ACTIVITIES
WORKSHOPS:
Course 1, SPINNING NOVELTY YARN
COST: $30
TIME: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
DAY Saturday
INSTRUCTOR: Phyilleri Ball, Steam Valley Fiber Farm
We are all so easily attracted by interesting and beautiful textures and patterns in novelty yarns – coveted and valuable by yarn enthusiasts. Now you can learn how to create textured handspun yarns like snarl, knot, boucle and cage. These yarns are great as an accent or used alone to add creative zest to your handspun repertoire.
Prerequisite Student Skills: Intermediate spinning skills are required.
CLASS MATERAILS AND PREPARATION: Bring spinning wheel with 1 or 2 empty bobbins, lazy kate, niddy noddy and two bobbins filled with single ply yarn spun from wool top or a smooth textured roving. Spinning Objective: Your singles, if they were plyed, would be in the sport to worsted weight range, 12 - 18 wraps per inch. Bulky or very fine singles will be difficult to work
Plus Materials fee $5 – Paid to the instructor in class
Course 2, KOOL AID DYEING
COST: $30
TIME: 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
DAY: Saturday
INSTRUCTOR: Melissa Verill, Farm Girl Chic
Students will learn how Mohair fiber and other fibers can be dyed with Kool Aid purchased from any ordinary grocery store. It is so easy a child can do it! This workshop will cover topics such as: solar dyeing with mohair locks, the dip-dye stovetop method with mohair/wool blend yarns, rainbow dyeing with mohair locks, and hand painting mohair/wool blend roving.
Students will go home with: handouts on all methods, 1 oz. of solar dyed mohair locks, 100 gm hank of yarn that has been dip dyed, 1 oz. of rainbow dyed mohair locks, 1 oz. of hand painted mohair wool roving.
Plus Materials fee $15 – Paid to the instructor in class
Ages 7 and Up are welcome!
Course 3, BLOOMIN’ FELTING
COST: $30
TIME: 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
DAY: Sunday
INSTRUCTOR: Marlene Gruetter
Marlene Gruetter of Marlene’s Felting Madness is the instructor for this workshop. In this introductory level course, students will use traditional wet felting to create one-of-a-kind flowers. Students will lay out colorful merino roving, wet the fiber with water and soap, and apply friction until a flower is formed. Students will learn how to incorporate different fabrics/wools for amazing texture. They will also become skilled at using a resist to create multiple layered flowers and learn how to make attachments to transform flowers into three dimensional forms. These flowers make excellent accent pieces for handbags, hats, and jewelry.
Plus Materials Fee $15 – Paid to the instructor in class
Course 4, BEGINNING SPINNING
COST: $30
TIME: 12: noon – 4:00 p.m.
DAY: Sunday
INSTRUCTOR: The Wool Garden
This Beginning Spinning workshop begins with learning to spin wool roving into yarn. You will learn the skill of drafting, producing a balanced twist yarn, and plying techniques. You’ll prepare fiber - wool and mohair fleece - using hand carders, wool combs, or a flicker brush and learn to spin your own prepared fiber. After you have spun a sufficient amount of singles yarn, you’ll learn how to ply them together.
Student Requirements: Students need to provide a spinning wheel, extra bobbins, lazy kate, hand carders/wool combs if you have them. Contact the instructor in advance for availability of a wheel to use during the workshop.
Instructor will provide: Wool roving, wool and mohair fleeces for hand preparation in class.
Plus Mat. Fee $15 – Paid to the instructor in class
WORKSHOP NOTES:
Important note: Material fees are to be paid to the instructor at the time of the class. Do not send material fees with your workshop registrations.
Classes have limited enrollment, first come first serve basis. Workshops that do not meet the minimum number of students by the June 15th deadline may be cancelled.
All workshops will be held in the Workshop Area.
ANGORA EDUCATION:
THE GOAT WHISPERER - Seminar
COST: FREE
TIME: 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
DAY: Saturday
Most people have heard of the “Horse Whisperer,” who handles and trains horses using natural methods. The same low-stress methods apply to other livestock, including goats. In fact, low-stress livestock handling is being highly promoted in livestock and sustainable agricultural circles. In this presentation, Susan Schoenian, Sheep & Goat Specialist from the University of Maryland will discuss low-stress methods for handling goats. In this presentation, you’ll learn to “think” like goats and use their natural behavior to get them to do what you want them to do. When the goats are stressed less, the handler is stressed less. It is good for everybody.
ASK THE EXPERT – Panel Discussion
COST: FREE
TIME: 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
DAY: Saturday
EXPERT PANEL TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT ANYTHING GOAT!
The panel will consist of Susan Schoenian county extension agent, Dr. Kay Wagner, North Carroll Vet Clinic, John Allen, Show Judge, and be facilitated by Dr. John Frett, Pinxterbloom Farm. Have your questions ready, anything from worming, shearing, breeding, nutrition. You ask it, we will answer it
Susan Schoenian, our Extension Agent, has a vast knowledge of all things goats, don’t hesitate to ask her about nutrient management, fencing & shelters, pasture management, marketing of other goat products, and so so much more.
Kay Wagner, DVM is an Ag. Veterinarian in this region. She is up to date on all kinds of health issues – parasites, kidding, nutrition, castrating. She has good advice on what meds to keep in the cupboard & refrigerator for a number of situations.
John Allen, is the goat show judge. She has vast experience with Angora goats. Ask her what is medulated fiber, good confirmation, lock definition, and what are the traits of a winning goat.
Dr. John Frett, our moderator, has been a member of the EAGMA board for many years. He has a long standing herd of White Angora Goats, who have done very well in the show ring. He also has interesting niche fiber marketing experience. He is our new President of EAGMA.
DEMONSTRATIONS:
SPINNING GUILD - "It's Fiber Optics"
COST: FREE
TIME & DAY: Through out the show
At the show we will be creating all things mohair -- spinning, knitting, crocheting, weaving, felting and more. Our basket of projects from EAGMA will be raffeled off at the Great Frederick Agricultural Fair in the fall at our exhibit at that show. We meet the 3rd Thursday of every month at the Fairgrounds in the Market (building #12) from 10 am - 2 pm. "It's Fiber Optices" is all about fiber and everything to do with it. Our goals are: Inspire, Create, Provide opportunity, Educate, and Preserve. We invite you to come meet us at EAGMA!
BUNNY SPINNING
COST: FREE
TIME & DAY: Through out the show
Want to see something neat and amazing, come watch MaryLou Williams spin Angora Yarn straight from the fiber off the LIVE bunny sitting in her lap. The bunny’s love to be groomed and MaryLou makes beautiful yarn. It is truly a fascinating thing to see. The RoseField farm has many Angora bunnies, a gathering of which will be in her booth for the show.
ARTFUL BATTS – Demonstration
COST: FREE
TIME & DAY: Through out the show
LOCATION: Farm Girl Chic Booth
This Demo is presented by Melissa Verill of Farm Girl Chic. Art Batts…Hand Dyed…Hand Drum Carded Spinning or Felting Batts
Spinning or Felting Art Batts demonstrated in our vendor booth on my Strauch Petite Drum Carder.
Mostly OOAK batts that can be used to create unique yarns and felting projects! Batts can be created that are smooth textured or are chunky in nature. Batts can consist of many different types of fiber. Mohair, Wool, Angora, Alpaca, Camel, Yak with lots of different add ins. Add ins for example could include tussah silk, silk noil, bamboo, angelina, firestar, ramie or fabric bits.
Lots of fun! Different methods of adding the fiber and add ins can be used to create different types of yarn when spun.
SHEARING GOATS
COST: FREE TO WATCH, $5 to have your own goat shorn
TIME & DAY: Through out the show
Emily Chamelin of Chamelin Shearing will be at our show and festival for the weekend. She will be doing demonstrations throughout the show. She is here for both education and for exhibitors to have their goats shorn. Shearing goats is notoriously more time consuming and difficult than sheep shearing. Their body structure, skin and fiber are all very different from sheep. Angora goats are also generally shorn twice a year for optimal fiber use and animal health. Emily is happy to answer questions. Come watch her work.
SKIRTING FLEECES FOR USE, SHOW AND SALE
COST: FREE
TIME & DAY: Through out the show
For all those folks that have a fiber animal in their backyard and/or for those of you that have purchased raw fiber and want to take it to the next step --- this demo is for you. To take a fleece to a useable, showable, or saleable state, you must get it clean in a practical sense. We will show you what you need to be able to identify; for example: belly wool, dung tags, veg. mat., second cuts, fleece weight. We will talk about different aspects of the fiber, what fiber comes from what part of the animal, what to keep and what to toss. You will meet a variety of EAGMA members who have volunteered for this activity. Join us and gain some practical knowledge.
DROP SPINDLE SPINNING
COST: Free
TIME & DAY: Throughout the show
LOCATION: The Wool Garden Vendor Booth
Using a spindle is a very economical way to learn handspinning. For centuries, handspindles have been used to produce yarn. It is a simple tool consisting of a shaft and a weight. Stop by The Wool Garden’s Booth for a demonstration on how to spin with this ancient device.
FELTING FUN FOR CHILDREN
COST: FREE
DATES/TMES: Saturday 11:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m., Sunday 2:00 p.m.
Stop by Marlene’s Felting Madness vendor booth and learn how to turn wool into felt. In this free mini-workshop, learn how to use traditional wet felting techniques to create a unique piece of felt. Students will lay out colorful merino roving, wet the fiber with water and soap, and apply friction until a beautiful piece of felt is created.
STRAUCH FIBER EQUIPMENT Co.
COST: Free
DATES/TIMES: Throughout the show
LOCATION: Strauch Fiber Equipment Co. Vendor Booth
Come see our Drum Carding Demonstrations. Use our products and learn about
fiber preparation. Bring a sample of your clean, washed fiber and see what beautiful batts you can produce.
BEGINNER KNITTING & CROCHETING
LEARN ABOUT ALPACAS
COST: Free
TIME & DAY: Throughout the show
LOCATION: Alpacas of Maryland tent
We are offering several educational and youth friendly activities - Beginning Knitting, Beginning Crocheting, and Learning about Alpacas. We are more than happy to demonstrate and teach you how to knit, casting on, some basic knitting, what different size needles and weights of yarn mean for your project. We are also teaching beginning crocheting - this includes learning how to choose a project and some lovely stitches. And, our farm is an alpaca farm! We will have live alpacas for you to see. Ask us all your questions about alpaca fiber and animal care. Come meet our beautiful alpacas.
LEARN ABOUT CASHMERE GOATS
COST: Free
TIME & DAY: Throughout the show
LOCATION:
Harley Farm will be offering Cashmere Goats and skeins of luxurious natural cashmere yarn for sale. The Murrays will be available to answer questions at their booth throughout the show and, at any given time, a family member may also be seen walking a Cashmere Goat on a halter and giving spontaneous presentations on the joys of owning these "Weed Whackers with Personality." We are looking forward to meeting all of you!
Notes:
All demonstrations are free to the public, and some are throughout the show while others have specific times.
Demonstrations are held at the vendor's booth space.
