S103 HOW TO WEAVE (OR SPIN) FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE: GUIDELINES FOR HEALTH

S202 HAIR RAISING ADVENTURES--ANGORA BUNNY CARE

Peggy Coffey
LaPorte, Indiana

Peggy Coffey loves the look and feel of fibers. A basket of fleece holds just as much beauty and warmth for her as a handwoven afghan of homespun and each step of transforming the one to the other enriches all. She considers herself an experienced beginner in spinning and weaving, though she has been doing both for more than 20 years. As a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, she works part-time in nursing homes helping the elderly restore or adapt the ability to perform everyday tasks. She has taught weaving classes to OT students and adults and started several handspinning groups in rural Indiana areas. For her own therapy, she raises angora rabbits, Shetland sheep and Pilgrim geese with the help of her family on their mini-farm outside LaPorte. She has been newsletter editor for Swift News (the State network quarterly publication) for five years and writes “Spinners Connection” for Spin-Off magazine.

Wonder why you ache after throwing the shuttle? Are you having difficulty counting warps per inch? This session will help you learn to enhance your health while weaving (or spinning). Find out what causes the unique problems weavers and spinners face and how to deal with them. Gain an understanding of correct body mechanics and positions. Review the hazards and safeguards for using equipment. Discover how to make simple adaptations to compensate for your own limitations. Reconsider the long-lasting therapeutic benefits of weaving and spinning and why you should continue doing these activities. Participants are encouraged to share specific problems and their own approaches to performing tasks, so that all may benefit.

Supplies: Note-taking materials.
Fee: $1.00
Level: All

Wish you could spin those soft, furry angora yarns? Want to raise your own fiber but not sure if this is for you? This class is hands-on for learning to spin angora fiber and blends to create luxury yarns, followed by the basics for keeping a bunny at home. Demonstrations of spinning pure fibers and blended roving will be held along with live rabbit examination. Seeing how the fiber is grown and harvested brings greater understanding of ways to spin it for use in knitting and weaving projects. Coping with allergies and the basic care of feeding, housing and grooming a rabbit will be covered. Participants will spin several forms of angora including prime, combings and blended roving.
Supplies: A spinning wheel; empty bobbin with leader; flicker or clean handcarders; note taking materials.
 

Supplies: A spinning wheel; empty bobbin with leader; flicker or clean handcarders; note taking materials.
Fee: $5.00
Level: Ability to spin a continuous yarn.

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