more garments worn at the same time. Wearable accessories made for others, such as a child's dress or a man's shirt, may be entered in a separate category.

All entrants at the district level receive a 2.5 yard length of wool from Pendleton Woolens.

District winners advance to the state competition to be held in Casper in December. State winners are awarded a trip to the national contest in January in Scottsdale, Ariz. Thousands of dollars in prizes are offered at the state and national levels.

District entry forms can be obtained at the Riverton or Lander UW Extension offices or by contacting Patti Griffith at 856-8260 or sgriffith@wyoming.com or online here.

More information about submitting a quilt, an afghan, or knitted and crocheted wearable apparel can be obtained from Lynda Jordan Johnson at 399-6723 or lyndajane13@aol.com.

Class Opportunities

Several places in the County are offering opportunities to take classes; some taught by Guild members 

Maggie Cassey Spinning Weekend - spaces still available. Information can be found here

Lander Art Center - sewing and knitting classes - schedule can be found here

Riverton Recreation - sewing and knitting classes - schedule can be found here - craft classes start on page 9 of the brochure

Lander Recreation - assorted classes - schedule can be found here

Fall Fiber Retreat at Togwotee Mountain Lodge - November 6 - 7 - 8, 2015 

     $99.00 a night for a room with double occupancy, $15 for each additional person per night

     Food money is shared. Contact Cinde for more information: cindejpfisterer@hotmail.com

If you know of any additional classes, please use the email address at top right. 

Fort Washakie Exhibit

June 2015
Frank B. Wise Business Plaza
Fort Washakie, WY

The month-long exhibit showcased examples of the Guild members' work in knitting, needle felting, sewing, twining, quilting, spinning, locker hooking, crochet.

It was an amazing display of the Guild members' talent. . .