Francie Goudie
Francie is an experienced spinner, with a focus on spinning productively with Turkish-style spindles. In recent years she expanded her practice to weaving, developing a distinctive style with an emphasis on letting the handspun yarn shine. As an educator, Francie is enthusiastic, approachable and knowledgeable. She never stops learning, and is always working to integrate her understanding into an accessible framework - giving students the skills they need to explore on their own and continue their creative journey.
With a background in science she approaches her craft with an analytical mind and an appreciation for the history and knowledge upon which we build. However, she is also a great believer in the importance of free-flowing creative expression, and embracing the hand in handmade. In a world where mass-produced "perfection" is commonplace, we have so much to gain from interacting directly with unformed material, using our hands, eyes and mind to create genuine expressions of our perfectly imperfect self.
Francie has recently moved into teaching, bringing with her a background of teaching in an academic setting and years of developing her own unique textile practice. She has taught weaving and spinning workshops at local and interstate Fibre Festivals, including beginner spinning and weaving (with a focus on exploring creative techniques), and more advanced Colour-Handling and Turkish-Spindle Spinning. She has also taught multi-week weaving courses in her local community, which has led to multiple students taking up weaving as an ongoing passion (and now they want to learn to spin!).
Learn to Spin
Saturday
Time TBC
Venue TBC
Spin your own yarn! Learn how to transform fluff into yarn using the simple spindle and your own creative passion. Leave with everything you need to continue your spinning journey, supported by enthused and experienced teacher, Francie Goudie.
Do you love fibre crafts, yarn and all things fluffy? Spinning might just be calling to you! With just one simple tool – the spindle – and the desire to create, you can become part of this most ancient of crafts.
In this workshop you'll learn the basics of spinning on a drop spindle, with experienced and enthusiastic spinner Francie Goudie. You'll come away with your own skein of yarn, a detailed handbook, and the knowledge you need to keep exploring. This is the perfect workshop for anyone looking to learn to spin, or wanting to brush up on the basics.
Included to take home!
• Spindle
• 50 g fibre
• A detailed booklet with instructions and photographs, covering the content of the class and next steps
• A resources list
To bring along:
• Yourself and your enthusiasm
Skill level: Beginner
Tutor: Francie Goudie
Cost: $55 pp
Spinning on a Turkish Spindle
Sunday
Time TBC
Venue TBC
Turkish Spindles - cross-armed bottom-whorl spindles with a removable shaft - are an ancient tool that is uniquely suited to modern spinning. Convenient, portable and quite frankly adorable, there's so much to love about the Turkish Spindle. And with the right tips and techniques, it can become a truly productive tool.
In this workshop, experienced spindle-spinner Francie will teach you her approach to spinning on Turkish Spindles. With an emphasis on ergonomics and productivity, you will learn how spinning on a Turkish Spindle can become an enjoyable, peaceful and even meditative experience. Also… longdraw!
Whether you're a new spinner, you've been spinning on a wheel for years, or you've tried spindles but never gotten the hang of them, this workshop will get you started on your Turkish Spindle journey, and guide you on your next steps. The workshop includes a 3D printed spindle for you to keep, and a detailed handbook of tips and techniques.
Included:
• A Turkish Spindle (3D printed) to keep
• Fibre for spinning
• A detailed booklet with instructions and photographs, covering the content of the class and next steps• A resources list
Skill level: Some experience with spinning.
Tutor: Francie Goudie
Cost: $75 pp
Colour Handling in Spinning
Sunday
Time TBC
Venue TBC
This class will equip you with the techniques and understanding you need to confidently approach those beautiful braids of hand-dyed fibre - the ones that are so tempting to buy, but that can be so intimidating to spin!
Starting with a collection of specially spun samples, you'll discover just how many possibilities exist in a single colourway, with demonstrations of the techniques needed to make those possibilities a reality.
You will engage in lively discussion, including brainstorming creative approaches to fibre from your stash. And you will leave with a detailed handbook of tips and techniques; lots of tips and techniques — those "oh, that will be really useful!" moments; and confidence in approaching multicoloured braids of fibre in new and interesting ways.
Included:
• Fibre for sampling
• A detailed 20 page booklet, documenting all of the samples and techniques covered in the class.
Materials to bring:
• Fibre from their own stash — something that has posed a colour challenge, or that might be particularly special — to discuss with the class and brainstorm an approach.
• The class is largely discussion/demonstration based, but students are welcome to bring a •wheel/spindle and experiment with the techniques being explored, I will provide some fibre, students may wish to bring more — this is optional.
• Curiosity and imagination!
Skill level: Some experience in spinning, a basic understanding of yarn construction (singles and ply) —Suitable for a range of experience levels in spinning. Beginners can learn tips and techniques to try going forward, more experienced spinners can take part in lively discussion, and consider new and different approaches to spinning with colour.
Tutor: Francie Goudie
Cost: $75 pp
