Spinning lessons at the Claypan

SPINNING BY AN OPEN FIRE IN WINTER...

Does this sound enticing, would you like to try it – or is it something that you haven’t done in years and would like to get back in to?

Mandy’s spinning and knitting group has commenced again at The Fuller Gallery, 74-78 Queen Street, Barraba.  The spinning group meets on Fridays with a 10 am start.  Mandy will have the open fire alight to warm the room and add some cosy atmosphere.  The Claypan has a couple of wheels or bring your own.

Beginners are welcome to come and try, or maybe just bring your knitting and stay for a chat over a cuppa.

Some might ask; what is spinning?

“Handspinning is the art of twisting fiber, fleece, or roving of wool, silk, alpaca, angora, mohair, flax, etc. into a continuous thread by using a spinning wheel or drop spindle. The thread is spun thick or thin, plied or un-plied, and can later be dyed or left natural. Handspun yarn is used for knitting, and weaving projects. You can also use unspun fiber for knitting, weaving and felting.”

Source: “ The Joy of Handspinning”.  The Website For Handspinners & Fiber Artists www.joyofhandspinning.com   Unknown Author, 14 May 2022.  

....and how did it originate?

“Step back in time, and you will find out that spinning fibers together to make yarn has been in practice for over ten thousand years. Decades ago, when one was hand spinning, the chore was done out of necessity and not something that was done in one's leisure time. In earlier times, it was the slaves who did this textile work in creating fabric that made up the garments and bed linen for the elite and powerful. To produce these strands of yarn, workers used spindles and looms to take on this tedious job. However, according to Professor John Styles, he states that this was a skilled occupation, but historians disagree, saying that this line of work or profession was classified as unskilled labor that was intended for the poor and ignorant, mainly a position for women of the lower class. But times have changed!”

Source:  “A Guide to Handspinning Yarn”, Paradise Fibers, www.paradisefibers.com 2022

So....armed with all of this knowledge, perhaps you are ready to give it a go?  Spinning is an incredible craft to watch, why not pop down to have a look at the ladies in action; have a chat and a cuppa.  While you are there you can browse some of the beautiful items made from homespun fibres in the Gallery.  Contact Mandy on 0429 941978 if you have any more questions, or just turn up on Friday at 10am.