June 2021 Newsletter

Each One Teach One

Yesterday I had a visitor in my studio! A close friend, also a Guild member, who understands that yarn on every surface, surrounding piles of books, topped with graph paper and colored pencils is not really a “mess.” Still, I tidied up a bit before she got here, so we could both sit down at the table for a visit. I wound sample skeins for my upcoming online Natural Dye workshop, and she looked through the stack of older VAV magazines while we had a good chat. These particular magazines from the 1980’s are written in Swedish. Even though neither of us read or speak Swedish, the photos are gorgeous, the weaving seems very contemporary, and the drafts are possible to figure out! As weavers, we know the code. Translate few key words, (i.e. bomullsgarn means cotton, varp is warp, sett is, well, sett) convert centimeters to inches, and we can do this! (Tip. divide the number of centimeters by 2.5, and you get inches. Multiply ends per CM by 2.5, and you get EPI. Round up or down to get a whole number.) This is how we keep our brains going right? And when we don’t get it, or aren’t sure, we ask another weaver.

Looking back to June 2020, we were just figuring out how to connect with each other and our creativity in a pandemic that showed little real sign of slowing down. That summer, with precautions, we were able to get together in small groups outdoors, to connect, learn, share our fiber work and show off our cute masks. By that Fall, we were figuring out online Guild meetings and dialing into online workshops and classes. One year later, as a Guild we have formalized support for Study Groups, both in person and virtual, and committed to safety and inclusivity with monthly Zoom meetings and occasional outdoor gatherings. Driveway warping demos have become a thing. Inkle loom, tray table, folding chair in the car? Check, check and check. There are plans for larger outdoor meetings in the Summer!
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​​Unfinished projects and new starts. I have looms that are warped, dye pots ready, strawberries and peas are getting ripe, baby zucchini plants that need watering. I am excited for our June meeting, to share what is ahead for the Summer and Fall.


See you soon,
​
Carol Berry
​2020-2021 President

Guild Meetings and Programs - 2021

Meetings are held on the Third Saturday of the Month, 9:30 am - 1:00 pm. 
See the schedule below each program. 
Online meetings and programs using ZOOM will be the norm, at least through June 2021. A Zoom meeting invitation will be sent to all members a few days before each meeting.
 
Note!  For clear and detailed Show and Tell viewing on Zoom, Submit photos of your fiber work for Member Show and Tell, by the Wednesday before the Saturday meeting, to Sharon Allen or Susan Torntore.
[email protected] or [email protected]

June 19  -  Robyn Spady, Weaving TnT:  Dynamite Tips 'n Techniques for Every Weaver
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Robyn Spady has been weaving for over 50 years.  Yep, she started young. Having earned the HGA Certification in Handweaving in 2004, she is committed to turning the weaving world on to double-faced fabrics, four-shaft weaves, uncommon and advanced weave structures, and passementerie techniques.  Robyn is also the founder and editor of Heddlecraft® magazine.

​Weaving TnT:  Dynamite Tips 'n Techniques for Every Weaver
Would you like to learn a great method for repairing a broken warp end, tracking your treadling while you weave, making your own repair heddles, or just make weaving easier and more pleasurable?  This gizmo and gadget centric presentation looks and feels like an interactive show-and-tell and will introduce over 36 offbeat tools, techniques, or tricks to assist weavers in all phases of weaving.
 
Social time 9:30 - 10 am
Meeting starts at 10 am - break 11:00-11:10am 
Member Show and Tell after the program
Program 11:15am- 12:30pm
 
Zoom link will be sent the week before.

July 17   -   News Flash! Save the Date!

The July General Meeting will be held live and in person, at the covered Picnic Shelter at Fairhaven Park, in Bellingham. The shelter has been reserved from 9 am to 3pm. Covered facilities include water, large, well-spaced picnic tables, bathrooms. There is also ample space on the grass surrounding the shelter, and some close parking for unloading and those who need level access. Plan to bring your fiber show and tell items to share what you’ve been doing this past year, your lunch, and a folding chair. More details will be shared as we get closer to the date. Zoom access will be provided for out-of-state folks who can’t be there in person.

Request A Program or Workshop!
Nancy Ridenour – Program Coordinator
To request a program presenter for our guild please use the link below to the online request form. Please fill out as fully as possible, including your email. The first and last name of the Presenter/Workshop instructor you would like, and what they/you would like them to present are required fields. If you can provide a website and/or Contact information for the presenter, that is very helpful.  
You can find the Program request form here.

Member Show and Share

Skipped Dent Scarf on Rigid Heddle Loom  -  LeslieAnn Bestor

Landscape Tapestry in progress  -  Sheila Atwater

Andean Pebble Weave on Inkle Loom  -  Sharon Allen

Tiny Structo Loom  –  Sharon Allen

Weaving School in Niger  –  Judith Sen

Weaving School in Niger  –  Judith Sen

Member Interest and Information Survey Report
Carol Berry, President

What would you like to experience in the Guild in the coming year? A survey link was sent to all Guild members in May. The request was to take 10-15 minutes to answer the questions that provide planning and organizational information for the coming year. Contacting everyone via email was considered the way to go, because we have not met as a group in person for over a year! To date, 37 members have submitted their information via the survey. Thank you!

Of the responses so far, mostly, we weave, but not all do. Most of us knit, many spin, sew, dye and felt. About 75% of those who responded have at least one multi-shaft floor loom, about 25% do not. We did not ask you to count and report how many looms you have. This is not a contest. The survey also revealed how much members value year-round Guild activities, that Meetings, Programs and Study Groups are highly valued, and that we look forward to meeting in person and resuming some public outreach in the future. Looms and equipment were important questions, because a “database” of members and experience will help the education chair and study group leaders match up questions with answers and new learners with more experienced learners.

There is much more to be gleaned from the survey, which will inform planning and activities in the year ahead.

If you haven’t completed the survey (it takes about 10-15 minutes) – please, follow this Link to Whatcom Weavers Guild 2021 Member Survey.

Announcements

The Whatcom Museum is open!
​Wednesday through Sunday, 12- 5. You will want to see the new Exhibit, “All Dressed Up…” High Fashion in Bellingham, from the permanent collection. Dresses, hats, and Shoes, worn by the rich, famous, and creative, right here in Bellingham. Full details on the Whatcom Museum Website.

Color and Weave Gamp, Sharon Allen

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Study Groups forming!

Groups can be via Zoom, or in-person, weekly, monthly, or in-between. Each group is made up of individuals who share experience to learn from and with one another.  
“Planning Your Next Weaving Project” From where to start, to what sett should I use; choosing the yarn, doing the math, how do these colors work together… Cathy Meyer and Carol Berry have been sharing their projects via text and zoom over the past year. It’s fun, and we believe we learn more and weave better. If you want to join us for once a month zoom meetings and more, contact [email protected], with Planning your next Weaving Project group in the subject line. You will be contacted about scheduling the group meetings.
Want to learning more about Inkle Weaving? An interest group is forming for those who wish to learn together. There are many books of patterns and instruction in the Guild Library. Email [email protected], with “Inkle” in the subject line.

Current Study Groups
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• Andean Pebble Weave:  Coordinator Carol Berry.  Meets Wednesdays at 9:00am on Zoom.
• Rigid Heddle:  Coordinator Mary Oates.  Meets the 4th Monday of the Month, at the Jansen Center
• Tapestry:  Coordinator Sheila Atwater.   Note! Currently the Tapestry Group is full, with 10 participants. 
• Jane Stafford Online Guild:  2 Groups - Coordinators Sharon Allen and Sheri Ward 
• Eco dye study group:  Coordinator Dori painter. Schedule TBD​

Other education news:  a reminder that if you have questions or ideas you would like to discuss with another weaver, we do have a list of mentors you can reach out to.  Contact Mary Oates [email protected].

Seiko Purdue - Kumihimo Exhibition Update
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​The “Kumihimo Wishes: Current Times” exhibition is up!!  Artist Seiko Purdue says she is very happy with the installation.  All the participant’s Kumihimo work is hung from the ceiling and the big disk (5 foot diameter one) is on the wall.  Sieko says “Thank you so much for your contribution.  I could not do it without you and your friends.” 
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Jansen Art Center is only open to the public Thursday-Saturday.  There is no opening reception, but Seiko will be there on many Saturdays starting on June 3, 2021.  Please feel free to contact her if you would like to see her there.  
Click here for information about Seiko's May virtual Studio Tour. 
  
Seiko A. Purdue, Professor, Fibers/Fabrics
Department of Art and Art History, Western Washington University
[email protected]
360-650-4832

Library Update

​A number of books and videos have been donated to the Guild Library, by members Nancy Ridenour and Susan Torntore and also by Evie Boley a friend of the Weavers Guild. These will be added to the Library Thing list soon. The Weavers guild Library book list is accessible online.

To see a list of all the books available, go to https://www.librarything.com/catalog/whatcomweaversguild

To check out a book, contact Carol Berry via the Weavers Guild email: [email protected]. You can make an appointment to come to the Library, located in central Bellingham, most any day of the week, or ask Carol to pull a book, magazine or DVD for porch pick-up.

Newsletter Editor Update

With this June newsletter, Marion Scichilone is the newsletter editor! She would like to thank Carol who has been very helpful, walking her through how the newsletter is organized. And, Katia has been patient with getting this issue on the website and graciously accepted 16 jpeg files of photos! Marion will work with the board and various members to keep the awesome newsletters coming. Please email her at [email protected] with any newsletter contributions.

Online Resources & Activities

Local Fiber Groups

​Due to the uncertainty around us regarding how and when organizations may again begin meeting and/or holding events, we are not able to provide updated information. Below is contact information for the groups in our area.

olympiaweaversguild.org
whidbeyweaversguild.org
skagitvalleyweaversguild.org ​

Handweavers Guild of America

HGA Textiles & Tea Careers in Textiles with Jacqueline James, a British Weaver who grew up in Bellingham was interviewed for  HGA Textiles & Tea. During the interview, Jacqueline speaks with detail about the dyeing process she uses to create color design schemes for her unique rugs, and shows beautiful photos of her work.
​Interview on April 20, recorded and viewable on HGA Facebook here.

Heddlecraft Magazine

Heddlecraft® is a digital weaving magazine designed for weavers who already know how to weave and desire a better understanding of weaving and weave structures . . . and possibly an interest to create unique designs and patterns. Heddlecraft® is published six times a year.  Each issue has a weaving 'theme' focused on a particular weave structure or weaving topic.  Heddlecraft® is published by Spady Studios and is edited by Robyn Spady.  To learn more about Robyn, go to www.spadystudios.com.

Handweaving.net

Handweaving.net is a digital weaving archive with drafts, historic weaving documents, and more. This website contains 74596 hand weaving drafts, many of which are public domain. Handweaving.net is supported by subscriptions, but many of the resources are available at no charge.

The Jansen Art Center

Jansen Textile "Open Studio"

The tradition of "open studio" on Thursdays has returned, noon to 4:30. You are welcome to come in and work on projects, and there will be someone on hand who might be able to help if you encounter a problem of some kind.

The J exhibit areas are open to the general public Thursday through Saturday, noon to 4:30, but the studio spaces are not. However, during those hours, textilians are welcome to come work in the studio. The studios are not yet open to the general public out of an abundance of caution.

If you wish to work in the studio outside the hours the J is open to the public, you may do so Tuesday through Friday, 9-5, and Saturday 10-4. Please email Sheri Ward at [email protected] to make arrangements.

Double-Wide Blanket Group at the J

The project group for double-wide blankets has formed and will soon be winding warps and getting started. The group will have use of both of the Glimakra looms there, which are 65" and 40" wide.

So far, the groups have chosen warp colors and started to plan their warps. The blankets will be 2/2 twill, using Jaggerspun's Heather line of wool yarns in the 2/8 weight. One group is making blankets that will be 48" on-loom, with a finished width of around 85," the other 36," with a finished width of 65" or so.

We were happy to learn that Northwest Yarns carries the Heather line in the store, which has been helpful in selecting colors and buying some sample weft yarns.

Northwest Yarns, 10% Discount for Guild Members

Northwest Yarns in downtown Bellingham is now offering a 10% discount to Whatcom Weavers Guild members, a good incentive to shop locally. They have the Jaggerspun Heather line on hand, Lunatic Fringe cotton, along with other weaving yarns, and a great array of rovings, tools, and knitting yarns.

​Jane Stafford Canvas Weave Study Group

A study group for Jane Stafford's lesson on Canvas Weave has started at the J. There will be six of us working through the samples in this lesson (21 samples in all!). We'll be using one of the J's looms and coordinating on a schedule. We'll be learning how canvas weave grows out of basket weave, and the relation of canvas weave to huck weave. At this point, we are winding the warp and will soon have the loom ready for weaving.

Classes and Dye Days at the J

Classes and dye days are returning to something like normality. We plan to have regular weaving classes return in the fall. In the meantime, the Beginning Weaving class that was shut down last November is resuming and will finish up by early June. For the summer, we plan to schedule dye days, and we're open to requests. Immersion dyeing or variegated dyeing? Cellulose or animal fiber? Block printing, ice dyeing, or tray dyeing? Something else? If you have a specific interest, please contact Sheri Ward, [email protected].

Rep Weave Study Group

The J's Rep Weave study group is nearly done with their projects. There were five projects all together that we wove round-robin style: table runner, placemats, trivets, mug-rugs, and bathmats. The last three are now completed, the table runners and placemats to be finished soon.

Thank to all of you who contributed to the Textile Exhibit in the J's Library these past few months! ​

Videos You Might Enjoy

Watch "Stinging Nettle Thread Weaving by the Chakesang Tribe".

American Braids by Capel Rugs

Classified Ads

Note! If you have fiber supplies or equipment that need re-homing, you can place them in the Classified section of the newsletter. An 8-shaft table loom listed has found a good home – and its new owner is now a member of our guild! ​

Loom For Sale: Gilmore 8 harness, 12 treadle, jack loom. 40” weaving width. Solid maple. In excellent condition. Comes with 4 reeds (6, 8, 10, 12 dents). $1400. Contact Lee Ingram (Bellingham) [email protected].