Taught myself to knit from a CD then jumped in feet first and took a class that the Athens Art Center from Jennie Bennett on making socks with a friend. I still love knitting socks but really realized that I am a slow knitter.
But as I knitted, I realized that I did not want to knit with commerical yarns - I wanted to make yarn from fleece - from U.S. raised sheep, alpacas, & rabbits. So I went to The Spinnery in Gatlinburg and Nancy showed me a book with the instructions to make a spindle from a cd. She showed me how to use a spindle in the shop. Bought the book, came home and my husband made me the spindle.
That was not enough - joined the Tennessee Handspinner's Guild in Knoxville TN and borrowed the guild spinning wheel - I was hooked. I loved it! Bought a used wheel from Jennie and never looked back. Now I own 2 wheels that I have bought at the Spinnery and love them both.
I took a class from Phyllis at R&M Yarns in Cleveland, Tennessee a few years ago with a friend - just a simple table runner but I loved it. My husband made me an old fashion rug loom but that was not enough, could not do what I wanted to do on it. Found an used Leclerc counterbalance loom on craigslist and headed to Knoxville to get it. Then came the Baby Wolf. Then came a Harrisville loom that my dear friends & my husband's cousins gave to me.
The Scenic Valley Handweavers Guild was established in January at R&M Yarns. We are learning so much! I look so forward to the meetings.
I have a blog that is mainly devoted to quilting www.cottonpatchquilts.blogspot.com but I wanted one that was more for the Fiber Arts like weaving, spinning and needlefelting.
I hope you will join me on this part of my life's journey!
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