What IS Distaff Day?
A day long event celebrating the fiber arts. Spinners, knitters, crocheters, weavers, and all other fiber art lovers come together for a day of fun and fellowship. Whatever your favorite fiber art, this event is for you!
Bring along your project bag and spend the day with like-minded people. You will have plenty of time to socialize and discuss methods, techniques, ask questions, relax, and most importantly, have fun!
Join our Mailing List for updates as we approach the event!
The Warmies Project
The Warmies Project will be joining us for the seventh year! The Warmies Project is organized by BE Orlando. They collect handmade items to distribute when it gets cold. BE Orlando distributes the handmade items to homeless shelters, hospices, hospitals, domestic violence shelters and more.
In addition to the handmade items, BE Orlando is also happy to accept any donations of non-perishable foods, which will go to the Coalition for the Homeless. Any leftovers from the Orlando Distaff Day Potluck will also go directly to the Coalition, so if you “happen” to make twice as many cookies as we need for the event, they will still find a great home!
In 2019, Orlando Distaff Day attendees donated 247 handmade items (almost double the number of items donated in 2018) and more than 50 items of donated food. Perhaps we can beat that total in 2020!
Craft up something from the heart to share with those less fortunate. Bring some non-perishable food. Visit The Warmies Project website for pictures of all the items donated by Orlando Distaff Day attendees over the last six years!
Raffle Baskets
This year, we have three raffle baskets — one knitting / crochet and two spinning. Each basket has an estimated retail value in excess of $200.
Raffle tickets are $1 each or a pack of six for $5.
Please note that the contents of this year’s spinning baskets came from the estate of a local fiber artist who passed away a couple years ago. She kept open boxes of moth balls in her fiber room and closets, so the fiber does retain some of that odor.
None of the yarn in the knitting / crochet basket came from the estate and none of the yarn smells of mothballs.
Knitting / Crochet Basket
Spinning Basket 1
Spinning Basket 2
Vendors
Casual Fashion Queen
Four Purls Yarn Shop
Gilda’s Ball of Yarn
MM Waite
Olive & Two Ewe
Pioneer Fiber Mill
Anne Robinson
Shady Hill Rug Hooking
String Theory Colorworks
Twin Mommy Creations
Demos
Throughout the day, we offer demonstrations of various fiber techniques. These demonstrations are short, usually about 15 minutes, and are included in your admission. This year, we are offering demonstrations on needle felting, spindle spinning, carding, and more to be determined. Weavers of Orlando will have their demo floor loom onsite all day and you are welcome to weave on it!
The pictures below are a sampling of demonstrations from 2019.
Suspended Spindle
Karlissa Keller
Floor Loom Weaving
Bev Tavel of Weavers of Orlando (left)
Machine Knitting
Shellee Stewart (left)