In August 2003, Nora learned to drop spin in Avella, PA at Weatherbury Farm’s Sheepfest. Her 1st drop spindle was recycled CD on a dowel rod and freshly shorn wool. She now has over thirty spindles!

In 2004, her father gifted her with her great-grandmother spinning wheel…as she is the last family member living on Butler County property that her family settled in 1816.

Soon thereafter, Nora took spinning wheel classes and promptly purchased her first modern wheel, an Ashford Traveler. Her next wheel was a Louet S75 and she is eyeballing her third wheel. Nora enjoys spinning on almost every wheel she tries. She spins solely for pleasure, not production!

Nora is an avid knitter (over 20 years) and recently completed her term as the Vice President of the Three Rivers Knitting Guild. Nora loves lace, shrugs and cardies, and Fair Isle--including the steeking portion--but Nora does not do socks! She hosts a Stitch ‘n Bitch called CranKnitters (on Yahoogroups) at the Cranberry Barnes & Noble.

Contact Nora

Please make certain you are aware of our class policies before signing up for a class.

Introduction to Drop Spindle - $25 2 Hours

Experience Level - No experience to basic knowledge
Have you always wanted to learn how to spin? Experience the joy of making your own handspun yarn. This class will introduce the basics and language of spindle spinning, the “park n’ draft” spinning method, and the preparation and drafting of fiber to create a single strand yarn*. Drop spindles are inexpensive, easy to use, and a great introduction to the ancient art of hand spinning.

If you learn to drop spindle, you never “outgrow” it, even if you decide to spin on a wheel later. Or if you already spin on a wheel, you will uncover a more flexible way of spinning. Your spindle can be an excellent travelling companion, tucked in a briefcase, purse, backpack, or gym bag to help you fill odd moments at meetings, soccer games, in the doctor’s waiting room or watching television. Unlike knitting, there is not pattern to follow, counting of rows, stitches or increases/decreases, practically no thought at all. Drop spinning can go anywhere you would take your knitting!
* It is called a single rather than one-ply because the word ply means: twist together or one of the strands twisted together to make yarn or rope or thread; often used in combination; "three-ply cord"; "four-ply yarn" rather than “one-ply”.

Note: The intermediate class is when you’ve had time to practice-a minimum of 10 hours or more—and are comfortable with singles. This class focuses on learning various ways to ply singles together on the spindle. Skills to refine your yarn are presented.

Introduction to Spinning Wheel - $25 2 Hours

Have you always wanted to learn how to use a spinning wheel? This class is for people who never spun yarn before, people already spinning with a spindle, or those who took a spinning wheel class before…but did not feel entirely comfortable with the lesson. Anyone can learn to spin on a wheel using Nora’s step-by-step method:

1. Draft-only (pre-draft the fiber to learn the feel of drafting and prepare the fiber),
2. Treadle-only (learn a slow, steady rhythm and warm up your lower body),
3. Hands-only (learn the take-up of the wheel using already spun yarn instead of fiber and warm up your upper body), and
4. Put 1-2-3 together to spin with your wool fiber!

This class will introduce the basics and language of wheel spinning as well as preparing and drafting fiber to create a single strand yarn*.
* It is called a single rather than one-ply because the word ply means: twist together or one of the strands twisted together to make yarn or rope or thread; often used in combination; "three-ply cord"; "four-ply yarn" rather than “one-ply”.

Note: The intermediate class is when you’ve had time to practice-a minimum of 10 hours or more—and are comfortable with singles. This class focuses on learning various ways to ply singles together on the spinning wheel. Skills to refine your yarn are presented.

Intermediate Spindle Spinning/Plying Methods - $25 2 Hours

There is homework for this class that you MUST have prepared before class.

If you are ready to turn your single spun yarns into plied yarn, this is the next class for you. Plying can strengthen yarn, improve the appearance of over-spun or unbalanced singles, and correct any minor flaws! A review of “Z” twist and “S” twist, finishing your yarn, and WPI is included.

Learn how to make plied yarn using different methods such as plying with a Lazy Kate, center-pull ball plying, and Navaho or chain plying. Review of spinning from your hand (Andean plying), from two spindles and from two balls of yarn is included.

There will be discussion on advancing your spinning skills such as creation of a balance yarn from singles, spinning for a certain weight of yarn, and more.

Intermediate Wheel Spinning/Plying Methods - $25 2 Hours

There is homework for this class that you MUST have prepared before class.

If you are ready to turn your single spun yarns into plied yarn, this is the next class for you. Plying can strengthen yarn, improve the appearance of over-spun or unbalanced singles, and correct any minor flaws! A review of “Z” twist and “S” twist, finishing your yarn, and WPI (wraps per inch) is included.

Learn how to make plied yarn using different methods such as plying with a Lazy Kate and Navaho plying--also know as chain plying.

There will be discussion on advancing your spinning skills such as creation of a balance yarn from singles, spinning for a certain weight of yarn, TPI (twists per inch) and more.

Spinning Beaded Yarn - $25 2 Hours

There is homework for this class that you MUST have prepared before class.

Want to add texture, sparkle, or art to your yarn?  No longer pay a fortune for beaded (or sequin) commercial yarn?  Take a plain sweater/shawl/scarf pattern from plain to chic?  Create a true, one-of-a-kind yarn?  Spinning beaded yarn is the class for you. 
We will learn two approaches to beading:

1. Add beads directly to roving, then spinning a single to ply with a similar plain single.
2. Pre-stringing beads on thread, crochet cotton or thin yarn to ply with single.

We will review several other beading methods that can be used once you understand and master these two methods.  The same principles can be use to add sequins and other embellishments.