Buellwood Guild meeting August 25 2020

 

Melissa wins 'most productive' this meeting. She has been spending her summer finishing all of her winter projects. We are wondering if she is going to open an online store?
These are just a sample of the needle punch gifts she has finished. 

Denise brought her spinning wheel to our outdoor meeting as did a few others. She took Mary Sue Fenner's one of a kind jacket class we had in July over the internet. She finished her jacket and brought it along for us to see. It has a very Asian look, since it has been a long time since Denise made a sewn garment she learned a lot from this workshop. The pattern is a Marcy Tilton pattern 9035. 

Karen was able to make this meeting and she too had a lot to show . First her mobile for her new grand daughter.  It has stitched wool animals and many of Karen's birch stars. Her indigo dyed sample was very decorative with a lot of detail. The cordage below is red Rhubarb skins that made a nice strong cordage. I believe Poppy made this cordage. Since she was indigo dyeing she added some found garments to see the results. then later added the indigo sample to one of them. 

Eco dyeing many scarves has been keeping her busy and these are just a few that she will be selling on line this summer.

Jimalee's Norwegian mittens hand knit by her for family.

 These are patterns from the Norwegian community of Selbu, copies from museum pieces. She has relied on the book Selbu Mittens by Anne Bardsgard, a wonderful book that was a big gift to herself during this pandemic.

The male cuffs have an elaborate cuff, with much design. The female mittens often have stripes and/or a chevron pattern. Colored mittens are commonly used for children; black and white, grey and white, neutrals are for adults. The yarn is finger weight Finullgarn by Rauma, 100% wool, a very lightweight two-ply. So, lighter weight than dk. These yarns are imported from Norway.

                         

Melissa M's stash of finished items included needle punch  holiday items that she will use as gifts 3 lovely handwoven pillows and pile of dishtowels and some lovely woven runners . I did mention the Handwoven patterns in the previous blog but they are from the M/A 2020 magazine. Which is in our guild library that John keeps for us. Just ask him to bring it to a guild meeting in September if you would like to make one of these items. 

Lastly she made a copper bracelet with the remaining warp from a MLH workshop with Anastasia Azure  she found small magnets to use for the closures. Very cleaver and a lovely piece of jewelry.

                 

                   

Phyliss attended an Eco dye playday with Dawn and created some very nice eco dyed samples. 

Phyliss is retiring form Finlandia this year and treated herself to this lovely hooked rug. From Multi Colores the rug hooking cooperative in Guatemala. https://mailchi.mp/culturalcloth.com/maya-rug-makers-european-debut?e=50b361bebe

Last  she showed a sample of  a warp that was left at class that she finished off . It is the red and blue sample below,  I believe it is  a double weave piece. unfortunately we were not touching all these lovely pieces because of the COVID 19.

Anita  showed off her indigo dyed cloth from our June meeting in the park. She also found a purse at resale shop made of silk ties that she bought as a pattern. She found this skein of mystery yarn that the label is in Japanese.  It is a lovely soft yarn so if you can read the label she would love to know what fiber it is. 

                 

Jim joined our group today with some Suffex wool he cleaned to spin. His wife is a weaver and is interested in joining our guild. We look forward to meeting her. 

David another possible new member, moved here form New Mexico to escape the heat. He has Alpaca south of Chassel off o f 41 on Koko Road. He had a quilted piece to show.

Melissa L had some pictures to share of  Flax she grew this year.  

   

Laura had many items to share starting with the mohair yarn she spun for a hooker who now does not want it, so it is for sale. She is located south of Eagle River WI and travels a long way for our meetings. We love seeing all her projects.  She would like to find a used rigid heddle loom that she can weave over 20 inches. She found that the Rigid Heddle loom is good with fat homespun yarns in the warp. Here are yards of blue fabric on her rigid heddle loom. 

       

She used her Eco dyed sheets from our retreat last year to make a number of  books  this winter. Below are many samples of the pages she put together. 

Mary has been busy testing the Arne and Carlos Wool Slipper pattern and has found that this pattern works very well with Brown Sheep wool. Hand spun wool not so good for slippers as it did not felt as nicely. She has also been knitting socks for gifts.  As well as weaving 4 more Finnish hand towels. 

Dawn has been a busy gardener but still found time to have an Eco Dye playday at her house. 

Lynn brought in her indigo dyed sample form our last 2020 winter meeting. 

Clare sent a picture (below) of her sample garment she made with Mary Sue Fenner's workshop. But she is hesitant to cut into her lovely handwoven fabric. I understand as I have been there, many garments ago. She is going to make this Coco Chanel garment with her fabric. This is just the practice version with a yard sale tablecloth before she cuts into her handwoven yardage.

For those who were in the class, She opted for Hong Kong seams as Mary Sue suggested. She still need to work on that technique but really likes the result! She also used contrasting batik binding as she suggested because she had a lot of it in her stash. Between this and mask-making she is happy to never have to cut or sew binding again.

We all wore masks until we spoke and social distanced . It was a successful outdoor meeting despite the threat of rain. We are hoping that we can resume our indoor gatherings sometime soon. 

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.