Working with Farm Yarns and Intro to the Dye Garden, with Gayle Ravenscroft

Join us at the beautiful Fibershed Learning Center with expert knitter, Gayle Ravenscroft of Pacific Knitting Retreats, for a class on working with 'farm yarns.'

'Farm yarns' are yarns that are produced locally by our Fibershed shepherds on their ranches. These yarns offer unique characteristics that are tied to their origins and cannot be replicated in mass production.

Some of the topics Gayle will discuss are:

• Why knitters should consider 'farm yarns,' and in particular, yarns from their local Fibershed
• How to find farm yarns
• Projects that are particularly suitable for farm yarns and why
• Wool breed specificity (including heritage breeds) and how using different ones can add a special dimension to your craft.

Students will have ‘hands-on-needles’ knitting time with a variety of these yarns in person. The workshop will last two hours from 10am-12pm, followed by a guided walk of the dye garden and a catered picnic lunch supplied by the instructor.

Note! - There will be a separate afternoon field trip from 1-4pm that is connected to this workshop. To get a sneak peek into the local wool ranch, , sign up at the link here : ***
***This portion of the event is hosted by the instructor, and is NOT hosted through Fibershed. For all inquiries about the wool ranch visit, please contact the instructor via the 'ranch visit' link above.

Participants must bring:

• Knitting needles (We will be working with yarns ranging in weight from Sport to Worsted in various styles, so select sizes accordingly. Gauge is irrelevant so whatever you would facilitate freedom to experiment with is appropriate.)
• Other knitting tools, if you have them
• The instructor will be supplying a catered lunch, details to confirmed after registration for lunch choice options. Coffee and tea will be provided on site.
• Please bring any of your own additional personal snacks, lunch, and beverages.
• A notebook and pen for note taking is encouraged.

Maximum 15 students.

Instructor Bio:

Gayle Ravenscroft learned to knit when she was 5 and has spent a lifetime exploring fiber arts and traditions, with an emphasis on her needles. She has been a knitting teacher for more than 12 years and produces knitting retreats in Northern California with exceptional teachers, dyers and ranches. She was an early supporter of our Fibershed and continues to be amazed at the incredible achievements and struggles of the organisation and its producers and members. Any time she can be a cheerleader she jumps at the chance.

pacificknittingretreats.com

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Fibershed Scholarship Program

Fibershed is offering one scholarship per workshop. If you would not otherwise be able to attend, and would like to be considered as a scholarship recipient, please see our Scholarship Application. Responses will be reviewed by Learning Center staff and kept strictly confidential.

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Cancellation Policy: Refunds (minus Eventbrite fees) are available up to 7 days before the event. If you cancel after 7 days before the event, we are unable to provide refunds unless we can fill your space from the waitlist. (**Please note that this is not common.**)
If someone is waitlisted and is able to purchase your space, we will refund your ticket, minus the Eventbrite fees. Otherwise, there will be no refunds. You are also welcome to transfer your ticket to someone who wishes to purchase it directly from you, or let us know if someone is coming in lieu of your name.

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There is livestock onsite, so we ask that visitors please keep their pets at home. Service dogs are permitted.

You can now support the Fibershed Education Fund by selecting an optional donation amount during ticket registration, or email us at [email protected] for alternative donation methods.

Host or Publisher Fibershed