A hand holds a wooden spindle with blue yarn wound around it, with a grassy yard and a fire pit in the background.

West Kootenay Fibreshed Society

### Context Profile for West Kootenay Fibreshed Society

1. **Organization Mission & Cause**:
   The West Kootenay Fibreshed Society is dedicated to fostering a sustainable and community-driven approach to textile production. Their mission is to connect local fibre artists and promote the use of regionally sourced materials, emphasizing ecological practices and cultural traditions in textile arts. They aim to revitalize local textile traditions while supporting environmental stewardship and community engagement.

2. **Type of Activities**:
   - **Workshops**: The organization hosts hands-on workshops such as "Sting to String: Nettles for Textile Mentorship," where participants learn to process and spin nettles into textiles. These workshops include storytelling, ecological knowledge, and skill-building sessions.
   - **Community Programs**: They focus on mentorship opportunities for fibre artists, encouraging skill-sharing and collaboration within the community.
   - **Events**: The society organizes events that connect participants with local resources and cultural practices related to fibre arts.

3. **Tone of Voice**:
   The tone of voice used by the West Kootenay Fibreshed Society is friendly, inspiring, and community-oriented. The language is accessible and encourages participation, emphasizing the joy of learning and sharing skills. The content reflects a passion for the arts and a commitment to sustainability, often using inclusive language that invites engagement.

4. **Emoji Usage**:
   The website does not prominently feature emojis in its communications. However, if used in email campaigns or social media, they would likely align with the friendly and community-focused tone, potentially including nature-related emojis or those representing creativity (e.g., 🌱, 🎨).

5. **Key Facts**:
   - **Founding Info**: Specific founding details are not provided on the website, but the organization operates within the West Kootenay region, emphasizing local engagement.
   - **Scale**: The organization has conducted 5 total forms and 11 email campaigns, indicating an active engagement with its community.
   - **Impact Metrics**: While specific metrics are not detailed, the organization highlights the importance of community engagement and skill-sharing, implying a focus on qualitative impact.
   - **Volunteer Info**: Information regarding volunteer opportunities is not explicitly stated, but the nature of their activities suggests that community involvement is encouraged.

6. **Writing Guidelines**:
   - Use a friendly and inclusive tone that encourages participation and community engagement.
   - Highlight the ecological and cultural significance of textile arts.
   - Emphasize hands-on learning experiences and the joy of skill-sharing.
   - Keep language accessible and avoid overly technical jargon, making it easy for newcomers to engage with the content.
   - Use storytelling elements to connect with the audience, sharing personal experiences or anecdotes related to textile arts and community.
   - When applicable, include calls to action that invite donations or support to sustain their programs.

This context profile serves as a foundational guide for creating personalized and effective content for the West Kootenay Fibreshed Society, ensuring alignment with their mission, tone, and community-focused initiatives.

LXCL:Who it’s for: Folks from marginalized communities – LGBTQIA+ people, BIPOC participants, low‑income individuals and people with accessibility needs. Why “Root”: This tier is about creating access for people to find roots in our local fibre community – a place to connect, learn, and grow without financial barriers.

ROOT

LXCL:Who it’s for: General – anyone looking to learn new skills and support our local fibre ecosystem. Why “Stem”: The stem carries resources from the roots up to the rest of the plant – just like standard fees keep our workshops growing and flowing.

STEM

LXCL:Who it’s for: Allies and supporters who want to “pay it forward” and help subsidize spots for others. Why “Flower”: Flowers are the blossoms that share beauty (and seeds!) – just like your extra contribution helps future workshops bloom.

FLOWER

Discover how loose fibre becomes yarn using one of the oldest and most portable spinning tools. In this two-hour beginner workshop facilitated by Stefania Zwirello, participants will learn the foundations of spinning with a drop spindle. We will explore how twist creates yarn, how to draft fibre, and how to control and wind yarn onto the spindle. The workshop will begin with the park-and-draft method, which allows participants to practise each movement separately before bringing them together. There will be plenty of time for hands-on experimentation, troubleshooting, and supported practice. Drop spindle spinning is portable, affordable, and requires very little space. Once you learn the basic process, you can continue practising almost anywhere. No previous spinning or fibre experience is required. What is included<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">A drop spindle to use during the workshop and take home</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Corriedale fibre for spinning</li></ul> What you will learn<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">How a drop spindle works</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">How twist transforms fibre into yarn</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">How to attach fibre to a leader yarn</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">How to draft fibre</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">How to start and control the spindle</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">How to wind newly spun yarn onto the spindle</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">How to identify and correct common beginner challenges</li></ul> All materials are provided. Hand spinning takes practice, and participants should not expect to create perfectly even yarn during their first session. The goal of this workshop is to understand the process, become comfortable using the spindle, and leave with the tools and confidence to continue practising at home. Each participant will leave with their own drop spindle and fibre.

Hi <span contenteditable="false" data-custom-variable="{{firstname}}" fr-original-class="fr-deletable styled-tag-chip" fr-original-style="" style="color: rgb(42, 42, 196); overflow-wrap: anywhere; user-select: none; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(191, 191, 255); border-radius: 4px; margin: 0px; padding: 1px 8px; font-size: 11px; display: inline-block; box-sizing: inherit;">First name, Thank you for registering for Learn to Spin on a Drop Spindle! All materials are provided for the workshop, including fibre and a drop spindle you will take home.&nbsp; Please reach out if you have any questions. Warmly, Danielle Soucieinfo@westkootenayfibreshed.com

Discover how loose fibre becomes yarn using one of the oldest and most portable spinning tools. In this two-hour beginner workshop facilitated by Stefania Zwirello, participants will learn the foundations of spinning with a drop spindle. We will explore how twist creates yarn, how to draft fibre, and how to control and wind yarn onto the spindle. The workshop will begin with the park-and-draft method, which allows participants to practise each movement separately before bringing them together. There will be plenty of time for hands-on experimentation, troubleshooting, and supported practice. Drop spindle spinning is portable, affordable, and requires very little space. Once you learn the basic process, you can continue practising almost anywhere. No previous spinning or fibre experience is required. What is included<ul><li>A drop spindle to use during the workshop and take home</li><li>Corriedale fibre for spinning</li></ul> What you will learn<ul><li>How a drop spindle works</li><li>How twist transforms fibre into yarn</li><li>How to attach fibre to a leader yarn</li><li>How to draft fibre</li><li>How to start and control the spindle</li><li>How to wind newly spun yarn onto the spindle</li><li>How to identify and correct common beginner challenges</li></ul> All materials are provided. Hand spinning takes practice, and participants should not expect to create perfectly even yarn during their first session. The goal of this workshop is to understand the process, become comfortable using the spindle, and leave with the tools and confidence to continue practising at home. Each participant will leave with their own drop spindle and fibre.

West Kootenay Fibreshed Society

Learn to Spin on a Drop Spindle

191 Baker St 2nd floor

ROOT

$45

STEM

$50

FLOWER

$55