Fleece to Fabric with Donna Kay (JUN 18-20)
June 18 - 20 (THURS-SAT, 9 AM–4 PM) In this hands-on 3-day workshop, you’ll gain an in-depth understanding of the qualities and characteristic wool types and their use in yarns. You’ll use hand cards, wool combs and a drum carder to create rolags, combed top and batts from washed fleeces of several sheep breeds. At your wheel, you’ll spin your prepared wools into several different yarns, smooth and textured, singles and plied. Learn to analyze your yarns to determine what wools and preparations are best suited for your knit, crochet or woven projects. Time will be spent sampling your yarns as part of the process. As time allows, we will play with blending wools with silks, mohair and alpaca. You’ll leave this colorful, fiber-filled class with an understanding of how wool types, preparation methods and spinning come together to create yarns that work well for your craft! Skill Level: Advanced beginner. Must be able to spin a continuous yarn without assistance. Suitable for spindle spinners. No experience with hand tools needed. Materials List: A spinning wheel in good working condition, 3 bobbins, lazy kate and a niddy noddy. If you are a spindle spinner bring a few spindles of different weights. Please bring a pen or pencil for notes, the crafting tools of your choice for sampling (knitting needles, crochet hooks, etc), a small ruler or measuring tape. *Hand carders, wool combs, drum carder, notebook, handouts, small sample looms will be provided. Feel free to bring any tools you may have for your personal use. There is no need to buy any for the workshop. *If you reserve a room in the Boarding House, your room fee is due at the end of your stay. Please scroll down to read more important information about the Cheshire Mills Boarding House. Cancellation Deadline: 4/24/2026 MEET YOUR TEACHER DONNA KAY, a knitting instructor and designer for over thirty years, is also an accomplished handspinner. Known for her patient teaching manner, she delights in sharing her knowledge and passion for "folk" knitting with her students. Donna is also a freelance knitwear designer and author for publications such as Interweave Knits, Spin Off, PLY, and her company, Tree of Life Designs. She resides on a farm in New Hampshire with her husband, horses, a flock of sheep, and a growing herd of spinning wheels.