January 2020 Newsletter

I don’t care if it rains or freezes,
As long as I have my yarns and fleeces
Piled up on my loom and at my wheel.
I can wile away many an hour
As winter wields its mighty power,
​Sitting at my loom and by my wheel…

This year starts with gratitude for my yarns and fleeces, and a lovely warm, light and larger space for weaving and sewing. The hours of daylight are short, but not getting any shorter. With the holidays past and outdoor work not viable for a while, this is my favorite time of year for fiber work. Come to find out, January is officially “knit for yourself month” where we let go of the projects for loved ones, and settle into some restorative knitting, on projects that may have been put aside or put off in favor of getting the gifts finished. From now until the daffodils start coming up, it’s weaving time for me! Getting serious about my color challenge project: I have the inspiration, the yarns, the plan, and the loom I want to use. Which has a project on it: a painted warp that didn’t turn out as originally envisioned. Sampling now, with four yards of opportunity to adapt something ventured into something useful, in a timely manner. 
The new studio space also provides room for more than one person at a time, and a table for meeting and finishing. Friend and neighbor Judy asked to learn to weave in November, has now completed two scarves on the rigid heddle loom. We are setting up a course of study, and she’ll be introduced to the four-shaft floor loom next week (weaving with hands AND feet!) The guild has welcomed several new members recently, and that may include Judy in the year to come. 
Other regional Guilds are talking about a “Noh Coat Challenge”  for 2021, based on fashion icon Bonnie Cashin’s design, and this will be introduced at the January WWG meeting. January 18 will find us meeting in Bellingham, at St. James Presbyterian Church, for a warm picture show, with hands-on textiles, recounting members Marilyn Olsen and Sheri Ward’s amazing month-long trip to India, on a Maiwa Textile Tour.  We will also talk about programs and activities for 2020. The meeting starts at 10 am, bring your sack lunch, and whatever is hot off your needles, spindle or loom!

Warmly,


​​Carol Berry,
2019-2020 WWG President

Dues are due!

​Membership renewals are due in January.  In order to update our files, we are asking everyone to fully complete a 2020 Membership Form.  [click here for Membership Form] The form has been revised to provide more information that will help the Guild plan for the future.  You can mail your check and form, or we’ll gladly accept them at the January meeting. Please fill out the entire form. Writing “same” or “no changes” is not enough – you’ll just be asked to do it again.  Thanks for supporting your Guild!

Upcoming Programs ​​

January 18   –   Textile Touring in India with Marilyn Olsen and Sheri Ward

Marilyn and Sheri will bring their experiences, photos, and collected textiles to us for what promises to be a wonderful program. 

See whatcomweaversguild.org/events for further information or contact us at [email protected].

Program Notes

Looking Back: Fiber fun with Donna Hunter, Dec 21. 
​Polka Dot, sparkle, rainbow, snowflake and more! We truly had a wonderful time felting fillable 3-D mini booties, with Weavers Guild member, felter and instructor extraordinaire Donna Hunter. No experience was necessary to create a charming and functional decoration or gift. Donna also leads a monthly felting group at the Jansen Arts Center, and has already offered to lead a Felting activity for our December 2020 meeting. Cheers!

Looking Forward: Textiles of India. Maiwa Tour slideshow with Marilyn Olsen and Sheri Ward.
​Two WWG members have traveled together on Maiwa Textiles tours led by Charllotte Kwon, and will bring their experiences, photos, and collected textiles to us for what promises to be a wonderful program. They have also experienced hands-on weaving workshops, by Indian Artisans, at Maiwa in Vancouver, and will bring the looms and samples created in these workshops. You will not want to miss sharing this experience!

Thanks!
Sheri Ward, Program Chair
​

Member Notes

Warp Misery (from Dori Painter)

​Do you sometimes suffer from Warp Misery? Fear that the beautiful warp you just threaded and sleyed is doomed for the scissors and the burn pile? Like this one... 

I was able to straighten out the mess in the first photo, carefully strumming, shaking, and yanking to the end of the two chains (painted warp & black warp). 
​Sure looked pretty, but no matter how hard I tried, I could not wind on the 17.5" warp with any sort of even tension (I normally warp back to front, but this was done front to back so I could design the stripes at the reed.

 I put on my thinking cap before reaching for the scissors. I unchained the warp (again!), made myself some "angel wings"... 2 rods tied onto the front & back of the loom, put in a set of lease sticks, then to get even better tension I used 2 dowels. I then divided the warp into 4 smaller chains, added a 2 pound hand weight into a loop near the top of the chain and wound. Perfect tension! As I wound on I moved the weights to a lower loop, wound more, repeated.

​
 Hope this tip helps keep a warp from the burn pile, particularly for those who warp alone!

Sarah Jackson Color Confidence Workshop - May 1, 2, 3, 2020
(an extraordinary opportunity for guild members)

 
This is a workshop suitable and beneficial for beginning to advanced weavers.
Sign up & questions via email to Sharon Allen [email protected]

Sarah Jackson: "Sharing my knowledge, experience, and expertise gives me an opportunity to encourage other people and inspire them to be confident in their own creative ability. It would be a privilege to share my passion and skills with your guild."

Color Confidence 
Students will explore color compositions, learn how weave structures impact color interaction and discover fresh ideas for developing color studies. This workshop is a combination of presentation, discussion, and weaving; it is not a round robin workshop. Students will complete the workshop with a greater understanding of how colors interact in woven cloth. They will know how to sample effectively and how to evaluate ideas for cloth using their sample color combinations. They will leave the workshop with woven samples and confidence in their own creativity and ability to work successfully with color. 

You will need a 4 shaft table or floor loom.  If you need to borrow or rent a loom, or need help getting it warped, please ask!  A small team of weaving fairies will be there to assist you.
The cost is currently broken down as follows and is based on 20 participants: $115.00 + a $45.00 Materials fee.
$45 Materials fee: Includes a pre-wound warp (mailed 1 month prior to the workshop), a selection of over 100 colors of 8/2 cotton for weft, handouts, etc.

Dates
This is a three-day workshop
Friday May 01, 2020      10-4
Saturday May 02, 2020    9-4
Sunday May 03, 2020      9-4

Location
Whatcom County Fire District 4
4142 Britton Loop Road
Bellingham, WA

Deposits
​A $50.00 deposit will hold your spot.
Please mail your deposit check to:
WWG 
PO Box 403
Bellingham, WA 98227

From other guilds and Study Groups

Small Looms Group (from Sharon Allen)
Bring your Rigid Heddle, Inkle, Kumihimo, Card Weaving, Tapestry projects, or come without a project to support this monthly outreach project hosted in the Skill Share area of the downtown Public Library, 210 Central Avenue, Bellingham.

January 4th
February 1st
March 7th
April 4th
Time: 12-3 pm

Eco dye study group (from Mary Oates)
An Eco dye study group will begin meeting at the Jansen Art Center on the first Tuesday of each month. The first meeting will be January 7, 2020 at 11:00. Please contact Dori Painter ([email protected])or Mary Oates ([email protected]) to reserve a spot as space is limited.  The cost will be $10.00 a session per person.   Either Dori or I will contact you before January to discuss supplies and logistics.  Eco dyeing is an adventure.  You never know what will happen when you unwrap your bundle.  

Weaving Challenge ANWG Noh Coat (from Susan Torntore)
ANWG Conference 2021 in Salem OR
The ANWG challenge is based on the work of American fashion designer Bonnie Cashin. The Noh Coat was one of her iconic designs from 1950s-1970s, and Threads Magazine generously provided a pattern for the challenge (Oct/Nov 1990 No.31), and an image (PNG).
 This study group will:
·        Learn the designer’s inspiration and philosophy for this the garment
·        Explore the innovative handwoven fabrics that Cashin used in her designs
·        Sample some of Cashin’s and other fabric structures to design our own coat fabric
·        Make a full size pattern and muslin/fabric coat samples that fit us
·        Explore methods of binding our coat fabric, even making our own handwoven binding
 If you are interested in joining a study group for this challenge, email Susan Torntore ([email protected]), and plan to stay after the January meeting to make plans.

Spindrifters Meetings: 
Spindrifters meet the 2nd Saturday of the month and share with Skagit County. To be added to their e-mail list contact Tina [email protected]. There you have it: You are always welcome at the "J" on Thursdays which is open studio from 11-7. Happy Spinning!! Chris Paul. [email protected].
​

Workshops in Fibers and other interesting stuff: 
Dyeing, soaps, lotions, felting, spinning, weaving, botanicals… Please check my website as my schedule is always changing and usually current.
Liz Moncrief, www.aweaversway.com, 970-692-3949

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From the Whidbey Weavers Guild: 
Meetings are on the first Thursday of the month and run from 10:00 to 2:30, bring your brown bag lunch and cup. Meeting place: 15 NW Birch Street, Coupeville WA 98239, www.whidbeyweaversguild.org.

Pacific NW Wool Drop-In Studio
Kelley Dragon, WWG member, spinner, and owner of Pacific NW Wool (Awesome Carded Fiber for spinning and felting) is opening her work studio the fourth Sunday of every month, from March through October. Drop-in times are Noon to 4 pm. Bring something you are working on, buy wool, see the machinery, spend time with other lovely, artistic people. The Pacific NW Wool work studio is located in the Grandview Business Center, on Portal Way between Ferndale and Custer. Suite 102. Please email Kelley if you have questions, [email protected].
www.pacificNWwool.com

Interest Groups and Mentoring
Are you interested in a technique, weave structure, type of loom, particular fiber? A countermarche loom group is starting; members get together for plant dying and eco-printing; spinners love to spin together; Sprang, Small Looms, Inkle, Tablet weaving, Finger Weaving, Rigid Heddle, garments, knitting, crochet, tapestry… what is your thing? Find a mentor or be a mentor. Shout it out and share the learning, practice and fun.

Upcoming Classes at the Jansen Art Center

For winter quarter, 2020, with dates yet to be finalized, but approximate:

• Twill Weaving with Sheri Ward, Jan. 10, 17, 24 & 31
• Felted Bowl with Donna Hunter, Jan. 16
• Beginning Spinning with Chris Paul, Jan. 22, 28, Feb. 5, 12
• Beginning Weaving with Sheri Ward, March 20, 27, April 5, 12
• SpiNit has returned!  6-8 pm, on the first and third Thursdays
  

There are also on-going study groups in felting, eco-dyeing, rag rugs, and a soon-to-be formed study group for double-width blankets.

​To see details and to register, visit https://www.jansenartcenter.org/textiles-studio. 

Jansen Art Center News

Come see a movie:  Interlacements 
The documentary Interlacements will be shown at the Jansen Art Center on Saturday, Jan. 11, at 4 pm.  This movie was produced by Marilyn Romatka, a fiber artist and long-time friend, and her husband Rainer.  They will be present to introduce the film and answer questions after the screening.
The film highlights the connections made through the fiber arts:  the Seattle Weavers Guild and the Seattle Children's hospital, the deep emotional pull of a finely made rug by Marji Fiddler, more about John Beard and the wonderful robes he has made in the tradition of coastal native people, the link between a guitar player and the woman who made his guitar strap, and our very own local group of weavers who have had long and enduring friendships through their fiber interests.
Come see it.  This is a new take on hand-weaving, focusing not on how threads come together, but rather how lives are joined when people are touched by cloth.
Admission is by donation.

Early American Weaving in March
Laurie Duxbury will be offering a workshop on Early American Textiles at the Jansen Art Center March 10-12.  
​Come learn how to weave textiles that were in common household use during the 18th and 19th centuries. Students will weave a number of samples, depending on class size, of different fabrics. Huck-A-Buck, M’s and O’s, Spot Bronson, and Overshot were common structures used for household linens and clothing. Other fabrics included cotton toweling, linsey-woolsey, and wool blanketing. In this three-day workshop we will weave on pre-warped looms in round robin style. Spend time with friends connecting with each other while remembering the weavers of the past.  

For the March guild meeting, on March 21, our program will be given by Linda Gettman, who participated in the ANWG program, “Wrapped in History.”  She will share information from things she has woven from historical drafts, and plans to introduce members to many of the historical publications related to weaving, such as Atwater's Recipe Book, Keep Me Warm One Night, The Coverlet Book, Robin & Russ pamphlets, Shuttle Craft Monographs, old Weavers publications from the 60's.  Her friend and fellow participant in the program, Isabelle Fusey, may be at our guild meeting as well.

Announcements

Snow Hat Project: A note from Anne Poulson, Maple Alley Inn
Thanks to your donations of hats and scarves, guests of the Maple Alley Inn hot meal program will be warmer this winter!  Maple Alley Inn is a program of the Opportunity Council, and serves an average of 400 meals per week to anyone in need of a hot meal.  The hats and scarves will be distributed at the annual holiday meal, on December 18th.  The tradition for the past two decades has been that gifts are given out during this meal.  Tables are set up with various things – hygiene products, flashlights, travel sewing kits, protein bars, warm socks, hats, gloves and scarves, and guests can choose what they would like. The gift of something handmade is so appreciated – thank you for your generosity of time and spirit!
Anne Poulson, Maple Alley Coordinator

Hats and scarves continue to be collected in January and February. Bring any you have made to the January meeting. Also, Bellingham Technical College is conducting a warm coat drive in January. Bring warm coats and jackets in good condition to the BTC Beauty Academy on Railroad Ave.
​
THE PROMISE OF COMMUNITY ACTION
Community Action changes people's lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities and makes America a better place to live. We care about the entire community and are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other.

Library news from Dori Painter
The Whatcom Weaver's Guild Library inventory can now be viewed online by clicking here.
There is still some work to be done, but we have almost all of the books online. The magazines and other resources are continuing to be uploaded to the site. 

Resource: Free Index to Handwoven Magazines from 1980-2001
Looking for that project that you know you have, but not looking forward to scanning through your stack of Handwoven back issues, or searching every issue in the Guild or Jansen Libraries until you find it? An index for 21 years of Handwoven Magazine articles, projects and contributors is available as a PDF, to download free, or view online, courtesy of the Zadock Pratt Museum website. Indexed by project, technique, and author/designer.

East Hungary Felt Tour 
Apr 16-27, 2020
During the 12-day Felt Tour in Hungary you can take classes from some outstanding felt masters while having a full cultural immersion. Internationally recognized instructors will be teaching project-based classes eg. Felted Jewelry, Prefelt Pillow Pad, 3D Home Decor and Bottle Holder with Nomad Design. Classes are very informative and well balanced with side trips, a folk festival, craft markets, and a special private trunk show and seasonal programs.  
You can access the 2020 East Hungary Felt Tour itinerary here with all the details.
To see photos and read blog-posts and testimonials about previous tours, please visit my website.
If you have any questions about the tour, contact me at [email protected]

Warped For Good
Karen Isenhour’s blog provides tips and insights, and a view of her own handweaving journey. She has learned by working through all the projects in the BIG BOOK OF HANDWEAVING by Laila Lundell, and shows details of her progress, as well as videos, rag rug tips, and a weaving glossary. Sign up for her Blog, and get periodic posts that will inspire and inform your own handweaving.

For Sale

​45” Nilus Leclerc 4 Harness Loom

​Guild Member Sigrid is offering for sale a Nilus Leclerc 4 harness loom with 45" weaving width and 10 dent reed and Leclerc bench.   Only two owners. She is asking $500. The loom is located in Snohomish County. Transportation can be provided if within 50 miles for an additional $25.
​Contact Sigrid via phone or text (360)913-3656. 

​Ashford Wheel and accessories
A member of the community came forward at the Fair and confessed she was not spinning and might want to sell her Ashford Wheel and accessories. This lovely wheel is in perfect condition and ready for a new home, just in time for the “indoor spinning months” of December, January and February... Comes with four bobbins, Kate, wool cards, and the original book. $475 for all, firm.
​Contact Theresa, [email protected]

45” Nilus Leclerc Colonial counterbalance loom. 
Asking $300 Canadian, but the price is negotiable. 
This loom is located in Vancouver, BC
[email protected]
778 325 3425