February 2023 Newsletter

Get warped, not weft behind!

How is writing like weaving? Well, often rectangular in format; writing a newsletter item, like a fiber project, takes some planning, maybe a little research, inspiration, but mostly, sitting down and getting started! Start with step one – be that getting out the yarn, looking at colors, pulling out books or magazines for drafts or inspiration, editing a prior piece, trying it again with a new approach. Of course, a deadline is always a super motivation…

Speaking of deadlines, inspiration and motivation, have you been thinking about our Annual Guild challenge? Me too – but now, it’s time for me to motivate! Just to review, this year, our Guild is taking the opportunity to show what we do in a display booth at the 2023 ANWG Conference, June 11-17, 2023, in Bend, Oregon. (ANWG = Association of Northwest Weavers Guilds, pronounced an-wig). A number of Whatcom Guild members are making plans to attend the conference, but all of us can be there in spirit and in fiber, by creating a project for display in our booth.

Annual challenge doesn’t mean the project takes all year. Just saying. Doesn’t mean the piece has to be big. The theme for this year’s challenge is Color and Community. Using the theme colors chosen for the Conference, (Rust, Purple, Blue, Green, Gold), create a project that reflects your interpretation of our fiber community.

Several Study groups, as well as individuals, are working on projects using these colors. The Tapestry weavers are working on their pieces, and the Rigid Heddle Group is going strong. At least one person in the Jane Stafford Zoom Group is weaving a shadow weave in these five colors, and I have seen it. Lovely!

The band weaving group is re-convening in February, with room for more members. If you want to join up for inkle, card weaving, small heddle weaving, let me know. Let’s get together to share patterns, explore colors and yarns, get warped, and weave! A collection of bands, bookmarks, shoelaces, bracelets, key fobs, will help fill out our booth display – small, portable weaves are so much fun to do, and fit my bandwidth! I’m also planning crackle towels in theme colors, and I’ll have woven bands to sew on for hanging loops, when I hem the towels.

The difference between writing and weaving? No fringe to twist, no wet finishing, and no hemming!

Carol Berry
2022-2023 President, Whatcom Weavers Guild

Inkle Band in ANWG colors. 8-4 cotton. M Broussard 

Inkle Band in ANWG colors. 8-4 cotton.

Color and Weave. ANWG colors. 8-2cotton.

News from Committees and Interest Groups

The Tapestry Focus Group

We will meet again on Tues Feb 14 from 1-3pm at the Ferndale Library.

We are always looking for new topics for discussion and if you have any ideas for a topic, please contact Sheila Atwater about them.

Of course, we continue with designing and weaving our ANWG projects. Hoping to see all group members present and there are a couple of open slots for anyone interested in the art of Tapestry Weaving. Text or email Sheila Atwater at 360-201-0818 or sheilag1948@comcast.net.

The Rigid Heddle Loom Study Group

RHSG is a hands-on, skill-building and project-oriented exploration of RH weaving, open to any weaver, beginner to more advanced; mentoring and one-on-one assistance available. We currently have 9 members, and room for 4-5 more, if you would like to join. We meet on the third Thursday every month, 1-3 pm, at the Ferndale Library. Upcoming meeting is scheduled for Feb. 16.
For more information, please contact coordinator Susan Torntore at sjtorntore@gmail.com.

Wednesday Weavers (a.k.a. “The Loomatics”)

Our monthly informal gatherings meet on the first Wednesday of each month, at the home of LeslieAnn Bestor in colder weather, and in Sharon Allen’s driveway in warmer weather. Bring your small projects, handwork or just hang out and visit:

Wednesday March 1, 10 am - 1 pm, Home of LeslieAnn Bestor
Please contact Sharon for location and directions.
Sharon Allen, 360-305-0111, LeslieAnn Bestor, 413-387-3205; call either of us if you get lost!

Community Outreach

Skill Share Space/Small Looms Group at the Bellingham Public Library

Small Looms at the Bellingham Library continues to June 2023. We have seen an increase in the numbers of attendees with about half of them wanting to try out some sort of weaving. We provide the materials and show them how to do the basics and let them begin. They can even take home the project to finish. It is really fun to watch the pleasure, that most experience, on the first try. We also provide information on resources in the community if they wish to take further lessons, reference books to read or if they need inexpensive materials.

We will be in the Skill Share space the first Saturday of each month. We need volunteers to come sit, weave your own project, share your skills, answer questions.
If anyone is planning to attend, please email or text: Sheila Atwater at 360-201-0818, sheilag1948@comcast.net.

Hospice Washcloth Project

Hospice is very pleased and grateful for our support. For information about how to participate in the project, please contact me at 360-201-0818 (call or text), or email me at sheilag1948@comcast.net.

Thank you in advance from the Hospice Care Teams and me,
Sheila Atwater, Education and Outreach Chair

Let’s Go Shopping!
A review of our local resources, by Sharon Allen

Here in Bellingham we are so fortunate. Three places to shop locally that have just about everything a Weaver/Spinner/Felter/Knitter/Fiber Artist could need, and will place orders for colors you cannot find on their shelves.
This month I want to highlight what is locally available for Weavers.

Available at Northwest Yarns and Mercantile
Jagger Spun 18/2 Jagger Spun 8/2
Louet Organic Cottolin 22/2
Bokkens 8/2 (limited selection) ***Selections vary***
Lunatic Fringe 5/2
Venne Organic Linen 16/1 Venne 16/2

Available at Spincycle Yarns
(All the colors of Maurice Brassard and Gist!)
Brassard 8/4 Brassard 8/2 Brassard 16/2 Brassard 22/2
Gist Array Gist Duet Gist Mallo
Harrisville Shetland Harrisville Highland
French Linen 5/2
Special Orders of any of the other fibers that Brassard, Gist, and Harrisville offer get you 20% off. You just need to be a bit patients until the next order is processed.

There are new looms available at both locations. Spincycle has Harrisville loom kits and I hear the Northwest Yarns has a 15” Cricket Loom Upgrade kit to a 4 harness?!

Note from Wendy E., WWG Newsletter Editor: Northwest Yarns also now carries Electric Eel spinners, in addition to a very nice selection of spinning fibers.

From Diane Banks, Member at Large ANWG Representative

ANWG Rep Report

I hoped everyone had an opportunity to view the ANWG January Newsletter. If you missed the link here it is.

Registration is now open for Fiber Connections ANWG Conference in Bend, OR June 11-18, 2023. The ANWG conference committee made a worksheet which I found very helpful completing before registering. Here is the link to the worksheet.

I have heard some of the seminars have already been filled, but there are still many more to choose from. The link to view the list of all the seminars is here.

And finally the link to register with rsvpBOOK.
If you have any questions or need help registering on rsvpBOOK, please email or call me and I will be happy to help you.

The theme of our WWG Exhibit at the Conference will be the ANWG colors. If you would like to submit a fiber creation for the exhibit, please use any or all of the ANWG colors. More information will be coming soon about deadlines and collection of display items.

Diane, ANWG Rep
dianebanks01@gmail.com or 360-255-1836

Upcoming meetings

February 18: Amanda Gilvin.
Everyone who loves textiles knows about kente cloth from Ghana, but there are many other beautiful weaving styles from West Africa. Dr. Amanda Gilvin, an art historian who has done research in West Africa since 1999, is available to give a Zoom presentation on three types of weaving done in the West African country of Niger--the téra-tera, the sakala, and the kounta. In her talk “A Bird’s Eye View of Textiles from Niger,” Dr. Gilvin will talk about the people who make the textiles and the techniques that they use. The talk also includes an introduction to the DIMA School in Niamey, Niger, where instructor Abdoulwahid Goumer is teaching a new generation of artists the weaving skills that he has perfected during his decades working at the Musée National Boubou Hama du Niger.

March 18: -Kelly Marshall with Weaving by Design.
A broad spectrum talk on design, rep weave, and the development of a weaving business.

April 15: Linda Hartshorn presenting a Textile Tour of Guatemala.
Guatemala is a beautiful country of highland lakes, towering volcanoes, and amazing handwoven textiles. The modern-day Maya, whose ancestors built pyramids and studied the stars, continue their traditional weaving of complex fabrics on simple backstrap looms. Take a virtual tour of this fascinating country from a weaver's perspective. View vivid images on PowerPoint, examine many wonderful textiles, and hear fascinating stories from the auspicious time of December 2012, the end of the calendar, and the beginning of a new era in Mayan Cosmology.

Whatcom Weavers Guild Library

WWG Equipment Library

The Guild has equipment for short-term loan to members. Just a few of the items are a yardage counter, bobbin winder, shuttles, reeds in commonly used sizes, shaft table looms and Rigid Heddle Looms. The complete list and the equipment reside with Sharon Allen. Contact Sharon.newchapter@gmail.com for info or loan arrangements.

WWG Library

Notes From the Library:
This past week I spent a a couple of quiet & enjoyable hours entering books into the LibraryThing data base that’s available to WWG members. The data entry would have taken a half hour for the maybe 25 books that I entered if I hadn’t been distracted by each new discovery of yet another book that held such a wealth of information on fibers, spinning, weaving, dyeing, tools & patterns used around the world for hundreds of years, many with spectacular illustrations & photos, many in color. A few that caught my eye were:

"Weaving in the Peruvian Highlands" by Nilda Callanaupa Alvarez
"The Art of the Loom" by Ann Hecht
"Handwoven Textiles of Southeast Asia" (sorry, didn’t get the author) This one covers the cultural diversity of Thailand, China, Laos, Burma, & Vietnam

We also are accumulating more books on knitting, crochet, lace, and felting (thank you Donna & Lisa for a wonderful presentation on felting at last weeks meeting!)

Please do treat yourself to an hour or two of perusing your WWG Library. Email or text Carol for a convenient time that works for her, bring a cup of tea or coffee and get lost in beauty.
And an apology to the person who recently sent me a request / suggestion for a book she’d like added to the library. Your email has gotten buried so please resend. And don’t worry if you think I’m not speaking to YOU! I’m always interested in your suggestions for adding books.

If you haven’t seen it yet, check out an article in the The New York Times titled “The Revolutionary Power of a Skein of Yarn” by Peggy Orenstein. Think; “A Tale of Two Cities', Madame Defarge knitting away in front of the guillotines, or our own revolution of knitting Pussy Hats! Who knew those skeins had such power!

With Gratitude,
Lynn B, WWG LIbrarian

To access the Whatcom Weavers Guild Library’s catalog click on this link. A password is not needed. This gives you a list of all the books and magazines in the Library. It doesn't sort by topic and doesn't say if the book is checked out or not. To find out if a book is available for check out, contact Carol Berry.

From the Jansen

For any of these classes or workshops, check the J's website for details.

Classes and Dye Days at the J

In February, we’ll have a basketry class with Judy Zugish, the Stick Who Walks. in March we’ll have Exploring Weaving, a One-Day Adventure (an introductory weaving class with pre-warped looms), and a wonderful day learning about the World of Indigo. Come join us!

Stick Who Walks

Exploring Weaving, a One-Day Adventure

World of Indigo

The Textile Studio’s schedule of classes for winter quarter

Weaving on Harness Looms:

Beginning Weaving with Marcia Ford, Feb. 17 - March 10
Exploring Weaving: A One-Day Adventure with Darlene Mathias, Ann Hinz, and Sheri Ward, March 4

Tapestry:

Beginning Tapestry with Val O’Connor, Feb. 22 - March 15

Kids’ Classes:

Create a Color Parade, ages 8-12, with Leslie Ann Bestor, March 2 & 3
Creating Colorful Patches, ages 13-18, with Leslie Ann Bestor, March 2 & 3

Basketry:

Stick Who Walks with Judy Zugish, Feb. 17

Felting:

Needle Felt Painting with Sharon Torres, Feb. 2-23
Felted Boot Slippers with Donna Hunter, Feb. 18

Spinning:

Beginning Spinning with Chris Paul, Feb. 18 & 25

Dye Days:

The World of Indigo with Judy Newland, March 11

For any of these classes or workshops, check the J's website for details.

Robyn Spady’s workshop, Extreme Warp Make-Over

Robyn Spady’s workshop, Extreme Warp Make-Over, will be held May 17 - 19, Wednesday through Friday. Robyn will also be doing the guild program on May 20 (details elsewhere in the newsletter).
Robyn is a well-known weaver and wonderful teacher. Be sure to check your calendar and make time for this great workshop. Here’s Robyn’s description of this workshop:

Hate to warp, but love to weave? Want more versatility from a single warp? Then this is a workshop for you! In this workshop, participants will warp their loom with their choice of one of three four-shaft threadings and perform an extreme makeover and weave it many different ways . . . from twill, lace, and overshot to swivel, corduroy, deflected weft, and double-faced. At the same time, participants are presented with the basics of different structures and how to adapt a single threading to weave a number of different weaves, including concepts such as star vs. rose fashion, weaving on opposites, and echo treadling. Four-shaft loom required. (Note: This is not a round-robin workshop.)

This workshop is now available for registration through the Jansen Art Center website, www.jansenartcenter.org, or through the gift shop.

Classified Ads

For Sale

Please keep ads clear and concise, with title of item for sale, asking price, an accurate description, and your name, contact information, and general location. Photos must be in jpeg format, and emailed as attachments, rather than embedded in your email.

For Sale: Norwood Floor Loom, cherry wood, 4 shaft/6 treadle, 45” wide - $1000

Includes:
A Bench full of shuttles, bobbins and more
Warping Board

It currently belongs to Diane Lundberg in Skagit County. It belonged to her neighbor who she watched weave on it when she was growing up. Diane has gone on to be an exquisite felt artist and Eco-printer and never used the loom. It’s time for it to find a new home!
(This ad has been prepared by Sharon Allen. Any mistakes are mine, not the owners.)

Please contact Diane at 360-319-9867, or by email at Nuskeroo1@gmail.com

In Search Of (ISO)

Looking for Old Cashmere Sweaters
I am in need of old cashmere sweaters in any condition. I have a local resource that will turn them into Chemo Caps. Sharon Allen sharon.newchapter@gmail.com, 360-305-0111

Calendar of events of interest to Guild members!

Two fiber exhibits are coming up in our region, that you will not want to miss!

At the Whatcom Museum of History and Art, in Bellingham, Katazome Today: Migrations of a Japanese Art, February 11 – June 11, 2023, in the Lightcatcher Building, 250 Flora St., Bellingham. For more information click on the link to the Museum website. Katazome Today: Migrations of a Japanese Art - The Whatcom Museum.

Traditionally used for kimono dyeing, katazome involves the application of a rice-paste resist using special stencil papers with complex designs.
In this exhibition seven national and international artists share fresh perspectives on katazome through their current interpretations. The works preserve an endangered traditional technique while envisioning endless possibilities for dynamic cultural exchange.

At the Seattle Art Museum, Ikat: A World of Compelling Cloth opens March 9 – May 29, 2023. Ikat is a radical departure from the reliance on the factory-made cloth that surrounds us. This spring at SAM, be reminded of the potential power of the woven world to carry the sacred into view. Click on the link for more information Ikat: A World of Compelling Cloth - SAM - Seattle Art Museum

An Invitation from Member Karen Ghio
Please join me, Karen Ghio, on March 2 from 1-3 pm at the Bellingham Ferry Terminal for a discussion surrounding historic preservation and it's effect on American society. This lecture is offered through the Academy of Lifelong Learning.
The link to register for the lecture is here.

Fibres West, March 24/25, 2023
Hello fellow Guild Members! I just had one of your members at the shop reminding me I need to send you some info.. Below is the link to the show website with all the vendors and classes listed.
Show is running at the Cloverdale Agriplex, Surrey, BC, March 24/25, 2023, 9:30-5 each day.
We hope to see a lot of you there,
Brenda :)
https://www.fibreswest.com/
Brenda Alexander, (778)292-1282
Penelope Fibre Arts, 1665 128th Street, Surrey, BC V4A 3V2

Whidbey Weavers Guild Workshop: Rigid Heddle Weaving with Jane Patrick
April 26 and 28, 2023
Whidbey Guild is holding a workshop given by the well known Jane Patrick who is currently the creative director at Schacht. It is on Zoom so it is convenient for people who don't want to travel to in person workshops. It is April 26 and 28. The class is limited to 12 and is half full at this point.

Instructor: Jane Patrick
Dates: Wednesday, April 26 and Friday, April 28, 2023

Location: Zoom
Time: 9 am to 4 pm
Cost: $100 if 12 participants
Level: Students who know how to weave but have little or no rigid heddle experience
Maximum # of students: 12
Registration and a $50 deposit must be received by 3/15/2023
Final payment must be received by April 1, 2023
For more information and for Registration Form, please contact Sharon Allen, sharon.newchapter@gmail.com

Description: This workshop is an introduction to rigid heddle weaving. It will include warping, weaving, and simple warp and weft pick-up. Students will need a rigid heddle loom, stash yarn, stick shuttles, and two pick up sticks. A complete supply list will be provided by the instructor.

Our Monthly Show & Tell

Submitting content for the newsletter

The deadline for submitting content for the newsletter is 5:00 p.m. on the last Sunday of the preceeding month. The newsletter will be on the WWG website around the first Sunday night of each month or in the first few days of the following week. The goal is for members to be reading the newsletter about mid-way between Guild meetings and programs, which are on the third Saturday of each month.

Please send content for the next newsletter to info@whatcomweaversguild.org, with “newsletter” included in the subject line. For photos and images, please send individual JPEG files (please no .tif, .png, .gif etcetera), as attachments only! Do not embed them in the body of your email. Text can be typed into the body of an e-mail or be sent as a Word document that is saved as a doc or docx but not as a PDF. Contact Wendy at wendy_biz@yahoo.com if you have questions.