Saori weaving in May and 6 years old learn to spin on a Louet wheel

Last week I brought my Louet S17 wheel out to teach a couple of 6 year old girls how to spin. It was going to start out being a short session but ….. I read two books, Anna's new coat, and weave me a rainbow. those are wonderful books that tell about sheep shearing, spinning , dyeing the yarns and weaving and sewing. Then I showed how to prepare prepared top fibers for spinning.
 I treadled the wheel  while I taught them how draw  out fibers an how to hold the fibers . It was amazaing howQuickly they caught on .Feeling the twist moving  up the fiber and then letting it go so that would draw onto the flyer/ bobbin as yarn.

 " I am making yarn" A very LONG DRAW!

 Learning  how to open the fibers

After spinning different kinds of wool they took turns walking accross the room in teams feeling the twist travel then one girl walks  forward to allow the yarn to fill the bobbin. They loved it, especially the pastel pink rainbow fiber. Each had  two little balls of yarn they spun. I think they could have spun all morning!

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  I welcome Vistors to the studio , call ahead, I teach away from the studio as well so an appointments are necessary.
This past week visitors and students came to the studio checking out the different models of Saori loom selections here

 After some thought and consideration  and  happily answering questions the Wx60 was agreed upon from these two  eager to weave visitors. They now  can add  Saori weaving to there all of  fiber skills.

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Mark continues to heal nicely after his back surgery this winter . His wife told me he kept saying he talks about missing  weaving so much , he getting stronger every day. He came for a new weaving  class . Here he is  winding a new warp and threading 

 The Saori warping frame can be free standing, for standing at or  easily adjusted for sitting down saori warping frame so it is very comfortable and easy to use for everyone..

here mark is sleying the reed with the saori cross holder and threading holder

etsy shop loom accessories stay tunned as his new weaving emerges.

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I have organic cotton in 8/2 in my shop now in sets and for those of you who asked, cones of black singularly for now too as well  single cone organic cotton cones here

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I love my louet LOUET S17 wheel info here  it is sturdy and NEVER FUSSY! I am  having fun with a few of the  yummy fibers I have to spin. They are available (as I get them up in my Etsy shop fibers )read about them there, or stop by the studio .

FEELING THE TRAVELING TWIST

 

 Look at  this 2 year old and he is so  intrested in learning  to spin louet art yarn flyers are amazing no fibers to catch of hooks etc.  such an amazing flyer, the very best flyer for not catching fibers and smooth spinning, he is pretty amazing and focused.

   

PEACEFUL WEAVING AND SPINNING IN THE REDWOOD MOUNTAINS

Jill Nickolene

www.saorisantacruz.com

Bags for Saori looms, Friends weave together ,my new Saori weaving

Warm weather equals more weaving out side also traveling with the easy to transport Saori looms.

I make and use loom bags and I just finished sewing a new crop for the Saori 60x series  and the Piccolo for sale.

All the current  bags available are up in my Etsy shop loom bags section

A loom bag protects your warp and beams when you move  or carry or store your loom .

The Saori Wx60 looms can be adapted for taller weavers . There are brackets for  4" risers and

  2" risers available 

you can add wooden wheels as well.

set of wooden wheels

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I had a really  nice weave  day at the studio with two freinds recently. No classes no teaching, just freindship weaving! Jennifer had injured her ankle/foot so she brought a frame loom and and praticed her tapestry weaving. Candace brought her Saori loom and and wove a in progress cotton weaving. I threaded a white saori ready made warp using the threading holder conveniently  on the table.

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We had a maven  spin meeting in Santa Cruz  at a members home on a beautiful sunny day

I spun some core spun yarn , now awaiting a ply with add ins  on my louet s90 wheel

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I wound a warp with these mostly cotton yarns

  and started weaving….

  I named this one "the whole earth catalog"

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on Mothers day I took two piccolo looms to our familes gathering but I FORGOT THE SHUTTLES!
Our youngest son ,the engineer, said" don't worry." He disappeared and in 10 minutes we had a shuttle! It was a old remote control case cut up and he  modified it ! We used it  and loved it.He saved the day! Next time the shuttles go in the tote bag first! A GREAT HACK don't you think ?

 I am telling you the "remote " shuttle is really  awesome!

And he gave  me the orange braclet for mothers day he designed on a 3D printer

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  I Planted two planters with herbs Basil, cilantro, dill, parsley and ANOTHER one  full of mints.

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 Inspirations for a new weaving?
 'jeremy's pigment pallet " 7 cone organic cotton set in my etsy shop. high quality certified organic cotton yarns.

                                               Not a heat WAVE but a heat WEAVE.

Peaceful weaving in the cool shady redwoods

Jill Nickolene

www.saorisantacruz.com