Join some of our accomplished spinners as they demonstrate and provide guidance about mastering techniques that will benefit spinners of all skill levels. These mentors will offer at least two or three sessions of their topic, so you can join in for a demonstration from every mentor if you like, or you can pick and choose the topics on which you'd like to focus. This is a golden opportunity to learn from the talented and knowledgeable members of our guild listed below:
Date: February 14, 2026 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Location: First Baptist Church, 1003 W. Sixth St., Loveland CO
Registration fee: $25
Skill Requirements: All (even if you're just interested in learning to spin and want to see what it's all about)
Spinning Textured Yarn …Intentionally! Karen Cooper
Leave with 3 samples and a handout. Karen will provide the materials. You should bring:
- Working spinning wheel and bobbin(s)
- Lazy Kate or 2 containers or yarn bowls
- Optional: Wool fiber in roving, batt, or cloud for extra practice. Medium wool is easiest but any will do.
Session length: One hour (1:00 and 3:00)
Max 8 people per session
How to spin with a drop spindle – Karen Hutchinson
Spindles are very often the first step in learning to make your own yarn. All materials provided by Karen.
Session length: 55 minutes but you’re welcome to stay longer
Max 10 people per session (1:00, 2:00, 3:00)
What judges are looking for and how to confidently enter your hand spun in contests – Heather McChesney and Pat Noah
Learn how handspun yarn and finished items are evaluated in competitions and what judges truly look for, from general appearance to workmanship. This demonstration will walk through labeling, judging sheets, explaining key details like balance, twist, fiber choice, and finishing so you can enter your work with confidence. If you have questions about labeling, balance, fiber choice, or finishing, bring your entry and we’ll review how it aligns with common judging criteria and how to strengthen it for future contests.
You should bring:
- One or two skeins or yarn samples you are considering entering (or have entered before) for hands-on discussion and evaluation.
Session length: 30-45 minutes (1:00, 2:00, 3:00)
Socks - Sensuous and Sublime -- Jill Parmer
Jill will cover fiber choice, spin/ply techniques, and pattern elements for marvelous socks. She will provide scrap fiber, sample knitting, and a handout.
You should bring:
- Spinning wheel
- Lazy kate
- 1-2 ounces of fiber
Session length: 55 minutes (1:00 and 2:00)
Max. 8 people per session
How to prepare fiber for spinning – Mary Renstrom
Learn about the different ways to prepare your fiber for spinning: steaming, hackle blending, combing, flicking, and carding. You’ll have the opportunity to experiment with the various methods using all of the tools. Mary will provide clean fleece and roving, steamer, hackle, wool combs, flick carder, two drum carders
You should bring:
- $5 materials fee
- Spinning wheel or spindle
- Optional: thoroughly washed fleece and roving
Session length: 55 minutes (1:00, 2:00, 3:00)
The ergonomics of spinning and choosing the right wheel for you – Christine Schneider
You should bring:
- Spinning wheel
- Fiber
- Willingness to try new things
Session length: 55 minutes (1:00, 2:00, 3:00)
Max 15 people per session
Beginners – don’t let a spinning pitfall become a habit – Lorraine Seger
The objective of this session is to help beginners enjoy their hobby more by improving their processes. We will observe and discuss the reasons for poor outcomes, without being judgy. Lorraine will provide a variety of fibers to practice with.
You should bring:
- Spinning wheel
- Spinning projects you’re disappointed with
- Optional: Fiber
Session length: 55 minutes (1:00, 2:00, 3:00)
Max 5 people per session
How to spin a consistent yarn – Lorraine Stock
Learn how to spin a consistent yarn using a short forward and short backward draw. This method is used with combed fiber, either combed by hand or purchased combed top or roving. Lorraine will provide small paper cards to hold your samples to be used as a guide while you spin.
You should bring:
- Spinning wheel
- Extra bobbins
- Fiber – either hand combed or purchased braids
Session length: 30 minutes (1:00, 1:30)
Max 6 people per session
