February 2024 Newsletter

Greetings Fiber Friends!

Our January meeting was a roller coaster of last-minute changes due to the weather, but I was pleased to see how well we were able to pivot and have a group of 24 for the business meeting on Zoom. The best part, however, was the informal round robin discussion that followed in lieu of our regular speaker. I had asked people to think about sharing their favorite memory of a guild event or talk about what they've gained by being in a guild and the ensuing discussion was rich and warm.

When I talk to other people about the benefits of guild membership, I always list our resources - the book/media library, study groups, equipment library, speakers and workshops, the hundreds of years of collective weaving experience coupled with mentoring, the list goes on and on. And those things did get mentioned briefly, but what most people spoke of at our January meeting were the friendships made and sustained for years, the support network that started as a group that flocked together over a common interest in textiles and grew into much deeper connections. Those connections have enriched not only our fiber journeys, but our daily lives and a number of folks spoke of how much they were helped by fellow guild members during challenging times. Yes, it's about community and I'm delighted to see how strong our community is.

The following weekend a group of 8 WWG members attended an online Guild Development retreat hosted by the Handweavers Guild of America, the national organization of weaving guilds. Most of us gathered at Sharon Allen's to watch together and were treated to some great panel discussions about developing/sustaining a strong board, diversity and inclusion, and keeping up with technology. It was exciting and inspiring, and we had some lively conversations following each panel.

It was also encouraging to see the mix of WWG folks who showed up - some new members (yay!) and some of the stalwarts. This is part of a healthy eco-system, the succession of 'generations'. Our guild continues to thrive because of the contributions and participation of our members, both new and longstanding. Becoming involved in the guild as a board or committee member or through our community outreach events is a great way to both sustain our guild and build those personal connections that so many mentioned last month. And I gotta say, it's alot of fun getting together to 'work' on guild stuff - good snacks, creative inspiration, a certain amount of silly laughter (in addition to accomplishing amazing things as a group).

Let me know if you'd like to become more involved, we welcome your input!

LeslieAnn Bestor
WWG President, 2023-2024

News from Committees and Interest Groups

January/February begins WWG membership renewal time!

How to renew your membership
There was an email sent to Guild members on Sunday, January 28. It included an attachment of a 2024 membership form. The same form is on the Guild website halfway down on the Membership page.

Membership Table at 2/17 Guild meeting
For those planning to renew membership dues at the 2/17 Guild meeting, there will be blank forms available at the Membership table. You will be able to pass in the completed form along with a check or cash and receive a receipt.
There will be name tags to create and add to a plastic name badge sleeve with a clip. Our guild has had the practice in place to have name tags at monthly meetings. It's a great way for newish members to easily meet and get to know other members. I am re-establishing a box for badges to be returned there at the end of business and program meetings.

Also available at the Membership Table are Membership brochures and blank Membership forms. Please consider taking a few to share with people you meet!

This year's deadline for renewing Guild membership is Saturday, February 17. After that, anyone who still has not renewed will receive one email reminder. Allowing for mail-in of a form and check for the dues, the final deadline will be Saturday, March 9. Sadly, non-renewing members will then be deleted from the WWG Email List that board members use to communicate with members.

More about the membership form
Thanks for indicating your current areas of fiber activity/interest. This information helps with planning a variety of programs and workshops that will be of interest to members.
And, there is a short section to indicate how you can support the Guild, i.e. helping at guild meetings, contributing to the newsletter, demonstrating your craft/skill, etc. That collected information will be shared with the board and they will be asked to contact the members who responded.
A new item on this year's form and in payment of dues is to consider donating to the Guild. Since COVID, there has been an increase in speaker fees. More information on this topic will be shared at upcoming meetings.
A few early birds used the 2023 form to renew for 2024. Thanks and you do not need to complete a new form.

Also, there has been a delay in mailing 2023 membership directories not picked up at the October 2023 meeting. They are getting in the mail in the first full week of February. Thanks for your patience.

Please contact me with any questions! And, thank you for planning to renew your membership!
Marion, [email protected]

Guild Directories
2023/2024 Membership directories were mailed to about 64 members between Feb 7-9. A huge thanks to fellow guild member Meg Spaulding. Via some family collectibles, she had a large quantity of USPS stamps and she contributed a quantity for WWG mailings to members. Also, a family member of mine helped with adding the return labels and stamps to the envelopes for these mailings. I have educated this person about gauge, ends per inch, and related, but some of the envelope fronts look . . . interesting. For those of you who received the mailed directories, how delightful it has been to see .37 cent and .39 cent stamps. Meg -- thank you!

Name tags at guild meetings
Many group meetings have attendees adding a name tag so it's easy to meet new members and acknowledge that it is challenging to remember everyone's first name. Now that the guild is back with frequent hybrid meetings, which include in-person attendance, at the check-in table there will be a container for name badges in plastic sleeves to be picked up on arrival. For members who need name badges and plastic sleeves, those supplies are on the table. Also, there will always be "Welcome stickers" where a guest or member can add their name.

Thanks to all members for welcoming guest attendees and new members at various Guild meetings, whether you are in-person at a meeting or during an online meeting or its Chat thread.
And, as we are about to leave an in-person guild meeting, thanks for returning your plastic sleeve to the box!
And to all, thanks for being a member of the Greater Seattle ASG chapter!

The Tapestry Focus Group

Our next meeting will be on Tuesday February 13, 3-5:00pm, at the Ferndale Library.

Our presenter this month is Joyce Noordmans and she will be speaking about color in design. She has asked that we each bring a pair of scissors to cut paper. So don't grab your sewing scissors!! Hope to see you all there.

We offer one on one mentoring sessions for the absolute beginner, or anyone having a particular problem, on a case-by-case basis. We bring our looms, yarns, books, ideas, and talk, weave, solve problems, answer questions and laugh a lot. So if you have an interest in Tapestry Weaving join our group and grow your craft.

Our current format is to have one member focus on a subject that interests them, or a specific problem they are having, what types of equipment they favor, a new type of yarn they have discovered, present a video on a new technique they would like to try, or review an old technique that is a favorite. Perhaps introduce a new book they have discovered and give a review. This would be followed by general discussion to answer questions, go in depth on a certain issue.

Sheila Atwater, Coordinator
For more information, text or email Sheila Atwater at 360-201-0818 or sheilag1948@comcast.net

The Rigid Heddle Weaving Study Group

...will be reforming! The group will meet monthly on zoom at a to be determined day/time, and once a quarter in person for show and tell. This group is for beginning weavers with the goal to learn new techniques and weave structures. We are hoping to create useful things, vs. just samplers.
For more questions contact Meg Spaulding at [email protected].

Ikat Study Group

The Ikat Study Group has been working independently since fall 2023.
For more information, please contact Carol Berry, [email protected]

Band Weaving Group

The Band Weavers Study Group continues to meet monthly to share our projects learn, and be inspired by one another’s work.
For more information, please contact Carol Berry, [email protected].

Online Workshop Opportunities, From Sharon Allen, retiring Workshop Chair

To date, there is no Workshop Chair replacement for Sharon, so she has kindly researched ways in which we can all continue to take workshops online until a volunteer steps up. This list can grow with new suggestions, and will at some point be migrated to our website. (FYI, these are recommendations only; the Whatcom Weavers Guild does not have any official affiliations with any of these teaching sites).
In the meantime, if you’d like to get a group together to follow a particular online workshop, please consider forming a Study Group, as others have done in the past with the Jane Stafford Study Group, e.g. - Wendy Eakle, Newsletter Editor

Jane Stafford School of Weaving is justifiably famous for excellent online and live workshops in weaving techniques, with support forums and study groups. janestaffordtextiles.com

Rebecca Mezoff, reknowned author of The Art of Tapestry Weaving offers several formats for learning tapestry weaving, from video courses, to online Zoom classes and in-person classes and seminars. Online learning — Rebecca Mezoff

Schacht School of textile arts, featuring many helpful beginner classes, and advanced as well. Class subjects include: Frame & Tapestry Loom weaving, Inkle Loom, Rigid Heddle, and Shaft Loom weaving, Spinning, and other textile crafts. Schacht School of Textile Arts

Lunatic Fringe Yarns features many project-specific kits &/or instructions available, as well as videos and live online classes (e.g., Double Rainbow On-line Class with Jennifer Moore!). Lunatic Fringe Yarns

Cally Booker, a quote from her website: “I am a handweaver based in Dundee on the east coast of Scotland. I love to teach the art and craft of weaving and, since the pandemic, I have mainly been doing so online.... to meet weavers from around the world and support them in developing their skills and growing their creative confidence. In my Warp Space blog I offer resources with the same intention: to help you achieve the results you want at the loom.” Cally Booker

Jennifer Moore wrote THE book about Doubleweave, and offers excellent guild programs, books, workshops and online courses. Teaching — Doubleweaver

Longthread Media, publishers of Handwoven, Little Looms, Spin Off and Piecework; an annual membership will give you access to back issues of their publications, plus 145+ streaming video courses, bringing you up close to experts in spinning, weaving, needleworking, felting, and dyeing. Learn from an amazing collection of the greats, including Tom Knisely, Judith MacKenzie, Karen Selk, Sara Bixler, Jennifer Moore, Madelyn van der Hoogt, Robyn Spady, Diane Totten, Anita Luvera Mayer - you get the idea! Long Thread Media Workshops

Natalie Drummond offers workshops and information about Deflected DoubleWeave, Dimensional Felting, and Ice Dyeing - see also her Notes tab online. Natalie Woven

Sarah Ward offers all sorts of delightful workshops, such as Off-Loom Weaving, Rock Weaving (honestly!), Paper Weaving, and Darning & Visible Mending. Lark & Bower (larkandbower.com)

Gather Textiles offers projecct-oriented workshops, and Online Classes in both 4 shaft weaving and rigid heddle weaving. GATHER TEXTILES

Meanwhile, just in case you need to go shopping:

Cotton Clouds, the company that carries the UKI cotton that we used in the Sarah Jackson workshop has agreed to extend the free shipping on your orders. Simply enter WORKSHOP at checkout. I have color cards if you need to borrow them. www.cottonclouds.com

Spincycle Yarns, that carries not only their own luscious locally made yarns, but also Brassard and GIST, has agreed to extend the 20% off of your purchase at their brick and mortar store of all the yarn in their weaving room! Simply identify yourself as a Whatcom Weavers Guild member to receive your discount. 112 Grand Ave., Bellingham
Northwest Yarns & Mercantile wants to be in on the party as well. They are offering 10% off all yarns with the exception of Lunatic Fringe Yarns. 206 W Magnolia St., Bellingham

Northwest Yarns & Mercantile wants to be in on the party as well. They are offering 10% off all yarns with the exception of Lunatic Fringe Yarns. 206 W Magnolia St., Bellingham

Sharon Allen

Community Outreach

Small Looms at the Bellingham Library Skill Share Space

Small Looms at the Main Branch of the Bellingham Library is back in session. We will be there on the first Saturday of each month from Noon to 3PM thereafter.

We need volunteers, about 5-6 each month to talk to the public, demonstrate what you are working on and even teach on a small cardboard loom. This is the best way we have found to engage others in the world of textile arts. We have gained a few new Guild members, from this activity, as a result. Please click here to sign up to volunteer.

We especially need someone to volunteer to bring all the supplies and set up the space before we begin. This needs to be done at about 11:30 so we're ready to start at Noon. Please contact Sheila Atwater at [email protected] with questions.

Hospice Washcloth Project & the Sno-Cap Project

Whatcom Weavers Guild supports two community groups by donating projects to them.

Hospice Community Outreach Project

Volunteers lovingly knit, crochet or weave washcloths to support one of the rituals of farewell offered to families of patients who pass away under Hospice care. This is the option of bathing their loved one’s hands, face or body as a final goodbye. The families are given kits that contain a handmade washcloth and a small vial of Lavender Oil to scent the water. The families may then keep the washcloth as a memory keepsake. It is used only once. Whatcom Weavers Guild members have made and donated over 150 washcloths to date. Hospice gives about 50 kits per month to families.

Instructions and guidelines for handwoven washcloths:

Use unmercerized cotton yarns. 60-100% works the best (I recommend “Sugar & Cream”).
They should be approximately 10” x 10” (finished size)
They do not need to be fancy, plain weave is fine
You can choose the weight and sett that you prefer to make a soft, medium weight cloth
Please use lighter colors. No black, navy, brown, or dark greens please
A machine-sewn edge is OK for the finish, as is a short fringe
When finished, wash in hot water and mild detergent
Dry in the dryer with no softening agents or fragrances

These cloths will be used once and offered to the families to keep as a memory keepsake.
For more information, text or email Sheila Atwater at 360-201-0818 or sheilag1948@comcast.net

The Sno-Cap Project

Knitters and Crocheters! Grab your needles and hooks. It’s time for the annual “Snow Caps Project”. It’s the Fall 2023 drive for handmade hats and scarves. Named after WWG’s own Barbara Snow, this heartfelt project produces warm garments and accessories for Whatcom County’s children and adults in need. It’s been going strong for more than 12 years.
The items are distributed through the fall and winter months by collaborating organizations. This includes (but is not limited to) The Opportunity Council, Northwest Youth Services, The Lighthouse Mission, and several elementary schools. It’s a great way to use up those orphan skeins of yarn that we all have in our stash, and to make someone happy and warm.
You create! We distribute!
Patterns and yarn provided if needed.
Contact JP MacConnell for more information: 360-201-4600 and [email protected]
You will be glad that you did!

WWG Library Notes

New book donations are currently under review.

Lynn Berman
WWG Librarian
[email protected]

Upcoming meetings

Guild meetings are held the 3rd Saturday of the month, September-June.

Going forward, all of our monthly Meetings will be hybrid: Both in-person and online. A Zoom option will be available; the link will be sent 2-3 days before the meeting. Whatcom Weavers Guild will be meeting in-person at Whatcom Educational Credit Union (WECU), 5659 Barrett Rd, Ferndale, WA 98248
Parking: The bank is open for business during our meetings, so they ask us to leave parking spaces closest to the building available for their customers and those with mobility needs.

Doors Open at 9:15 for social time and discussing your projects.
9:30: A brief business meeting followed by Show and Tell
11:00: A short break
11:15 – 12:45: Program featuring speaker presenting information about a variety of textile-related subjects

Note: Meetings will need to end promptly at 12:45, to allow time for us to tidy up and vacate the conference room by 1:00pm sharp!
Setup/take down help needed!
We will need to set up and take down all chairs/tables for each meeting. The space is only available during the bank's open hours, which are 9am - 1pm on Saturdays. We'll send around a signup sheet for volunteers at the first meeting, for November we encourage helpers to show up at 9am to help us set up our new space!

February – Sally Orgren
Building a Tour of Swedish Textiles
A trip to Sweden for a family reunion in 2019 evolved into two weeks of non-stop textile adventures for Sally Orgren. Enjoy behind the scenes tours of Östergötlands Ullspinneri (a wool spinning operation), Klässbols Linneväveri (four generation linen factory), Almgrens Sidenväveria (Stockholm silk museum), and some of the student textile work exhibited at the University of Borås in this presentation. Tag along virtually as Sally visits weaver Kerstin Fröberg, the 14th Century Bocksten Man (with his clothing mostly intact!) and nearly 400-year-old textiles recovered from the Vasa, a famous Swedish ship that sank in 1628.
This will be a Zoom Program / hybrid meeting.

March – Mae Bash
Band Weaving
Band weaving isn’t only plain weave, and even the plain weave is cool! This presentation will explore some of the many possibilities of band weaving, along with pattern design and techniques. We’ll also discuss some of Mae’s senior capstone project, “Verb strings and other weavings: An exploration of grammatical structures, visual arts, and language teaching,” specifically looking into the process of turning abstract, non-textile, concepts into patterns and the different techniques used to weave them.
Mae Bash first started weaving as a small child, and ever since they have been practicing a variety of textile arts, including crochet, sewing, embroidery, knitting, and of course, weaving. Mae recently earned a degree in linguistics from Western Washington University, culminating in a senior capstone project merging weaving with their major. When not attempting to do weaving and linguistics at the same time, Mae studies Latvian band weaving techniques and volunteers to help teach English classes in Bellingham.

April – Mary Zicafoose
Program to still be chosen.
This will be a Zoom program / hybrid meeting.

May – May–Susan J. Torntore, PhD
Sample by Sample, Gamp by Gamp--An Approach to Woven Textile Design
Inspired by the tweed fabrics used by mid-century American fashion designer Bonnie Cashin, Susan will talk about the research and design approach to weave her own tweed Noh Coat for the 2023 ANWG Challenge.
This will be a live program/hybrid meeting

Torntore - Noh Coat Samples

Whatcom Weavers Guild Libraries

WWG Equipment Library

I continue to receive donations to the equipment library but don’t have many things checked out. Do you know where to find the list of what we have available?
Go to www.whatcomweaversguild.org and click the Resources tab. The complete can be accessed HERE. If there is a loom that you see on the list that you’d like to try out, or a shuttle, a reed and fabric cutter, just let me know. I am retired and would love to open my doors to you to check out an item. Hope to see you soon.
Sharon Allen
[email protected]

WWG Book and Literature Library

To access the Whatcom Weavers Guild Library’s catalog, the link is here. 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 checkout, contact Carol Berry [email protected].

From the Jansen

Classes and Dye Days at the J

The J’s winter quarter classes are open for registration! For details, please visit www.jansenartcenter.org

Small Loom Weaving

Rigid Heddle Weaving: Beyond Beginner with Leslie Ann Bestor, Fridays, Feb. 28 - March 27

Weaving on Harness Looms

Color & Weave with Sheri Ward, Tuesdays, Feb. 6-27
Beginning Weaving with Marcia Ford, Tuesdays, March 5-26

Tapestry

Beginning Tapestry with Val O’Conner, Fridays, Feb. 23 - March 15

Kids

Weave a Small Bag with Leslie Ann Bestor, Wednesdays, Feb. 28 - March 27

Felting

Telescoping Hat or Rosette Wall Hanging with Flóra Carlile-Kovács, Wednesday, Feb. 14
Felted Small Bag with Flóra Carlile-Kovács, Thursday & Friday, Feb. 15-16

Dyeing

Indigo Dyeing, Thursday, Feb. 1
Wool Immersion Dyeing, Thursday, March 7

Be sure to check the J’s website in early December, and remember there’s a discount for early registration. Please visit www.jansenartcenter.org

Two Felted Small Bags

Felted Small Bag

Your Towel Warp is Ready for You!

We have a lovely assortment of towel warps on floor looms, ready to weave.

As part of our experiment in providing pre-warped floor looms for towel weaving, we have some warps still available. These are all in cotton or cottolin, mostly 8/2, and with a nice variety of structures.

Our towels include:

an 8-shaft turned twill in a natural warp, your choice of colors for weft
an 8-shaft huck lace, in greens and turquoise
M’s & O’s in a natural warp, your choice of weft colors
Swedish lace in blues and greens
a straight draw twill in blue, yellow and natural
an 8-shaft turned taqueté in jewel tones
a classy Bauhaus summer and winter weave in irregular stripes, your choice of colorways
a rosepath twill in natural, your choice of colors for weft
a broken twill in natural with colored stripes, and
an 8-shaft twill in turquoise and rust

So many great structures and colors!

You will be provided with the draft and all supplies. Choose how many towels you’d like to weave.

When you register, we will ask your preference of towel structures and schedule a mutually agreeable time. Once you’ve agreed to a time, please try to finish a towel within a few days or a week, to free up the loom for the next person.

For independent weavers.
$25 per towel, all materials provided.
To register, please visit www.jansenartcenter.org
Sheri Ward

Towel-weaving

Classified Ads

For Sale & ISO (In Search Of)

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.

Classifieds

LeClerc Nilus Loom for sale, $500
Please contact Joyce Noordmans, 360-384-1930
Older Jack Loom in good working condition, 36” weaving width, 4 shaft, 6 treadles, cloth apron, and custom built low castle for shuttle storage
Includes original owners manual, and extra wire heddles
1 reed, 12 ppi
Loom bench included, 23”H x 38”W, with under seat storage and 2 side bins. Seat is 24”W

LeClerc Nilus Loom and Bench

ISO

Cardboard Bobbins
I’m looking for cardboard bobbins for large boat shuttles & don’t know if these are commercially available (all my online searches have struck out). I inherited a handful of them with my walking loom. They are 9 1/2” long, 1/2” outer diameter, & 3/8” inner diameter.
If anyone has a lead please contact me @ [email protected]
Thanks!

Cardboard Bobbin

Upcoming events of interest to Guild members!

Please contribute details of upcoming events of interest to WWG members to [email protected], or Newsletter Editor Wendy Eakle [email protected].

Spindrifters (NwFSA area 2015) Spring Retreat
Organized by our local Whatcom County spinning group, Spindrifters

Spindrifters has organized a Spring retreat at Seabeck Conference Center in Seabeck WA on March 15-18. We have room for several more spinners or similar small hobbyists to join us. Just bring your clothes and crafts.

The Seabeck center has lovely grounds and trails for walking. Scenic views of water and forest. I’ve stayed here several times and the food has been good.

Cost is $278 per person for 3 night weekend (double occupancy), meals included from Dinner 3/15 to Lunch on 3/18.
Single occupancy available for additional $150 for weekend.

If you are interested, please email Kim McKinnon for a retreat registration form. Thanks

Skagit Woolen Works is leveling up!

Abundant Earth Fiber's spinning equipment is coming to Skagit Woolen Works soon. We've temporarily paused new custom processing requests but expect to open that back up sometime in April. We have a separate newsletter for Mill Services if you'd like to stay up to date. Read more about the news here.

Our last crafternoon at the mill (for the time being) is February 14th! With the new equipment, we won't have much space for bigger gatherings so this is our last hurrah. Bring your favorite portable craft and a chair, snacks to share if you're so inclined, and come spend an afternoon crafting with our wonderful community.
More details here.

Presentation and workshop at Strikke Yarns in Bothell for American Wool Month
Why Wool Matters, Saturday February 24th at 10am
Beginning Drop Spindle, Saturday February 24th at 1pm
Register through Strikke Yarns

Skagit Woolen Works, LLC
www.skagitwoolen.com
Mount Vernon, WA
(360) 200-8835

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, unless otherwise specified. 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 [email protected], 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 [email protected] if you have questions.