Fiber Art Classes available:
A variety of fiber arts classes are taught by Karen Kinyon, owner of Double K Diamond Llamas and Fiber. With 23 years of experience in the Fiber Arts, Karen's classes are fun and a great way to learn something new that is relaxing, peaceful and profitable.
All classes are one-day seminars usually from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Included in class fees are use of looms, spinning wheels, handspindles, all fibers, yarns and supplies. Class fees vary by subject. Classes can be scheduled individually or for groups. Karen also teaches at your location. If you have a minimum of six participants, Karen will teach at your home or ranch, bringing whatever equipment and supplies are necessary. Here are some of the most popular classes available.
Click on a link to see a description of classes for that category, or scroll down for a listing of all classes.
DYEING
TO DYE FOR:
In this beginning class, participants will learn how to dye alpaca and llama yarn, roving and raw fleece using safe, repeatable, lightfast and colorfast commercial dyes. Techniques will include solid pots, rainbow pots and hand-painting.
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WEAVING
BEGINNING RIGID HEDDLE WEAVING:
Weaving is having a wonderful resurgence because of the new "Cricket" and "Flip" looms. These looms are simple and easy to understand and to use. Students will learn the basics of planning a project, measuring warp, sleying the reed, dressing the loom, and weaving a beautiful soft scarf of llama or alpaca.
HAND-CONTROLLED WEAVE STRUCTURES ON THE RIGID HEDDLE LOOM:
The new "Cricket" and "Flip" looms are so fun that this class was developed to foster the enthusiasm that students have for them. Participants will learn how to increase their loom's capacity by using pick up sticks and their hands to create beautiful designs and lace patterns such as Brooks Bouquet and Leno Lace.
BEGINNING MULTI-HARNESS WEAVING:
All of the skills learned in the Rigid Heddle classes transfer easily to multi-harness looms. This class focuses on planning projects, measuring warp, sleying the reed and threading through the heddles on 4 or 8 harness looms. Patterns will be discussed as well as tie-up and treadling techniques.
SPINNING
BEGINNING SPINNING:
Participants learn the basics of creating yarn from fluff by using the hand spindle and spinning wheel with prepared llama and alpaca roving. Care and feeding of spinning wheels and plying techniques are also explored.
SPINNING SOFTLY:
Spinners often are discouraged at the beginning of their spinning journey because of lots of "corkscrews and overtwist". Sometimes beginner yarn feels hard or too coarse. This class offers techniques to correct these issues, allowing the spinner to spin very soft, lofty yarn from alpaca or llama suitable for fine knitting or weaving.
KNITTING
UNLOCKING ENTRELAC:
Intermediate or beginning knitters will enjoy this fun technique of knitting on the diagonal and creating beautiful hats, scarves, socks, mittens and gloves.
LITTLE LACE LLAMA SOCK CLASS:
Socks are so much fun to make and this class focuses on a lovely lace pattern on the cuff. Beginning sock knitters are welcome as the class also includes turning a heel and the Kitchener Stitch.
BEGINNING LACE KNITTING:
Karen loves to work on lace items and has developed a simple lace pattern for beginning knitters. This class focuses on this four-row repeat lace pattern to create a beautiful lace scarf from llama or alpaca.
FELTING:
BEGINNING HAND FELTING:
Make a mess and have lots of fun felting an alpaca or llama hat. Hot water, soap, fiber and lots of "elbow grease" are all you need to make a smart, stylish hat from your favorite camelid buddy. Finishing techniques are also demonstrated in this fun class.
FLEECE PREPARATION
PREPARING A FLEECE FOR SHOW OR PROCESSING:
This seminar is specifically designed to show fleece producers how to sort and skirt a fleece for show or processing. Karen is an ALSA Certified Llama Fleece Judge and shares her insight so that breeders can do more than just shear the fleece off the animal and put it in a bag. Participants will have hands-on opportunities to compare different types of fleeces, skirting techniques and will learn what a judge is looking for in a fleece competition. Discussion will also include how to make the decision to show a fleece or process it into yarn or roving.