Eileen Lee has a textile background working with Levi Strauss & Co. for eighteen years where she was responsible for product development, design and merchandising. MeadowFarm Yarn Studio in Nevada City, California, is where she has been after that for eleven years, managing the shop, teaching knitting, weaving, spinning, dyeing and creating knitting patterns. She now has a studio near her home where she teaches all of the above classes.  She is published in several magazines including Knitting Traditions, The Unofficial Downton Abbey Knits, and PieceWork.  Her patterns  and products for sale  are available on her website, Ravelry (mzfiber) and Etsy.  She lives in Grass Valley with her husband Bill, son Eric and dachshund Lizy.

Weaving classes - Learn how to plan your project, warp and start weaving on a four shaft floor or table loom. For the floor looms, I can come to your house. If needed the table looms are available to rent. Rigid Heddle Weaving classes are also available and looms can be purchased. Spinning classes Spinning is a practical and creatively satisfying hobby with continuing appeal, especially in this age of mass production. Once you learn this skill, it is very relaxing and creative. In this class, you will be introduced to the basic spinning steps to creating a continuous yarn.

All types of knitting classes are available from beginning knitting, to socks, hats, lace, cables, sweaters, colour work, felting, holiday items, and many, many more. There are drop in Classes for when you are stuck on a project and need some quick attention. There are a lot of free knit days that are very nice. There is a lot of sharing of ideas, great stories, good conversation and plenty of laughter. Workshops are available including "Change your gauge numbers, and you can create your own pattern" and "design your own socks".

Indigo Shibori Dyeing

    

I have been having a great time indigo dyeing.  I wake up in the middle of the night with ideas of what I might have in the house that I can dye, i.e. my studio lace curtains………..  I have been dyeing table clothes, shirts, skirts, yarn…

     

Woven Indigo Shibori

Woven shibori is a process of weaving and resist.  It presents another way of applying pattern to cloth.  The process is by which the fabric is constructed on the loom using supplementary warp or wefts that are used to gather the cloth as resist for dyeing.

Although any dyes can be used, for this class we will be using indigo.

Dates are:  June 30 (weaving) and then come back on July 21 for dyeing.  Requirements are a 4 or 8 shaft loom or a rigid heddle.  There will be premade warps for you to purchase.  The project will be approximately 14″ wide.  Price $150

Interweave Spin Off New Magazine – Spin and Knit

Available at newsstands for the new magazine “Spin and Knit” is  October 25th.  I have an article featuring A Star Alpacas.    I spun the alpaca from Terry Anderson’s animals featuring five colours.

timberlane-cowl-by-eileen-leeTo purchase the print edition:  http://www.interweavestore.com/spin-off-spin-and-knit-2017.

To get the digital edition:  http://www.interweavestore.com/spin-off-spin-and-knit-2017-digital-download

 

Stitches West 2016

Stitches 2016Stitches West was so much fun.  We spent two FULL days.  Clearly, we had to take a picture with Stephen West.    Stitches continues to feature plenty of weaving and spinning displays as well as the many kitting demonstrations.    Three of my favorite booths are:

DanDoh Designs – Yumiko Alexander is a designer of a line of knitting and crochet patterns marked and published under the business name “DanDoh” located in Chandler Arizona.  She started selling her designs in Japan before moving to the US.  DanDoh means Warm Earth.   The yarns are beautiful linens, cotton, wool  and cashmere.  Her shawl designs are particularly attractive.

http://www.dandoh.com

 

Red Fish Dyeworks is a small company that dyes silk and silk blend yarn, fiber and fabric by hand.  This is one of my favorite booths to visit.  I always make a point to buy the silk 20/2 for weaving.  It is difficult to make a decision on what colors to choose.  There is too much to pick from.

http://www.redfishdyeworks.com

 

Fiberlady – Fine Bamboo Fibers & Yarns  – I love to weave with the Luxury Bamboo yarnb sett at 30 epi.  They sell several bamboo and bamboo blends yarns and fiber.  There are many colors to choose from.

http://www.fiberlady.com