=====>> 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 spinning consistent yarns, techniques for
improving speed, and techniques for separating colors in striped
slivers.
Learning Objectives
1. Learn to spin for consistency
2. Understand yarn terminology
3. Learn some speed techniques
4. Learn color separation techniques
Students should bring
Enthusiasm
Charkha optional (Charkhas available for $15 rental)
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)
Khadi
101: Harnessing Twist Energy
Duration: 3 day
Level: Intermediate Weaving, advanced spinning optional
This class is for intermediate weavers: experienced spinners who
want to learn to spin technical yarns are encouraged to attend.
This is a round robin workshop.
Class size limit : Minimum 4, maximum 12
Synopsis
This class is an intensive study using singles yarns as weft.
We will use commercial singles yarns in various weights and twist
levels. Spinners may spin their own weft yarns.
We will explore the relationships between yarn sizes in warp and
weft and the effects on sett and energy in singles weft. Weave
structure and yarn properties will also be studied.
8-shaft looms are preferred.
Learning Objectives
1. Understand the relationship between twist and energy
2. Understand the dynamics of yarn size, yarn energy, sett, and
beat
3. Understand how to maximize yarn properties with weave structure
4. Learn to design fabrics that exploit or mask yarn energy
Students should bring
Warped table loom, shuttles, etc.
Optional--Spinning wheel (charkha preferred)
Note: I can rent charkhas to experienced
spinners who know how to spin on a great wheel but do not have a
charkha. This is not a beginning spinning class.
Khadi 201:
Single Shuttle Plaid
Duration: 2 day
Level: Intermediate. This class is for experienced
spinners. Weaving experience helpful
Class size limit : 15
Materials Fee: $10 per person
Synopsis
We will work with striped slivers and color control in the spinning.
Once control is established, we will develop color stripe arrangements
for a commercial warp to match our ability to create handspun
weft stripes. We will paint the stripes on a white warp.
Because we will be working with handspun singles, yarn energy will
also be discussed.
Notes: This technique is ideally suited to the charkha. If
participants have a charkha, they are encouraged to bring it whether
they know how to use it or not.
Please also refer to the article
Spinning for a Single Shuttle Plaid, SS&D Winter '98
for more detailed information.
Learning Objectives
1. Color separation in spinning striped sliver for weft
2. Control of length of color sections
3. Warp calculations for weaving plaids
Students should bring
Spinning wheel and/or charkha
Loom warped to specification, shuttles, etc.
Bobbin winder
Note I can rent charkhas to experienced spinners
who do not have a charkha. This is not a beginning spinning
class.
Khadi
301: Crepe and Shape , or Collapse With Crepe Yarns
Duration: 2 day
Level: Experienced Spinning and Weaving. This
class is for experienced spinners and intermediate weavers.
Class size limit : 15
Synopsis
Not for spinners only! Weavers who do not spin will use commercial
crepe twist yarns and spinning students will spin weft yarns using
the fibers of their choice and weave a variety of textures on a
straight twill threading. We will explore technical
spinning and will use our handspun as weft. Non-spinners will
use commercial crepe twist yarns. We will learn to use high
energy crepe yarns and use the energy in conjunction with weave
structure to shape fabric on the loom. Sett will be explored and
completed fabrics will be documented and compared relative to elasticity,
hand and utility.
Commercial crepe yarns will be provided: students may bring their
own fibers or use fibers supplied at the workshop.
Please also refer to the article
Crepe & Shape, Spin-Off Fall '99 for more detailed information.
Learning Objectives
1. Understand the wheel ratios and how to use them to obtain consistent
crepe yarns
2. Design crepe yarns to obtain collapse and stretch effects
3. Design stretch fabrics based on our knowledge of the yarn properties
Students should bring
Spinning wheel (charkha preferred)
Warped table loom, shuttles, etc.
Note I can rent charkhas to experienced spinners
who know how to spin on a great wheel but do not have a charkha.
This is not a beginning spinning class.
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