Amelia Garripoli
Amelia Garripoli spins, weaves, cranks & nalbinds her way through fiber festivals across America. Teacher, author & fiber instigator, sparking creativity in workshops, guilds, Zoom, articles, videos & her books Productive Spindling & Power Spinning. Find her at askthebellwether.com
3hr Class
Turkish Spindle Secrets Unlocked
What every spinner wishes they’d known from the start – discover the full potential of your Turkish spindle! Learn clever no-leader starts, wind turtles like a yoga master, travel safely with your spindle, and match fiber to spindle and yarn for perfect results. Explore drop and supported techniques, yarn structures that make it shine, and insider tips to spin smarter and faster—making this versatile tool an essential part of your spinning kit.
Level of student experience required:
Able to spin and ply on a treadle wheel or spindle, ready for adventure! Experienced Turkish spindlers welcome too.
List of materials students bring and/or advance preparation required of students:
Bring your Turkish Spindle(s) and any fiber you have questions about. Spindles will also be available to use in class, and fiber to spin is provided in the materials.
Materials fee: $20
What materials are covered by materials fee:
Fiber to spin (wool, alpaca, silk, ramie) and handout
12hr Class
Spinner’s Lab: A World of Fibers for Weaving
Discover how fiber and spinning styles shape your weaving. Spin wool, alpaca, bamboo, silk, and Tencel, exploring drafting styles, twist direction, and yarn structures (singles vs. plied) in your own woven swatches. Build practical spinning skills while exploring drape, texture, and striping with your collection of samples that showcase these fibers. You’ll understand how fiber choice and yarn structure directly impact weaving and will take home new skills, woven samples, and fresh ideas to spin into your next weaving project.
Level of student experience required:
Comfortable spinning on the device you bring (wheel, e-spinner, or spindle) and a basic understanding of weaving (we will mostly be using plain weave in our samples).
List of materials students bring and/or advance preparation required:
– Spinning device (wheel, e-spinner, or spindles) and plying tools (extra bobbins/spindles, lazy kate/ball winder and yarn bowls) in good operating condition.
– Battery for your e-spinner if you have one.
– Optional: sample loom and long (4”) weaving needle you like.
– Optional: hand cards if you want to blend fibers
Materials fee: $50
What materials are covered by materials fee:
– fiber to spin (wool, alpaca, bast bamboo, silk, Tencel)
– handout
– cardboard samplers in 3 sizes (1×1, 1×4, 2×2) and basic weaving needle.