2019 Classes, Contests, and Swag

For many years now, we've run The Longest Thread Competition at Homespun Yarn Party. Its been such a hit, that we’re doing it again!

Bring your favorite drop spindle and 10g of the fiber of your choice. Everybody gets ten minutes to spin as much singles yardage as they can. The longest singles wins GLORY, and a prize!

Hope you join us!

Don't know how to spin on a drop spindle? We will teach you! We'll offer free classes on knitting, crochet, and drop spindle throughout the day. If you're a beginner looking to pick up a new craft, loaner needles and hooks will be provided for intro to knit and crochet lessons. For the spinning lessons, you can purchase some fiber and a spindle from one of our lovely vendors or bring your own.

We're excited to bring back two of our popular intermediate level classes this year and add an intermediate crochet class:

We'll show a few different cast ons - i.e. for toe up socks, or the circular cast on for shawls (instead of the tab), or even how to knit that tab. Time permitting, we may add some cast-off options, such as a stretchy bind off for socks or cuffs.

For both knitters and crocheters, we will give tips on how to weave in ends. Then we will show some methods to join new yarn in the middle of a project to avoid having ends to weave in at all. Among other options, you'll be able to watch a spit splice demonstration then try it on your own!

We're also offering a new class this year on crocheted granny squares. If you've mastered the basic crochet stitches and are ready to try something a little more advanced, join us to learn how to make the building blocks of an afghan. Granny squares are a great portable project. We'll review how to read a basic crochet pattern, how to get started crocheting in the round, how to turn a corner on a square, and how to join your squares together.

Classes are held at the center tables. Space is limited and classes are first come, first served.

12:45 – Intro to Knitting

1:15 – Intro to Crochet

1:45 – Intro to Drop Spindle

2:15 – More Ways to Cast-On

2:45 – Intro to Drop Spindle

3:15 – Granny Squares

3:45 – Longest Thread Contest

4:15 – Weaving In and Joining Ends

In addition to our group sessions, our Roving Teachers will be available for one-on-one project help and Q&A throughout the day.
Do you have a project in the works that could benefit from some quick expert advice? Bring it along! Our teachers have generously offered to make time available for those needing a bit of help on a project (e.g. picking up stitches, tightening holes in heel gussets, those blasted side stitches that like to get messy, joining new fiber on your spindle without losing twist, interpreting a tricky pattern instruction) and offer impromptu mini-sessions and on the spot Q&A on crochet, spinning, and knitting.

If you see one of our teachers sitting at the class table without an active class session, or roving about, sporting an HYP "Roving Teacher" button, feel free to flag them down for assistance!

Our teachers will be out and about throughout the day. We want to make sure our teachers get some shopping time in, so if they don't have their button on, they're off-duty.

We'll have fantastic door prizes throughout the day, courtesy of our vendors and sponsors. You'll get a raffle ticket as you enter, and we'll draw winners every half hour. Prize packages will be on display at the HYP Door Prizes table (aka the TABLE OF AWESOME) - place your ticket in the jar for the prize you'd most like to win but make sure you'll be in the room when that ticket is drawn - you must be present to claim your prize.

Don't forget to bring your knitted/crocheted accessories for the 500 Hats Project. If you have any extra yarn you'd like to donate, we will be happy to take it off your hands at the charity table. Some hats will be started if you'd like to stop by and add a few rounds. You can read more about this year's project here.

We'll have Homespun Yarn Party bags, stickers, stitch markers, stitch marker boxes, key tags, tape measures, and buttons for sale at the HYP swag table just inside the door. If you don't have a swift and ball winder at home, or if you just can't wait to start working with your new purchases, we will offer winding for $2 a skein at the HYP Winding Station. All proceeds support future Homespun Yarn Party events.

Here's a preview...

photo by kaylavie - RatchetCatBoutique

Weather permitting, the adjacent deck will be available to hang out and socialize if you need a break from shopping. If the deck is open and it's warm, we welcome wheel spinning and electric spinners outside. Keep your fingers crossed for lovely weather, but our vendors are all indoors so we are mud-free and dry, rain or shine!

NOTE: Our class tables must be kept open for our scheduled sessions and Roving Teachers, and our charity tables for those actively working on a charity project. We ask that shoppers leave their wheels in their vehicles until the final hour of the event unless the deck is open (check first as we have no public storage space). We understand if you need to take a few moments to sit and recover from the yarn fumes but please be courteous of your fellow shoppers and share time at the social tables.

2018 Classes, Contest, and Swag

For many years now, we've run The Longest Thread Competition at Homespun Yarn Party. Its been such a hit, that we’re doing it again!

Bring your favorite drop spindle and 10g of the fiber of your choice. Everybody gets ten minutes to spin as much singles yardage as they can. The longest singles wins GLORY, and a prize!

Hope you join us!

Don't know how to spin on a drop spindle? We will teach you! We'll offer free classes on knitting, crochet, and drop spindle throughout the day.  If you're a beginner looking to pick up a new craft, loaner needles and hooks will be provided for intro to knit and crochet lessons. For the spinning lessons, you can purchase some fiber and a spindle from one of our lovely vendors or bring your own.

We're excited to bring back two of our intermediate level classes this year:

We'll show a few different cast ons - i.e. for toe up socks, or the circular cast on for shawls (instead of the tab), or even how to knit that tab. Time permitting, we may add some cast-off options, such as a stretchy bind off for socks or cuffs.

For both knitters and crocheters, we will give tips on how to weave in ends. Then we will show some methods to join new yarn in the middle of a project to avoid having ends to weave in at all. Among other options, you'd be able to watch a spit splice demonstration then try it on your own!

We're also offering a new class this year on adjusting your gauge. You've seen that cryptic heading of GAUGE in your pattern but paid little attention to it? You've seen it and paid attention but wondered just how flexible you could be with it? You really want to use this great indie dyer yarn that is kind of bulky in a pattern that calls for worsted weight yarn? This workshop is for you. We'll have some sample swatches and rulers on hand, but if you have your own ruler bring it along with a swatch and a pattern that you are planning to make - preferably for a rectangular finished object (i.e. scarves, shawls, some hats, some fingerless gloves, etc.).

Classes are held at the center tables. Space is limited and classes are first come, first served.

1:15 – Cast-On Options

1:45 – Intro to Drop Spindle

2:15 – Weave In, Join Ends

2:45 – Intro to Drop Spindle

3:15 – Adjusting Gauge

3:45 – Longest Thread Contest

4:15 – Intro Knit/Crochet & Demos

In addition to our group sessions, our Roving Teachers will be available for one-on-one project help and Q&A throughout the day.
Do you have a project in the works that could benefit from some quick expert advice? Bring it along! Our teachers have generously offered to make time available for those needing a bit of help on a project (e.g. picking up stitches, tightening holes in heel gussets, those blasted side stitches that like to get messy, joining new fiber on your spindle without losing twist, interpreting a tricky pattern instruction) and offer impromptu mini-sessions and on the spot Q&A on crochet, spinning, and knitting.

If you see one of our teachers sitting at the class table without an active class session, or roving about, sporting an HYP "Roving Teacher" button, feel free to flag them down for assistance!

Our teachers will be out and about throughout the day. We want to make sure our teachers get some shopping time in, so if they don't have their button on, they're off-duty. The 4:15 class session will depend on interest - we definitely want to enable new knitters and crocheters - but most Yarn Partiers are already pretty savvy so we will likely have best availability in the 4:00 hour.

We'll have fantastic door prizes throughout the day, courtesy of our vendors and sponsors. You'll get a raffle ticket as you enter, and we'll draw winners every half hour. Prize packages will be on display at the HYP Door Prizes table (aka the TABLE OF AWESOME) - place your ticket in the jar for the prize you'd most like to win but make sure you'll be in the room when that ticket is drawn - you must be present to claim your prize.

Don't forget to bring your knitted/crocheted accessories and comfort monsters for Artemis House, Shelter House, and TAPS. If you have any extra yarn you'd like to donate, Claire will be happy to take it off your hands at the Knitters and Crocheters Care table. Some scarves will be started if you'd like to stop by and add a few rows. You can read more about this year's project here.

We'll have Homespun Yarn Party bags, stitch marker boxes, key tags, tape measures, and buttons for sale at the HYP swag table just inside the door. We will have a few limited edition 10th anniversary buttons left, in case you missed getting one last year. Brand new this year: HYP stitch markers, available with lobster claw or split rings. If you don't have a swift and ball winder at home, or if you just can't wait to start working with your new purchases, we will offer winding for $2 a skein at the HYP Winding Station. All proceeds support future Homespun Yarn Party events.

Here's a preview...

photo by kaylavie - RatchetCatBoutique

Weather permitting, the adjacent deck will be available to hang out and socialize if you need a break from shopping. If the deck is open and it's warm, we may also have some fun demos of wheel spinning and electric spinners. Keep your fingers crossed for lovely weather, but our vendors are all indoors so we are mud-free and dry, rain or shine!

NOTE: Our class tables must be kept open for our scheduled sessions and Roving Teachers, and our charity tables for those actively working on a charity project. We ask that shoppers leave their wheels in their vehicles until the final hour of the event unless the deck is open (check first as we have no public storage space). We understand if you need to take a few moments to sit and recover from the yarn fumes but please be courteous of your fellow shoppers and share time at the social tables.

2018: Dancing Leaf Farm

I'm known for my rich, saturated colors, with color blending that flows from one hue to another. I use many bases of yarns, a variety of wools, silk, alpaca. I also carry felting supplies including roving, needles, and kits for nuno felting.

I started my business over 30 years ago, with one sheep and a studio. My love of color led me to begin dyeing the wool, then spinning, knitting, weaving and felting followed. I am part of an artisan tour three times a year and also show at a few sheep and wool festivals. I hold monthly classes on felting and knitting out of my studio on my small farm.

Website: www.dancingleaffarm.com
Twitter: @dancingleaffarm
Instagram: @dancingleaffarm
Facebook: dancingleaffarm
Ravelry: Dancing Leaf Farm yarn page, Fans of Dancing Leaf Farm

2017 Classes, Contests, Prizes, Swag, and more!

For the last few years, we've run The Longest Thread Competition at Homespun Yarn Party. Its been such a hit, that we’re doing it again!

Bring your favorite drop spindle and 10g of the fiber of your choice. Everybody gets ten minutes to spin as much singles yardage as they can. The longest singles wins GLORY, and a prize. In honor of our 10th anniversary, this year's winner will receive former local vendor Sarah Eyre's Craftsy class, Professional Yarn Dyeing at Home, donated by our spinning teacher Lauren.

Hope you join us!

Don't know how to spin on a drop spindle? We will teach you! We'll offer free classes on knitting, crochet, and drop spindle throughout the day.  If you're a beginner looking to pick up a new craft, loaner needles and hooks will be provided for intro to knit and crochet lessons. For the spinning lessons, you can purchase some fiber and a spindle from one of our lovely vendors or bring your own.

We're excited to bring you two new classes this year. We'll show a few different cast ons - i.e. for toe up socks, or the circular cast on for shawls (instead of the tab), or even how to knit that tab. Time permitting, we may add some cast-off options, such as a stretchy bind off for socks or cuffs. For both knitters and crocheters, we will give tips on how to weave in ends. Then we will show some methods to join new yarn in the middle of a project to avoid having ends to weave in at all.

We're also bringing back the "Fixing Your Mistakes" class. Bring a 3"x3" stockinette swatch on large needles with you and we'll teach you how to easily pick up a dropped stitch, add a yarnover when you realize you've missed it on a later row, and fix a twisted or accidentally purled/knitted stitch. Bring a crochet hook appropriate for the yarn used in your swatch if possible; picking up stitches will be easier with one. If you don't have time to swatch you can watch our demo.

Classes are held at the center tables. Space is limited and classes are first come, first served.

1:15 - More Ways to Cast On
1:45 - Intro to Drop Spindle (bring fiber & spindle)
2:15 - Weaving Ends and Joining Yarn
2:45 - Intro to Drop Spindle (bring fiber & spindle)
3:15 - Fixing Your Mistakes (bring your swatch, needles, and a hook)
3:45 - Longest Thread Contest (bring fiber & spindle)
4:15 - Intro Knit or Crochet or Sock Machine and Spinning Demonstrations

In addition to our group sessions, our teachers will be available for one-on-one project help and Q&A throughout the day.  More details are available here.

We'll have fantastic door prizes throughout the day, courtesy of our vendors and sponsors. You'll get a raffle ticket as you enter, and we'll draw winners every half hour. Prize packages will be on display at the HYP Door Prizes table (aka the TABLE OF AWESOME) - place your ticket in the jar for the prize you'd most like to win but make sure you'll be in the room when that ticket is drawn - you must be present to claim your prize.

Don't forget to bring your comfort monsters for TAPS, hats and scarves for Alternative House, and chemo caps for Anne Arundel Medical Center in memory of HYP volunteer Beth Haneke. If you have any extra yarn you'd like to donate, Claire will be happy to take it off your hands at the Knitters and Crocheters Care table. Some scarves will be started if you'd like to stop by and add a few rows. You can read more about this year's project here.


We'll have Homespun Yarn Party bags, stitch marker boxes, key tags, tape measures, and buttons for sale at the HYP swag table just inside the door. We will have some limited edition 10th anniversary buttons this year. If you don't have a swift and ball winder at home, or if you just can't wait to start working with your new purchases, we will offer winding for $2 a skein at the HYP Winding Station. All proceeds support future Homespun Yarn Party events.

Here's a preview...

Weather permitting, the adjacent deck will be available to hang out and socialize if you need a break from shopping.  If the deck is open and it's warm, we may also have some fun demos of wheel spinning, and an antique sock machine. Keep your fingers crossed for lovely weather, but our vendors are all indoors so we are mud-free and dry, rain or shine!

Classes, Prizes, HYP Swag, and the popular Longest Thread Contest!

For the last few years, we've run The Longest Thread Competition at Homespun Yarn Party. Its been such a hit, that we’re doing it again!

Bring your favorite drop spindle and 10g of the fiber of your choice. Everybody gets ten minutes to spin as much singles yardage as they can. The longest singles wins GLORY, and a prize.

Hope you join us!

Don't know how to spin on a drop spindle? We will teach you! We'll offer classes on knitting, crochet, and drop spindle throughout the day.  If you're a beginner looking to pick up a new craft, loaner needles and hooks and yarn will be provided for intro to knit and crochet lessons.  For the spinning lessons, you can purchase some fiber and a spindle from one of our lovely vendors or bring your own.

We're excited to bring you a new knitting class this year.  Bring a 3"x3" stockinette swatch on large needles with you and we'll teach you how to easily pick up a dropped stitch, add a yarnover when you realize you've missed it on a later row, and fix a twisted or accidentally purled/knitted stitch.  Bring a crochet hook appropriate for the yarn used in your swatch if possible. Picking up stitches will be easier with one.  

Classes are held at the center tables.  Space is limited and classes are first come, first served.

1:15 - Intro to Knitting

1:45 - Intro to Drop Spindle (bring fiber & spindle)

2:15 - Intro to Crochet
2:45 - Intro to Drop Spindle (bring fiber & spindle)

3:15 - Advanced Beginner Knitting - Fixing Your Mistakes (bring your swatch, needles, and a hook)

3:45 - Longest Thread Contest (bring fiber & spindle)
4:15 - Intro Knit or Crochet or Sock Machine Demonstration

We'll have fantastic door prizes throughout the day, courtesy of our vendors and sponsors. You'll get a raffle ticket as you enter, and we'll draw winners every half hour. Prize packages will be on display at the HYP Door Prizes table - place your ticket in the jar for the prize you'd most like to win but make sure you'll be in the room when that ticket is drawn - you must be present to claim your prize.

Don't forget to bring your comfort monsters and scarves for TAPS and Alternative House and if you have any extra yarn you'd like to donate, Claire will be happy to take it off your hands at the Knitters and Crocheters Care table. Donors will be entered into a prize drawing.  Some hats and scarves will be started if you'd like to stop by and add a few rows.  You can read more about this year's project here.

We'll have Homespun Yarn Party bags, stitch marker boxes, key tags, tape measures, and buttons for sale at the HYP swag table just inside the door. If you don't have a swift and ball winder at home, or if you just can't wait to start working with your new purchases, we will offer winding for $2 a skein at the HYP Winding Station. All proceeds support future Homespun Yarn Party events.

Here's a preview...

Weather permitting, the adjacent deck will be available to hang out and socialize if you need a break from shopping.  If the deck is open and it's warm, we may also have some fun demos of wheel spinning, batt making, and an antique sock machine.  Keep your fingers crossed for lovely weather, but our vendors are all indoors so we are mud-free and dry, rain or shine!

Classes, Door Prizes, Charity, and the popular Longest Thread Contest!

For the last few years, we've run The Longest Thread Competition at Homespun Yarn Party. Its been such a hit, that we’re doing it again!

Bring your favorite drop spindle and 10g of the fiber of your choice. Everybody gets ten minutes to spin as much singles yardage as they can. The longest singles wins GLORY, and a prize.

Hope you join us!

Don't know how to spin on a drop spindle? We will teach you! We'll offer classes on knitting, crochet, and drop spindle throughout the day. Have your needles or hook ready for knit and crochet lessons; yarn will be provided - for the spinning lessons, you can purchase some fiber and a spindle from one of our lovely vendors or bring your own. Classes are held at the center tables.

1:15- Intro to Knitting

1:45 - Intro to Drop Spindle

2:15- Intro to Crochet

2:45 - Intro to Drop Spindle

3:45 - Longest Thread Contest

We'll also have fantastic door prizes throughout the day, courtesy of our vendors and sponsors. You'll get a raffle ticket as you enter, and we'll draw winners every half hour. Prize packages will be on display at the HYP Door Prizes table - place your ticket in the jar for the prize you'd most like to win but make sure you'll be in the room when that ticket is drawn - you must be present to claim your prize.

Don't forget to bring your comfort monsters and scarves for TAPS and if you have any extra yarn you'd like to donate, Claire will be happy to take it off your hands at the Knitters and Crocheters Care table. You can read more about this year's project here.

Finally, we'll have HYP tote bags, project bags, and buttons for sale at the HYP swag table just inside the door. If you don't have a swift and ball winder at home, or if you just can't wait to start working with your new purchases, we will offer winding for $2 a skein at the HYP Winding Station. All proceeds support future Homespun Yarn Party events.

Weather permitting, the covered deck will be available to hang out and socialize if you need a break from shopping.  If the deck is open, we'll also have some fun demos of wheel spinning.  Keep your fingers crossed for lovely weather, but our vendors are all indoors so we are mud-free and dry, rain or shine!

Classes, Door Prizes, Charity, and the popular Longest Thread Contest!

For the last two years, we've run The Longest Thread Competition at Homespun Yarn Party. Its been such a hit, that we’re doing it again!

Bring your favorite drop spindle and 10g of the fiber of your choice. Everybody gets ten minutes to spin as much singles yardage as they can. The longest singles wins GLORY, and a prize.

Hope you join us!

Don't know how to spin on a drop spindle? We will teach you! We'll offer classes on knitting, crochet, and drop spindle throughout the day. Yarn and loaner hooks/needles for knit and crochet lessons will be provided - for the spinning lessons, you can purchase some fiber and a spindle from one of our lovely vendors or bring your own. Classes are held at the center tables.

1:15- Intro to Knitting

1:45 - Intro to Drop Spindle

2:15- Intro to Crochet

2:45 - Intro to Drop Spindle

3:45 - Longest Thread Contest

We'll also have fantastic door prizes throughout the day, courtesy of our vendors and sponsors. You'll get a raffle ticket as you enter, and we'll draw winners every half hour. Prize packages will be on display at the HYP Door Prizes table - place your ticket in the jar for the prize you'd most like to win but make sure you'll be in the room when that ticket is drawn - you must be present to claim your prize.

Don't forget to bring your hats for Alternative House and if you have any extra yarn you'd like to donate, Claire will be happy to take it off your hands at the Knitters and Crocheters Care table. You can read more about this year's project here.

Finally, we'll have HYP tote bags, project bags, buttons and other fun goodies for sale at the HYP swag table just inside the door. If you don't have a swift and ball winder at home, or if you just can't wait to start working with your new purchases, we will offer winding for $2 a skein at the HYP Winding Station. All proceeds support future Homespun Yarn Party events.

Weather permitting, the deck will be available to hang out and socialize if you need a break from shopping.  If the deck is open, we'll also have some fun demos including wheel spinning and a vintage sock machine.  Keep your fingers crossed for lovely weather, but our vendors are all indoors so we are mud-free and dry, rain or shine!

HYP 2010 Map, Swag, and Prizes

Want to know where your favorite vendors will be? Here's a map!



We're excited to have lots of fun Homespun Yarn Party merchandise for sale this year. We have project bags, tote bags, pins, and tape measures featuring our logo (created for us by the wonderful Blueswirly), as well as notecards featuring the winners you chose in our Photo Contest!



Each of our vendors will be providing something great for our door prize drawings, and we have awesome prizes from some of our sponsors as well. We have a Louet Hand Dyeing kit and tote bag from Fibre Space, a project amount of Berroco Sprite yarn from The Yarn Spot, a yarn bowl from Clayations, and more! Make sure you get a ticket at the door, and listen for your number to be called throughout the day.

Help us get the word out!

We're having a contest to help promote the event. Prizes include this lovely handspun yarn, a set of Ravelry-themed stitchmarkers, and perhaps a few other goodies to be announced later.



Here's what you need to do to enter:

1. Write a post about the Homespun Yarn Party on your blog between now and March 14 at 12 PM EST.
2. Leave a comment here (on the HYP blog) with a link to your blog entry, so we know you've posted. Be sure to give us a way to contact you if you win!
3. At the event, we will draw at least two winners from among the contest entrants.

You don't need to attend to win, so even people who can't make it to the party can have fun with us!

While you're at it, if you’d like to link to the Yarn Party blog on your blog sidebar, here are some buttons you can use (right click on the image and click “save image as” to save it to your computer and then upload it to your own server space).



Please spread the word by conventional means as well - tell your friends about the event, announce it at your SnB or guild meeting, hang a poster at your school or community center, ask your LYS to request postcards.


3/16/09 UPDATE: The winners are Andrea of Spinster Yarns and Fibers, and Nora of Atomic Knit Forum! We'll be in touch this week to get you your prizes.

Win Win Win!

We've got some very cool prizes lined up for the Yarn Party this year.

Each of our vendors will be contributing something to the door prizes, and we'll be drawing new winners every 30 minutes throughout the event. We also have wonderful prize donations from several of our sponsors, including Unicorn Fibre Wash, learn to knit and crochet kits from Knitters and Crocheters Care, and much more!

The first 100 attendees will receive a goody bag of random surprises, and everyone who comes will be entered in to the door prize drawings. You do need to be present when your name is called, so plan to spend the day with us.

Can't make it to the event but still want to win something? Or just want an extra chance? Help us spread the word with our blog contest. Watch this space for details!