John Pitblado

Spin a Bulky Yarn

Do you admire the softly spun chunky handspun yarns from Latin and South America? Remember when you first began to spin and were only spin a fat lumpy yarn then after learning to spin a fine smooth yarn and it was impossible to spin bulky? In this retreat session our students will learn skills and strategies of fiber preparation and methods for spinning that will help them regain their “bulky chops”.

More Student work

I have some great new pictures from one of my students, Jason. This green skein he spun in "Spinning A to Z at the Fiber Fest in August.

And this skein he plied after taking Spinning A to Z

He spun the singles for this brown skein using a supported spindle using a technique he learned from Gwen Powell. Then he plied it using a Navajo ply technique.

Thanks Jason!

Student work

Melanie, and accomplished jewelry designer and teacher took my full day Novelty spinning classes, Boucle and Beyond. Melanie send these great pictures of her yarn:

This is her boucle:

 

and Dreds:

and Coccoons:

Great work, thanks for the pictures Melanie!!

This is what it's all about!

The Fabulous Fiber Fest was awesome!! Great Students, Great venue, Great shopping. For a spinner, this was the life!!

I left this weekend with a tremendous sense of fulfillment, having watched my students jump in and boldly learn new techniques, experiment with new colors and materials and be rewarded with beautiful, exciting yarns.

To my students:

You gave so much, it was an incredible experience for me. I look forward to seeing your work and seeing you again. I hope that my classes left you brave, energized and ready to do the brilliant work that is inside you.

Fiber Fest

Furiously dyeing and prepping for the Fabulous Fiber Fest at the Santa Monica Civic Center August 18-20.  I'll be teaching three days, it will be a great event and I hope you can all make it. Say hello if you see me!!