2009 marks the 32nd 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 34th year of meeting every Wednesday at a different spinner’s home, the Spinners -- ranging in age from 8 to 83 and with more than 700 cumulative years of spinning among them -- have planned 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, 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; wool combing for worsted spinning; and weaving a small tapestry on the seven-stick Journey Loom™. Talks and activities will be take place at the Wednesday Spinners Tent or at the small speakers tent right outside the entrance to the Fleece Tent. Please see the schedule for details and times.

Once again this year, the large, in-ground, seven-stick Earthloom™, that has been such a hit in past years, will be a part of the action again for all three days of the Fair. The purpose of the loom this year is to get us all thinking about how we can help and heal the earth. Bits of driftwood and bark will be provided on which to write one’s commitment to help the earth. These will then be woven into the new tapestry and held in place by colorful yarn and fabric strips. Susan Merrill of Weaving a Life, Brooksville, will be coordinating the activities. Weavers and would-be weavers of all ages are welcome to participate.

Finally, as in years past, 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.