Incredible Workshops!

The Black Sheep Gathering offers an array of inspiring workshops taught by some of the best fiber artist and animal husbandry instructors from the Northwest and beyond! All workshops held at O’Hara Catholic School, 715 W 18th Ave, are just a short walk from the fairgrounds. **Classes will be held during all three days of the Gathering—June 20, 21, and 22. Outlined below are a few things to keep in mind as you register for classes:

Registration Opens March 15, 2008. The registration process is a lottery. Registrations are collected, sorted and processed by postmark date and all registrations with the same postmark date are randomly entered into the computer. Registrations received before March 15 will be considered a March 15 postmark. Be aware that some classes fill up quickly. While a March 15 postmark gives you a better chance of getting into your first choice, it doesn’t guarantee it. You will receive a confirmation of your registration with further instructions once we start the registration process.

Registration Closes June 8. Class cancellations received after this date will not receive a refund.

For classes that still have space available we will take new registrations during the Black Sheep Gathering. We will be registering students at the workshop front desk at O’Hara School for classes that still have openings.

Waiting List: We maintain a waiting list of five students for each class. Those ending up on a waiting list will be given a choice of remaining on the list, switching to another class, or receiving a refund. If an individual chooses to remain on the waiting list a refund will not be issued until after the Black Sheep Gathering. If a cancellation occurs the first person on the waiting list will be notified (and so on down the line).

Check-In: Morning and all day classes begin at 8:30am and afternoon classes begin at 1:30pm. Check-in times are: 7:45-8:30am and 12:45-1:30pm respectively. Students need to check-in at the O’Hara School front desk prior to class.

**Check-in for classes that are held at the Fairgrounds will be at the class-you do not need to come to O’Hara Elementary.

Breaks: All-day classes include a 2-hour break from 11:30am-1:30pm to allow ample time for lunch and shopping. It is a short 5-minute walk to the Fairground events and vendors.

Lost your list of supplies to bring to class? New this year—you will be able to see what supplies to bring to class on the website: www.blacksheepgathering.org

Payment. We do NOT accept credit or debit cards and we do not do Internet or email registrations. Sorry, you still have to do it old-fashioned way with a check or money order sent through the mail.

Friday Workshops | Saturday Workshops | Sunday Workshops

Workshop Enrollment Form

Workshop inquiries, contact Karen at murphyk@efn.org

Friday, June 20 Workshops

Friday Morning Workshops | Friday All Day Workshops | Friday Afternoon Workshops

Friday, June 20th, Morning Workshops

Chubby Singles—Reloaded!
Janis Thompson
Friday, June 22, 8:30am-12:30pm
Cost: $55 plus $12 materials fee
Materials fee covers: all fibers
Maximum number of students: 22
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Learn how to produce DIMENSIONAL color within a color. We will create colorful batts, and then learn how to set up our wheels to spin CHUBBY singles that are RUSTIC and beautifully HANDSPUN-looking. Remember when it was all you COULD spin? Now we will do it—intentionally. We are NOT machines, so let’s EMBRACE the charm of these wonderful yarns!
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Note: Participants must have a basic understanding of how their wheel works and be able to spin a cohesive yarn from a carded batt or top.
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Student materials list: spinning wheel – oiled and tuned up!; extra bobbins and whorls; niddy-noddy and/or nøstepinne and note-taking materials
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Janis Thompson is a self-proclaimed “FIBER EVANGELIST” who loves to share knowledge with other like-minded spinners, knitters and felters. She currently teaches up and down the West Coast at events and guild sponsored educational workshops. Janis is the owner of dyelots!—a fiber shop in Eugene, Oregon.
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Sharpen your skills and allow yourself to be infected with enthusiasm that is JANIS.

The Finish Line—Lecture and Demo
Celeste Percy
Friday, June 20, 8:30-11:30am
Cost: $40
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True confessions: You’ve spun and plied a fabulous yarn! You’ve knitted or woven your project pieces ... but ... are they now tucked away somewhere safe? From time to time do you think about finishing them? This class will get you inspired and on the right track to finishing up your projects. And it’s all going to be easier than you think! This lecture and demonstration class will show you different “sewing” options for your handspun/handknit and weaving projects. You’ll learn various seam, closure and blocking techniques that make it simple to get things done. There will also be lots of information on preparations for spinners, knitters and weavers. All techniques will be shown using both hand and machine sewing, including cut and sew methods. (See also The Finish Line—Hands-on Workshop Friday afternoon.)
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Student materials list: note-taking materials
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Celeste Percy is a custom quilter, spinner, knitter, once upon a time weaver and general fiber junkie. She has been teaching sewing for the past 15 years but don’t let that worry you—she takes a modern approach to “sewing up” because she knows that life just doesn’t need to be that hard. Celeste invites you to have fun with your creativity!

Multi-Directional Scarves
JC Briar
Friday, June 20, 8:30-11:30am
Cost: $40 plus $2 materials fee
Materials fee covers: handouts
Maximum number of students: 25
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Turn variegated yarn into striking scarves with this new form of multi-directional knitting. Learn to form triangles and diamonds from a continuous length of yarn, and to join them together without sewing any seams or picking up any stitches.
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Note: Participants must be able to knit and decrease.
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Student materials list: variegated yarn in the weight of your choice; needles of a size appropriate for your yarn; stitch markers
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A self-confessed “technique freak” and “skill junkie,” JC dabbles in all kinds of knitting, but has a special fondness for textured knitting and novel construction techniques. If it involves lace, cables, or seamless construction, it’s sure to catch her eye. She shares her enthusiasm by teaching at events such as Stitches and online through <www.NeedlecraftUniversity.com>. Regardless of the topic, she aims to build confidence by expressing concepts clearly and concisely, and by presenting skills and ideas in a digestible progression. When not teaching, JC brings clarity to knitting patterns as a freelance technical editor.

The Razor’s Edge
Dan Wilson
Friday, June 20, 8:30am-12:30pm
Cost: $55 plus $6 materials fee
Materials fee covers: handout on “Sharpening”
Materials fee covers: handout on “Sharpening”
Maximum number of students: 25
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Can’t trim feet because the hoof trimmers are too dull? Struggling with hand shears until blisters appear? Come to this workshop and learn how to get a perfectly sharp edge on all the dull surfaces in your life. Learn the theory of a sharp edge and get some hands-on experience sharpening your tools under the watchful eye of this expert sharpener. After this workshop, your trimming, shearing, cutting, chopping, slicing, dicing and pruning life will never be the same!
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Student materials list: students may bring tools or shears, trimmers, etc. to sharpen.
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Dan Wilson was raised on a sheep and cattle ranch in Humboldt County, California. He was an extension agent in Umatilla County and currently owns a sheep farm in Canby, Oregon with his wife Susie.

Friday, June 20th, All Day Workshops

Orenburg Handspinning
Galina Khmeleva
Friday, June 20, 8:30am-4:30pm
Cost: $75 plus $10 materials fee
Materials fee covers: handout charts; use of Russian spindles and bowls and several luxury fibers for spinning
Maximum number of students: 15 n
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Learn how those talented knitters and spinners from Orenburg perform feats of textile magic by turning raw down from native goats into luxuriously soft, exquisitely fine yarn via supported spindle that ultimately results in the most elegant lace shawls and scarves in the textile universe. In this class, Galina will introduce you to both the handspinning of as well as the more economical use of today’s “luxury” fibers, i.e., cashmere, qiviut, pygora, etc. Authentic hand-turned Russian supported spindles available for class use.
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Student materials list: no materials required
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Galina A. Khmeleva, owner of Skaska Designs and author of Gossamer Webs: The History and Techniques of Orenburg Lace Shawls and Gossamer Webs: The Design Collection, has earned the reputation as one of the most respected and knowledgeable lace knitting instructors in the country.
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As the principal student to Orenburg’s lace knitting elite, Galina brings the classic style and revered traditional knitting techniques of Russian lace to her classes. Her unique, inspiring and fun teaching style has made her the guru of lace enthusiasts across the US. And, as an extra bonus, Galina’s classes are an awesome, unforgettable cultural experience.

Rigid Heddle Weaving—Beginning—class closed
Diane McKinnon
Friday, June 20, 8:30am-4:30pm
Cost: $75 plus $25 materials fee
Materials fee covers: : warp yarns; use of extra weaving equipment and tools during class; detailed handout
Maximum number of students: 8
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Learn how to make the most of the rigid heddle loom! These wonderful looms make it easy to weave just about anywhere, any time. They are a relatively inexpensive way to get into weaving and are lightweight, portable and practical. They can be used to make everything from everyday useful items such as hand towels to luxurious shawls for that evening at the opera.
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This class is designed to teach the soup-to-nuts of weaving on a rigid heddle loom. We’ll cover the basics of how to assemble the loom, how to select yarns and plan a project, how to calculate and wind a warp, how to thread the loom, and how to weave the project.
You will leave the class with a completed purse and the ability to use your rigid heddle loom on your own to weave a variety of handwoven projects.
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Student materials list: 100 yards of knitting worsted weight yarn (6-8 wraps per inch), handspun if desired. wool preferred; rigid heddle loom (or use of one of the Instructor’s); shuttle (or use of one of the Instructor’s); scissors; tape measure; pen/pencil
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Diane McKinnon is an avid weaver and spinner. Diane studied weaving during college and at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. She teaches at the Black Sheep Gathering, NwRSA’s Annual Conference, Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival, and holds regular fiber classes in the Thistle Patch Fiber Studio at her home. Diane is an enthusiastic spinner as well and uses her collection of looms to weave special yarns into unique hand-woven items. She especially enjoys sharing the wonders of weaving with beginning weavers.

Color Happens
Judie Overbeek
Friday, June 20, 8:30am-4:30pm
Cost: $75 plus $15 materials fee
Materials fee covers: all fiber and handy organizers
Maximum number of students: 15
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There are so many ways spinners can develop color in their yarns and so many pre-colored fibers to choose from. But how to create the colors you want and control blending levels, are issues that need to be understood for successful projects. It’s tons of fun and this class does not require expert spinning skills.
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You’ll start by building your own fiber color wheel. You can create every color there is by blending just three primary colors and perhaps some black!
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Study blending techniques such as:

•    Pat Bullen’s hand blending
•    Blending with hand cards
•    Blending with a drum carder
•    Blending with English combs

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Then, design your own unique color and spin it many ways. Finally, knit or weave a swatch of your special color to see how it behaves in your favorite structure.
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Student materials list: spinning wheel you like; wheel accessories; hand cards, dog combs, English combs, hackles or drum carder – bring what you have, don’t go out and buy anything! we’ll share; knitting needles in size 6 or 7 if you are a knitter, I’ll have little weaving cards for weavers; color inspirations such as a favorite picture, yarn or piece of cloth
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Judie has taken refuge in spinning, weaving and dyeing for over 25 years, incorporating the three disciplines into a single project whenever possible. A love of process and a deep desire to share her skills keeps her involved in these inexhaustible crafts both as student and teacher. Judie lives in northwest Montana where she is an elementary school reading specialist. She teaches spinning, weaving and dyeing throughout the Northwest in her “spare” time.

Beginning Spinning
Laurie Weinsoft
Friday, June 20, 8:30am-4:30pm
Cost: $75 plus $8 materials fee
Maximum number of students: 12
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Do you want to learn how to spin? Laurie brings her popular class for beginning spinners to the Black Sheep Gathering. The class will expose the new spinner to the spinning wheel, how it works and how to keep it spinning. We will explore and use a broad spectrum of spinning fibers starting with a variety of wools. We will learn how to pick out a hand-spinning fleece as well as how to wash and prepare the wool for spinning. We will move forward as the class and your skills improve to spinning silks, mohair and blends of these fibers. The drum carder and hand cards will be available to try as time allows.
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Student materials list: spinning wheel with at least 3 bobbins in good working order. Instructor will provide all other materials
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Laurie Weinsoft has been a spinner for the last sixteen years. After a lifetime of knitting, sewing and weaving, she realized sitting behind the spinning wheel gave her the greatest joy. Laurie started teaching spinning within months of learning. She has taught a continuing class for beginning and returning students at Northwest Wools in Portland, Oregon for the past five years. Laurie is one of the original members of the Twisted Sisters spinning group and was a contributor to the Twisted Sister’s Sock Book and the new Twisted Sisters Sweater Workshop Book. Laurie’s work can also been seen in the winter 2006 Spin•Off. “My main goal in teaching spinning is to share my enthusiasm for beautiful spinning wheels, incredible fibers and the sheer joy of creating amazing yarns.”

Lanaset Color Wheel Workshop
Nancy Finn
Friday, June 20, 8:30am-4:30pm
Cost: $75 plus $10 materials fee
Materials fee covers: silk fabric, dyes, notebook, paper and sheet protectors for samples
Maximum number of students: 20
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Each student will create a complete color wheel by soaking pieces of silk fabric in gradations of color. The gradations are accomplished by mixing proportions of each of the primary colors, red, yellow and blue, with each other. Samples for toned and shaded colors will also be mixed. Each student will have approximately 70 color samples at the completion of the workshop.
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Student materials list: wear old clothes or bring an apron; a set of measuring spoons; rubber gloves; pen and paper; small, shallow recycled containers (some will be provided)
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Nancy Finn: “I’ve had my own dye business, Chasing Rainbows Dyeworks, for about 18 years. We dye spinning fiber and yarn. I’ve been involved with textiles since I learned to knit at age 7. Working with yarns, fabrics, threads and etc., had me involved with color, always. I have a BA in Textiles and Clothing. Over the years, I’ve knitted, sewn, woven and spun. It seemed like a natural progression to learn about dyes. This meant that I could have any color at my fingertips. Color is food for the soul. This is what I’ll be sharing in the workshop.”

Felting with Fine Fibers
Carin Engen
Friday, June 20, 8:30am-4:30pm
Cost: $75 plus $25 materials fee, $20 felting kit (optional)
Materials fee covers: All backing fabric including silk fabric, net, hand-dyed silk ribbon, etc., merino roving
Maximum number of students: 15
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The class will explore making a felted fabric with natural fibers including wool, mohair, silk and angora. You will learn to felt these fibers into a base of silk gauze, silk ribbon, net and other woven fabrics cut into strips. We will use yarn, thread, beads and lots of other things to add texture and color. It’s like painting using hand-dyed silk fibers and roving with lots of stuff added for texture.
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Note: Participants should be aware that felting can be strenuous and requires a healthy back!
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Student materials list: Bring bits of yarn, thread, sheer fabric, seed beads and extra fibers if you wish to experiment. Instructor will provide lots of materials.
Felting Kit includes: PVC pipe, netting, bubble wrap
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Carin Engen is an award winning fiber artist and workshop instructor who has been using her playful nature to explore felting and color seriously since 1992. She maintains a studio in Garberville, California where she produces a line of hand-dyed wool fabric and fiber as well as her felt art. She is an enthusiastic teacher who encourages innovation in her students work.

Stylish Felted Bags
Lori Flood
Friday, June 20, 8:30am-4:30pm
Cost: $75 plus $30 materials fee
Materials fee covers: all materials that become part of the finished product including wool and surface embellishments such as yarns, wool locks, silk fibers and pre-felts. Extensive handouts are also provided.
Maximum number of students: 10
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Make a fashion statement with a hand-felted bag reflecting your own sense of style and expression. Transform colorful wool fibers into a seamless handbag using warm, soapy water and gentle rubbing without the need for any sewing. During the felting process, skills will be introduced to create surface designs, sculptural elements, appendages and handles.
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Student materials list: several old hand and bath towels; scissors; tape measure; one large bucket (2 – 5 gallon); one small bucket or container about ½ to 1 gallon size; liquid dish soap. Students should wear comfortable clothing and shoes
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Lori Flood is an award-winning felt artist located in Walla Walla, Washington. She works full-time creating felt and teaching others felt making. She has been exploring fiber arts for over 14 years and has worked almost exclusively in felt making for the last eight. She has exhibited nationally and sells her felt artwork in galleries across the country and on her website at <www.spinsterstreadle.com>. As an instructor, her philosophy is to teach the techniques but allow students work to reflect their own sense of style and design.

Friday, June 20th, Afternoon Workshops

The Finish Line—Hands-on Workshop
Celeste Percy
Friday, June 20, 1:30-4:30pm
Cost: $40 plus $8 materials fee
Maximum number of students: 10
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This workshop is for those of you who want hands-on help with your unfinished project or work on samples of a particular technique (i.e., inserting a zipper, afterthought buttonholes, pockets, seam finishes). All the tools, equipment and supplies will be provided for blocking, seaming, sewing, etc., so all you have to do is bring your enthusiasm and get it done!
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Student materials list: any unfinished projects students would like help with;.if seaming or knitting is involved, students should bring extra yarn for this. Everything else will be provided by the instructor
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See THE FINISH LINE in the Friday morning listings for a biography.

Cast-On Cornucopia
JC Briar
Friday, June 20, 1:30-4:30pm
Cost: $40 plus $2 materials fee
Materials fee covers: comprehensive handouts
Maximum number of students: 25
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Like many knitters, you probably use the same one or two cast-on techniques for all your projects. But did you know that you could choose between dozens of cast-ons, each with its own distinctive strengths? Learn about several of them in this class: practice cast-ons with exceptional elasticity, provisional cast-ons, and decorative cast-ons. More importantly, learn how to determine which cast-on to use.
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Note: Participants must be able to knit and purl.
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Student materials list: smooth, light colored, worsted-weight yarn; needles of a size appropriate for your yarn, including a set of double-pointed needles (or two circulars, if you prefer) for practicing circular starts; needles two sizes smaller than you would normally use with your yarn; a crochet hook, roughly the same size as your larger needles; smooth, tightly twisted waste yarn (mercerized cotton works great) in a contrasting color
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See MULTI-DIRECTIONAL SCARVES in the Friday morning listings for bio.

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Saturday, June 21 Workshops
Saturday Morning Workshops | Saturday All Day Workshops | Saturday Afternoon Workshops

Saturday, June 21st, Morning Workshops

Lined Mittens
Carin Engen
Saturday, June 21, 8:30-11:30am
Cost: $40 plus $10 materials fee
Materials fee covers: Merino roving and other materials used for thrumming; lining
Maximum number of students: 15
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Learn the 18th century, northern European technique of lining mittens, socks or hats with roving. Lengths of roving are knitted in on the inside making an “oh so soft” lining which can produce a pattern on the outside. Carin has taken this technique into the 21st century using it to make cuffs and collars and to make fuzzy trim that can be used to embellish scarves or anything else you can think of. The technique is simple and fun but does require some knitting experience.
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Note: Participants should have some experience with knitting on double-pointed needles (dpns).
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Student materials list: 4 oz. of worsted weight wool yarn; #5 and #6 double pointed or size to give you a gauge of 22 sts=4 inches
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See FELTING WITH FINE FIBERS in the Friday All day listings for a biography.

Popular Wheel Mechanics—class closed
Judith MacKenzie McCuin
Saturday, June 21, 8:30-11:30am
Cost: $40 plus $5 materials fee
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In this workshop, students will learn how to adapt their wheel to spin the diameter they want, not the diameter the wheel will let them have. We will also learn how to adjust the wheel to get the twist per inch we need by adjusting the wheel and not the spinner. We’ll look at how wheels are designed and how to get them to work to their fullest. We’ll learn about drive bands, lead cords, different whorls and when to use scotch tension or double drive. We’ll also learn how to reward our wheels for good behavior with proper oil and good maintenance.
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Judith MacKenzie McCuin is a nationally known teacher, master weaver, spinner, and fiber artist from Montana. Judith teaches as only she can—with depth of knowledge honed by years of practice, patience, creative informality, personal and historical perspective, great humor, and hands-on expertise that de-mystifies any process. Classes with Judith are an experience in learning the story behind every fiber and process. Judith is a regularly featured author in Spin•Off magazine and her book, Teach Yourself Visually Handspinning, has recently been published.

Silk Fusion
Beki Ries-Montgomery
Saturday, June 21, 8:30am-12:30pm
Cost: $55 plus $25 materials fee
Materials fee covers: tussah silk and all tools to make 2 sheets of silk fusion approximately 12" x 16"
Maximum number of students: 14
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This class will introduce students to the versatile process of fusing silk fibers into sheets of paper and its wide array of creative uses. Silk paper can be used to make wall hangings, light-use garments, purses, masks, bowls and vases, etc. Students will begin by making a flat sheet of paper, approximately 14" x 18", using space-dyed, tussah silk. We’ll follow this with a second sheet of paper, which we will fashion into a simple 3-dimensional vessel.
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Student materials list: paint smock or apron; a single 24" x24" (approx.) sheet of corrugated cardboard, or something similar, to transport the damp paper
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From an early age, Beki Ries-Montgomery has been fascinated with the manipulation of fibers. A knitter, spinner, quilter and bookbinder, she is always on the lookout for new techniques to learn and to share with others. Recently, she was delighted to win “Best Use of Fiber,” with a felted lace poncho, in Spin•Off’s poncho contest.

Worsted versus Woolens—class closed
Judie Overbeek
Saturday, June 21, 8:30-11:30am
Cost: $40 plus $15 materials fee
Materials fee covers: all fibers and organizers
Maximum number of students: 20
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Short draw versus long draw; smooth and even versus fuzzy and round. It doesn’t matter what words you use to describe them, but it does matter that you understand the difference between these two fundamental spinning structures. They have evolved through the centuries as a necessary response to fibers that vary from long and lustrous, such as Lincoln long wool, to short down fibers such as Cashmere. When do you use one method over another, which method is used, with which type of fibers? How does preparation for spinning differ? How do you match fiber to project? What plying techniques are appropriate and how do you wash them?
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This workshop provides hands-on knowledge to give you control of your spinning projects from critter to sweater. If you want to “bump it up a notch,” consider spending half a day studying this essential spinning topic.
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Note: Participants should be able to spin a continuous thread and feel comfortable with their wheel.
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Student materials list: spinning wheel you like; wheel accessories (lazy kate, niddy noddy, threading hook, etc.); three empty bobbins; maintenance kit; note taking materials; tags for labeling samples
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See COLOR HAPPENS in the Friday All day listings for a biography.

Saturday, June 21st, All Day Workshops

ABC’s of Color
Jill Laski
Saturday, June 21, 8:30am-4:30pm
Cost: $75 plus $15 materials fee
Materials fee covers: all fiber
Maximum number of students: 20
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Using simple geometric shapes and only three colors, we will combine and drum card all the colors needed to complete a color circle and a color triangle. The blended batts from these exercises will create an entire line of colors that will all work together for a truly unique project. Participants will also gain a basic understanding of color relationships. Then, pictures and photographs will be chosen by the students and colors from them will be blended and matched.
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Student materials list: drum carder; bags; tags-- for samples; optional-color wheel
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Jill Laski of Lake Oswego, Oregon has been in the spinning fiber business for over 22 years. Previously she owned and operated The Hare’s Hair, a business specializing in custom blended spinning bats and hand-painted yarns. She now co-owns and operates Ashland Bay Trading Company, a wholesale spinning, weaving and knitting supply company. For Jill, experimenting with color and color combinations—whether in spinning, carding or dyeing—is a constant source of both challenge and inspiration.

Essentials of Knitted Lace
Galina Khmeleva
Saturday, June 23, 8:30am-4:30pm
Cost: $75 plus $10 materials fee
Maximum number of students: 15
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Do you welcome a knitting challenge? Are you ready to take your lace knitting to the next level? Then this is the class for you. Come discover the Essentials—your ticket to more enjoyable, more productive, more hassle-free lace knitting with acclaimed lace expert Galina Khmeleva. In this unique workshop, Galina will cover the broad range of knitting techniques that will enable every knitter to successfully complete the project of their choice. Elegant borders and cornering techniques, superior shaping using Galina’s modified short-rows method, simple yet so effective cast-ons and bind-offs, and the unique Russian grafting method are some of the techniques. They will “seam” almost magical in their simplicity and usefulness. Master the essentials; master your lace knitting.
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Student materials list: none required
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See ORENBURG HANDSPINNING in the Friday All day listings for a biography.

Rigid Heddle Weaving—Advanced
Diane McKinnon
Saturday, June 21, 8:30am-4:30pm
Cost: $75 plus $25 materials fee
Materials fee covers: warp yarns; weft yarns; use of extra weaving equipment and tools during class; detailed handout
Maximum number of students: 8
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Take your rigid heddle loom to the next step! Now that you know how to warp your rigid heddle loom and weave a simple project such as a purse or a scarf, you are ready to move forward and advance your weaving skills using this fun loom.
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This class is designed to teach you how to do more advanced weaving techniques on a rigid heddle loom. We’ll plan a project, calculate and wind a warp and thread the loom. After that, we will explore more advanced weave structures that are created by using a pick-up stick while you weave a sampler that can be used as a purse or decorative throw pillow.
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You will leave the class with a completed sampler and the ability to use your rigid heddle loom on your own to weave a variety of advanced weave structures such as twill, Monk’s cloth, Turkish or Rya knots, soumak, tapestry and lace.
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Pre-requisite: Beginning weaving on a rigid heddle loom, a table loom, or a floor loom.
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Student materials list: an assembled rigid heddle loom or use of one of the Instructor’s for an additional $10.00 fee must be arranged prior to class; shuttle (or use of one of the Instructor’s); scissors; tape measure; pen/pencil
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See RIGID HEDDLE WEAVING-BEGINNING in the Friday All day listings for a biography.

Felted Jewelry
Loyce Ericson
Saturday, June 21, 8:30am-4:30pm
Cost: $75 plus $16 materials fee
Materials fee covers:
Maximum number of students:
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Cords and beads are just the beginning. Felted flower boas, hair decorations, earrings, twists and shapes of wool are the goal of this class.
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Student materials list:
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After twenty plus years working in high tech as a mechanical designer, Loyce Ericson took a personal and professional turn to follow her passion. She has been making felt since 1999 and began teaching in 2001. Loyce’s pieces have taken many awards at Oregon’s Black Sheep Gathering and placed Best in Show 2000, Best in Class 2001 and 2003 at the Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival. She owns the Chocolate Sheep in Forest Grove, Oregon and travels and teaches nationally as well as in her private studio and classroom.

Rainbow Dyeing
Nancy Finn
Saturday, June 21, 8:30am-4:30pm
Cost: $75 plus $10 materials fee
Materials fee covers:
Maximum number of students:
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This workshop will build upon our Lanaset Color Wheel exploration as we design and create color palettes. Rainbow dyeing is a technique by which we can produce stunning and harmonious colorways. Dyes will be mixed and applied individually to produce clear and distinct color. Complimentary, triad and split complimentary color schemes will also be explored. Each student will receive 2 units of fiber—one silk, one a silk blend—with which to explore this technique. Bring fiber or yarn from your stash, as well as several color inspirations.
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Pre-requisite: Lanaset Color Wheel Workshop.
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Student materials list:
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See LANASET COLOR WHEEL WORKSHOP in the Friday All day listings for a biography.

Saturday, June 21st, Afternoon Workshops

Entry-level Entrelac
Joan Schrouder
Saturday, June 21, 1:30-4:30pm
Cost: $40 plus $1 materials fee
Materials fee covers: 5 page handout
Maximum number of students: 25
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To the neophyte knitter, this technique looks like separately knitted strips that have been woven under and over each other, or a myriad of single squares have been knitted then tediously tethered together. But it has actually been worked in an ingenious “knitterly” way: each “piece” has been picked up and knit from a neighboring square and at the same time it is being joined to another abutting unit.
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This class will cover the basics of entrelac knitting: working squares and triangles to fit together to get whatever shape is desired. Knitting backwards, a real boon to entrelac, will be practiced. We’ll also explore a technique that Joan devised to get rid of color blips showing through at the joins.
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Note: Intermediate knitting experience required. Participants must be able to knit, purl, slip stitches and decrease.
No Preclass homework necessary.
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Student materials list: yarn -~50 gms total assorted colors (no dark colors) in knitting worsted wt (approx 5 sts/inch); needles – size 6 or 7 US (4 or 4.5 mm) circular, any length (straight needles won't work for the method I teach)
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Joan loves teaching knitters to reason out solutions. Intriguing construction details, seamless knitting and ethnic styles fascinate her. She teaches classes at national knitting conventions such as Stitches and The Knitting Guild of America (TKGA), plus travels the country teaching for guilds and yarn shops. She also answers technique questions on various Internet knitting lists. In the past, she has designed for knitting magazines and yarn companies.

Sock Caper—class closed
Judith MacKenzie McCuin
Saturday, June 21, 1:30-4:30pm
Cost: $40 plus $5 materials fee
Materials fee covers:
Maximum number of students:
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The only things nicer than hand knit socks are socks knit with handspun yarn. Learn what it takes to spin and knit a perfect sock. We’ll cover fleece selection, fiber blends and how to process them into long wearing yarns and durable socks. Cable plies will be discussed. You need a spinning wheel, extra drive band material, carders and knitting needles.
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Note: Participants must be able to spin a continuous thread and feel comfortable with their wheel.
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Student materials list: a spinning wheel with all its parts in good working order; bring at least 4 bobbins; a niddy noddy, a ball winder and a lazy kate would be helpful; a measuring tape; bring double points in the size you like to knit with for socks--sizes 1-7
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See POPULAR WHEEL MECHANICS in the Saturday morning listings for a biography.

Indigo Dyeing—class closed
Judy Ness
Saturday, June 21, 1:30-5:30pm
Cost: $55 plus $20 materials fee
Materials fee covers: dye and chemistry, silk scarf
Maximum number of students: 12
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All blue, all afternoon. Demystify indigo using natural extracts. Bring cotton or wool yarns to dip. We’ll make stock solution, develop and adjust the vats to the correct pH, temperature and color to produce a beautiful blue. Easy resist techniques will be explored. You CAN do this at home.
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Student materials list: Student materials list: up to 1/2 pound of protein yarn divided into 2oz. skeins, tie each skein very loosely in three places with a figure eight tie to control the yarn; bring another 1/2 pound of cellulose yarn–rayon, cotton blends, skeined and tied as described above; an apron and long, heavy duty rubber gloves
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Judy Ness is a weaver specializing in tapestry and is a fiber arts teacher. Her work is largely hand-dyed. Special interests include Navajo and Scandinavian weaving. A graduate of the University of Oregon’s MFA program, she enjoys teaching and is excited to be included in the Black Sheep Gathering again this year.

Dystocia Management, Infectious Disease Control and Parasite Control
Jeff Pelton, DVM
Saturday, June 21, 1:30-4:30pm
Cost: $40 plus $5 materials fee
Materials fee covers: handouts
Maximum number of students: no maximum
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We will discuss proper care prior to lambing, normal versus abnormal deliveries and how to manage all types of dystocia. We will cover CAE/OPP, CL, and pneumonia with regards to prevention, treatment, and herd management. Finally, we will discuss the latest findings on de-wormers, resistance and herd management of parasite burdens.
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Dr. Pelton graduated from UC Davis veterinary school in 1996. He then worked at Colorado State University on an internship specializing in food animal and camelid medicine and surgery. From 1997 to 2001, he worked at a large animal veterinary clinic in Petaluma, California that specialized in beef and dairy medicine and surgery. From 2001 to 2005 he worked at two veterinary clinics in the southern Willamette Valley where he has focused on ruminant and camelid veterinary medicine and herd health. In March, he started his own clinic, Eugene Large Animal Veterinary Clinic. He has been active in 4H and FFA providing numerous talks and wet-labs based around small ruminant production and individual animal medicine.

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Sunday, June 22 Workshops

Sunday Morning Workshops | Sunday All Day Workshops | Sunday Afternoon Workshops

Sunday, June 22nd, Morning Classes

Pocket Dragons
Ayala Talpai
Sunday, June 22, 8:30-11:30am
Cost: $40 plus $5 materials fee
Materials fee covers: small pack of instructions, a felting needle, various small tools, embellishments (eyeball kit, yarns, curly locks, flight equipment, etc.) and other oddments as required for this undertaking
Maximum number of students: 20
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We will make a small (12") shirt pocketable dragon that could also hang from your rearview mirror, etc. We’ll needle felt this little guy from wool over a wire armature—with wings of course!
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Student materials list: SCISSORS!; 3x3x6” soft upholstery foam for your working surface; a couple ounces of structural stuffing wool—nothing fancy, washed, and carded preferred or you get to tease it before using; ounce of wool in color(s) you prefer for dragon skin; a small towel; plastic produce bag; leftover cake of any soap; a little pouring device-- small pitcher or yogurt container for instance
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Ayala has spent her entire life making stuff, making do, and doing well. This happy obsession with creativity has led to the first innovation in fiber arts since the Stone Age—NOW! Felting needles turn wool into a sculptural material! Having taught all ages and all abilities all over, Ayala has also written two authoritative needle felting workbooks and is at work on the third.

Self-Striping Sock Yarn
Janis Thompson
Sunday, June 22, 8:30am-12:30pm
Cost: $55 plus $12 materials fee
Materials fee covers: pre-knitted sock blanks—1 per student; all dyes
Maximum number of students: 25
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A UNIQUE Technique for producing a self-striping or random/WILD sock yarn for KNITTERS! In class we will each DYE a machine knitted sock blank with Jacquard Acid Dyes. All class participants will leave with a “painted” piece of cloth to be HAND knitted into a pair of socks. Instructions on how to produce your own sock blanks will be provided. EXTRA sock blanks will be available in class. LOTS of Color—Lots of FUN!
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Student materials list: good rubber gloves, roll of plastic wrap, note taking materials
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See CHUBBY SINGLES—RELOADED under the Friday morning listings for a biography.

Popular Wheel Mechanics—class closed
Judith Mackenzie McCuin
Sunday, June 22, 8:30-11:30am
Cost: $40 plus $5 materials fee
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See POPULAR WHEEL MECHANICS in the Saturday morning listings for class description and Judith’s biography.

Shockin’ Stockin’s
Joan Schrouder
Sunday, June 22, 8:30-11:30am
Cost $40 plus $1 materials fee
Materials fee covers: three-page handout
Maximum number of students: 25
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Turn your world topsy-turvy by knitting socks from the toes UP. Why? Because it lets you use limited quantities of yarn to their best advantage (leg or cuff length can be as long as you have yarn to knit) because pattern stitches will be right-side up, and because it’s fun to do things differently! Conventional heel turning as well as a specialty toe shaping to make socks fit anatomically (right versus left) will be practiced in class, resulting in a mini-model.
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Note: Intermediate level. Participants must be able to knit with double-pointed needles, 2 circular needles or “Magic loop” (socks on one long circular needle). You will get more out of this class if you have previously knit one pair of socks.
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Student materials list: yarn – 1 oz/30 gms knitting worsted wt yarn (~5 sts/inch), must be smooth, light/solid color; needles – 1 set (5) double pointed ndls approx size 6 US/4mm, or can use 2 shorter circ ndls or 1 longer circ ndl if already familiar with that method of sock knitting; darning needle – blunt with large eye for yarn; 2 markers that open (can be loops of yarn)
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See ENTRY-LEVEL ENTRELAC under the Saturday afternoon classes for a biography.

Silk Novelty Yarn
Connie Rose
Sunday, June 22, 8:30am-12:30pm
Cost: $55 plus $15 materials fee
Materials fee covers: 4 oz silk noil; bag of mixed novelty fibers; bag of angelina fiber; 1 oz Bombyx top
Maximum number of students: 15
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We’ll learn to make a fun and beautiful silk novelty yarn. First we’ll spin a single ply from bombyx silk top. Then we’ll hand card silk noil with added bits of colorful novelty fibers and angelina. Then we’ll spin up the silk noil rolags. Finally, we’ll ply the two silk singles together. The novelty yarn process that this class focuses on was developed originally for wool, and later transferred to silk fibers.
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Note: This is not a beginning spinning class. Participants must be comfortable with and able to use a spinning wheel. Participants must also be able to use hand cards.
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Student materials list: : spinning wheel; hand cards; several bobbins; lazy Kate; niddy-noddy
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Connie Rose has been a hand spinner for over 30 years. In the last 8-10 years, she has focused her spinning on luxury fibers, especially the various forms of silk available to hand spinners. Connie also weaves and knits, and incorporates her hand spun yarns into most of the woven and knitted textiles she produces.
Connie has been a member of the Humboldt Handweavers and Spinners Guild for seven years, and participated on HHSG’s team at the first Black Sheep Gathering Sheep-to-Shawl contest in 2002. Check out Connie’s website at: www.constancerosedesigns.com.

Identifying, Managing and Renovating Pasture Forages
Woody Lane
Sunday, June 22, 8:30-11:30am
Cost: $40 plus $8 materials fee
Materials fee covers: handouts
Maximum number of students: 25
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Learn how to identify the common species of grasses, legumes and other plants grazed by your animals. We will cover their individual strengths and weaknesses. You will learn how to manage these species to keep them in pastures, allow them to grow to their potential, and provide the best, sustainable nutrition to your animals. You’ll learn how to make pastures more productive, what to look for in problem fields, and how to renovate old fields into productive pastures. We’ll also talk about some common weeds and how to control them, as well as toxicity issues sometimes found in pastures. This workshop is for graziers of all levels, beginner and veteran.
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Woody Lane is a nationally known livestock nutritionist from Roseburg, Oregon. He owns and operates an independent consulting firm “Lane Livestock Services,” teaches courses in forages and livestock nutrition to ranchers in the area, facilitates three forage study groups for farmers, and writes a popular monthly column “From the Feed Trough ...” for The Shepherd magazine. Woody earned his Ph.D. from Cornell University and was the Wisconsin State Extension Sheep and Beef Cattle Specialist in the 1980s. Woody is in great demand as a speaker and has given scores of nutrition and forage workshops across the United States and Canada, and has worked internationally in New Zealand and Macedonia. In the past few years, he helped develop the well-known SID Sheep Production Handbook and together with the popular veterinarian Don Bailey, developed an instructional set of three videotapes called “Lambing Time Management.”

How to Breed the Perfect Angora Goat and Why You Can’t
Alfred (Mac) Gilliat
Sunday, June 22, 8:30-11:30am
Cost: $40 plus $5 materials fee
Materials fee covers: handouts
Maximum number of students: 25
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This workshop is geared towards Angora goat owners and breeders with an interest in improving the breeding portion of their goat operation. We will discuss Angora goat genetics, inheritance, breeding schemes and their application in a breeding program.
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Alfred (Mac) Gilliat was born and raised on a goat and sheep ranch in the Hill Country area of Texas. He holds an animal husbandry degree from Texas A&M with an emphasis on sheep and goats. As County Extension Agent in a major goat producing county for 22+ years, Mac has worked with both registered and commercial producers in improving breeding operations and selection. He is currently a rancher producing Angora and meat goats, sheep and cattle.

Shearing On Your Own
Susie Wilson
Sunday, June 22, 8:30-11:30am
Cost: $40 plus $4 materials fee

Materials fee covers: handouts
Maximum number of students: 35
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This is one of the most popular classes for the would-be shearer. Susie guides you through the intricacies and fun of shearing your own animals. Learn how someone without previous experience can quickly learn to shear a sheep or goat. You’ll learn technique and shearing patterns using hand and/or electric clippers. Susie advises taking this class before you buy any clippers.
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Participants are encouraged to take “The Razor’s Edge” sharpening workshop on Friday morning. This will enhance your shearing skills and understanding immensely.
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Student materials list: none. (would be best to hold off buying an electric handpiece until after you take this workshop)
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Susie Wilson is a shepherd, shearer, knitter, spinner and an enthusiastic lamb and wool producer from Canby, Oregon. She and her husband, Dan, operate SuDan Farm and raise Border Leicester and Coopworth sheep. A large number of her past students are now successfully shearing their own sheep—and you can, too!

Sunday, June 22nd, All Day Workshops

Open Architecture Weaving
Judie Overbeek
Sunday, June 22, 8:30am-4:30p.m
Cost: $75 plus $5 materials fee
Materials fee covers: handouts; all drafts will be included
Maximum number of students: 12
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Have you ever wondered what would happen if you left some gaps in your warp or weft or both? Would the cloth fall apart? Would it snag on everything? When the cloth was washed would the threads move together and cover up the holes? Find out the answer to these and other questions as we “mess around” with the uneven spacing of warp and weft. You can create some wonderful fabrics for scarves, tops and drapery using the techniques presented here. And you will be ready to experiment further at the end of the day.
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In round-robin fashion you will try out a lot of variations on this theme. Most structures will be either Plain Weave or twill. We will be working with fine threads. If they scare you now, they won’t when we’re done!
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Note: Intermediate weaving level. Participants should know basic weaving techniques and be able to read a simple draft.
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Student materials list: Student materials list: fully warped loom with all accessories; enough yarn for the weft (same amount you needed for the warp); scissors; ; asking tape; 2 sheets of cardstock (8.5" x 11")
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See COLOR HAPPENS in the Friday all day listings for a biography.
Spinning Bast Fibers
Paula Shull
Sunday, June 22, 8:30am-4:30pm
Cost: $75 plus $7 materials fee
Materials fee covers: all fibers covered in the class. (If any participant has some bast fiber for which spinning information is needed, that will be welcome)
Maximum number of students: 20
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This class will allow the student to explore the preparation and spinning of a number of various types of bast fibers. We’ll cover hemp, ramie and, of course, flax. We’ll talk about different methods for dealing with line (long) fibers, finishing procedures and suitable applications for the finished yarns.
Note: Participants must be able to spin a continuous yarn and be comfortable with their spinning wheel.
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Student materials list: spinning wheel in good working order; a hand towel; a small bowl with a sponge to fit it; and the willingness to at least give these useful fibers a chance before dismissing them out of hand
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Paula Shull has exhibited her work in many venues and has received numerous awards and recognition. She has judged camelid fibers, at an alpaca specialty show in Salem, Oregon, and Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival in Canby, Oregon. She was also chosen to act as the judge for the AlpacaPalooza Spinner’s Choice, which involved a thorough, hands-on assessment of each of approximately 20 fleeces and writing a critique of each from a spinner’s viewpoint. She has had work published on and between the covers of Spin•Off magazine, as well as in Shuttle, Spindle and Dyepot in conjunction with the learning exchange programs. She has served twice as examiner for the Handweavers’ Guild of America’s Certificate of Excellence in Spinning. Paula has researched and written a yet-to-be-published study on the evolution of a handspun project which includes a yield study using Merino fleece. Currently, she is doing an on-going study of the use and behavior of variegated yarns in knitted and woven structures.

Felted Christmas Stockings
Sandoval McNair
Sunday, June 22, 8:30am-4:30pm
Cost: $75 plus $25 materials fee
Materials fee covers: 4 ounces of wool for stocking; assorted wool blends, mohair locks, and silk noil for decorations; plastic resist; felting needle and foam pad student gets to take home
Maximum number of students: 10
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In this class we will wet-felt a Christmas stocking and embellish it with needle-felted locks for that nice snowy effect! WARNING: We’ll be listening to Christmas carols and eating Christmas cookies during class.
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Student materials list: bring your favorite Christmas CDs to listen to while we make our stockings
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Sandoval has been felting for about seven years and is still amazed at the magic of taking a bundle of foof, adding a little soap and hot water (and elbow grease) and ending up with a tough, beautiful piece of fabric. She’s taught several classes in both wet felting and needle felting, and taken awards at Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival. Before she was a felter, Sandoval was a high school science teacher. But don’t worry; there won’t be any dissections in class.

Sunday, June 22nd, Afternoon Workshops

Wool Sculpture in the Garden: The Troubles Mushrooms Have With Their Hats
Ayala Talpai
Sunday, June 22, 1:30pm-4:30pm
Cost: $40 plus $3 materials fee
Materials fee covers: a little pack of instructions; felting needle; trapunto needle; small tools and whimsies; and a pedestal
Maximum number of students: 20+
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Wool has been recognized for eons as a weather resistant fiber. We’ll be trying its mettle by setting out a garden-theme sculpture in our yards and patios. Perhaps birds and small insects will also add their input to our works ... an interactive art form!
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The use of felting needles for wool sculpture has broadened the possibility of these interactions. Wool is a delightful medium to work with, and needle felting is an approachable and forgiving technique! No previous experience or wool contact necessary, you’ll become adept instantly ... then expect to spend a lifetime, as with any medium, translating the world around you into wool sculpture.
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We shall address The Troubles Mushrooms Have with Their Hats. (Hint: the wobbliness of his cap has been aggravated by a bug, perched outside his line of sight.)
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Student materials list: be prepared for a really fun time!; bring SCISSORS; a 3x6x6” soft upholstery foam for your working surface; a couple ounces structural stuffing wool (nothing really valuable), washed and carded; an ounce or so of whatever you considered to be mushroom colored wools, plus any tidbits of wool, yarn, glitz, etc., for his little environment and THE BUG…
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See POCKET DRAGONS under the Sunday morning listings for a biography.

Spindling
Beki Ries-Montgomery
Sunday, June 22, 1:30-4:30pm
Cost: $40 plus $20 materials fee
Materials fee covers: 5oz of dyed wool roving and the materials with which to assemble a CD drop spindle
Maximum number of students: 10
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Students will learn the basics of spinning wool using the high-whorl spindle. We’ll begin by making a CD spindle that we will use in class. Students will then learn: 1.) how to begin spinning with and without a leader, 2.) how to spin a continuous single, 3.) how to make a strong join (both when the yarn breaks and when it is time to add new fiber), 4.) what a distaff is and how to use one, and 5.) plying with a spindle. For the materials fee, students will receive 5 ounces of wool fiber as well as the supplies to make the CD spindle.
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Student materials list: 1 empty shoe box; 2 single-point knitting needles in the #4-7 size range
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See SILK FUSION under the Saturday morning listings for a biography.

To Spin a Fine Thread—class closed
Judith MacKenzie McCuin
Sunday, June 22, 1:30-4:30pm
Cost: $40 plus $5 materials fee
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Have you always wanted to create that gossamer thread? In this workshop, we’ll look at various fleeces and discuss how to prepare them to create the finest of all possible yarns. We’ll learn all the tips and tricks of the trade that allow you to spin just like the spider woman.
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Note: Participants must be able to spin a continuous yarn and be comfortable with their spinning wheel.
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Student materials list: a spinning wheel with all its parts in good working order; at least 4 bobbins.; niddy noddy, a ball winder and a lazy kate would be helpful; measuring tape
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See POPULAR WHEEL MECHANICS under the Saturday morning listings for a biography.

Beaded Knits
Jill Laski
Sunday, June 22, 1:30-4:30pm
Cost: $40 plus $10 materials fee
Materials fee covers: all beads and a beading needle
Maximum number of students: 20-25
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Beads are a wonderful addition to knitwear. In this hands-on workshop we will employ different beading techniques, use a range of different types of beads and explore the use of beads in knitting.
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Note: Participants must be confident with knit and purl stitches.
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Student materials list: small skeins of fingering weight and sport weight yarns; knitting needles size #1, #3 (or whatever size needles work with the yarn you bring); hang tags for your samples
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See ABC’S OF COLOR in the Saturday all day listings for a biography.

Natural Dyes—class closed
Diane Bentley-Baker
Sunday, June 22, 1:30-4:30pm
Cost: $40 plus $10 materials fee
Materials fee covers: mordants and dyes; Yarn samples provided by teacher can be purchased for extremely nominal fee.
Maximum number of students: 10
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We will survey all the mordants used and learn how to use them safely. We will then dye with simple things from your kitchen and garden and nearby woods. Bring your handspun yarn in 1 ounce skeins. If you don’t have enough, the teacher will supply sock wool for your samples. Learn about all the warm and beautiful colors you can obtain from nature’s dyes.
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This class is geared for beginners, but all level of dyers are welcome to come and help us explore the world of natural dyes.
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Student materials list: bring your handspun yarn in 1 oz. skeins, this way, we can fairly and accurately weigh our wool for samples; bring rubber gloves if you wish; wear old clothes or large aprons
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Diane Bentley-Baker, a spinner for 31 years, holds a Certificate of Excellence in Handspinning, part I, which reflects her in-depth experience in all the technical areas of the art. She has taught for many years and brings a laid-back humor to her workshops.

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