Flax Spinning
Description:
This class will show you how to spin wet spun line flax using a distaff. You will learn how to prepare the flax strick, prepare it for tying onto the distaff (if you don’t have a distaff you can bring a large towel to wrap it in but a distaff is more fun), and then learning to use water in your spinning and how to spin flax.
Required Skills:
Able to spin a skein of yarn, knowledgeable about your wheel with tension and ratio (flax is spun about the same as woolen yarn as it is very long).
Instructor:
Karen Chabinsky
Supplies Student Should Bring to Class:
Spinning wheel in good working order, one card/any size (dog cards will also work), distaff (see notes below), normal spinning accoutrements such as spare parts, scissors, string, towel for your lap, 2 ½ yards of your favorite color of ribbon so you can tie the strick onto the distaff, note paper/pen or pencil.
- DISTAFF: There are different types of distaff’s you can make if there is not one with your wheel. I like the coat trees that are taller and sit just behind your shoulder. This gives you more space to bring the fiber out and down to your wheel. Options include ordering a coat tree that comes in pieces and have the posts that screw in for hanging jackets on, which makes it easy to hang the strick from and more portable – I have purchased some from places like Amazon. You can also make a pole on a stand (broom?) or use a dowel (large diameter, about a yard and a half long) and putting it under your arm or through a belt on your waist. Anything that will be a pole which can be stood up by itself, which is taller than your head when sitting down. If that is not possible just bring a big towel and we will wrap the strick in that.
Supplies Provided by Instructor: TBA
Half a strick, water, water bowl and sponge, and handout.
Day: Saturday
Time: 10:00am -1:00pm
Cost:
$95 (includes $10 materials fee)