Name: Kenneth Moore
Business name:

Website(s):
thehomesteadhobbyist.etsy.com

What kind of items do you make?
I hand-dye fiber for spinning. Sometimes, I can’t help myself–I have to spin some of those braids myself, so I make some handspun skeins of yarn for sale as well. Occasionally, I also make dryer balls.

How long have you been in indie artist?
Only half a year! I opened shop in March 2014. I’ve been a crafter all my life, but I’ve only recently entered the “indie artist” category.

What got you interested in your art of choice?
I have an insatiable appetite for learning how to make and do everything. Years ago, I started gardening to grow my own vegetables; then I started canning jam, salsa, pickles, and more. A few years ago, I decided to grow cotton–a friend asked me why I was growing it, and I said “I dunno, maybe I’ll make yarn from it?” A few questions later, she realized I had no idea what I was going to do with it and she “came out” to me as an avid spinner. She showed me how to spin the cotton I grew, and I fell down the fiber rabbit hole with incredible speed: I bought a raw fleece before I bought my first wheel, and I started dyeing shortly after.

What do you most enjoy about what you do?
I most enjoy seeing what spinners turn my hand-dyed braids into! I really enjoy the dyeing process as well–but seeing my braids “grow up” is extremely rewarding.

Do you have a favorite item or colorway?
I don’t have a favourite colourway–there is just too much lovely to pick only one! I do have a favourite fiber–yak! I love yak so hard that I had a custom blended top created for me: Polwarth/Yak/Mulberry Silk 50/25/25. It is a decadent blend beyond description, it takes dye gorgeously, and it spins like a dream.

What is something you strive to offer the fiber arts community?
With my hand-dyed fiber, I strive to offer unique, saturated colourways dyed on quality fiber for any purpose. I have several main bases I offer: Falkland, Rambouillet, Bluefaced Leicester, Yak/Silk, and my new custom blend, Polwarth/Yak/Mulberry Silk. I also offer quality roving from fleece hand-selected by me at local farms and fiber events.

Does being an indie fiber artist affect other aspects of your life?
Does it ever! Storage space? Filled with fiber. Social life? Scheduled around dye nights. Coworkers at the regular job? Think I’m a little off-centre. But I love dyeing and spinning and wouldn’t have it any other way!

Here’s who will be there!

Amelia and Wiggles
CosyKnits (literally)
Crochet By Faye
Dusty Tree Soap
Fibernymph Dye Works
Fiddlehead Fibers
Great Lakes Hand Dyed
Gwen Erin Natural Fibers
HipStrings
The Homestead Hobbyist
iKNITiatives
Lyrical Yarns
Michelle’s Assortment
One Sly Fox
Pantsville Press
Quiltstyle
SpaceCadet
StarKnits
The Ross Farm
Wren and Rita
Wren House Yarns

Ways to keep in touch with IKS

1) read this blog

2) or have any blog posts emailed to you by entering your email in the sign up form at the right

3) email newsletter

4) facebook page

5) ravelry group

In this class, knitters of all levels will learn simple techniques for using their time knitting as part of a mindful stress management strategy. We will look at the nature of mind and creativity and ways to use movement, stretching, breath and visualization to enhance our knitting skills and quality of life. Basic seated stretches will be taught to help knitters prevent repetitive strain injuries and to decrease the aches and pains that knitters sometimes experience in the neck and shoulders, hands and wrists, and low back. Absolutely no experience with yoga or meditation is required and all techniques are secular and so very gentle that everyone can practice them.

Third session class 2-4
maximum class size – 20

1. Please bring a simple project that does not require counting or referring to a pattern. If you do not currently have such a project or are a beginner, please prepare a mindfulness knitting project as follows:

On size 6 or 8 needles, cast-on 30 stitches, preferably with a natural fiber yarn (avoid acrylic if at all possible) and knit at least 5-rows in garter stitch.

2. Wear comfortable clothing that is not revealing or restrictive if you bring your arms up in the air, sit or lift up one leg at a time.

3. Bring a water bottle filled with water.

Sharon is a meditation and yoga instructor with over twenty-years of practice and teaching experience. She draws upon her personal practice and training in cultural anthropology, art history, meditation, movement therapy and love of knitting to create unique workshops for adults who wish to enhance their creativity and reduce stress and anxiety. After owning and directing Yoga Matrika, an intimate community-based yoga studio in Pittsburgh, for eight-years, Sharon now offers mindful coaching for women, childbirth preparation and postpartum care all over the world. You can find Sharon online at www.yogamatrika.com.

To inquire about or register for classes, send an email to cosymakes@gmail.com. All classes cost $30, to be paid in advance via check or paypal. Some classes have a material fee to be paid to the instructor at the time of the class.

Are you ready to add some colorful elements to your knitting? Do you want to use different colors together but are tired of being limited to striped patterns? Stranded knitting is probably MUCH easier than you think, and it is an fun (and addicting) way to use color to brighten up your projects. In this class you will work on a hat pattern, learn to knit with one color in each hand, get experience with chart reading, and learn about the best ways to execute your stranded knitting projects. The class pattern is Amy’s self-published hat “Primero”.

Third session class 2-4
maximum class size – 8

Supplies:
Worsted Weight Yarn in 3 Contrasting Colors
Needles – US 5 and 7 (If you are a loose knitter, use U.S. Size 4 & 6. A tight knitter should use U.S. Size 6 & 8)
Choice of using DPNS, 16” circular, 2-24” circular needles or 1 long circular needle for Magic Loop. Whatever method you prefer for working in the round is fine.

Homework:
With main color and SMALLER needles, Cast On 84 stitches and work in K2, P2 ribbing for 1”.
Switch to LARGER needles, and knit one more round.

If you knit with the yarn in your right hand (English, thrower), please practice with the yarn in your left hand (Continental, picker). And vice-versa. You do not need to be adept with the other method, but practicing a little before the class will help you get more out of the class!

Please contact the instructor if you have any questions about the homework – pghamers@gmail.com.

Supply fee: $4.00

In addition to teaching knit and crochet classes, Amy Maceyko designs knit and crochet patterns under the name Structured Stitches. The name is inspired by her background as an architect, since knitting, crochet, and architecture have much more in common than many people might think.

Amy recently completed a 3-year stint regularly teaching at Natural Stitches in Pittsburgh’s East End and she has taught the past 3 years at the Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet Festival. Due to her workload as an architect, she has had to give up full time teaching duties, but she appreciates the opportunity to teach occasionally at events like Indie Knit & Spin!

In addition to self-published patterns available on ravelry.com, Amy has a design published in “60 Quick Knits from America’s Yarn Shops” and will eventually have three designs published in the Cooperative Press Series “Fresh Designs Crochet”. Amy’s designs are also featured in kits sold by Ross Farm Fibers of Washington, PA. Keep up with new design releases and future teaching engagements at structuredstitches.wordpress.com. You can also find Amy on ravelry and twitter as Pghamers.

To inquire about or register for classes, send an email to cosymakes@gmail.com. All classes cost $30, to be paid in advance via check or paypal. Some classes have a material fee to be paid to the instructor at the time of the class.

Do you have a drop spindle, but don’t know how to make it work? Have you been hankering to give spinning a try? We will cover the basics: getting started, drafting, and winding on. We will also discuss plying and how to finish your yarn. Bring a spindle if you have one, otherwise they will be provided.

Third session class 2-4
maximum class size 10

The instructor will have fiber bundles that are good for beginning spinners available for purchase for $5. She will also have spindles available to try and purchase. And, of course, there will be lots more options for purchase and oogling of fiber at her booth in the marketplace prior to the class beginning.

Gwen Brown learned to spin on a Turkish drop spindle nearly 10 years ago and found that it has been a life-changing experience. Since then she has established a small dyeing, spinning, and knitting business that takes her to fiber shows throughout Ohio and Pennsylvania. In her “free” time, she participates in a medieval recreation group. Her website can be found at gwenerin.com and her booth can be found in the marketplace.

To inquire about or register for classes, send an email to cosymakes@gmail.com. All classes cost $30, to be paid in advance via check or paypal. Some classes have a material fee to be paid to the instructor at the time of the class.

CLASS CANCELLED

In this class we will experiment with different methods of preparing clean fleece for spinning including batts and punis. We will experiment with dyed fleece, locks, sparkle and whatever else inspires us to make our own custom spinning goodies. Each student will go home with 4 oz. of batt/punis ready to spin.

Third Session Class 2-4
maximum class size – 10

Homework:
Gather any little goodies you might want to include in your art yarns. Plenty will be provided, but if you have something you’ve collected that you’d like to include, bring it along!

Supply fee: $20

Amy Ross Manko is the owner of The Ross Farm, a PA Century Farm in Eighty-Four, PA. She raises Heritage & Rare Breed Sheep on the farm that’s been in her family for over 120 years. She came to the world of Fiber Arts backward, as she raised sheep and then learned to knit and spin after changing the farm’s focus to rare breeds and wool production. Amy has always been involved with needle arts and teaching, using the skills she learned from her grandmother as a very small child. She has taught quilting at area shops and sewing through CCAC for many years. Her website is here and her booth can be found in the marketplace.

To inquire about or register for classes, send an email to cosymakes@gmail.com. All classes cost $30, to be paid in advance via check or paypal. Some classes have a material fee to be paid to the instructor at the time of the class.

CLASS CANCELLED

Learn the basics of knitting with beads in a relaxed fun workshop. We’ll discuss different bead types and their uses in knitting while swatching various samples. Students will learn both pre-stringing and threaded techniques. Bring sock, lace, or other fine weight yarn and needles 2 or more sizes larger than indicated on the ball band.

Second Session Class 11:45-1:45
maximum class size – 15

Supply Fee (to be paid to teacher upon arrival at class):
$5 per box of 6/0 beads

Adina DeRoy-Stouffer is a Squirrel Hill native and has been a teaching artist in the Pittsburgh area for the past fifteen years. Both a jewelry and a fiber artist, she sells her work throughout the area. She designs knitwear, is an avid quilter and an enthusiast of up-cycled sewing. Adina dyes her own yarns and fabrics, and is happiest when able to combine fiber and metal into mixed media jewelry.

To inquire about or register for classes, send an email to cosymakes@gmail.com. All classes cost $30, to be paid in advance via check or paypal. Some classes have a material fee to be paid to the instructor at the time of the class.

(known also as Russian or combination knitting)

This class will be teaching how people knit in Eastern part of Europe. In this way of knitting, yarn is controlled by the finger of your left hand – like in continental knitting, but stitches are done differently. It is very fast way of knitting and according to Ann Modesitt (who named it combination knitting) produces more uniform fabric.

Second Session Class 11:45-1:45
maximum class size – 10

Topics covered in class:
Knit stitch
Purl stitch
Decreases – difference between decreases in Eastern and English way of knitting
Binding off (much more loose bind off)

Supplies:
Needles and some yarn which you are comfortable knitting with. Thicker yarns (worsted weight and thicker) may be more suitable than thinner.

Joanna Romaniuk was born and raised in Poland. That’s where she learned to knit as a child. She does not remember how. Knitting was just something (besides cooking and sewing and so on) that women were doing. It was only after she came to US in 1989 that she realized that there could be another way of knitting. She taught both her daughters to knit the same way as she does. Teaching more people how to do it is a new endeavor for her, but she a lot of experience in teaching at school (K-12), college and work.

To inquire about or register for classes, send an email to cosymakes@gmail.com. All classes cost $30, to be paid in advance via check or paypal. Some classes have a material fee to be paid to the instructor at the time of the class.

Learn how to spin using a supported spindle such as a Russian, Tibetan, Tahkli spindle – perfect for on-the-go spinning, fine yarns and luxury fibers such as cashmere, yak, camel down as well as cotton. We will go over the various types of support spindles, the best fibers for support spindles and the best fiber prep for support spindles. No spindle required. You will need to purchase a fiber sampler from the teacher at the beginning of class.

Second Session Class 11:45-1:45
maximum class size – 6

Supply Fee (to be paid to teacher upon arrival at class):
$10 for fiber sampler containing a variety of luxury fibers and different fiber preps

Jill Duarte is the co-owner of HipStrings and an avid spinner, dyer, knitter and crocheter. She was drawn into the fibery world in 2008 and hasn’t looked back since. Her favorite spindle is a HipStrings Mistral Tahkli, favorite fiber is cotton (yes, really) and she is well on her way to completing a Schacht Triple Crown. Jill can be found at her booth in the Marketplace during IKS, but year round her shop is at hipstrings.etsy.com and you can learn more about what’s going on at her blog – hipstrings.blogspot.com.

To inquire about or register for classes, send an email to cosymakes@gmail.com. All classes cost $30, to be paid in advance via check or paypal. Some classes have a material fee to be paid to the instructor at the time of the class.