Rooted in ancestral knowledge and practice, this offering invites you into the slow, intentional craft of processing farm-grown cotton by hand into yarn. Over the course of four weeks, participants will learn the foundational skills of cotton spinning while deepening their relationship with the fiber itself.
This beginner-friendly workshop combines interactive, discussion-based learning with guided, hands-on spinning practice. Together, we’ll engage in a tactile exploration of the cotton plant as we examine its unique qualities, reflect on its layered history and contemporary significance, deepen our understanding of sustainable cultivation, and transform raw fiber into yarn.
By the end of the series, you’ll be able to spin both 1-ply and 2-ply yarn using Brooklyn-grown cotton. You’ll also leave with raw heirloom cotton, a spindle, and printed instructional materials to support your continued practice and yarn-making journey beyond the farm.
This is a weekly class series! Over four weeks, you’ll build the skills and confidence to spin cotton by hand.
Spinning is a meditative process that calls for patience, presence, and care. Through guided practice, you’ll deepen your relationship to fiber, clothing, and the land it comes from.
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
Workshop 1: Wednesday, May 13 (5:30pm - 7:30pm)
Introduction to the Cotton Plant
Indigenous history (The Americas, West African and Southeast Asia).
Exploring the properties of the cotton plant and fiber types.
Activity: ginning by hand and introduction to spinning (using a stick).
Workshop 2: Wednesday, May 20 (5:30pm - 7:30pm)
Western Colonization and the Cotton Industry
Digging into the role of cotton in the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.
Activity: Introduction to spinning using a tahkli spindle.
Workshop 3: Wednesday, May 27 (5:30pm - 7:30pm)
Environmental Impact of Fast Fashion
Slow vs. fast fashion - exploring contemporary textiles.
Activity: Spinning with the takhli spindle.
Workshop 4: Wednesday, June 3 (5:30pm - 7:30pm)
Final Thoughts and Resources
Sharing additional resources and reflections.
Activity: Spinning