The Harveyville Project: YARN SCHOOL

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YARN SCHOOL
A Yarn-Making Workshop & Retreat

October 12 - 15 (Thursday - Sunday), 2006
Tentative Schedule HERE

Enjoy a long weekend packed with lessons and practice in yarn-making. A wonderful weekend for all skill levels: Novice yarnmakers will swoon and the exciting techniques and new skills, while experienced spinners and dyers can relax, pick up a few tricks (or share their own), simply practice their craft with people who share their passion. Enjoy a full slate of classes, or just pick those of interest to you, and while away your time knitting on the porch, crocheting on the swingset, or spinning in the old maple-floor gymnasium.

A 50% deposit (refundable until 9/12/06) is due at registration. The balance is due at check-in. BYOW (bring your own wheel) and take home a big, fat bonus fiber sampler for FREE. You must let me know on or before 9/12/06--when I'll be ordering final equipment) to receive the bonus fiber.

- or -

$425/person Shared Double (you may choose your roommate)
Four-day workshop includes all classes, use of equipment (spinning wheels, carders), materials (fleece, fiber, dyes, yarn, etc.), accommodations, meals, and a cocktail party. You'll bring home a your own handspun and handdyed yarn creations, plus a drop spindle, additional fiber, a fabulous goodie bag! If you prefer, you may request a private room for an additional $50.

$825 Workshop w/ Spinning Wheel
+ Deluxe Take-Home Package
Includes everything above, plus your own Louet spinning wheel to use at the workshop and take home with you, assembled and stained the color of your choice, beautiful handmade accessories and tons of extras and supplies to get you started at home. A $500 retail value + free wheel assembly & finishing! I couldn't resist fattening the package a little.

Louet spinning wheel with integrated lazy kate & 3 three-speed bobbins (from Louet S17 spinning wheel kit), assembled and stained with your color and finish choice. (See below for colors.)
a beautiful heirloom-quality hand-turned and finished drop spindle
a lovely hand-turned nøstepinde
a full pound of undyed soft and creamy Bluefaced Leicester top
half a pound of undyed soft and sproingy Merino top
half a pound of undyed lustrous Merino/Silk top
an assortment of dyes (1/2 oz each)
squeezie bottles
an assortment of washed fleece samples (3-4 oz each), labeled with source and/or animal's name when possible
an assortment of raw fleece samples (3-4 oz each), labeled with source and/or animal's name when possible
a mesh bag and instructions for washing raw fleece
a rainbow of dyed Corridale top nests (about an ounce each--17 colors!)
undyed commercial yarns (different weights)
5 spools of rayon embroidery thread for plying
sparklies and mohair locks
undyed mill-end roving for guilt-free experimentation
a few fiber surprises
and handmade spinning journal!

Take it home with you, or have us ship it.

(My own wheel, with a custom finish of an earthy antique red stain layered over a bright blueish-red wash, coated with poly gloss. As you can see, I've finished my accessories to match, because I'm a big dork.)

Here are some more finishes, from friends, including my almost bestest friend, the internet. Sadly, I couldn't find any really dark finishes. I think a dark glossy would give it a nice non-blonde Danish Modern look. But you can get an idea of the range.

Wheel Finish

The wheel can be left unfinished (below, perhaps a bit darker), treated with tung oil (above center), or finished with one of the stains/washes below and a satin (not glossy) lacquer or poly gloss finish. Any of the finishes can be done as a transparent stain/wash or a deeper, more saturated stain/wash. If you don't see what you want, email me & I'll try to hook you up.

These are test swatches I made:

Row 1: Hunter stain (2 versions), Ebony stain (2 versions), Olive wash (saturated)
Row 2: Walnut stain (2 versions); Merlot (2 versions); Magenta wash (saturated)
Row 3: China Red stain (2 versions); Cool Red wash (2 versions); Purple wash (saturated)
Row 4: Antique Red* stain; Cherry Red wash (saturated); Blue wash (transluscent)
*I know, right? Red, my aunt fanny. But I didn't name it. It's more like vampy lipstick, blue undertones.

These are from the Minwax Color card, so they're close but not actual test swatches:

Row 1: Driftwood, Early American, English Chestnut, Fruitwood
Row 2: Gunstock, Ipswitch, Natural, Pickled Oak
Row 3: Red Chestnut, Sedona, Special Walnut, Jacobean

Note: if you're getting the wheel package, you can order additional accessories such as skeinwinders, extra bobbins, hand cards, etc. from Hello Yarn (truly, she offers the very best new Louet prices I've seen) and I'll stain them to match. If you want to do this, please order by 9/16/06 and let her know to ship them to me. Alternately, I can send you home with a little stain or wash and you can decide and match accessories later, so no sweat. (I'm just offering because finishing is less a pain in the ass if you're doing it all at once.)

Sleep/Eat

Most of the guest rooms are large (average 700-900sf) former classrooms, with comfy beds, charming schoolroom details (chalkboards, maps) and tons of natural light. There are also some cozier rooms (former offices and teachers' rooms). Bathrooms and showers are shared (the original school facilities). All linens, shampoo, etc., are provided.

Breakfast is Continental, so come early and chat and knit, or sneak back to your room with coffee if you're not a morning person. Breakfast includes coffee and tea, fruit, cold cereal, yogurt, pastries, toast, etc.

Lunch will be served buffet style (boxes will be provided if you wish to explore or duck out--just let us know).

Dinner will be served buffet or family style. As always, you're free to enjoy the group or fix a plate and skip out, if you'd prefer a little solitude.