Back in Time - Professional Development - Orenburg Lace

Orenburg Lace Shawls
Riverton, WY
April 13, 2012

The gorgeous Orenburg lace shawls, pictured above, were shared by Galina A. Khmeleva at a trunk show the day before the Professional Development in 2012.

Galina Khmeleva
shares the history of Orenburg Lace Knitting

Galina displayed each shawl and allowed Guild members to admire the intricate stitches on the sheer shawls.

The Guild brought Galina to Riverton, WY for two days of lace knitting workshops, and members could enroll in one day or both days.

Navajo Plying - Professional Development

Maggie Casey demonstrates Navajo plying
Riverton, WY
September 26, 2015

It suddenly got quiet in the room when Maggie Casey began to demonstrate the process of Navajo plying, which creates a three-ply yarn.

Navajo plying 

Dawn P. wanted a closer look at the process of Navajo plying.

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