2026 Spinning Class Offerings
Fleece Preparation – From Raw to Ready to Spin
Learn to take raw fleece from fresh off the sheep to ready to spin in this one day workshop.
In the morning we will be washing wool three ways, and discussing the pros and cons of the various soaps available for washing wool. In the afternoon we will be carding and combing wool, and discussing which wools are suitable to what style of prep and spin.
Students will leave with 3 small bags of washed wool, some rolags and some combed top ready for the wheel or spindle.
Syllabus:
• Analyzing a whole fleece from a spinner’s perspective
• Separation of fleece for suitable end use
• Washing fleece in 3 ways – dip, wash, and scour.
• Flick carding techniques
• Hand carding techniques
• Hand combing techniques
Students are required to bring:
• Three lingerie bags
• One reusable bag they don’t mind being wet for transporting washed fleece
• Re-useable rubber gloves
• Old towels
If already owned please bring:
• Plastic kitchen wash basin (e.g. Rubbermaid tub)
• Fibre processing tools such as flick cards, hand cards and/or hand combs.
Kara Perpelitz had been creating with cloth for many years before discovering hand-spun yarn in 2008. She received her Master Spinner Certificate from Olds College in 2017, and has been instructing that program ever since. She has also been instructing a variety of fibre arts classes through the USask Arts and Artisanship program since 2020, and instructs short workshops through out the western provinces.
Date: January 11, 2026
Time: 9am – 5pm – one hour break for lunch.
Location: SSWG Studio in the MCC Building (600 45th Street West, Saskatoon)
Number of Students: Maximum 12 (Booking will be reserved for members of the SSWG until January 3, 2026)
Cost to Register: $116.60 (Includes PST)
Cost of materials: $10 for soaps, towel use, incidentals, -plus- equal share of the fleece cost. Payable to the instructor at the time of the class.
Introduction to Wheel Spinning
Have you ever wanted to spin on a spinning wheel? This two day course will take you from dreaming about it to doing it! No experience necessary!
On day one we will discuss the pros and cons of each style of wheel, have a look at a variety of fibres and different preparations, and get used to treadling and drafting simultaneously. On day two we will troubleshoot some of things that came up in day one, and go over basic plying methods.
Students will leave class with their first 2 ply yarn.
Syllabus:
• Understanding wheels and fibres
• Treadle and draft techniques
• Trouble shooting, joins, over twist, under twist, etc.
• Basic plying
Students are required to bring:
• A spinning wheel
• Lazy kate
• Minimum of 3 bobbins
• Spinning wheel maintenance kit
• Niddy noddy.
The guild may have a wheel available to borrow – please inquire before or at time of registration
Kara Perpelitz had been creating with cloth for many years before discovering hand-spun yarn in 2008. She received her Master Spinner Certificate from Olds College in 2017, and has been instructing that program ever since. She has also been instructing a variety of fibre arts classes through the USask Arts and Artisanship program since 2020, and instructs short workshops through out the western provinces.
Date: February 21st – 22nd, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM – one hour break for lunch.
Location: SSWG Studio in the MCC Building (600 45th Street West, Saskatoon)
Number of Students: Maximum 12
Cost to Register: $222.60 (Includes PST)
Cost of materials: $25 for fibres, tags and incidentals. Payable to the instructor at the time of the class.
Wheel Spinning – Next Steps
So you’ve figured out how to spin yarn on a wheel, and feel like you have the knack of it, but what next? This is where this class comes in.
On day one we will explore the various styles of woolen spinning; point of contact, English long draw, over the fold, etc. We will look at the types of fibres and preparations that are good for this style of spinning, and learn how to chain ply. On day two we will explore the various styles of worsted spinning – short forward, short backward, etc., and look at the types of fibres and preparations that are good for this style of spinning. You will also learn how to Andean ply.
Students will leave with a woollen spun chain plied yarn and a worsted spun Andean plied yarn.
Students must be able to operate a spinning wheel and understand how to ply. (Suggested pre-requisite example would be the Intro to wheel spinning class).
Syllabus:
• Woolen spinning
• Worsted spinning
• Trouble shooting, joins, over twist, under twist, etc.
• Andean and chain plying
Students are required to bring:
• A spinning wheel
• Lazy kate
• Minimum of 3 bobbins
• Spinning wheel maintenance kit
• Niddy noddy.
The guild may have a wheel available to borrow – please inquire before or at time of registration.
Kara Perpelitz had been creating with cloth for many years before discovering hand-spun yarn in 2008. She received her Master Spinner Certificate from Olds College in 2017, and has been instructing that program ever since. She has also been instructing a variety of fibre arts classes through the USask Arts and Artisanship program since 2020, and instructs short workshops through out the western provinces.
Date: March 14th – 15th, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM – one hour break for lunch.
Location: SSWG Studio in the MCC Building (600 45th Street West, Saskatoon)
Number of Students: Maximum 12
Cost to Register: $222.60 (Includes PST)
Cost of materials: $25 for fibres, tags and incidentals. Payable to the instructor at the time of the class.
The Trifecta of Hand-Spun Yarn
A focus on the relationship between wheel mechanics, the way you control the fibre, and how they affect your hand-spun.
Based on Kara Perpelitz’s self-published book, The Trifecta of Hand Spun Yarn, this class will cover three key areas that affect the yarn you create: Twist, Draft, and Tension. The class will work through several exercises that will take your spinning from default to by design. There is a tiny bit of math, but not the scary kind. As a bonus, your yarn will become more even, and you will be able to achieve different yarn weights.
Syllabus:
• Tension Tango, Ratio Roulette, Draft Dance exercises.
• Understanding your wheel
• Applying some basic spinning math principals
• Plying by the numbers.
Students are required to bring:
• A spinning wheel
• Lazy kate
• Minimum of 3 bobbins
• Spinning wheel maintenance kit
• Niddy noddy.
Kara Perpelitz had been creating with cloth for many years before discovering hand-spun yarn in 2008. She received her Master Spinner Certificate from Olds College in 2017, and has been instructing that program ever since. She has also been instructing a variety of fibre arts classes through the USask Arts and Artisanship program since 2020, and instructs short workshops through out the western provinces.
Date: May 9th, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM – one hour break for lunch.
Location: SSWG Studio in the MCC Building (600 45th Street West, Saskatoon)
Number of Students: Maximum 12
Cost to Register: $116.60 (Includes PST)
Cost of materials: $25 for fibres, tags and incidentals. Payable to the instructor at the time of the class.