This marks the 31st consecutive year that the Wednesday Spinners, a group of women from Down East Maine, have been spinning together at the Common Ground Country Fair.  Now in their 33rd year of meeting every Wednesday at each other's homes, the Spinners—ranging in age from 9 to 84 and with more than 700 cumulative years of spinning among them—are planning another lively and informative weekend for fairgoers.

As always, the Spinners will ply their trade at an array of wheels all three days of the Fair. In addition, fairgoers will have ongoing opportunities to learn about washing, picking, carding, wool combing, spinning in the grease (spinning wool “right off the sheep”), and all other aspects of transforming animal fibers into yarn. The Spinners are always ready for spirited conversations and questions.

Friday morning events feature drop-spindling for all ages and making felt balls. Other events and talks during the weekend will include choosing the right fleece and preparing it for spinning; assessing your spinning equipment needs; yellow plant dyes; wool combing; and weaving a small tapestry on the seven-stick Journey LoomTM. Talks and activities will be in the Wednesday Spinners’ Tent or at the speakers tent just outside the entrance to the Fleece Tent.

The Wednesday Spinners invite all spinners—young and old, experienced and novice—to join us for an open spin on Sunday from 10 to 4 at the Wednesday Spinners’ tent.  Bring your wheel or drop spindle and join in the centuries-old art of spinning together.