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Fiber Workshops at Steam Valley
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| Workshops at the Farm |
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Classes are held at the farm to incorporate learning about the animals in addition to exploring the art of spinning. Whether you watch the Angora goats at play or the lustrous Border Leicester sheep, you are sure to be enchanted by the animals. Come enjoy life on the farm while you learn the art of spinning your own yarn. |
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| Annual Spring Farm Tour |
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Our 2009 Spring Farm Tour is May 9, 2009
from 10 am - 3 pm.
Free Tours of the barns to see the lambs and goat kids.
Fiber Arts Demonstrations.
Children Welcome.
Rain or Shine
Directions to the farm are at the bottom of this page.
For more information contact Phylleri at 570-998-2221
Or email <steamvalley@verizon.net> |
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| Fiber Artist & Shepherdess |
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Phylleri Ball has been a Fiber Artist for 3 decades, with experience in spinning, dyeing, fiber processing, knitting, crocheting, weaving and felting. Her passion for fiber began with learning to crochet while travelling about the country in a homemade truck camper. Her younger sister, who wove professionally for 20 years, gave Phylleri her first fiber animal, an Angora Rabbit. Then followed the spinning, dyeing and later the weaving lessons by the same sister.
Phylleri and her family moved to Steam Valley Mountain in 1998 with 5 Angora Goats, a Border Collie, one barn cat and a half dozen Angora Rabbits. Their peak year, the farm had 117 head of sheep and goats. Back to a managable size, the summer head count is closer to 70 head of Angora Goats, Nubian Goats and Border Leicester Sheep. As if that isn't enough work, there are also 3 Border Collies, 2 Maremma livestock guardian dogs, 3 barn cats, Indian Runner Ducks, Bantams, Silkies and Arucanna Chickens.
Eleven years of processing the fiber from her herd of Angoras and flock of sheep has enhanced Phylleri's skill and appreciation for fiber processing. Additional fleeces are purchased, with Steam Valley washing and dyeing about 100 fleeces each year. Dyeing, being one of Phylleri's key passions, lead to developing her own line of Hand-Dyed Yarn and Dancing Rainbow Socks. Any acerage not grazed by the goats and sheep has either a garden or native plants that are good for dyeing.
Phylleri's first spinning wheel was a clunky used Clemes & Clemes, purchased when her eldest son was a baby. Today, her prefered wheel for spinning knitting yarns is a Schacht. Rug yarn spun from the coarser Mohair is done on a Louet S75. Phylleri, with her sons' and husband's help, have assembled countless Ashford, Louet & Schacht wheels. So if your wheel needs a repair or basic part like a spring or drive band, Phylleri is likely to know how to fix it.
With a joy of teaching and learning from her students, Phylleri is enthusiastic in her delivery. She strives to meet each student at the level of their abilities and encourages them to be persistant. Her teaching motto is, " There are infinite spinning styles that produce a good handspun yarn. Find the way that works for you, because there is no right or wrong way to spin. You've attained your perfect yarn when you are happy with what you have spun."
Steam Valley schedules one day workshops at the farm on spinning, fiber processing, chemical dyeing and natural dyeing. Workshop descriptions and schedule are listed below. To arrange private lessons, contact Phylleri at 570-998-2221
Or email <steamvalley@verizon.net> |
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| Course Descriptions |
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Drop Spindling
Students may bring their own drop spindle or purchase one for use at the class.
The spindle class will begin with basic skills of spinning wool with a spindle to produce a single ply yarn. Advance skills will include plying, skeining and preparing your yarn for knitting or future projects..
Beginning Spinning Wheel Workshop
Material Requirement: Students need to provide a spinning wheel or call in advance to reserve the use of a wheel during the workshop.
Course Description: This workshop begins with learning to spin wool roving into yarn. You will learn the skill of drafting, producing a balanced yarn, and plying techniques. Fiber preparation of wool fleece, using hand carders or a flicker brush is followed by spinning from your own prepared fiber.
Fiber Processing - Skirting & Washing a Fleece
Course Description: This class will explore fiber preparation from skirting a fleece to carding techniques. Learn how to wash a fleece and how carding methods affect your yarn. If you have raw fiber that you want to learn how to wash and process, bring a sample to the class. In the second half of the class, we will explore spinning yarn using different carding techniques.
Dyeing Wool Workshop
Material Requirement: Optional - Bring 1 oz. handspun skeins of yarn to sample colors from the various dye pots.
Commercial yarn & roving samples for dyeing are provided.
Course Description: We will dye washed fleece, roving and yarn with synthetic dyes. Emphasis is on students mastering the overall dyeing process so they can proceed to do dyeing projects at home.
Natural Dyeing Workshop
Material Donation: Please bring local natural dye plants that you would like to share with the class. Most material must be presoaked & cooked, so contact us for instructions. Common Examples: Onion skins, Marigolds, Coreopsis, Black Walnut Hulls, Goldenrod, Yarrow, etc.
Optional - Bring 1 oz. handspun skeins of yarn to sample colors from the various dye pots.
Commercial yarn for dyeing will be provided.
Course Description: We will dye yarn with a variety of natural dyes. We will work with local plants as well as purchased dye stuff like Cochineal. Both casual dyeing - throw it in a pot and see what happens, as well as measured recipes will be explored. Handouts for dye recipes are included.
To register for a class contact us by email or phone.
570-998-2221
<steamvalley@verizon.net>
Send $10.00 class deposit to:
Steam Valley Fiber Farm
2304 Steam Valley Road,
Trout Run, PA 17771
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New Mini Series Classes
Our new Fiber Arts Mini Series are short, sweet and easy on the finances.
Three hour workshops are $30.00 or sign up for 4 workshops for $100.00.
Take as a single class, or as a series which builds on the previous workshop.
Saturday afternoons from 2:00 – 5:00 pm at the farm in April or July.
One exception - Mini Series #4 Crochet a Bag on April 26 is a Sunday Class due the Lewisburg Arts Festival on Saturday.
Mini Series #1 – Skirt & Wash a Fleece April 4 or July 11
Mini Series #2 – Spinning on a Drop Spindle April 11 or July 18
Mini Series #3 – Dye your Handspun Yarn April 16 or July 25
Mini Series #4 – Crochet a Bag April 26 or August 1
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| Calendar for 2009 |
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Annual Spring Farm Tour - May 9, 2009
10 AM - 3 PM
FREE
New Mini Series Classes - $30/Class or $100/4 Classes
Mini Series #1 – Skirt & Wash a Fleece April 4 or July 11
Mini Series #2 – Spinning on a Drop Spindle April 11 or July 18
Mini Series #3 – Dye your Handspun Yarn April 16 or July 25
Mini Series #4 – Crochet a Bag April 26 or August 1
Spinning Wheel Class
Saturday, May 16, 2009
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Workshop Fee: $75.00 Lunch Included.
Dyeing Wool Workshop
Saturday, May 30, 2009
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Workshop Fee: $75.00 Lunch Included.
Natural Dyeing Workshop
Saturday June 20, 2009
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Workshop Fee: $75.00 Lunch Included.
To arrange private instruction or to register for a workshop contact Phylleri at
570-998-2221 or
<steamvalley@verizon.net>
Send $10.00 class deposit to:
Steam Valley Fiber Farm
2304 Steam Valley Road,
Trout Run, PA 17771
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| Directions to the Farm |
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Directions to Steam Valley Fiber Farm:
We are located midway between Williamsport and Mansfield, PA just off Hwy15 (Future Interstate 99). Harrisburg, PA is about 2 1/2 hours to the south and Corning, NY is about 1 1/4 hours to the north of us.
Please be aware that Hwy 15 is under road construction from 2008 - 2010 at the top of the mountain. Access to Steam Valley Road is not marked and changes as the construction progresses! Even though their are road closed and detour signs for Steam Valley Road, you can still get to the farm.
*Directions Coming From The South*
From Williamsport take Hwy 15 North towards Mansfield. Our farm is about 22 miles north of Williamsport. Pass the exit for Trout Run and continue north another 7 miles. Take the Exit for Hwy 184 and Fry's Turkey Ranch. Turn right at the stop sign at the end of the exit ramp.
The road will come to an immediate T. Turn Right again. Follow the road a half mile up and down the hills and around the curves. Look for 2 barns on the right side of the road with a white farmhouse opposite the barns.
* Directions from the North*
Heading south on Hwy 15 from Mansfield we are about 8 miles south of the Liberty exit. Take the exit for Hwy 184 and Fry’s Turkey Ranch. Make a left at the first intersection and follow the road over the top of the overpass until you dead end at a T. Turn right onto Steam Valley Road (it may not have a sign). About a half mile down you'll see the barns on the right with a white house on the left, with Border Collies, Maremma Livestock Guardian Dogs and lots of goats and sheep.
It is best to arrange an appointment if you are coming out to the farm to buy wheels, fiber or livestock. You are welcome to just stop by and see if we are home. If you have any questions feel free to call the Farm phone
570-998-2221.
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