Learn to Spin

• The basics of spinning on a drop spindle

Provided by us:

• 50g fibre

• Spindle

• Learn to Spin booklet

To bring:

• Yourself and your enthusiasm!

We will leave with:

• A detailed booklet with instructions and photographs, covering the content of the class and next steps (Including the option of a left-handed version)

• A resources list

• A small skein of yarn that they spun themselves!

• Their spindle and fibre to keep on spinning (plus the option to buy more fibre)

There are no pre-requisite skills for this workshop. This workshop is for beginners.

• 3 hours of expert instruction from local workshop facilitator Francie Goudie in a class of a maximum of ten participants

• Fibre for spinning

• A printed handout, with accompanying digital material 

• A skein of yarn to take home at the conclusion of the workshop

• Morning tea including a light snack and tea and coffee

• VIP 2-day pass to the Australian Yarn Show from March 7th to 8th at Hotel Realm including:

  • Australian Yarn Show 2026 Show bag

  • One coffee voucher per day (Saturday and Sunday) for barista coffee cart

  • One digital access pass to all the talks on the main stage

Please note that the digital access pass will not be activated until a couple of weeks after the conclusion of the Show.

Francie started spinning in 2014 and quickly developed a passion for exploring colour and fibre while spinning with Turkish-style spindles. She has consistently challenged the assumption that spindles aren't a viable tool for spinning significant quantities of yarn. In 2023 she expanded her practice to weaving, developing a distinctive style that maintains an emphasis on letting her handspun yarn shine.

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.

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.