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Conference
Useful Knowledge 2008
Little
Barn is proud to host this hands-on learning
seminar. Complete with 1 and 2 day classes,
there is something for everyone.
The
Useful Knowledge Fiber Arts Seminar was designed to offer
practical skills that can be carried from the
classroom to a wide variety of projects.
Classes have been specially selected to allow
students to cross train between disciplines.
In short, we want spinners to knit and knitters to
spin!
Our
instructors represent the top names in handspinning,
handknitting and fiber studies. They are
widely sought after for festivals and conferences.
We are honored to have them with us in Huntsville
for the first time.
Dates...
Friday
March 14, 2008
8:30am-5pm
Saturday March 15, 2008 8:30am-5pm
Facility...
We are so pleased to be
using the centrally located
Country Inns & Suites for both our classrooms and
overnight guest rooms. If you are a local,
it's easy to find. If you are traveling it's
easy to mapquest.
We
have plenty of tables, chairs, parking, and most
importantly bathrooms and trashcans!! What more
could we need?
other info...
There
will be no childcare available or anything to
entertain children or non-textile husbands.
Ok, just stating the facts up front. The
class days are 6hrs long plus break and lunch time.
This is just too much for small children and retired
husbands. Older
children or teens and textile enlightened
husbands who want to take classes and are physically
and emotionally able to participate---we welcome
your registration!
Food & Lodging...
Country Inns & Suites by Carlson
4880
University Avenue , Huntsville AL 35816
256-837-4070
toll
free booking number:
(800) 456-4000
Reservations can also
be booked on-line at the above link.
Registration cut-off for the group rate is February
29, 2008, so get your room reserved early.
Average rate for single or double occupancy: $79 + 12%
tax. Be sure to register as a Fiber Arts
Seminar participant. Shuttle service is
available from the airport.
Several food establishments are within walking or
driving distance of the hotel--to include Denny's,
Chili's, Jade Palace, and several fast type foods.
Complementary deluxe continental breakfast is served by hotel for
guests and includes both hot and cold items .
Other meals are on your own.
Breaks
will be hosted by Little Barn with snacks & shopping
available. Lunches will be provided and will
be sandwich type eating so if you are vegan or have
special diet restrictions please make alternative
plans. We have to feed the
instructors to keep them teaching, so you are
welcome to join them Friday night for
dinner out and lots of good conversation. The
instructors have unanimously requested Chinese
cuisine, so the dinner will be at the Jade
Palace across from the hotel.
(We will be looking for a new place since the
Jade Palace is closing. We'll keep you posted
on the destination.)
2/19/08--Looks like the Friday night dinner will be
at TGI Fridays.
Registration...
Space is limited to
15 students per class. Registrations are taken
first come, first served. No refunds will be
given after February 1, 2008 unless we can fill your
space.
Registration info & forms.
Friday 1 day classes
►Spinning
for Handknitters with Merike Saarniit --We
had a cancellation 3/3/08--There is 1 opening!
Need
the perfect yarn for the perfect project? How can
you spin to the diameter needed for the knitting
pattern you've chosen? Learn how to ensure balanced
yarn to avoid skewing of your knit fabric.
Learn how to make traditional yarns for traditional
styles and how to use multi ply yarns to their best
knitting advantage. This class is for all levels,
from novice to experienced.
Suitable for people
with a basic understanding of both spinning and
knitting. If you have never spun, bring your
adventurous spirit and try this exciting craft.
No.
of Participants: 22
students.
Class Fee:
$10 to cover materials
►Fleecy
Mittens with Stefania Isaacson
Learn to make the
warmest mittens in the world! You'll spin the
handspun yarn and then knit with both yarn and
fleece to form a pattern on the outside of the
mitten and a wonderful fleece lining on the inside.
Students come away with handspun yarn, fleece for
the lining, and original pattern. Participants need
to know how to knit, purl and knit in the round on
double point needles.
Number of Participants: 15 students
Class Fee:
$10 to cover materials
Saturday 1 day classes
►Spinning
for Lace Knitting with Stefania Isaacson
Learn to spin very
fine lace weight yarn in a number of fibers suitable
for lace knitting. Discussion will include
appropriate fibers, needle size, and knitting
techniques to enhance your projects. The class
goal is to produce sumptuous, luxurious yarns that
will make your lace knitting even more special.
No. of Participants: 15 students.
Class Fee:
$10 to cover materials
2/13/08 ►Beginning
Handspinning with Stefania Isaacson
Always wanted to
try handspinning with a spinning wheel? This
is your opportunity. Stefania will guide you
through the basics of handspinning. A spinning
wheel will be provided for each student.
No. of Participants:
Class
is Full!Class Fee:
$10 to cover materials
►Sock
Savvy with Merike Saarniit
The only
things nicer than hand knit socks are socks
knit with handspun yarn. Become sock savvy
and learn how to spin and knit your
own perfect, comfortable socks. Fibers,
blends, processing, spinning styles and
the infinitely adjustable toe-up
construction technique will be covered.
This class is for experienced spinners and
knitters. Students must be comfortable
with using DPNs (you will knit a mini sock).
No. of
Participants: 15 students.
Class Fee:
$10 to cover materials
Costs & fees...
1 day registration
(1 class) : $90.00
2 day registration
(either 2 1-day classes or 1 2-day class)
$150.00
Class fees are
listed above.
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Meet the instructors...
Stefania Isaacson
Stefania learned to spin in order
to have interesting yarns in natural fibers tailored
to the projects she had in mind. Making her
own handspun gave her the freedom to envision the
project and create a yarn specifically for her
purpose--controlling the whole process "from the
bottom up." Little did Stefania know,
when she started, that she would fall so in love
with spinning. Stefania Isaacson is an accredited
spinner and one of only 32 people in the world with
a Certificate of Excellence in Handspinning, awarded
by the Handweavers Guild of America. The Certificate
of Excellence is equivalent to a masters degree and
takes two years of intense study and dedicated work
to complete. Since then she has opened her own
business and has taught numerous workshops dealing
in natural dyes, spinning and basket making. She has
spoken about the fiber arts to many groups, and has
appeared on Home & Garden TV as a guest on the Carol
Duvall Show.
Merike
Saarniit
Merike Saarniit learned knitting and
needlework as a normal part of her Estonian family
life. She grew up with American
weekdays and Estonian weekends and summers -
Estonian school, church, Girl Scouts, folk dancing,
singing, theatre, camps, etc. This included, of
course, learning to knit and other needlecraft -
Estonian style! Her formal education
includes a BA in studio art, for which she also
studied weaving; concentrating on fiber her last
year. She raised sheep for 15 years (fabulous
Lincolns) and was the driving force behind Carolina
Homespun until she sold the business in 2000. Now,
Merike teaches workshops in spinning, weaving,
dyeing, and knitting at fiber conferences, folk
schools, and to guilds around the country sharing
her knowledge and enthusiasm for all things fiber.
At home in Meadows of Dan, VA, Merike's business,
Liisu Yarns, was featured in the book Handpaint
Country. She also publishes knitting patterns in
national magazines.
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