Classes
We have put considerable effort into planning a variety of classes to satisfy all levels of students. We hope to make your fiber arts experience a good one!  We now do "classes on demand" to make it easier to fit a session into your schedule. Simply give us a call or send an e-mail so we can secure a date for you. For more detailed descriptions of our classes, please review the information below. If there is something you want to learn that is not listed, please give us a call. If we cannot help, we may know another resource to whom we can refer you.

Everyone learns at different intervals, and we all have different interests. Therefore, I have put together different curriculums for you to choose from. These classes are designed for your schedule and to do at YOUR own pace. Please call or visit the shop to arrange for instructions.

Private instruction is also available. The fee is $10.00 per hour. If you purchase your needles & yarns at the shop, I will help you with your knitting and crochet projects at no charge.


We offer classes in:
  • Hand Spinning
  • Weaving
  • Knitting
  • Crochet
ALL classes will be held at the Tail Spinner. Free parking is available on Wilmington Street and in the public parking lot in front of the Fire Station. Please be sure not to park in the way of the Emergency Vehicles.

Classes start promptly, so please be on time.

Class hours are scheduled for the maximum number of students. If the class is not a full class, it may be dismissed a bit earlier.

NO CELL PHONES IN THE CLASSROOM. Cell phones are disruptive to our instructors and to other students. Please leave your cell phones at home or in your car or turn them off!

Deposits (if required for a class) are non-refundable, and must be made to secure your spot. — If the class is canceled for any reason, we will refund your deposit. Classes may be postponed and/or rescheduled due to weather conditions.

General Information

-Please wear socks for the class. We spin without shoes to protect the wheels. It also enables you to feel and control the wheel better.  If you are weaving on a multi-shaft loom with treadles, you need to be able to feel the treadles beneath your feet.

-Wear comfortable, old clothes that you do not mind getting dirty.

-You may bring your lunch and eat at the shop, or you may go to one of our the local establishments in town.

-Wheels and looms are provided for use in the class.  If you already have a wheel and wish to bring it, please be sure it is in working condition. We cannot take time away from the class to repair wheels and try to make them work.  Wheels should also be appropriate for the class. If a wheel only spins jumbo yarns, it will not work for these classes.

-All materials are provided for your class and are included in the price, except for the advanced weaving classes. 

-If you need a place to stay, there are many nice hotels (and restaurants) in Jacksonville on Western Boulevard Extension, which is approximately 10 miles away.  There are also some AirBNB rentals available in and near Richlands.

Beginner & Advanced Spinning Classes

One-Day Beginner Spinning Class

Cost: $95.00 -- Class size is limited.

The cost for the class includes all the materials and tools you will need, along with the use of a spinning wheel. You will receive class materials and a bag of wool. Fiber preparation and the use of a drop spindle are not covered in this class. A $15 deposit is required to secure your seat in the class.

Curriculum

    Learning about the Spinning Wheel
    Identify all the parts of the wheel
    How to Treadle
    Threading the wheel, proper tension, and ratio
    Spinning yarn—Practice! Practice! Practice!
    Finishing the yarn
    How to ply
    Removing the yarn onto a Niddy-Noddy
    Creating a skein and setting the twist

Two-Day Beginner Spinning Class

Cost: $250.00 -- Class size is limited.
The cost for the class includes all the materials and tools you will need, along with the use of a spinning wheel. You will receive class materials, a set of hand carders, a drop spindle, and a bag of wool. If you already have hand carders and/or a drop spindle, please contact me about a price reduction. You are also welcome to bring your own wheel if you have one. To ensure you have a seat in the class, a $30.00 deposit is required and is non-refundable unless you have a "bonifide" emergency. This is necessary to cover class expenses and material costs.

Curriculum:
  • The History of Spinning
  • Different Wools and Fibers
  • Discuss the different types of sheep wool
  • Discuss the other available animal wools, i.e. angora, llama, etc.
  • Discuss plant and other fibers, i.e. silk, cotton & flax
  • Fiber Preparation
  • Discuss greased and scoured wool and methods for cleaning
  • Hand Carding Wool and Creating Rolags
  • When to use regular hand cards vs. those for fine fibers
  • Using a drum carder
  • Using a Drop Spindle
  • Types of Drop Spindles
  • Z Twist and S Twist
  • Drafting the Fibers
  • Learning about the Spinning Wheel
  • Identify all the parts of the wheel
  • How to Treadle
  • Threading the wheel, proper tension, and ratio
  • Spinning yarn—Practice! Practice! Practice!
  • Finishing the yarn
  • How to ply
  • Removing the yarn onto a Niddy-Noddy
  • Creating a skein and setting the twist
 
Advanced Spinning Classes

These classes have been developed for intermediate to advanced spinners. The student should have at least six months of spinning experience before enrolling in these classes.

Spinning - The Next Steps

This class is designed to learn the fundamentals of creating a consistent yarn. The cost of the class is $95, which covers class materials and the fibers used in class. Spinning wheels are also provided for the class, or you may bring your own. This is an intense one-day class due to the amount of time needed to complete the project. Class hours are from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for the day. Class size is limited to no more than five students, and a non-refundable $15 registration fee will hold your seat for the class you wish to attend. Students should bring hand carders. Prerequisites: Beginner Spinning Class -- Must know how to spin a single yarn and ply it into a skein.

Curriculum:

    Care & Maintenance of Your Wheel
    Fiber Preparation, including Combing/Blending
    What is Ratio & Twist? & What is the Relationship?
    Control Yarns to Measure Your Spinning
    Cultural Considerations

Spinning -- The Long & the Short of It!

Learn to spin specialty fibers, such as FLAX, Cotton, Silk, Angora, and Alpaca. The student will create a yarn that changes from one fiber to the next. The yarn created from this class can be knitted into a scarf or shawl, and you will get the pattern used for the sample garment. The cost of the class is $95, which covers class materials, the use of a wheel, and the fibers needed to complete enough yarn for a scarf. This is an intense one-day class due to the amount of time needed to complete the project. Class hours are from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for the day. Class size is limited to no more than five students, and a non-refundable $15 registration fee will hold your seat for the class you wish to attend. Students should bring hand carders.

Prerequisites: Spinning the Next Steps or another Intermediate Class

Curriculum:

    Learn How to Setup Wheel for Fine Spinning
    Learn about the Different Fibers
    Drafting Methods to Use for Spinning Different Fibers

Spinning - Let's Make Novelty Yarns!

Learn to spin novelty yarns. The cost of the class is $95, which covers class materials, the use of a wheel, and the fibers needed. This is an intense one-day class due to the amount of time needed to complete the project. Class hours are from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for the day. Class size is limited to no more than five students, and a non-refundable $15 registration fee will hold your seat for the class you wish to attend. Students need to bring two bobbins of fine to light worsted, pre-spun yarn with high twist, and hand carders.

Prerequisites: Spinning—The Next Steps or Another Intermediate Class

WEAVING CLASSES

Weaving is an individual journey of exploration and art.  Each person will develop their own path to explore and learn about the many techniques and complexities of this wonderful art.  It is my mission to teach the basics so the student will be able to build upon them and continue learning with each new project. 

Beginner's Weaving Class on the Rigid Heddle Loom

In this class, the student will get hands-on experience and learn the fundamentals of weaving on a rigid heddle loom. The cost of the class is $95, which covers class materials and the yarn needed to complete a scarf. A loom will be provided for use, or you may bring your own. Class hours go from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day.

Class size is limited to no more than three students, and a non-refundable $15 registration fee will hold your seat for the class you wish to attend. Prerequisites -- NONE

Curriculum:

  • Identify the Parts of a Loom
  • Basic Terminology
  • How to figure your number of ends in warp
  • How much yarn (length) is needed for the warp
  • How much yarn (length) is needed for the weft
  • Winding the warp
  • Dressing (Warping) the Loom
  • Loading the Shuttles
  • Basic Weaving

WEAVING on a FOUR-SHAFT or MULTI-SHAFT LOOM

In this class, the student will get hands-on experience and learn the fundamentals of weaving on a four-shaft loom. The cost of the class is $10 per hour plus the cost of materials. This is a self-paced class to give the student enough time needed to complete the project. Class hours are from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day.  There is no rush to finish this class.  Everyone will work at their own pace. 

Curriculum:

  • Recap of basics learned in Beginner’s Weaving Class
  • Designing the Project and Calculating amount of yarns needed
  • Dressing/Warping the loom
  • Tie Ups
  • Fixing mistakes
  • Weaving the project
  • Finishing the project

Please call to make an appointment for this class. This class is given on a one-to-one basis and will be scheduled according to the student's schedule.


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