Ready or not, sink or swim spin!

Today was the first day of our homeschooling co-op's winter term. In a co-op, the parents are responsible for teaching all the classes. Among the classes I have taught so far are a high school cooking class, several high school figure drawing classes (I will be teaching another one next term by request), a class on horses, two "living history" classes, and a couple others as well. Teaching a fiber class of some sort has been rattling around in my brain for awhile now, and I finally decided to take the plunge this term. I've titled it "Textiles 101," and the 6th graders are my guinea pigs students.

Today I introduced our topic and gave a brief history of textiles, from the first mention of human coverings in Genesis through the Industrial Revolution to today. The next seven weeks will be spent learning "post-apocalyptic skills" (ha!) - scouring, dyeing, carding, spinning and plying wool, then card-weaving and finger-knitting with both their homespun and commercial yarn. I am crossing my fingers and toes that I can keep the kids busy and engaged. Some already know how to knit; one hyperactive boy is surprisingly enthused; several of the girls were grossed out when they learned about lanolin, of all things! (How will they react to raw wool?!?)

I think I have everything I need. Among my tools and stash I have a crockpot, electric teapot, Kool-Aid in various colors, hand-cards, a dog flicker brush, a drum carder, and white long-wool roving. My farrier's wife donated some skirted white fleece from her flock; my friends Duane and Jeannie at Santiam Shetlands donated some roving, commercial yarn, and all the prepped materials for spindles; and a local art gallery and frame shop donated mattboard with which to make card-looms. I have two adult helpers, one of whom spins and knits. I'll let you know how it goes!

That's it for now from . . .