"Learn To Spin '07" At Harrisville Designs & Lynn's "The Purple Sock"

Memorial Day...for that is when I began the tappings for today's post. And what gloriously beautiful days we've been experiencing here in VT (with a thunderstorm or two thrown in for good measure.) Chris and I spent Memorial Day quietly at home. Chris basked in the finally reasonable, higher temps on the deck whilst doing a bit of reading and work. I was out trying to put some order to the garden patches. The weeds vigorously responded to the sun's welcoming rays and occasional rain, acting as if they were having their own kind of celebratory holiday. I knew I had my work cut out for me as I waded through a ridiculous jungle of growth that needed to be addressed and pronto.

But let's back up a bit...On returning last Friday evening after teaching spinning to a delightful group of folks in Harrisville, New Hampshire, I came home to find two boxes of previously ordered plants delivered from Jung Seed Company in Wisconsin (I rather like that company...lots of varieties I've not found easily elsewhere and all at reasonable prices.) Some of my very much alive treasures included a deep purple Clematis, a Wisteria, three rose-violet Astilbes, a Goat's Beard (How can one resist something named that?!), five Raspberries and a Bleeding Heart. Panic set in with so much to do at once (or so it felt like.) I knew I had to find an earthy home for all of the above, but then there were all those little seedling babies that I had been carefully tending over the past weeks who needed a place of their own, too. What happens when the spider panics? A migraine sets in. Not just a quickie, mind you. No...a bloody, three-day sucker. So 'a-gardening-I-did, despite the incessant pounding of my brain. At least I wasn't bed-bound. There's something about the sun's caressing warmth, a gentle breeze, the smell of dirt and the handling of green plants so full of potential, that is healing to the body and mind, making even a migraine tolerable.

For the pic above, let's go back even further, just prior to the workshop at Harrisville Designs. Yes Ted, my Caribe potato seeds finally arrived from Pinetree Garden Seeds! First there was some general turning over of existing soil and a bit of raking. I promised Jenna that I wouldn't add more manure in my raised potato beds. Jenna said I had enough manure in those beds to grow the most finicky of plants...and potatoes did NOT fit into that category. Didn't I realize that I'd get a better yield if I just ignored the potato plants? Well, I'll try. I AM known to be an over-waterer in the first degree.

Here's the Caribe potato seeds, all cut for planting and set out to dry a bit the night before. Note this year's stylish, pink, gardening gloves. Llama Farm Girl, otherwise known as Elizabeth or "E," gave me some Green Mountain potato seeds, and Jenna gave me some real, live, downhome Maine seeds (probably Kennebec) to add to the bed. Plus, I realized that I had some little Kathadin taters, left over from last year's crop. I threw those into a separate bed (a rather hastily dug hole) on the edge of the forest just to see what real neglect would truly bring. Woo-hoo!! I'm a tried and true potato freak, eh?
Here's some of the home-grown seedlings ready to head outside for a dose of hardening off. I've got a clear umbrella that is a cheap version of a cold frame that'll do the job nicely. Also, a four-tiered rack with a clear covering that'll also serve well to get those seedlings ready for planting with no undue shock to their little cells.
Here's Chris on our deck doing a bit of reading as I was playing in the dirt.
Here's me cutting some tender, new dandelion leaves for my annual tribute to my maternal Grandfather, Leopold Mayer. Grandpa Mayer, who passed away long before I was born, used to gather the leaves of various wild plants and mushrooms for tasty meals, or so I've been told. A few years ago I started to do the same with the dandy's leaves. I've used them in salads.
But this time they went into a stirfry with fiddleheads, mushroom, broccoli, onions and tofu. Add a little tamari and fry quickly in olive oil...pretty darn good!
Now for a report on my 9th consecutive "Learn To Spin," or "Three-Day-Spinning-Blitz"...as I fondly call it. Above you'll see the lovely village of Harrisville, NH...New England at its finest. Harrisville Designs is a fabulous, historic place to teach as well as to take a workshop. Thank you to Rae, Pat and Chick for welcoming me back. It's always a pleasure to spend time at Harrisville.
Here's the entrance to the lovely shop, filled with gorgeous Harrisville-spun yarns for knitting, weaving, etc. You'll find Harrisville-made looms, lots of books, fiber for spinning, interesting gifts, buttons, and so much more. Say hello to friendly Cindy, Jill and Holly when you stop in the shop. Just inside, are the stairs to the 2nd floor...a bright, spacious room used for workshops, sure to get your creative juices flowing.
On the very first day of the spinning blitz class, participants jointly scour a Romney fleece. This time, we actually had a full fleece of "Monica" and a partial fleece of "Satchamo" to tackle. Monica is a naturally grey Romney from the flock of Alice Field in Lee, MA (one of her few wonderful Romneys still under her care...she switched to gorgeous, fine-crimped, Cormos several years ago that are supremely beautiful, as well.) Monica would be divided evenly amongst the 9 students in the class to spin as they wish. Satchamo, would be rainbow dyed on the third day of class, divided amongst participants, and brought home for rinsing, drying and spinning.
The above pic shows the left side of the class, as I saw it. From foreground (left to right): Meri, Cindy, Marci, Judy, Jen and Polly.
And here's the right side of the class. From foreground (right to left): Helaine, Pat, Mary and Polly.
This pic was taken on the third day, showing us all gathered in a round-robin, with the participants describing what they did to complete a blending "challenge" which I posed the day prior. The challenge was to combine one of the wool fibers they were given with a "blender." Of course, how much (ie. degree of homogeneity) blending is up to each person to decide...not to mention %'s of each fiber used. Participants received a packet containing smaller packs of various fibers such as: Tussah silk, mohair, hemp, "Angelina" mylar, glitzy nylon icicle, alpaca, cotton and more. Oftentimes, folks will go beyond the challenge and work into the night, enjoying themselves immensely. One meaningful aspect of the lesson includes participants discussing the possible end-uses for their blended yarn. Also, a dose of understanding the importance of documentation is inherent in the process. Pic from left to right: Polly, Judy, Jen, Marci, the spider, Mary, Helaine, Cindy, Meri, and Pat.
Polly and I discussing plying. Polly's using an Ashford "Traveller".
That's Jen in the middle, working on her "park and draft" spindle method using a low whorl spindle. Judy's taking notes and Polly and I continue with plying.
Cindy had never used her Kromski wheel (a fantastic e-Bay purchase!) before this class. In fact, Cindy had never spun ANY yarn prior to this workshop. Take a look at that bobbin of her's...lovely singles! That's Marci next to Cindy.
And here's Marci again, plying some beautiful yarn (that more than likely includes some of her own Angora rabbit's fiber) on her Ashford "Traditional".
Here's Judy also busy plying on her Ashford "Traditional".
And that's Pat spinning with her Ashford "Joy". Mary's in the background writing.
Meri's plying on her Canadian-made "Rognvaldson" castle wheel. This stunning wheel has a distinctive cast iron flyer. Meri purchased the wheel over thirty years ago.
A few days ago Meri e-mailed me a pic of her brand new Merlin Tree "Hitchhiker" wheel. She's pleased with her new purchase, especially since she now has larger whorl choices than her original Rognvaldson wheel. Note her already full bobbin of spun greenish singles...courtesy of the class-rainbow-dyed "Satchamo" Romney. Meri anticipated that the pretty golds and various greens, buried in the earlier layers on the bobbin, will show up nicely when she Navajo three-plies her singles.

Thank you to ALL who made this year's Harrisville "Learn To Spin" so enjoyable!!

Now, on to Lynn's, new fibre shop venture. I first met Lynn at a week-long spinning workshop taught by Wendy Bateman in Haliburton, Ontario, Canada. For more about Lynn, do check out the past posts, Dyeing Blitz, and Lynn - Canadian Hand Spinner, Dyer, Knitter and Friend.
Here it is..."The Purple Sock!" Lynn e-mailed me with the particulars:
The Purple Sock
13 Coldwater Rd.
Coldwater, Ontario, Canada
705-686-3455
thepurplesock@vianet.ca
Hours: Wed. 10-5
Thurs 10-5
Fri 10-6
Sat. 10-5
Sunday 11-3

Lynn wrote: "What I am carrying are natural fibred yarns for knitting and crocheting. Also, we have a line of loose leaf teas...28 different ones right now; tea pots, etc. I have some hand crafted items from local artisans. I am planning to hold some knitting classes and a beginner rug hooking class in the fall. Maybe also some beginner spinning workshops if there is interest. (note from spider: If you're within driving distance of Lynn's shop, be sure to let her know you'd like a spinning course.) I offer a 'Sip and Stitch" on Wed. morning from 10-12, where you bring your project, sit, chat and try some tea as you work on whatever project you've brought."

Congratulations, Lynn! I'm sure your new shop will be a fantastic success!! What follows are some pics of the interior of Lynn's shop. Lynn's husband, Ernie, built the beautiful, rustic-looking, display furniture. Even from the pictures, I can tell it's a friendly, cozy place to spend time...not to mention a wonderful shopping experience.

Look at all those colorful yarns!

Hats, sweaters, shawls, socks!

Lots of tea varieties to choose from.

I could easily see myself enjoying a morning pot of Earl Grey tea and knitting the hours away in such a lovely setting. Hope to see YOU all there! Best of luck to you, Lynn!

Finally, I come to the mini-techie-spinning portion of this post. Yes, I know I said there would be no instruction at all this week. And, by the way, I also said I'd have this post up last Saturday...alas, that was wishful thinking. Anyways, Monika, a reader of the spider, asked for some info on how to solve overtwist in her singles. On the second day of "Learn To Spin," I always write such "self-helps" on the board for participants to copy. It's the teacher in me that knows if a student copies such info themselves, there's a good chance they'll retain it better...therefore I don't just print out the "self-helps" in their class packets, given at the beginning of the workshops.

To help with overtwisting (ie. pigtails; corkscrews):
Try~
a) Slowing down treadling.
and/or
b) Yarn possibly has been held on too long before winding on. No death grips. Please Don't Kill The Baby Bird. Do feed on immediately.
and/or
c) Check brake band tension. For Scotch or Irish tension: Increase if needed. For Double Drive: Increase tension on drive band.
and/or
d) Check that yarn has not caught on flyer hook.
and/or
e) On a new bobbin, check if leader is slipping due to not being secured on shaft of bobbin. Secure. Thanks to Meri for this excellent addition!

More "self-helps" in the future. Some of the info above is in "The Spinner's Encyclopedia," by Enid Anderson, David and Charles Publishers, Great Britain, 1987.

Next week I'll be heading for a workshop in upstate NY at the Cornell Co-op Extension. Hope to meet some of you there. My guess is that I won't be able to post next week...but you never know... Keep those e-mails and comments coming. Look for the beginning post of plain vanilla plying, balanced yarns and more in a few weeks.

Lovely Lucy e-mailed me that Bob Dylan turned 66 a few days ago. Happy Belated Birthday Bob!! I'm feeling the need to quote Bob soon...just a warning...