SPINNING WORKSHOPS

=====>>  I rent charkhas to students who do not have them. <<===== 

Charkha 101:  The Basics 
Duration: half day or full day 
Level:  Rank Beginner (I teach children age 9 and up) 
Class size limit : half day 8  , full day 12
Materials Fee: $10 per person

Synopsis 
Learn to spin cotton the easy way!  Learn how to tune and maintain the charkha,  how to determine the ratio, and how to spin to specification.  We will also cover cotton types and properties. 

Learning Objectives 
1.  Understand charkha 
2.  Understand yarn terminology 
3.  Learn the long draw 
4.  Spin cotton easily 

Students should bring  
Enthusiasm 
Charkha optional (Charkhas available for $15 rental) 
 
 
Charkha 201:  Proficiency 
Duration: Half day or full day 
Level:  Intermediate 
Class size limit : 15 
Materials Fee: $10 per person

Synopsis 
This class is for experienced point spinners.  We will cover tools and techniques for determining twist and spinning consistent yarns, techniques for improving speed, and techniques for separating colors in striped slivers. 

Learning Objectives 
1.  Answer "how much twist?"
2.  Learn to spin for consistency 
3.  Understand yarn terminology 
4.  Learn some speed techniques 
5.  Learn color separation techniques 

Students should bring 
Enthusiasm 
Charkha, small craft scissors, old CD

Cotton 101:  Cotton Species and Preparations 
Duration: 1 day 
Level:  Intermediate 
Class size limit : 15 
Materials Fee: $30 per person

Synopsis 
This class is for experienced point spinners, NOT for beginners.  We will cover cotton species from around the world and their properties including diploids from India, Thailand, and the southwest and cultivated tetraploids including upland, Pima, Egyptian, and Sea Island.  We will spin cotton that has been prepared by commercial methods--carded, drawn, combed and roving as well as hand made punis from India. 

Learning Objectives 
1.  Learn about the different cotton species and their qualities 
2.  Learn about commercial preparations and their qualities 
3.  Learn to spin the different preparations 
4.  Complete a sample notebook of species and preparations 

Students should bring   
Enthusiasm 
Pen or pencil 
Charkha 
 

 Charkha 401: Spinning Lace Weight Exotics  
 Duration: half day 
Level:  Intermediate (students should know how to use a charkha) 
Class size limit : 10 
Materials Fee: $30 per person

Synopsis 
Yes, you can spin fibers other than cotton on the charkha!.  The keyword, however, is "short". We will sample a selection of exotic fibers such as angora, camel down, cashmere, quiviut, and yak. 

Learning Objectives 
1.  Perfect the long draw 
2.  Spin exotics easily 

Students should bring  
Enthusiasm 
Charkha optional  (Charkhas available for $15 rental)