Central Oregon Spinners & Weavers Guild & Klamath Falls Spinners & Weavers Guild – Combined Guild Workshop
September 5, 2018
To begin the workshop “Spinning for Color’s Sake”, Judith showed us many ancient dolls and bead whorls (for spindles) from her private collection. She explained how each doll was constructed and we marveled over the workmanship of both the dolls and spindle whorls.
Well inspired, we chose colored top from a large selection of colors and started to spin our first yarn- marled yarn. By holding two or more colors of yarn together, we could achieve dimensional color effects that were surprising and interesting.
For our next yarn experiment, we chose several colors to blend using combs. I chose to spin the top that I blended on the combs in a worsted style. I then took the comb waste from blending, carded it and spun a woolen yarn. Each was unique!
Next, we talked about shades, tints and tones of colors. We used hand cards to blend a chosen color with black, white and gray. Then we spun the color by itself and shade, tint and tone of the color.
Finally, we explored tweed yarns. Judith provided odds and ends of fiber, thrums and bits of old yarn. We were able to use garneting boards to blend in these bits with top to create completely individual yarns.
I have taken several classes with Judith MacKenzie and this was one of the most intimate and engaging ones in my experience. The setting was wonderful and the fact that lunch was provided and unhurried made for a great progression of the day. I would like to thank ANWG for the generous grant to the guilds so that this class was so affordable.
Stephani Sexton
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