Fleece and Fiber Master Class! Enrollment now open


STARTS May 6th 2019

The Fleece and Fiber Master Class is a four part series which teaches students the “What, When, How and Why of Fleece and Yarn.”  This is a comprehensive class which is a fantastic companion to Fleeces Revealed.  While Fleeces Revealed gives students a solid foundation in all things wool, the Fleece and Fiber Master class picks up where Fleeces Revealed left off.  While wool facts are touched on and included, the Fleece and Fiber Master class teaches students about protein fibers other than wool as well as cellulose fibers such as cotton and linen.  More importantly, Fleece and Fiber Master Class shares incredibly important strategizing techniques for choosing and blending fibers as well as qualitative and quantitative measurements for understanding fiber fineness and yarn weights.  This class is the perfect combination of science and stories which gives a foundation few fiber artists have.  Please see the syllabus below:

Note:  Classes are taught live and recorded to Youtube. You can watch the videos as many times as you like for up to one week after the last class airs.  Please make note that after the one week extension,  the videos will no longer be available.

May 6th-Class 1: The “When” class gives you the history of several classifications of fiber.  You’ll learn the story behind economically significant fibers such as Merino wool, including the 300 Saxons bought by Louis XVI, up to the Merinos of modern day.  Other classifications of wool will be introduced with focus on historical narratives such as: The importance of the Herdwick sheep in the UK and their tendency to remain “hefted.” Other sheep, such as North Ronaldsay will be discussed because of their unique ability to live almost entirely on seaweed.   Beyond certain types of wool sheep, other types of protein fibers (mohair, cashmere, silk) as well as cellulose fibers (cotton and linen) and their history will be addressed.  

May 7th-Class 2:  The “How” discusses scientific facts which are important in understanding how fibers grow and the characteristics which make them unique and useful.  Learn how primary and secondary follicles in animals develop and the important relationship to fineness.  You’ll also learn how the cotton industry has improved their genetics in a very short amount of time and how this benefits the textile industry.

May 8th-Class 3:  The “Why” focuses on the internal structure of the most widely used and coveted fiber types.  By studying the structure of fiber we can easily deduce a fibers suitability for a specific end use.  Utilizing the inherent qualities of a fiber type helps you understand why certain fiber blends make “sense” and why others don’t. Similarly, understanding the individual properties each fiber possesses makes choices based on characteristics like dyeability and durability possible.

May 9th-Class 4:  The “What” explains the various methods for determining quantitative and qualitative characteristics like fiber fineness and yarn weights. Sometimes numbers are used for quantification such as in microns or grist.   At other times, we use non-quantitative fiber diameter measures such as the Blood system.  While both quantitative and qualitative measurement systems are used to express fiber diameter, finished yarns have a thorough and easy to use standard yarn weight system devised by the Craft Yarn Council (CYC).  During this class, you’ll learn all the permutations of wool grading and the different yarn classifications.

May 18th 11:30 am PDT Live Study Session.

 

Upcoming Workshops

What Our Students Are Saying

I want to say THANK YOU Natalie ! You have already spurred me to learn something I haven’t succeeded in learning my self during all the years I have been dyeing wool: Namely to really repeat my dyeing. Ulrika

April 24, 2016

Natalie,
Words cannot express my appreciation for all you have shared.  When I signed up for the first Dye Secrets class, I had no idea what we would learn.  Every Sunday was filled with excitement to learn not just about dyeing, but about fleece, business, critters... Your talents and abilities are endless.  Joelle

April 25, 2016

Natalie, thank you so much for letting all of us into your world of color and wool.  This has been truly an inspiration for me...I have learned many new techniques and color ways... Loris

April 25, 2016

I love the way you teach and share your knowledge Natalie, thank you! Ardis

April 25, 2016

I have taken some other online classes, most were like watching paint dry, Natalie is really interesting, entertaining, and she really knows her stuff!

April 25, 2016

I want to say THANK YOU Natalie ! You have already spurred me to learn something I haven't succeeded in learning my self during all the years I have been dyeing wool: Namely to really repeat my dyeing. Ulrika

April 25, 2016

Take your dyeing to the next level with Natalie Redding's Master Dye Class.  #reddingmethod is fantastic. Three Fates Farm and Fiber

April 30, 2016

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Awesome class - learned many new tricks, especially loved the speckle dyeing.  You will love this class and any other class from Natalie Redding!!

 

February 14, 2018

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Natalie's yarn dying class is one you don't want to miss!! She is so knowledgeable and does an awesome job of presenting the class in an easy to understand format. I love her hands on approach alongside her scientific findings. This class is truly an investment you don't want to miss.

 

February 14, 2018

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Natalie puts her heart, soul, and love for knowledge into each class she teaches. She cares about the learning experiences she offers and always exceeds expectations. Which is why I keep taking classes. Great learning experiences, and FUN.

 

February 14, 2018

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The first day is packed with so much fiber information. I wrote pages of notes. So enlightening.

New level, thanks Natalie

 

February 14, 2018

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As usual Natalie has blazed new trails with her techniques, thoroughly researched, and packaged up the techniques so you, the student, can get to the heart of the “how to” quickly. Highly recommend.

February 14, 2018

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Natalie Redding is such a phenomenal teacher. She spends many hours researching and troubleshooting her classes. Then she is able to present the massive amounts of information on such a manner that makes it easy for us to understand. The yarn dyeing class is no exception. Natalies classes get better and better.

February 14, 2018

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