NEXT MEETING: June 3rd, 2026
The next meeting is Wednesday, June 3rd, from 6:30 - 9:00 P.M., in the Arts Room / basement of the Tippe Arts Federation Building. Doors will be open between 6:15 - 6:30 p.m. (Doors are locked after this time; please call Elise if you arrive late to gain entry.)
Business Agenda
Item # 1. Upcoming Fiber Events
- June 5 & 6, Hoosier Hills Fiber Festival, Franklin IN. hoosierhillsfiberfestival.
Item #2. Requests for Spinning Demonstrators
- The Farm at Prophetstown State Park, Family Day: THIS Saturday!! June 6, 11am - 3pm
- Canal Park in Delphi - Saturdays, May 23 through Sat, Sep 12, 1pm – 4pm
o Wabash & Erie Canal, Delphi, IN. Spinners are invited to come spin any Saturday afternoon during "Canal Days" season. See Linda C. or Vilija D. for more information.
- Any updates to discuss regarding West Lafayette Library fiber-related event(s) ? (Ella S.)
- Dates coming up in July (we can discuss at July meeting):
o Mon. Jul 20 through Thurs, Jul 23 Tippecanoe County Fair, (2 pm – 5 pm & 5 pm – 8 pm) These demo days are tentative: more discussion and commitment is needed by members
o Saturday, July 25 (8 am – noon), Homesteaders Market Day (at Stockwell Farmer’s Market), Stockwell, IN at the church courtyard. https://www.
Item #3. Feast of the Hunter’s Moon – Sunday October 24 & 25
- Feast Applications are due July 15th. Want to confirm Feast volunteers – and capture others who weren’t at previous meeting -- before submitting application. (Reminder that The Feast is held later than usual this year on Sat/ Sun Oct 24 & 25.)
Item #4. Meeting Notices
- Help Needed! To rearrange the room at the beginning and end of each meeting. In order to fit members + wheels, please move &/or stack tables and place chairs to make a large round circle of spinners in the opened room. Please keep at least one (or two) table(s) near the back wall outlets for use by those with e-spinners.
Item #5. Show & Tells
- Please share your show and tells -- (purchased or prepared) fibers, yarns you've spun, finished items you've made, etc.
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Meeting Program – Continuation of “Dyed Braids Three Ways”
You will create three separate-but-color-related yarns from your 4 oz braid:
To Prepare your braid:
- Fold your braid in half lengthwise. At the mid-way point, break your braid in half (pull it apart – don’t cut!). Set half aside.
- With the other half, fold this again in half lengthwise, and again at this new mid-way point, break your braid in half. You now have one section that is half your braid and two sections that are one-fourth of your braid.
Yarn 1: Navajo Ply
- Will be a 3-ply yarn, using one-fourth of your braid.
- Spin one-fourth of your braid either end-to-end (you may need to pre-draft), or another way you choose, but create long stretches of the braid’s colors, onto a single bobbin.
- Navajo (chain-ply) the resulting single to create a 3-ply yarn.
- How to Navajo Ply: On an eSpinner, on a drop spindle, on a spinning wheel
Yarn 2: Muddled Mix
- This will be a 2-ply (or 3-ply) yarn, your choice; you will use one-fourth of the braid to create this yarn.
- Divide this one-fourth portion of your braid, lengthwise, into either 2 (or 3) equal amounts, depending on whether you want a 2- or 3-ply yarn.
- Spin 1 (or 2) of these long sections end-to end (with pre-drafting if necessary) onto 1 (or 2 separate) bobbins.
- With the remaining half (or third) long section, it’s time to get out your handcards! You will now completely blend all of the colors of this section together to make a muddled mix of the braid’s colors.
- Then spin this mix onto a second (third) bobbin.
- Using a standard 2-ply (3-ply) technique, ply the singles together to create a 2-ply (3-ply) yarn.
Yarn 3, Fractal Ply.
- This will be a 2-ply (or 3-ply) yarn, your choice; you will use one-half of the braid to create this yarn.
- Divide this half portion of your braid, lengthwise, into 2 (or 3) equal parts for as many plies as you’d like to spin. If you’re spinning a two-ply fractal, you’ll split it into two parts. If you’re spinning a three-ply fractal, you’ll split it into thirds.
- With the first part, spin it end-to-end (using pre-drafting as needed) onto a single bobbin.
- If you are making a 2-ply yarn, you can split the second part, lengthwise, into 2, 3, or 4 sections. These will be spun end-to-end, keeping the original color sequence of the original braid, onto a second bobbin. Using a standard 2-ply technique, ply the singles together to create a 2-ply yarn.
- If you are making a 3-ply yarn, the following is an example recommendation:
o Many spinners will split the second part into two lengthwise sections. This is sometimes called a 1:2 division. You’ll spin these two sections one after the other for your second bobbin to create the same pattern as the first, just on a smaller scale.
o To complete the three-ply fractal, you’ll continue by splitting the third section into three (or four) parts lengthwise for your third bobbin—called a 1:3 (1:4) division. Again, it’s keeping the original color sequence of the original braid, but at a smaller scale.
o Using a standard 3-ply technique, ply the singles from the three bobbins together to create a 3-ply yarn.
- Links about fractal spinning: Written Explanation
This program is based on the Spin Off Magazine’s 5 Ways to Prep and Spin a Braid. I’ve also put in links for each technique above that will hopefully help (or at least be a good reference)
If you plan to participate, please bring:
- Your dyed braid
- Your wheel (or drop spindle)
- Four empty bobbins, ready to go!
- Handcards
- Balance (optional)
