Back From Olds

I returned on Friday of last week after having spent seven days in class being tested for Level 6 of the Olds Master Spinner class. It was a stressful and exciting week!!

After all the preparation and anticipation...the classroom part is finished and all that is left to do is the 'Indepth Study' component which must gain approval then finished by spring of 2016.

Just a week or so before class was due to start, I injured my right foot which left me somewhat at a disadvantage, but I coped with it and made the best of the situation by carrying on and using just my left foot to treadle. The Ashford Traveller that I rented and I did not get on very well until the very last day. This was the wheel rented from the college which was among a bunch new wheels 2 years ago. I don't think it has seen much use. I have a feeling that it just became conditioned to being spun on by the last day I was there using it. By then it was cooperating well with me.

I completed my work, though everyday I knew I should have had my own wheel there to use. It's done now and overall I am pleased with my results.

The dye sessions and the silk reeling were terrific. All went extremely well.

Indigo Pot

Today I spent the entire day getting my thoughts for the in depth study entered on my computer-writing and rewriting, but not as fast as my mind raced along. I think it's finished and it has been passed along for the first assessment. It may need more revision, but the plan has been put into action.

And that's a good thing.

Indigo results

Coleen on the right. Our esteemed guide.

Silk reeled from coccoons.

An early morning sunrise from my townhouse window.

I urge anyone who might be interested in Level 3 spinning to explore this venue & register. To make this possible we need to have 10 registrants.

This is the information from the Olds College, Alberta, CA site.

 Canada - Hamilton Area, Ontario

Level 3: May 28-June 1, 2012
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (daily)
Instructor: Michelle Boyd
LOCATION:
Rockton Fairgrounds
12 Old Hwy 8
Rockton, Ontario L0R 1X0
Directions to Rockton Fairgrounds
For Venue Information Contact:
Heather Morrissey
Phone: 905-690-9497
hmorrissey09@gmail.com

  For more information please visit this link to the Olds College site.

What's Up?

I will tell you what's up.
I have been so busy ever since I started spinning. First there was the Louet wheel & then I joined the Oxford Weavers & Spinners Guild. This is where a new friend was introduced to me, who then informed me about the Olds Master Spinner course. From that point a new adventure began.

I enrolled in the Olds College, Alberta, Master Spinner Level 1 course which was held in Rockton, ON for a week in April, 2010. There was holiday time to book, supplies to gather & much preparation to make.

The weather was absolutely superb spring weather with the trees just starting to leaf out. The drive was beautiful and the company wonderful.

The fellow spinners & weavers I met at the class were all interesting & very nice. Rosemary Harris, the teacher was a good teacher with a lot of information to teach. I have so much work to complete at home for this course that will keep me busy in much of my free time.

A few days after the course classroom time came to an end, I helped a friend with shearing and seeing everything happen first hand. A fun & educational experience it was.

I was looking at online ads for a loom and after a few weeks of watching the ads, I kept coming back to an ad for a very large countermarche loom. My hubby and I went to see it in Stratford one fine Sunday and the loom came home with us.

It sat for a couple of weeks on the floor in my sewing studio while I tried to clear out some antique sewing machines to regain some space. They have now moved temporarily into the house & the loom is now set up. It is a 4 harness countermarche loom at one time made in Finland (Valparpuu). It came with a LeClerc flying shuttle and some other goodies.


The looms are no longer manufactured and there are no manuals that I could find on assembling the loom.  Though some ends are stamped with letters, they are not all stamped. I was able to find information for doing the tie up of treadles & harnesses online and a couple of pictures of similar looms that were helpful. Laila Lundell's book mentioned below has some excellent diagrams of countermarche looms that were of some help.


The loom is assembled, but the tie up of the harnesses and treadles must wait for my next day off. Unfortunately this is the week I must work the weekend and there will be no extra time.


At the same time I am still working on a sweater called the Central Park Hoodie using Cascade 220 yarn.


I have acquired some wonderful books too. They are:
1. Laila Lundell - The Big Book of Weaving in the Swedish Tradition
2. Rita Buchanan - A Weaver's Garden
3. Rita Buchanan - A Dyer's Garden
4. Ann Dixon - A Handweaver's Pattern Directory
5. Lee Raven - Hands On Spinning