January 2024 Show Program (3) by Wool and Fiber Arts

MEET THE TEAM

Withoutourteam,noneofthis wouldbepossible!

FounderEllen Zawada; OwnerofWoolandFiberArtsLLC

Vendor Team - Heather Campbell, Lorna Violet (Mentor Program), Jean Story, Danielle Lefor Wallace

Customer Team -(anything that happens publicly in WAFA) - Erika Lindgren, Heather Campbell, Lizette Hopkins (craft-along), Mary Dillon, Katelyn Dunn, Jessica Holt Pack, Amy Olshewski Bowling

Marketing Team - Raven Reynolds (social Media) Ellen Zawada, Tedi Jansen

Inclusivity Team - Liza Q Wirtz, Alaura Pittman, TeDi Jansen, Vidya Gopalakrishna Travis, Maddy McLendon

Education TeamTeDi Jansen, Alanna Wilcox

Wool and Fiber Arts Show Program

Editor in Chief

Graphic Design

Ellen Zawada

Tedi Jansen

Vendor Schedule

Pages 4-8

Vendor Interview with Toni Unick Gruits

Page 10-11

How Much Fiber Do You Need?

Page 18-19

Spinning Tips With Alanna - Silk

Page 26

Vendor Guide

Page 37-43

Palette of the Month

Merino y Vino Fiber Gnome

Photo by Molly Gose

Charmed

Crafted by Locals

Jessie Javete Fiber Arts

Schedule Friday's 24th 24th

FIBER FESTIVAL

EST/PST

11:00 am/8:00 am

11:30 am/8:30 am

12:00 pm/9:00 am

12:30 pm/9:30 am

1:00 pm/10:00 am

1:30 pm/10:30 am

2:00 pm/11:00 am

2:30 pm/11:30 am

3:00 pm/12:00 pm

3:30 pm/12:30 pm

4:00 pm/1:00 pm

4:30 pm/ 1:30 pm

5:00 pm/2:00 pm

5:30 pm/2:30 pm

6:00 pm/3:00 pm

6:30 pm/3:30 pm

7:00 pm/4:00 pm

Vendor

Crafted By Locals

Harvest Hill Acres

Heavenly Oaks Alpacas, LLC

Dunn Spunn

DancinWoods Alpacas

Annie Morton Designs

Curly C'ewes

Ross Farm Mercantile

3L&S Farms

Greenwood Fiberworks

Natural Cycles Farm, LLC

Charmed Fibers

Hens-N-Chicks-FiberArts

Aker Fiber Farm

AJem Fiber Arts

Blue Savannah

My Way Acres Farm and Fiber

Schedule Friday's FIBER FESTIVAL

EST/PST

7:30 pm/4:30 pm

8:00 pm/5:00 pm

8:30 pm/5:30 pm

Vendor

Aoire Maith Fibre Studios

Knitspin

JessieJavete Fiber Arts

Category Tool Maker Indie Dyer Indie Dyer Location

Schedule Saturday's 25th 25th

FIBER FESTIVAL

EST/PST

11:00 am/8:00 am

11:30 am/8:30 am

12:00 pm/9:00 am

12:30 pm/9:30 am

1:00 pm/10:00 am

1:30 pm/10:30 am

2:00 pm/11:00 am

2:30 pm/11:30 am

3:00 pm/12:00 pm

3:30 pm/12:30 pm

4:00 pm/1:00 pm

4:30 pm/ 1:30 pm

5:00 pm/2:00 pm

5:30 pm/2:30 pm

6:00 pm/3:00 pm

6:30 pm/3:30 pm

7:00 pm/4:00 pm

Vendor

Merino y Vino

Spindle and Spoon Homestead

A Lighter Touch of Wool

Create Yarnworks

Jubilee Farms

Katie's Fiber Connection

Mulch and More Crafts

Whirlwind Ranch Inc

Leaf Livestock Wool Co

Rachel M Post

Fehrenbach Fiber

GrilliantCreatives

2BEwe

StarKnits

Alpaca Pines llc Farm and Mill

Fresh Lotus Design

Hidden Pastures Luxury Fiber

Schedule Saturday's FIBER FESTIVAL

EST/PST

Vendor

25th 25th

7:30 pm/4:30 pm

8:00 pm/5:00 pm

Opalessence Fiber Studio

Ewe2me2u

Wine and Wooly Design

Category Weaver Indie Dyer Indie Dye

8:30 pm/5:30 pm Location

Schedule Sunday's 26th 26th

FIBER FESTIVAL

EST/PST

12:00 pm/9:00 am

12:30 pm/9:30 am

1:00 pm/10:00 am

1:30 pm/10:30 am

2:00 pm/11:00 am

2:30 pm/11:30 am

3:00 pm/12:00 pm

3:30 pm/12:30 pm

4:00 pm/1:00 pm

4:30 pm/ 1:30 pm

5:00 pm/2:00 pm

5:30 pm/2:30 pm

6:00 pm/3:00 pm

6:30 pm/3:30 pm

7:00 pm/4:00 pm

7:30 pm/4:30 pm

8:00 pm/5:00 pm

8:30 pm/5:30 pm

Vendor

Triple F Hobby Farm LLC

Flannel Cakes Fiber

Frivolous Ewe

AriBo Arts

alk&me fiber art studio

Iron Wheel Farms LLC

Susans Fiber Shop

SpinGlitz

Timber and Twine

Lair of The LLama

Wild Hair Studio

Zephyr Creek Farm

FiberGnome

Emma Creek Fiber and Yarn

Clear Sky Fiber Arts

Jehovah Jireh Farm and Fibers

Your Fibery Godmother

Rusty Spur

Ranch and Creations

JANUARY VENDOR INTERVIEW

ToniUnickGruits of A Lighter Touch of Wool

How did your business get started?

In the chaos of 2020, I found myself looking for something tangible to hold onto. My primary business was shrinking and I felt I needed a new path that was resistant to the whims of the world. As I lifelong knitter and crocheter, I was drawn to fiber. I purchased a used Louet S-75 from Heritage Weaving & Spinning and I was off!!! I went back daily for more roving. I couldn't stop spinning. It just spoke to my soul.

What Is the goal of your business?

My goal is to create beautiful fiber for both beginner and master spinners alike; to take fiber from raw fleece, through scouring, dyeing, combing, blending, carding and spinning to create any variety of projects in the hands of fellow crafters.

How did your business get started?

Was there someone who inspired you

In your fiber arts journey?

My mother taught me to knit when I was about 10 yrs old. I wasn't very good! I remember knitting her a gold and black acrylic scarf. Somehow I was increasing one stitch every row... so the scarf ended up being 12' wide at one end and 30" wide at the other!!! Bless her heart, she wore that scarf all winter long!!! I was so proud!

How did you learn your craft?

I tell people "mistakes are either a step in the right direction, or a step in the wrong direction... but you'll learn something from both". Most of my processing and carding skills came from tutorials. There are so many videos available in the WAFA group or on channels like YouTube. Watch as many as you can, then try it out, ask questions within the group. Odds are that someone has been exactly where you are and can offer sound advice. I have had so many mentors within WAFA, fellow crafters who have honestly gone out of their way to guide me, answering questions that I thought were dumb. Just ask!!!

What makes WAFA special for you?

I would have to say the relationships that we form. I have traveled to meet WAFA members, have met their flocks, visited their sales, touched the batts and braids that they crafted. It is an amazing family and one that inspires me in so many ways to try new things.

Any other Information you would like to share with us?

I would encourage members to experiment with all types of fiber. Each one has unique characteristics and you won't find out those special features without dabbling. When I saw this month's theme as "Back to Basics", that really resonated with me. As we grow as Fiber Artists, we all do it from a sold format of BASICS. Those basics are important. Learning to process wool, learning to card/comb, learning to dye, learning to spin, learning to knit/crochet. Even if you decide later that you really dislike one or more, knowing something lends an understanding to the total and boosts your ability to create.

LIVE Friday at 3:00 pm eastern

SFarms SFarms

NEY FLEECES IN MOST NATURAL STATE , RAW PREMIUM HANDSPINNING. ROMNEY ROVING IN THE COLORS OFF THE SHEEP, WASHED LOCKS AND SLIPPING IN SOME BOTANICALLY DYED ROMNEY ROVING & YARN. SOURCED HERE @3L&S

CHARMEDFibers

Art Yarn - Wearables - Fiber Jewelry

LIVE Friday at 4:30 am eastern

LIVE Friday at 7:30 am eastern

m eastern

Flannel Cakes Fiber

We have luscious fibers=0 calories! Our menu will have indie dyed silks, wool/silk blends, and some fun custom blends for every spinning level and budget.

LIVE Sunday at 12:30 pm eastern

Rachel M Post

Emma Creek Fiber and Yarn

Crafted by Locals

How Much Fleece Do You Need for Your Project?

by Patty Williams, Aker Fiber Farm

Fiber Artists worldwide have all had the horror of running out of yarn before finishing a project. This horror is compounded even more when the artist began the project by selectin the fleece. This begs the question, How much fleece do you need? Using a McMorran Yarn Balance is best. But here is another way if you do not own one.

image: corriedale fleece from Aker Fiber Farm.

2.

Decide what to make and confirm the yarn requirements. In our example I’m going to need 1200 yards of worsted weight (thickness).

1. Determine Breed of Sheep. Sheep fleeces have all sorts of different characteristics and will be another article on its own. Actually, there are whole books written on the subject. But know that some are coarse (outerwear) and some soft (next to skin wear). One ingredient of a softer fleece is a grease called lanolin. When we wash our fleece, it goes down the drain. This causes reduction in our washed wool weight. How much weight is lost during the wash process depends on the breed of sheep and how much the washer scours the wool. Breeders, books, and the internet will be able to give you a rough idea of a breeds shrinkage rate. For instance, I raise Corriedale sheep and my flock will yield a 45 - 50% shrinkage when washed. Other breeds may only lose 5%. For our example we will use corriedale at 50%.

If you absolutely cannot find the percentage or have a mixed breed, weigh out a few ounces of unwashed wool. Wash and dry it. Then weigh it again. The percentage difference will be the overall shrink rate of the fleece.

3. Determine the amount of washed wool needed.

Find a previously spun skein of yarn (sample skein) of known weight and yardage that is the same thickness and fiber type.

Determine the amount of yards in the skein. Example: 120 yards

Weigh the skein. Example: 2 ounces

Determine the number of needed yarn skeins of sample skein (step B) for the project by dividing the yards needed for the project (Step 1) by the yards in the sample skein (step B).

Example: 1200 yards divided by 120 yards = 10 skeins.

How Much Fleece Do You Need for Your Project?

by Patty Williams, Aker Fiber Farm

e. Determine weight of washed wool. Sample skein weight (step 2) times number of skeins (step 3).

Example: 2 ounces times 10 skeins equals 20 ounces of washed wool

4. Determine the amount of unwashed wool needed. Washed wool needed (step 3) plus Shrinkage percent (step 2).

Example: 20 ounces of washed wool + 50% = 30 ounces of unwashed wool needed.

If we want we can now change it to pounds. Remember there are 16 ounces to a pound.

Example: 30 ounces divided by 16 = 1.875 pounds.

I personally like to round up a little so I have enough to make some test swatches and for those moments like my dog getting the yarn. So in this case I would process 2 pounds of unwashed corriedale wool to make my project of 1200 yards of worsted weight wool.

Image: Finished crocheted sweater, 1200 yards worsted weight corriedale wool.

Image: sample skein

New yarn from the mill, braids, llama roving, and rug yarn

FEHRENBACH FIBERS

LIVE Saturday at 4:00 pm eastern

LIVE Saturday at 5:00 pm eastern

Hidden Pastures

LUXURY FIBER FARM

Hidden Pastures is located in Branchville, NJ. We raise a variety of fiber livestock, have an on farm shop and studio where fiber arts classes are held. Farm tours and visits other then the shop are appointment only. Please book online. LIVE Saturday at 7:00 pm eastern website

I would love for everybody to enjoy the finest spinning fiber and yarn I am privileged to grow and use for creating. The physical and emotional rewards accompanying raising lovely sustainable wool go far beyond the beauty of the final product. I will have batts and more batts, some mill spun yarn, core spun yarn and back by popular demand: Sammons Socks!!

Schedule a group or private tour, book a private party, shop for yarn & more. Located in Northern Illinois. Take a class, have your fiber processed. Call 815 292 3222 to schedule a tour. Check our updated holiday hours.

LIVE Saturday at 3:00 pm eastern

WAFAYouTube

Discover the stories behind our vendors by subscribing to the WAFA YouTube channel! Each month, we bring you engaging interviews with local vendors, highlighting their unique products, journeys, and contributions to our community. Don't miss out on these inspiring stories and the opportunity to learn more about the people who make our community special. Hit the subscribe button now and stay updated with our latest interviews and features!

Silk Spinning Tip: Transitioning to Silk with Confidence

Spinning silk can feel tricky at first because of its slippery texture, but a gradual transition can make all the difference. Start by exploring fibers that mimic silk's smoother qualities, like alpaca combed top. Alpaca lacks crimp, making it an excellent stepping stone to get used to drafting a fiber with less grip. Once you’re comfortable, try silk blends—begin with an 80/20 wool-silk mix for added control, move to a 50/50 blend, and

eventually experiment with an 80/20 silk-wool mix to fully embrace silk’s unique properties. Sampling in stages helps your hands adjust gradually to silk's feel. When creating your own blends, aim to match the staple length of the fibers. If the silk’s staple is much longer, you can cut it to better align with the wool. Sampling also lets you see how different ratios affect the texture and sheen of your yarn remember, at least 20% of a fiber is needed in a blend to really notice its characteristics.

Above all, practice and patience are key! Every new fiber has its own learning curve. If you’d like more guidance, my Back to Basics on-demand spinning workshop offers foundational tips and tricks like these to help you create consistent, beautiful handspun yarn. From fiber prep to drafting techniques, you’ll gain the skills and confidence to master any fiber, including silk. Private lessons are also available for personalized support tailored to your spinning goals!

Visit alannawilcox.com to learn more

ARIBOArts

BATTS, ROLAGS, HANDSPUN, AND

LIVE Sunday at 1:30 pm eastern

Susan’s Fiber

Your one stop shop for all your fiber needs

LIVE Sunday at 3:00 pm eastern

Zoom

BOOK Club

Wool and Fiber Arts Book Club Update!

In the Footsteps of Sheep February 15 4pm Zoom Meeting

We’d love to hear from you! What other fiber arts-adjacent books would you like to read with us in 2025? Drop your suggestions in the group and help shape our reading list for the year ahead!

Facebook Event

Raw February 15th at 4pm eastern

LIVE Sunday at 5:30 pm eastern

VENDOR GUIDE

fiber, garments, and jewelry

VENDOR GUIDE

Fresh Lotus

VENDOR GUIDE

Raising Romeldale/ CVM and Teeswater/BFL

Sheep in the Thumb