September Warping a floor loom Tips and Tricks

We meet on September 17th at Gloria Die Church in Hancock Michigan we shared our show and tell, planned our retreat for October 13 and 14th at the Marsin Retreat House on Canal Road (See below for our Retreat Schedule), we will also be looking for help at the Art Affair booth we have agreed to have.
Let Kathie Joyce know if you can help out with a few hour on Saturday November 10th.

Then we had a demonstration on warping a floor loom.  Two of our guild members have recently purchased looms and many of the others were interested in the warping with weights, that I have been using since I took a class with Kati Reeder Meek.

Show and Tell

Kathie purchased a P Tijen loom that she is excited about. She found it at the Sheep and Wool festival for about $40. I think it looks like a tapestry loom but can also be used for sampling weaving colors and yarns.

Karen was teaching at North House Folk school in August and meet Beth Homa Kraus who taught a class on Birch Bark Purse construction. Karen will be teaching a basket class next summer at the Porkies Folk School in August 2019 the17 or 18. She will also be teaching a class in 'Bow Bead weaving' at our retreat on October 13 at 9 am. Please let Karen know if you are interested so she will have ample supplies.

Beth Homa Kraus Birch Bark Purse

Karen Woven Basket Class August 2019 Porkies Folk School

 Dawn spent some of July and August hiking many trails in Alaska. Having lived in Alaska  in the past she visited areas and people she knew when she lived there. She came home with Qiviut or Musk Ox, from Palmer and Cashmere goat fiber. Two lovely bags of soft fiber for her to play with.

Cashmere Goat fleece

Qiviut fleece

Dawn shared with us her plans for her Retreat workshop which will be on Saturday afternoon, after our incredible lunch feast and guild planning , about 1:30 to 2:00 pm. This is water color paper dyed with flowers and leaves then rolled up and steamed. I believe we will be doing Silk Scarves at the retreat. A small fee will be charged for the Silk Scarves.

Eco dyed sample on watercolor paper

Dawn has a new loom and she is starting with a simple woven tabby towel. But she has plans to get into garment construction and she found an wonderful book by Anita Luvera Mayer.

 

Anita brought in thrift store books she found and some paintings she did with cotton washcloth yarn and Acrylic paint. I believe she called it Duty Pour. She also brought in a new fiber person Jay a Yooper who has returned to his homeland. He is interested in many fiber related arts and was wowed by our warping demo. Welcome Jay I hope you will bring in your handmade garment to our next meeting.

We also were joined by Cheryl who is a new student at Finlandia. Welcome Cheryl.

Duty pouring art

welcome Jay!

Warping notes for those who were at our demo. 

I believe that the more you warp the loom the better you get at it. Therefore only put on 5 - 7 yards or less each time you warp. Then too you do not get tired of weaving the same pattern over and over.

I learned to warp front to back many years ago. But I have found back to front works much better for me. I like that the warp only goes through the heddles or reed only once. I also like to use weights when winding on the warp to the back beam. This means I do not have to ask my husband to assist. Yeah!!!! 
I now also leave my lee sticks In the warp when weaving to maintain a good tension.

warp wound on loom with raddle and lee sticks in place

Dawn took her loom home and hopes to find time to finish treading the heddles then we will finish warping her loom at her home.

water bottle weights my secret to warping a loom with out help.

warping can be back breaking at times

treading the heddles... a slow job with 480 threads.

 

 

 

 

 

Donna Kallner Workshop July 15th 2019   save the date

Nalbinding from the round start. Guild will subsidize some cost of this workshop.

Nalbinding From A Round Start -- 7 hours

In the vast family of looping techniques, the branch known as nalbinding is generally associated with making warm, wooly wearables. In these stitched structures, the entire working thread passes through on each stitch. The structure is so stable they can't unravel, making them perfect for winter work and play. In this introduction to nalbinding, you'll learn to work Oslo stitch using your thumb as a gauge, learn a round start which can be used to make bags, hats and mats, and learn to increase, decrease, chain, and make things without having to follow a pattern. Class includes discussion about using handspun yarn in nalbinding. You will not complete a project in this class, but will leave with the confidence to start and finish one on your own. All levels welcome. Materials provided include mill-spun and handspun wool yarns, wooden nalbinding needle, instructor-made starts for sampling, and handouts. Bring embroidery scissors, the eyeglasses you use for close work, a personal task lamp (optional) and a sack lunch. Let Mary know if you are interested Minimum 8 students Maximum 12.

Donna Kallner class on Nalbinding from the round start.

Buellwood 4 th annual Fall Retreat

October 13 and 14th at the Marsin House Retreat Center on Canal Road - turn at and follow the Yellow Brick Road or was it the Red Brick road. Allow a little extra time as the road is out at Oscar and you need to take a detour. workshops start at 9:00 am and 1:30 pm both days. 9:00 am- 5:00 pm
**Pot luck lunch with one dish from each of us for both days will be great. We are charging a small fee for some of the workshops. I believe $5, I have heard for supplies. Public is welcome to participate for the slight fee of $25 membership to join our guild. WE may have weaving and fiber equipment for sale also.
Saturday night  'Into the Midnight Sun' Mary will share her slides from a Cruise to Scotland and Norway in June 2018 after dinner, for those who are interested.

Workshop Schedule for Fall Retreat

Saturday 13th  AM Bow Bead Weaving with Karen, PM Dryer Balls and Eco Dyeing with Dawn.
Sunday 14th AM Needlework on wool with Laura, PM Marbling dye on cloth with John.
try your hand at Rep Weave make a rug mug or two if you like-all day both days.