April 2018 Newsletter
Spring Weaving, for Summer Singing
I have volunteered to weave 10 yards of wool cloth, for use in the “Waulking the Wool” demonstration at the Skagit Valley Highland Games. Waulking songs are traditional, as the singing helps create a rhythm for the time it takes a group to full the yardage. Getting into my yarn closet for some “spring cleaning”, I came across 20 skeins of Scottish Shetland wool, in 15 different shades, ranging from mauve to ocean to moss to plum, 150 yards each. At 12 epi, 22”wide, this is just enough for an 11 yard warp, and that cone of black heather, also from Scotland, will work for the weft. The yarns were all gifted to me from weaver’s estates or over-stashes, and I’m thrilled to be using them up. The warp is measured, see the photo! I have two months to weave the cloth, in time for the 24th annual Skagit Valley Highland Games. I may or may not have Celtic ancestry, who knows? – And I don’t sing, but I love to weave and can’t wait to get going!
I can’t wait to see what you are weaving, knitting, spinning, felting, stitching this spring.
Best,
Carol Berry, Program Chair
I have volunteered to weave 10 yards of wool cloth, for use in the “Waulking the Wool” demonstration at the Skagit Valley Highland Games. Waulking songs are traditional, as the singing helps create a rhythm for the time it takes a group to full the yardage. Getting into my yarn closet for some “spring cleaning”, I came across 20 skeins of Scottish Shetland wool, in 15 different shades, ranging from mauve to ocean to moss to plum, 150 yards each. At 12 epi, 22”wide, this is just enough for an 11 yard warp, and that cone of black heather, also from Scotland, will work for the weft. The yarns were all gifted to me from weaver’s estates or over-stashes, and I’m thrilled to be using them up. The warp is measured, see the photo! I have two months to weave the cloth, in time for the 24th annual Skagit Valley Highland Games. I may or may not have Celtic ancestry, who knows? – And I don’t sing, but I love to weave and can’t wait to get going!
I can’t wait to see what you are weaving, knitting, spinning, felting, stitching this spring.
Best,
Carol Berry, Program Chair
Upcoming Programs
Apr 21 Saturday meeting & program: Tracy Hudson
Textile production in Ladakhi villages fits into daily life, with tending the sheep, spinning yarn, and weaving cloth for traditional outer coats all part of the cycle. Tracy Hudson spent several years visiting and volunteering in Ladakh, where she learned some of the language, and then researched traditional methods of textile making in villages of western Ladakh. This presentation traces the process from sheep to finished garment, within the context of Ladakhi village life. More about Tracy Hudson below.
May 19 Saturday meeting & program: Diana Sanderson, and Staff from the Silk Weaving Studio, Granville Island, Vancouver, B.C. Examples from the Ann Sutton collection of Junichi Arai and Nuno textiles (Pending confirmation)
June 16 Saturday meeting & program: Guild Stash Sale! Sign up for a table, or donate your excess to the Guild. Then shop for treasures, novelties and bargains! Yarns, tools and equipment may be sold by members, and purchased by anyone! This is a great meeting to invite a friend to. The Whatcom Weavers Guild has been given yarn and tools from the estate of Jo Morgan, a well-known weaver. Proceeds from the sale of these yarns, fleeces, and tools will support WWG activities, including keeping workshop costs affordable.
Meetings held at: St James Church (lower level), 910, 14th St., Bellingham. Date: Third Saturday of each month, 10am-2pm. Meeting start—10am. 10-noon—business meeting, show and tell and lunch 12- 1 pm—program.
Bring your questions, small looms, spinning or other portable projects for hands-on time after the meeting.
Apr 21 Saturday meeting & program: Tracy Hudson
Textile production in Ladakhi villages fits into daily life, with tending the sheep, spinning yarn, and weaving cloth for traditional outer coats all part of the cycle. Tracy Hudson spent several years visiting and volunteering in Ladakh, where she learned some of the language, and then researched traditional methods of textile making in villages of western Ladakh. This presentation traces the process from sheep to finished garment, within the context of Ladakhi village life. More about Tracy Hudson below.
May 19 Saturday meeting & program: Diana Sanderson, and Staff from the Silk Weaving Studio, Granville Island, Vancouver, B.C. Examples from the Ann Sutton collection of Junichi Arai and Nuno textiles (Pending confirmation)
June 16 Saturday meeting & program: Guild Stash Sale! Sign up for a table, or donate your excess to the Guild. Then shop for treasures, novelties and bargains! Yarns, tools and equipment may be sold by members, and purchased by anyone! This is a great meeting to invite a friend to. The Whatcom Weavers Guild has been given yarn and tools from the estate of Jo Morgan, a well-known weaver. Proceeds from the sale of these yarns, fleeces, and tools will support WWG activities, including keeping workshop costs affordable.
Meetings held at: St James Church (lower level), 910, 14th St., Bellingham. Date: Third Saturday of each month, 10am-2pm. Meeting start—10am. 10-noon—business meeting, show and tell and lunch 12- 1 pm—program.
Bring your questions, small looms, spinning or other portable projects for hands-on time after the meeting.
See whatcomweaversguild.org/events for further program information or contact as at [email protected].
Special Event
Thursday April 19 1:15 - 2:15 WWU Fine Arts 238
Shoji Yamamura is one of the few textile artists in Japan who create double ikat cottons, known as Kurume-kasuri. Hear from the artist himself how his family has created both traditional and new designs for four generations.
Textile artist Shoji Yamamura grew up in a household surrounded by the fragrance of natural indigo dyes. There he learned the intricate art of dyeing tied threads, and weaving them to produce distinctive ikat patterns. His family has been creating textiles in this tradition for several generations, known in Japan as kasuri. Their work is known more specifically as Kurume-kasuri, named for their town of Kurume, in Fukuoka Prefecture (southwestern Japan).
Yamamura is an innovator in his art, in using many gradations of color and new ways of using natural dyes. In 1996, he was named a successor to the Important Intangible Cultural Asset of Kurume-Kasuri. His work has been exhibited widely in Japan, as well as in Washington DC and New York.
Shoji’s works and his assistant Maki’s works will be exhibited in the Quilt museum in La Conner, March 28-April 20.
Quilt & Textile Museum hours - Wednesday-Sunday 11-5
Thursday April 19 1:15 - 2:15 WWU Fine Arts 238
Shoji Yamamura is one of the few textile artists in Japan who create double ikat cottons, known as Kurume-kasuri. Hear from the artist himself how his family has created both traditional and new designs for four generations.
Textile artist Shoji Yamamura grew up in a household surrounded by the fragrance of natural indigo dyes. There he learned the intricate art of dyeing tied threads, and weaving them to produce distinctive ikat patterns. His family has been creating textiles in this tradition for several generations, known in Japan as kasuri. Their work is known more specifically as Kurume-kasuri, named for their town of Kurume, in Fukuoka Prefecture (southwestern Japan).
Yamamura is an innovator in his art, in using many gradations of color and new ways of using natural dyes. In 1996, he was named a successor to the Important Intangible Cultural Asset of Kurume-Kasuri. His work has been exhibited widely in Japan, as well as in Washington DC and New York.
Shoji’s works and his assistant Maki’s works will be exhibited in the Quilt museum in La Conner, March 28-April 20.
Quilt & Textile Museum hours - Wednesday-Sunday 11-5
