Creating Spaces for Spinners

 

Clinch River Yarn Co. in Clinton, TN.

When I read through guild newsletters from around the world, I am always excited to see lists of small spinning gatherings within the guild area. These gatherings tend to be less structured than a guild meeting and are for the pure pleasure of spinning and fiber camaraderie. They are often held in a public place or local shop that has created space for spinners-not only physical space, because we spinners can fill a room in a flash, but also the energy that comes from such a group. I have always felt that spinners treadling away in a room somehow occupy the space in a unique way.

I recently noticed a spin-in invitation in the Tennessee Valley Handspinners Guild newsletter. Clinch River Yarn Company in Clinton, TN, hosts Spinning Saturdays and welcomes area spinners to stop by. The shop is operated by Sandy Adams and her daughter Robin. Robin is a zoologist with the Knoxville Zoo and an avid crocheter. It is quite fitting then that she helps care for the llamas and alpacas at the zoo and is then able to sell some of their fleeces at Clinch River Yarn Company, in addition to other locally grown fibers. The shop has been open for four years and added spinning classes and supplies early on. They offer beginning through advanced spinning classes, in addition to carding, dyeing, knitting, and crochet classes.

Do you spin with a fun local group? Share it with us on Spinner's Connection! Drop Kate a line at spinnersconnection@longthreadmedia.com.