Down Home & Company offers classes

FRYEBURG — Following are the classes for the new year at Down Home & Company in Fryeburg. Don't forget that tuition to a class can be a wonderful present.

Classes will be held at Crooked River Adult & Community Education Center in Casco. Please register directly with them. You may use the link on the Down Home & Company website to sign up, or call the Center at 627-4291, ext 21 to ask for a brochure.

Crochet: Learn to make a measure-as-you-go hat. This will be a simple project. The final product will be a fashionable, head hugging cloche. This class is geared toward the beginner to intermediate crocheter. Three basic stitches will be covered as well as some theory.  Two sessions, Thursdays, January 20 and 27, 6 - 7:30 p.m. Maximum number of students is six. No materials fee; bring two to four ounces of sport weight yarn and an appropriately sized crochet hook.

Hand Spinning 101: Ancestors did it out of necessity, but today's spinners do it for relaxation and the pleasure of feeling the fibers flow through their fingers. Learn to make your own yarn using a spinning wheel and wool from sheep. This class is good for the rank beginner as well as the new spinner who is having difficulty making an even, continuous thread. Three sessions, Thursdays, February 3, 10 and 17, 6-7:30 p.m. Maximum number of students is five. Materials fee is $20 plus tax, paid directly to instructor. Supplies needed are a spinning wheel and three bobbins. Wheels may be rented for the course for $20. Please make request at time of registration.

Hand Spinning - Beyond the Basics: Advance your knowledge and skill of this historic craft. Emphasis will be on learning to spin many different fibers and the different techniques used to spin them. Wheel adjustment will also be covered. Student must be able to spin a continuous thread. Three sessions, Thursdays, March 17, 24 and 31, 6-7:30 p.m. Maximum number of students is five. Materials fee is $5 plus tax, paid directly to instructor. Supplies needed are a spinning wheel and three bobbins. Wheels may be rented for the course for $20. Please make request at time of registration.

Knitting Cables: In this class participants will experiment with a few different cables. By the end of class they will have an understanding of how to make those beautiful cables that adorn fisherman/Aran knit sweaters either by following a pattern or making up one of their own. Students will need to be able to do knit and purl stitches for this class. One session, Thursday, April 7, 6-8 p.m. Maximum number of students is eight. No materials fee; bring plain, light colored, worsted weight yarn, size 8 needles and a cable stitch holder (or an expendable bobby pin).

Lorinda O'Brien of Down Home & Company can also do private lessons and classes for small groups at reasonable rates. Classes may be tailored to individual needs. She teaches spinning, knitting and crochet classes at all levels and some nuno and wet felting classes. Please contact her for more information at 925-1811 or downhomecompany.com.