Would you like to teach at PLY Away 2017?
PLY Away 2016 was a resounding success and we’re already hard at work planning 2017 and 2018!
To that end, proposals for classes at PLY Away 2017 are now being actively sought and accepted! Official dates coming in the next few weeks but expect it to sit at almost the exact same calendar week (mid-late April).
We plan on starting on Tuesday and going until Saturday so that everyone can save Sunday for traveling. We are looking for 3-day classes, 2-day classes, 1-day classes, and a few half day classes. Proposals should be sent to jacey@plymagazine.com and will be accepted until July 1st. Decisions will be made by the end of July.
The PLY Magazine issues that will be the focus of PLY Away 2017 are: Fine, Texture, Singles, and Cotton but don’t let those limit you – let them inspire you. The topics are just the jumping off points!
We’d love to see proposals on Spinning for Lace, Fine wools, Breeds that are good/bad for fine spinning, Spinning from the lock, How to transition from thick to thin, how to spin thin using different drafts, How to adjust wheels for different spinning, Spinning around the post, Weaving with fine yarns, weaving with textured yarns, weaving with singles, weaving with cotton, Fiber prep for fine, fiber prep for texture, fiber prep for cotton, corespinning, add-ins, texture through plying, texture in singles, spindle classes for fine, spindle classes for texture, fibers for singles spinning, energized singles, weaving with energized singles, when does yarn bias?, using color for singles or using color in textured yarns, spinning cotton on a wheel, spinning cotton on spindles, natural dyeing, charkhas, sprang, preparing cotton, blending cotton and the list goes on and on!
This is not an exhaustive list, just a list of examples to illustrate that there are far more options that just fine, texture, singles, and cotton. We want fun, inventive, interesting classes for different levels of spinners!
I also think it’s important to offer 1 or 2 basic skill improving classes for those new to spinning or looking to increase their basic spinning skills, so if that’s your forte, please don’t feel limited by the topics!
If you’d like to submit a class proposals please do so by July 1st and include the following:
- Working title for the class
- True description of the class and length (3-day, 2-day, 1-day, 3-hour)
- your bio
- materials fee, if you’re not sure, please give an estimation.
- Supplies that spinners need to bring to class. Please remember that our spinners are traveling so the lighter this load can be, the better. We found that some of what spinners brought to PLY Away 2016 was not used in class so please make sure your spinners will need something before adding it to the list.
- Any special needs, equipment, or classroom requirements that you’ll need PLY to provide.
- Where you’ll be traveling from.
- If we’ve never worked with you before, please list a couple of times and places you’ve taught spinning.
- If you would like a half day off in your teaching schedule.
- Any special circumstances you’d like us to know about.
I love the transparency of this request for teaching positions. I know of no other conference where the compensation has been so clearly and publicly laid out.
Thanks also for mentioning my personal conference shibboleth: instructors who throw everything but the kitchen sink into what participants need to bring and then never have us use most of it.
Mid-April isn’t my first choice for holding PLY Away 2017 (I was rooting for October), but I’m going to mark my calendar and hope to see everyone in KC again next year.
Where will it be located?
Hi Sherry,
PLY Away will be located in the area in or around Kansas City, MO.
Thanks!
Team PLY
I have just sent a prospectus. I hope you will be interested in the classes I can offer.
Thank you for stating the compensation so publicly. I make an effort to attend events that treat their teachers well and am glad to see that I can register for PLY Away 2017 in very good conscience.
I am a tapestry weaving teacher, not a spinning teacher, but I want to say thank you for laying this out so perfectly. I have never seen a venue be so transparent about the specifics BEFORE I spend a day putting together teaching proposals. And to pay the teacher before they leave is astounding. What? No waiting 6-8 weeks for a check? No footing the bill for expenses for months? AND you’re actually paying for food and a single hotel room? Bless you. Also this is the best pay I’ve seen for a conference. If I ever teach spinning for weaving, you can expect a proposal from me. In the meantime, I’ll have to see if I can save my pennies to attend PLY Away. Goodness knows I could use a class from one of your amazing spinning teachers. Thank you for respecting your teachers. 🙂 (And I love your magazine…)