Saturday and Sunday, October 10-11, 2009
University of Maine, in Orono

Workshop Sessions

Navajo Spinning and Weaving
Time: Saturday, 10:00 - 12:00
Workshop Presenter: Diane Hoppe. Diane has been raising fiber animals, spinning, dyeing, weaving, and knitting since 1986. she has shared her passions for textile production and agriculture with diverse audiences in Maine and Massachusetts. Diane’s interests include not only farming and textile arts, but also regional and Native American cultures. She has taught Navajo spinning and weaving to youth and adults.
Description: Using Navajo spindles, students will learn simple techniques of spinning yarns that can be either soft and woolen, or strong and worsted. Loftily spin yarn is wonderful for knitting, while Navajo weaving demands a tightly spun strong yarn, during the workshop we will also learn traditional rug weaving techniques using prepared warps on portable Navajo-style looms.
Participants should bring: If you have any Navajo spinning or weaving tools, bring them along. Also bring an assortment of yarns for the weaving project.
Location: FFA Room, Memorial Union
Fee: $10

Beginning Spinning and Weaving
Time: Saturday, 10:00 - 10:45
Workshop Presenter: Betty Hauger, Farmer, Spinner, and Owner of Log Cabin Lamb and Wool in Winterport, breeder of Churro sheep.
Description: Learn why spinning is a fiber process that’s been in style for thousands of years! Participants will explore the qualities of various types of fleece for spinning, including Romney and Navajo Churro.
Participants should bring: Enthusiasm! If you have a wheel or drop spindle, bring it along, or try Betty’s, or purchase tools from one of the Fiber Maine-ia vendors.
Location: Totman Lounge, Memorial Union
Fee: none

Meet the FSA: An Introduction to Fiber Farm Resources
Time: Saturday, 10:00 - 10:45
Workshop Presenter: Lucia A. Brown, Farm Loan Officer, USDA Farm Service Agency
Description: This introduction to the USDA’s Farm Service Agency offers information on farm loan programs, wool LDP's, and touches on some of the agency’s general services, including disaster support, crop insurance, and conservation.
Location: Page Farm and Home Museum
Fee: none

Drop Spindling
Time: Saturday, 11:00 - 1:00
Workshop Presenter: Debbie Bergman, owner of Purple Fleece fiber and equipment shop in Stockton Springs. Debbie has been weaving, spinning, knitting, felting, and dyeing for 25 years. teaching these crafts is one of her biggest joys.
Description: One of the earliest tools used for making yarn was the drop spindle. It is still one of the most portable and inexpensive ways to create your own wonderful yarn. In this two-hour class, learn to spin wool on a top whorl spindle. All materials provided.
Participants should bring: Enthusiasm!
Location: Totman Lounge, Memorial Union
Fee: $60 includes hardwood drop spindle, fiber, and handouts.

Lace Knitting from Charts
Time: Saturday, 1:00 - 3:00
Workshop Presenter: Aloisia Pollock, knitting designer. Aloisia is a transplant from Austria, where she learned to knit at the age of five. She prefers locally, Maine-grown, natural fibers for her designs. Aloisia has perfected graphing, lace knitting -- and the successful combination of these two skills.
Description: Participants will learn to read a knitting graph, translate written instructions to graph and start knitting a lace scarf.
Participants should bring: graph paper, pencil or pen, knitting needles. You may bring your own fine yarn or purchase it from the instructor.
Location: FFA Room, Memorial Union
Fee: $10

Alpacas 101
Time: Saturday, 1:00 - 3:00
Workshop Presenters: Dr. Matt Townsend DVM, Alpaca breeder and Robin Fowler, Alpaca Breeder
Description: This session will introduce participants to the natural history, selection, and care of alpacas and the qualities of their fibers for spinning and other uses.
Participants should bring: Curiosity!
Location: Totman Lounge, Memorial Union
Fee: none

Beyond Patterns and Ravelry: The Internet as a Fiber Tool
Time: Sunday, 11:00 - 11:45
Workshop Presenter: Jim Bird, Librarian. A knitter for the past 20 years, Jim is the head of the Science and Engineering Center at the University of Maine’s Fogler Library.
Description: Lots of us are connecting to the internet fiber community and hunting for patterns online. But you can easily adapt academic search tools to your fiber needs and interests, whether you’re delving into the history of lace or looking for best feeding practices for your fiber animals. Learn about the wealth of information resources and how to access them in this hands-on session.
Participants should bring: note-taking materials
Location: Fogler Library Classroom (Fogler is adjacent to the Memorial Union)
Fee: none

Beginning Spinning and Weaving
Time: Sunday, 12:00 - 12:45
Workshop Presenter: Betty Hauger, Farmer, Spinner, and Owner of Log Cabin Lamb and Wool in Winterport, breeder of Churro sheep.
Description: Learn why spinning is a fiber process that’s been in style for thousands of years! Participants will explore the qualities of various types of fleece for spinning, including Romney and Navajo Churro.
Participants should bring: Enthusiasm! If you have a wheel or drop spindle, bring it along, or try Betty’s, or purchase tools from one of the Fiber Maine-ia vendors.
Location: Totman Lounge, Memorial Union
Fee: none

Soils for Optimum Fiber Production
Time: Sunday, 1:00 - 1:45
Workshop Presenter: Susan Watson, sheep farmer, fiber artist, and Coordinator, Heart of Maine Resource Conservation and Development
Description: We are what we eat, and the same is true for fiber animals. In this workshop, we’ll explore the relationship between quality of soil and quality of fiber.
Participants should bring: Curiosity, and note-taking materials, if desired
Location: FFA Room, Memorial Union
Fee: none

Stories from Knitting
Time: 1:00 - 1:45
Workshop Presenter: Kathy Goldner. Kathy was taught to knit by her grandmother, a World War II refugee and psychoanalyst who used to knit while listening to her patients! Realizing that it’s hard to fulfill passions for both knitting and reading at the same time, Kathy came up with a solution by creating the Knitting Out Loud audiobook series.
Description: “Stories from Knitting” offers lessons from our grandmothers, examples of women’s courage, and an exploration of the culture of domesticity, as heard through the eloquent voices of women who knit.
Participants should bring: Passion
Location: Totman Lounge, Memorial Union
Fee: none

Additional Workshop Sessions will be posted as they are confirmed - right up until the Fiber Maine-ia Festival weekend!

Fiber Maine-ia Ongoing Demonstrations:

Look for demonstrations of spinning, weaving, locker-hooking, and other fiber techniques at vendor exhibits on the grounds of the Page Farm and Home Museum and in the exhibit spaces in the Memorial Union.

Fiber animals, including sheep, alpacas, and angora rabbits will be shown on the grounds of the Page Farm and Home Museum.

Fiber Maine-ia Spin-in:

Some Fiber Maine-iacs have inquired whether there will be a place to bring your wheel or spindle and just spin and chat with like-minded folks. Why not? Space will be available in the Bangor Lounge in the Memorial Union, so bring a fellow spinner or two and enjoy relaxing between sessions and shopping!

Funding for the Fiber Maine-ia conference is provided in part by the Maine Humanities Council and USDA Farm Service Agency.