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Upcoming Workshops:

The Anchorage Weavers and Spinners Guild
and The Valley Fiber Arts Guild
Proudly Present

"Plying for Color" With Deb Menz
Some of the exciting multi-colored yarns spun in class...

The Anchorage Weavers and Spinners Guild
and The Valley Fiber Arts Guild
Proudly Present

Handspinning the Orenburg Way
April 13, 2008
Class postponed until next year due to illness.
If you already paid the class fee, your fee will be refunded.
Registration

Orenburg knitted lace has represented an important part of the Russian character for centuries. For the women of Orenburg, it has meant so much more – a tradition...a legacy...a livelihood that has guided generations from adolescence to adulthood, providing a basic sense of personal achievement and dignity.

Learn how the talented spinners from Orenburg Russia perform feats of textile magic by turning the 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.
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. Galina Khmeleva set as her personal goal and dedicated her company’s resources to keep Orenburg’s legacy alive. Hence, Skaska Designs developed a series of Orenburg knitted lace workshops and seminars and travels the US and Canada since 1996, presenting its programs to textile enthusiasts.

In this class, Galena will introduce you to both the handspinning of, as well as the more economical use of today’s “luxury” fibers, including cashmere, quiviut, pygora, etc. Authentic hand-turned Russian supported spindles will be available for class use.

Cost: Dates/Times:      Location:

$70.00 (There will also be a materials fee of $5-15, depending on fiber type you choose) Sunday, April 13th, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. To Be Announced

 

 

Presentation of $600 grant from the Alaska State Yarn Council to
Alice Sherp (VFAG) and Michelle Coburn (AWSG) for the Orenburg Lace Workshops being held in April.

The Anchorage Weavers and Spinners Guild
and The Valley Fiber Arts Guild
Proudly Present

The Orenburg Tradition: The Mystique of Russian Lace
April 5-6, 2008
Class postponed until next year due to illness.
. If you already paid the class fee, your fee will be refunded.
Registration

Until recently, the specific techniques for hand knitting Orenburg lace were passed from generation to generation, within the family structure, by word of mouth only. There existed no known record of comprehensive written instructions, patterns or designs. This meant that if the current generation of young women lost interest in learning the craft, it would most likely succumb to age.

Orenburg knitted lace has represented an important part of the Russian character for centuries. For the women of Orenburg, it has meant so much more – a tradition...a legacy...a livelihood that has guided generations from adolescence to adulthood, providing a basic sense of personal achievement and dignity.

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.  She set as her personal goal and dedicated her company’s resources to keep Orenburg’s legacy alive.

This workshop will provide an extensive overview of Russian lace knitting, including the fiber preparation process.  Students will be introduced to the unique elements of knitting design – from pattern to border to corner techniques-that result in elegant Orenburg lace shawls and scarves, with plenty of knitting time and hands-on coaching from Galina.  And, as always, a Skaska workshop will provide an unforgettable cultural experience. One VFAG scholarship will be available, please email Alice Scherp for information. 

Cost: Dates/Times:     Location:

$125.00 (there will also be a material cost of $15-20. depending on the type of fiber you choose to work with) Saturday, April 5th  and Sunday, April 6th  9:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.  AT&T Sports Center (Conf. Rm), Wasilla (746-7529)

  
 

April's workshop instructor will be Galena Khmeleva on Orenburg Lace Knitting and Russian Spinning, originally from Russia and coming to us from Colorado. Class postponed until next year due to illness.

May's workshop will be the one and only Deb Menz, the foremost instructor on spinning for color and dyeing.  She will be teaching Spinning for Color in May.

Then in the fall of 2008, the Spinningguru Patsy Zawatowski will be teaching a comprehensive spinning class you won't want to miss, loading up 2 full weekends with lots of great spinning instruction.

As usual, the guild strives to bring you the best national instructors  with reasonable class fees, much less than you would pay to learn from them Outside.

We welcome feedback on what workshops you'd like to see, please fill out the workshop questionaire today and give us your feedback!!  We need to hear from you!

 

The natural dyeing class was tons of fun.
Gathered the dye supplies...

and had some fun!

Every color of the rainbow!

 

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