Dyeing for Pygora -- by Chris Utterback

Right in the middle of winter when everyone has cabin fever, Jan Becker, president of the NW Pygora Club, opened her doors to all Pygora people interested in playing with fiber. Over 12 members and friends joined in the fun on January 8th. Everyone was invited to bring fiber, wheels, carding, and dehairing tools. Everyone also brought food for the pot luck and a couple of people brought kool-aid. Not for drinking mind you, but for dyeing.

The spinning wheels were set up and dehairing combs put to use. Tips were passed on everything from spinning, to harvesting, to dehairing, to goat care and goat health problems. Meanwhile the crock pots were filled with fruity blends of kool-aid. Cherry, grape, raspberry were all mixed and fiber added. The colors they produced were yummy, and they smelled quite nice too. While the crock pots cooked, others worked on making a sample felted piece. Of course a lot of eating went on along with the spinning. Each person who was spinning, including Janet Tilp a new member who made her own drop spindle form an old cd, described their wheel and told a bit about why they preferred that particular wheel. Of course, one thing led to another and soon everyone was trying out all the different models. Finished fiber projects and patterns were examined and discussed as well as different types of yarn and types of blended yarns. (Pygora processed with 10% Merino seemed to be the clear favorite blend for spinning fine and soft.) A great time was had by all. We are looking forward to our next meeting in February at Marcelle Anderson's. Want to play with fiber, come on by!

The look of concentration: Leanna Jeffords , Dee Rode, Terry Mattison, Susan Prechtl	Home made drop spindle or wheel. Doesn't seem to matter, lots of yarn and fun was had with both. Janet Tilp with home made drop spindle. New spinner Valery Sampson, in the back, gets tips from very handy Marcelle Anderson.
Janet Tilp taking time to dehair some Pygora.	Marcelle Anderson proves all wheels do not look alike.
Jan Becker proved you can host a great party and spin at the same time.	Lisa Roskopf puts the finishing touches on a sock made with her handspun Pygora.