Will This Yarn Hurt My Hands? The Ergonomics and Mechanics of Yarn

This class is appropriate for knitters and crocheters, spinners, and any crafter who uses yarn. Creating or embellishing fabric is an exercise in energy exchange between your body and the yarn. Some yarns will help with this exchange while others are ‘energy vampires’ that require you to give your all! In this class, you’ll “dissect” a variety of yarns to understand how helpful it will be in sharing the work. We’ll go far beyond what some think is obvious (cotton is “harder” to knit than wool) and dive deeply into the characteristics of plant and animal fibers, fiber, yarn structure and construction and how it relates to fiber artists’ hand comfort. Spinners will learn how to make a yarn that will be comfortable for them and others to work with. Understanding the mechanics, fiber and construction of yarns will help you to select and make yarns that will be comfortable for your hands and arms to work with. You’ll learn how to make a more challenging yarn a comfortable one.