For weaving and spinning classes at A Place to Weave, please go directly to their website. Beginning Weaving and Spinning classes are listed on the Lessons page. Other workshops, including Inkle weaving, Color Palettes, and others are listed on the Workshop page.
Click here for a dates and descriptions of classes at The Unruly Stitch.
Private lessons
I offer private instruction at A Place to Weave in Leominster MA (weaving and spinning) and The Unruly Stitch in Weston MA (spinning only) for $40/hour. Please contact me for details.
I’m currently also offering online instruction. If you have a loom or a wheel and want to learn how to use it or just need help with a particular part of a project, I’m available for private tutoring. The fee is still $40/hour. This is 100% custom tutoring for your weaving or spinning. Contact me when you are ready.
Class Descriptions
Beginning Weaving
This 2-day class is a start-to-finish beginning weaving experience on a 4-shaft loom. The first day, students are guided through measuring out a warp, beaming the warp, sleying the reed and threading the heddles. The first few rows of weaving will be complete before the end of the day. The looms go home with students with instructions for weaving a sampler between the classes. Support is available between the classes for those who need a little confidence. On the second day, the samplers are completed and we take a step back to get an introduction to project planning and drafting. Portable 4-shaft tabletop looms are provided for use during and between the classes as part of the class fee.
Advanced Beginner Weaving
This is a series of classes, which changes each year. It can include Yarn Explorations, Introduction to Fiberworks, and other topics to provide the next level of detail for developing weavers.
Prerequisite: Students must have taken a beginning weaving class or have some weaving experience. They must be able to warp their loom independently.
Creating Color Palettes
This class is for all – knitters, crocheters, weavers, spinners, dyers, and other artists – who love color and want to understand palettes, be more deliberate about color choices, and develop confidence about their colors. It utilizes Gist Yarn’s Palette Scout color deck. We’ll start out with some basic color theory, play with some guided palette development, and work into some creative challenges.
Beginning Spinning on a Wheel
Do you want to be able to spin your own yarn for knitting, weaving or gifting? Do you want to try different wheels to see what works best for you? Do you want to understand the difference between roving and top, and how to use them? Students will learn to spin from different types of commercially prepared fiber and try several types of wheels. Equipment and fiber will be provided for use in the class.
Beginning Drop Spindle
Love fiber? Love yarn? Learn to make your own yarn from commercially prepared wool fibers using a drop spindle. Spinning with a drop spindle is relaxing and portable. Students may bring their own drop spindle, borrow one from the instructor, or purchase one at the shop. Each student in this half-day class will go home with a small skein of handspun yarn.
Continuous Strand Weaving on a Triangle Loom
Continuous strand weaving seems almost counter-intuitive to weavers who are accustomed to a fixed warp and a shuttled weft. How does it work? How can color patterns be achieved? On a shawl-sized triangle loom, it takes about 10 hours to complete a project. For the class, Penny has mini triangle looms, sized about for a doll, that can be woven in an hour. After learning (AHA!) how the looms work, participants will be able to design and weave their own mini shawl in class.
Inkle Weaving
Inkle weaving is a simple and inexpensive way to weave narrow bands of fabric. There are limitless possibilities of color design. In the intro class, participants learn how to read and draw patterns, make heddles, and efficiently warp the loom in different color patterns. Each person will weave a narrow band, bookmarks, or shoelaces. In a follow-on class, participants learn the basics of pick-up.
Great Wheel Spinning
Are you interested in learning to spin on a Great Wheel/Wool Wheel/Walking Wheel? Classes will be arranged at a mutually convenient time when there are 3 interested students. Please email to put your name on the list.
Prerequisite: Students must already know how to spin. Being able to bring your own great wheel is preferred, but arrangements may be made to rent one.
