Beacon Digest

Interested in learning how to spin your own yarn? This hands-on workshop will teach you the basics of drop spindle spinning—an ancient technique that's surprisingly easy to pick up and incredibly relaxing. The workshop fee includes everything you need to create your first skein of wool yarn.

Overview In this workshop, you'll explore spinning as a slow craft and an opportunity to experiment with fiber. You'll work with locally sourced wool and a one-of-a-kind, handmade drop spindle from Hudson Valley Handspinning. The workshop emphasizes patience, curiosity, and the satisfaction of creating yarn with a simple tool and your own two hands. Spinning can be a relaxing and meditative activity that results in unique yarn you can craft with or gift.

What You'll Learn You'll learn a brief history of spinning and get an introduction to fiber and spinning terminology. From there, we'll explore the basic characteristics of different fiber types and how each is prepared for spinning. Then we'll take a close look at our wool and how it behaves when manipulated.

Next comes the fun part: giving it a whorl—literally! We'll begin with the park-and-draft method, then move on to keeping the spindle in motion while drafting. By the end, you'll know how to finish two singles at home and understand several options for plying them together into yarn. We'll wrap up by covering how to wash and finish your newly made yarn.

What You'll Make During the workshop, you'll spin wool fiber into singles. At home, you'll finish it into one skein of plied yarn.

IMPORTANT NOTE: While you won't finish a complete skein during class, you'll leave with the supplies, instructions, and foundational skills to keep spinning at home.

What You'll Take Home 2 oz. of fiber and one HVH drop spindle are included in the workshop fee and yours to keep. Bring it home to finish spinning and plying into your own skein of handspun yarn!

Who This Workshop Is Best For (Adults 16+) Perfect for knitters, crocheters, weavers, or anyone curious about fiber arts. No experience necessary.

About the Instructor Kaitlyn Mazza is a lifelong fiber artist and the founder of Hudson Valley Handspinning, a local small-batch maker of thoughtfully crafted tools for the fiber arts. Kaitlyn brings both technical knowledge and an approachable teaching style to her workshops. Hudson Valley Handspinning (HVH) is rooted in a commitment to local craftsmanship and the regional fiber economy. They create heirloom-quality spinning tools and partner directly with Hudson Valley farms to source wool from sheep raised close to home.

Registration Fee $85 (Non Members) $

$72.25 (Members)

What's Included: ● A one-of-a-kind Hudson Valley Handspinning drop spindle, made locally of reclaimed materials. Retails at $40. ● 2 oz. of local wool fiber roving, ready for spinning. ● Access to the HVH online resources page for further spinning support.

Please read our policy. Required field. Please enter the details.