March 2023 Newsletter

Applesies and Fox Noses and colors, oh my!

The Band Weavers Study Group enjoyed a lively meeting in February. We watched Annie McHale’s Video instructions for using the Seizen Inkle Pattern Editor. The Pattern Editor lets the user experiment with color and design before committing to thread and shows what the band will look like in a drawdown. We plugged approximations of the ANWG Conference colors into the pattern editor and saw what a difference color order can make in the design of a woven band. For PDF of instructions on the use of the tool, go here.

Gail shared a sample band made with Omega Sinfonia, Annie McHale’s go-to yarn for bands. Good colors, sheen, strength, and hand. It makes a lovely band. (Not all by itself – you still have to weave it). Heidi shared Show and Tell from the Red Alder Fiber Arts Retreat, and her beautiful Tea Towels, a first big project for her, supported by the Rigid Heddle Group (see photo below, under Rigid Heddle Study Group). Heidi’s selvedges and even beat are enviable, color and design are lovely and thought out. Woven on a Rigid Heddle Loom! Mae, Gail, and Leslie Ann plotted and planned projects for themselves (i.e. leash for a new puppy!) and for Guild Booth Displays for the ANWG conference and Evergreen Quilt and Fiber Events coming up. Lynn got her inkle warped and we shared some new “weaving words” over tangled string. We all oohed and ahhed over Peg Templeton’s lovely hand-drawn and colored card weaving designs, carefully catalogued, and shared by our hostess, Sharon Allen.

Fortified by the group energy and inspired by the Book “Applesies and Fox Noses, Finnish Table Woven Bands”, I attempted my first unsupervised card weaving project the next day. Well, thank goodness nobody was watching me. “Weaving Words” indeed! Of course, I modified the “simple pattern” from the book, to use all five of the ANWG colors. This changed the design a lot more than expected. Of course, I didn’t actually READ the instructions in the intro chapter. (The pictures are great!) 16 cards, that’s not a lot. People have been doing this for millennia. How hard can it be? I copied the pattern out on graph paper and cut threads to length. Clamped my pegs to the kitchen counter, and threaded the cards. Lesson one – a toast rack or napkin holder might have helped for holding the cards. Note to self – work on a table next time. Lesson two – tension is essential. I transferred the warp and cards to my band loom. Tension better, but now the design on the back is what shows on top! How is this possible? Lesson Three – have a system for tracking each turn of the cards. Counting eight turns and then reversing for eight turns sounds a lot easier than it actually is…

The pattern from the book is called “Little Chicken Toes and Birds Eyes.” So far no two repeats have come out looking the same, and the most recognizable motifs might be called “Little Turtle with a Broken Foot” and “One-eyed Alien” but I think it’s getting better!

Hoping you and all your projects are well and happy,

Carol Berry
2022-2023 President, Whatcom Weavers Guild

Card Weaving - careful planning

Card Weaving - threading the cards according to plan - a little loose

Card Weaving - What is this design

Card weaving -
what is spozed to be vs. what it is

News from Committees and Interest Groups

The Tapestry Focus Group

The TFG will be meeting on Tuesday Mar 7th from 1-3 pm at the Ferndale Library large conference room. FYI, we were bumped out of our usual second Tuesday spot and so we got the first Tuesday this month. So sorry about that, it was a library decision.
Margot Jerome was going to present her tapestry artist of inspiration but will not be able to attend in March. So I will be presenting one of my artist's of inspiration instead, Melinda Purcell Byrd. She is a Rya rug weaver.

For more information, 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 March 16.
For more information, please contact coordinator Susan Torntore at [email protected].

Attached photo is of Members of the Band Weavers Study Group, showing off Heidi's show and tell Rigid Heddle tea towels! 8/2 cotton, doubled in a 10 dent reed. This is Heidi's first towel project. Six towels, six designs. Go Rigid Heddle Study Group!

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 April 5, 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, [email protected].

Hospice Washcloth Project

A Story from Hospice

When we started the Hospice Washcloth Project, I had no idea what a large response we would receive. Since I volunteer with the bereavement team, I am privileged to hear stories from the team leaders. In the beginning I asked that we all remain aware of the intended purpose of these cloths and to weave with care, thoughtfulness and intention.

Last week I was told the story of one recipient of a wash cloth kit. It was received with gratitude and thankfulness. The woman held the cloth to her cheek, then ran her fingers along the rows of the woven pattern. She said that she could feel love and caring coming to her from the fabric. She kept holding the cloth and feeling it’s texture for quite some time. Then asked if we were sure she could keep it as a remembrance. It meant the world to her at that moment.

Thank you to all who have woven cloths to donate. A simple thing can mean so much to many. Keep them coming.

Sheila Atwater

For information about how to participate in the project, please contact me at 360-201-0818 (call or text), or email me at [email protected].

From Diane Banks, Member at Large ANWG Representative

ANWG Rep Report

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
[email protected] or 360-255-1836

Upcoming meetings

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 [email protected] for info or loan arrangements.

WWG Library

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.

Please Note: Carol & I will both be gone for several days in March so if you’d like access to the library please call ahead to set up a time. I think our trips will overlap by only a few days and Carol will leave me a key to let you in the library if you’re desperate for a certain book.

Lynn Berman
360-739-8334

Library Spotlight

Wendy & I spent a a lovely morning in the library this past week cataloguing and placing books into their proper slots on the shelves. This has been a quite satisfying activity actually, seeing the many category’s we have now, sliding books into their proper place, all of them neatly organized so they’re easily found……… so unlike the top of my bedroom dresser that has stacks of books and sometimes the days unopened mail!

Next month I’ll list a few more categories and spotlight other books. If you’ve a favorite you’ve found please let me know.

One of the category’s that always catches my eye is “History & Culture of Textiles”. If you’re looking for inspiration this is the place you’ll want to spend some time perusing. Here are a few:

"Salish Weaving" by Paula Gustafson
This book has interesting aboriginal art & weaving from across North America. During colonization much of this art was nearly lost but fortunately enough of the old knowledge survived and was handed down to the next generation to enable a revitalization.

"Textiles of Banjara" by Charllotte Kwon & Tilm McLaughlin
Many of you are already familiar with Charllotte’s extensive work in India for the past 30 plus years and in this book she has captured the colorful & detailed embroidery & stitching of these people. Every page is filled with beautiful color photos & drawings along with text describing the history & challenges of their simple nomadic past.

"The magic of Linen" by Linda Heinrich
From Flax Seed to Woven Cloth, Linda will take you through cultivating a flax garden, processing & spinning. The properties of linen are cool & elegant when woven, knitted, or crocheted. Even if you’re not planning on cultivating the back 40 with a flax crop, with a little knowledge of its unique characteristics your linen project will become a beloved cloth or article of clothing.

From the Jansen

The J’s spring quarter classes will soon be open for registration! Check out the wonderful new offerings at the Jansen Art Center Textile Studio! For members of the J, early registrations enjoy a 10% discount

The Textile Studio’s schedule of classes for winter and spring quarter:

Weaving on Harness Looms:

Twills, Twills, Twills! with Sheri Ward, April 11 - May 2
Weaving a Rag Rug with Marcia Ford, April 26 - May 24
Designing and Planning Handwoven Clothing with Darlene Mathias and Sheri Ward, April 29 - May 13
Beginning Weaving with Sheri Ward, May 16 - June 6
Extreme Warp Make-over with Robyn Spady, May 17 - 19

Weaving on Rigid Heddle Looms:

Rigid Heddle Weaving: Let’s Get Started with Leslie Ann Bestor, April 22
Rigid Heddle Weaving: Beyond Beginner with Leslie Ann Bestor, May 4 - June 8

Inkle

Inkle Weaving with Leslie Ann Bestor, May 9

Tapestry

Tapestry Weaving: Beyond the Basics with Val O’Connor, April 12 - May 3

Kids’ Classes:

Threadbenders Club with Leslie Ann Bestor, May 4 - June 8

Crochet:

Beginning Crochet Part 2 with Jan Burton, April 1 - May 20

Felting:

Felted Bowl with a Handle with Donna Hunter, April 8

Spinning:

Beginning Spinning with Chris Paul, May 4 & 11

Dye Days:

Indigo Dyeing, May 4

Block Printing with Dyes, June 1

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

Twills

Handwoven Clothing

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.

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 [email protected], 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, [email protected]

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.

A Contemporary Approach to Traditional Embroidery
The Skagit Valley Weavers’ Guild is proud to present A Contemporary Approach to Traditional Embroidery, a workshop by Anita Mayer
Dates: May 17-18, 2023
Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Place: Peterson Road Fire Station, 16220 Peterson Road, Burlington, WA

Learn traditional embroidery stitches and explore contemporary ways to use them on clothing and accessories. Each student will complete a reference notebook of samples including creative stitchery, mirrors, innovative beading, couching, wrapped rings, and the faggoting join techniques. The instructor's garments and textiles featuring these embellishments will be on display.

Materials fee: $35.00 to be paid to Anita at start of class
Includes: fabric, thread, needles, mirrors, rings for wrapping, beads, beading thread, folder of handouts. See detailed workshop information for list of things students should bring.

The maximum class size is 20 people. If we have a full class, total tuition will be about $50/person. If the class is smaller, the tuition will be higher.
For additional information and link to registration form, please email Molly Gerhard, [email protected]

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.