May 2020 Newsletter

Hello Fiber Friends,
 
If times were normal, we would have just finished Sarah Jackson's Color Confidence Workshop last weekend. I warped a table loom in Summer and Winter stripes, in preparation, and I’m still working on that sampler. My strategy, written down on March 17, was to get all the looms warped. It’s good to have goals, and good for everybody to be dressed, right? Now the plan is to finish the M’s and O’s towels and put the next warp on. I love M’s and O’s. It’s a versatile, simple-to-thread weave that lends itself to a lot of variations and makes checked patterns. This one, a variation of 5-fold M’s & O’s from the M. Davison “green book”, can even make checks within the checks! I still like it so much I want to do it again, correcting some iffy color choices this time. No, not the ones in the photos. Other ones.

Back to thinking about “normal” times… still encountering a lot of the same as ever. Like dishes, laundry, weeding, unweaving after a distracted mistake, all normal for me. Normal is still happening, because Spring will not be cancelled. Seedlings, tulips, apple blossoms. Cooking favorites from my mother’s and grandmother’s recipe boxes helps me feel normal. Comfort foods that have been showing up our family tables since the 1930’s. Baked pasta, applesauce cake, biscuits, zucchini casserole are some of the foods that bring out my feelings of comfort and being cared for. Washing the dishes with grandma is a fond memory, and now I’m using the “good” dish towels, because really, what are we saving them for? Still speaking of “normal”, today it went from sunny at 8:30 am, to windy at 10 am, to torrential rain at 12:30 pm, and now back to our regularly scheduled misty wet and gray. Gotta love normal northwest weather. Keeps the skin moist. Which is good because we are still washing our hands, a lot.

I do miss everybody! As a Guild, we plan to do as recommended and continue physical distancing for as long as needed. I have learned how to do Zoom meetings, and had a 30 minute Zoom spin-in with Carla S. and several “tea parties’ with weaving buddies. How do you feel about a virtual meeting and/or virtual interest groups? Recipe swaps, grocery getting tips? Just coffee or tea and seeing each other’s faces! I can schedule and set up a meeting, and there are protections against any “bombing” that we might have heard about. You just click on the link to join the meeting. Via technology, we could even meet one of our newest members, Cathy Meyer, who lives in California. Cathy joined WWG in order to sign up for the Sarah Jackson Workshop, and she was to stay in my studio guest room during the Workshop, May 1-3. This was not to be, but Cathy is using this time to stay connected with the fiber community. I hope we get to meet Cathy in person when Sarah Jackson’s Color Confidence workshop is re-scheduled.

​Thankfully, I have also been blessed with some pleasant in-person visits, at a distance. Kim H. passed by my house on her morning walk, and we had a nice chat, she from the sidewalk, me on the front porch, before she continued on. Charlotte (my young weaver friend, currently furloughed and distance learning from Happy Valley School) has expanded her weaving technology to include a small inkle loom (thanks to Sharon A.) and we sat at either end of the porch, masked, while I told her how to warp it, demonstrating on my own Inkle loom, 7 feet apart. Weaving and sewing are providing comfort and structure to so many of us, it is a joy to share it!  For a little more comfort and caring, Charlotte’s mom, Susan has made us a custom hand, wrist and shoulder therapy video. Read more about her and view the video below in the newsletter! 

​
​​​Carol Berry,
2019-2020 WWG President

Upcoming Guild Programs as of now

Along with everyone else, we are dealing with uncertainty in scheduling meetings and gathering together. Since the governor has extended the "Stay Safe" order through the end of May, we won't be able to meet in May. For future meeting dates, the board is discussing plans, and we'll keep you informed.
Our planned program for May, Care and Conservation of Textiles, will be rescheduled. Our June meeting may or may not happen, but if it does, it would be the stash sale and reveal of guild challenge projects, as listed below. It's possible we'll delay that event until July, and hold it in a park, with a BYO or potluck lunch. Stay tuned for future plans! Thanks for your patience with all this.

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Tentative Stash Sale and Reveal of Guild Challenge Items
Presenters: all of us
When: June 20
Where: St. James Presbyterian Church
Time: Guild meeting begins at 10:00 a.m.

This will include a reveal of the guild challenge items inspired by Linda Rees' wrappings, some review of her tapestries, along with our annual cornucopia of magazines, books, yarns, tools & equipment! The public is also invited to shop at the stash sale, supporting WWG events and programs.


Upcoming Classes at the Jansen Art Center
Regular classes have been postponed due to the Corona Virus. When it is safe and reasonable to do so, classes and regular programs will begin, likely on a phased-in schedule. Check the Jansen Art Center website for any updates: www.jansenartcenter.org

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Fiber Showcase at the Jansen Art Center
Guild members are invited to exhibit textile creations this coming winter at the Fiber Showcase at the Jansen Art Center. The dates for this exhibit have been changed, due to the corona virus shutdown, and the times for the show are now the months of December, 2020 through February, 2021. The exhibit will be open to all guild members, Jansen students and instructors, and members of the Jansen textile group. This exhibit will be similar to those we’ve had in the past few years, associated with Fibers and Beyond. Be thinking about what you might want to show off in this lovely exhibit venue, and stay tuned for details.  


Felting Workshops with Flóra Carlisle-Kovács, Oct. 12-16; Guild program on Oct. 17
We are excited that Flóra Carlisle-Kovács is returning to the Jansen Art Center to offer a three-day workshop on felted hats and two one-day workshops on Felted Flower Jewelry and Mosaic Scarf. Save these dates if you would like to participate! There will be a short time of restricted registration for guild members and members of the felting interest group. Stay tuned for details.

In addition, Flora will be offering the October guild program on Saturday, Oct. 17 at the Jansen Art Center. Flora plans to talk about how shrinkage works and how we can use the staple direction in order to shape a garment or object. Flora is also open to addressing other felting questions you may have.

Member Notes
by Cathy Meyer

“I just wanted to let you know that I really enjoy your newsletters and the sense of connection to the guild.  Well done!  I'm glad I'm receiving them. 

Like all of you, weaving has, for me,  been a real source of comfort and a good way to spend time and feel productive.  I realize, more and more, that every project provides a new challenge that I need to puzzle through.  My latest project uses the Duo yarn from Gist yarns, which is much "stickier" than the cottons I've been using, so I've had to problem solve my errors (including a cross-winding error).  I've really been so impressed by the virtual community of weavers who are generous with their knowledge and supportive, almost in real time.  When I posted (on the 4 Shaft Weaving FaceBook group) a photo of my cross error, within 30 minutes I had several suggestions for how to solve it, allowing me to continue to move forward.  It was so supportive and wonderful in these trying times.

I've attached a couple photos of my latest projects- tea towels (based on WEBS Finnish Towel draft) and baby blankets (Irish Meadow pattern from Tom Knisley's book). 

Stay well.  Looking forward to the day when we will meet in person,”
​

Cathy

Community Outreach

We’ve decided to re-post this lovely letter from Tara Vodopich, Third Grade Teacher at Happy Valley School. Ms. Vodopich sent her students home from their last day at school with weaving looms and supplies. I am enchanted by the words of this wonderful teacher and her students’ embrace of weaving, and I think you will agree that this message applies equally to we big kids who are "sheltering" at home.

“There's something about weaving that's mysterious and ancient; something that calms the spirit when the world is out of place. The predictability of the pattern is soothing, grounding even, and its repetitive motion can serve as a steady heartbeat when we are in distress. This applies whether you are a hobby weaver, a professional artist, or a third grader who is looking to make sense of the world in these unpredictable times. 

The Thursday before the day it was decided that all schools would be closed for at least six weeks due to Covid-19, you could feel the unpredictability in the air--the teachers knew it, and the students knew it too. They were unnerved. As I was thinking about what I could possibly send home with my 29 3rd graders that would be calming, creative, and not technology-based (not all students have access to reliable technology and internet), I realized that weaving was the perfect project. I went to Goodwill to refresh my classroom yarn supply, organized the yarn box, and taught weaving first thing Friday morning. We learned about the history of weaving and how it is ubiquitous to nearly every culture across the globe, and saw many examples of traditional weaving styles and looms from Guatemala to China to Norway. For this project, students used simple cardboard looms, plastic weaving needles, Popsicle sticks to pop up the warp strings and make it easier to go over and under, and plastic forks to pull their stitches down and line them up nicely. Each student was sent home Friday afternoon with all of their supplies and a piece that they started in class.

Every time I teach weaving to my students, something magical happens, and this time was no different--you could have heard a pin drop if you walked past my classroom that day, save for the occasional, "This is really cool!" and, "I feel like I could do this all day!" (mind you, this is not normally a quiet group of students, so the magic of weaving is especially telling here). One student, whose greatest academic challenge is slowing down and applying himself to his work, said, "Ms. V? You know what's really cool? I just realized that when you slow down and take your time with something, it actually turns out better." 

I've heard from many grateful parents in the days since schools closed, along with photos of stuffies, pet hamsters, and displeased cats wearing little scarves and accessories that the kids have woven for them. Some have even taught their siblings to weave! During these uncertain times, it is nice to know that there is a brand-new crew of weavers out there, who are able to stay calm and weave on.


-Tara Vodopich, Happy Valley Elementary

Study and Interest Groups

Eco-Dyeing Study Group

The eco dye study group is on hiatus until things return to normal. But it is spring! Leaves are out. Things are budding. Go no further than your yard experiment. Let Dori and I know what you are doing. Any questions, you can e-mail Dori (Dori [email protected]) or me([email protected]) for help, information, or just for the fun of it. I will keep you updated about when we can meat again.
Mary Oates

Samples of eco-dyed scarves

Some thoughts on Tapestry Weaving

As I wrote in the April newsletter, I had been having a Tapestry Mentoring group meeting at my home. It has now been six weeks and two days since we were together. But who is counting? We have been keeping in touch via electronics but it isn’t quite as satisfying. I hope to continue having this group after the crisis has passed.
In the newsletter I had proposed a project for anyone having an interest in Tapestry to participate in. It would be a gallery of small tapestries in the Wool Show, during the Lynden Fair, showing your favorite things to do in the summer.
Now the Wool Show/Fair seems to be another victim of the COVID crisis, as the Fair probably will not happen. This news took away my enthusiasm for this project. I also did not hear from anyone expressing any interest in doing something like this. That too was a bit of a disappointment. I would like to continue with the Gallery idea if there is any interest from the Guild members and then, perhaps, we can find a way to display it.
There is always next year if this doesn’t happen in 2020.
​Sheila Atwater

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Upcoming Events / Classes at the Jansen Art Center

NOTE: As of now, the Jansen Art Center is closed until later notice.
Visit Jansenartcenter.org for up to date information.
​
In addition to offering formal classes with an instructor, the Jansen Art Center offers a wide variety of informal groups that are generally led by a coordinator, but are designed to be group experiences where those involved learn from each other. Classes and workshops held at the Jansen Art Center require that reservations and payment be made through the Jansen Art Center. (jansenartcenter.org, click on Textiles).

For spring quarter 2020:
​As of now, the Jansen Art Center is unsure when it will be able to re-open.  When it does, we can reschedule the following:​

• Beginning Weaving with Sheri Ward
• Felted Slippers with Donna Hunter
• Color & Weave with Sheri Ward
• Beginning Spinning with Chris Paul
• Felting Workshops with Flora Carlisle-Kovács

Felting Workshops with Flóra Carlisle-Kovács, Oct. 12-16; Guild program on Oct. 17

We are excited that Flóra Carlisle-Kovács is returning to the Jansen Art Center to offer a three-day workshop on felted hats and two one-day workshops on Felted Flower Jewelry and Mosaic Scarf. Save these dates if you would like to participate! There will be a short time of restricted registration for guild members and members of the felting interest group. Stay tuned for details.

In addition, Flora will be offering the October guild program on Saturday, Oct. 17 at the Jansen Art Center. Flora plans to talk about how shrinkage works and how we can use the staple direction in order to shape a garment or object. Flora is also open to addressing other felting questions you may have.

Class Elsewhere:
Stehekin Spinning Rendevous
This spinning event will be held June 5-8 at Stehekin Valley Ranch. Call 509-682-4677 for updates and/or reservations.

Sheltering in Place

A Labor of Overshot Love
      by Kelley Dragon

Last summer I bought a new (to me) loom, perfect for rug weaving. I brought it home, put it together, and...did nothing. Not until I retired, that is.
In early March, I took an overshot workshop with Laurie Duxbury. I loved it, but was intimidated by the need to have the design come out balanced, not overly tall. Having no other experience, I decided that if I did something I didn't like, then I could at least walk on it. So, a rug.
Although I've been a weaver for several years, I only tackled one major project a year because I had one of those things called a 'day job'. Now that I'm retired this is changing. I'm still a novice though, so I watched lots of weaving videos. The best one was Tom Knisely's DVD on Weaving with Novelty Yarn. I strongly recommend this for anyone in a similar situation. (It's not just about novelty yarn!)
In my stash was some thick cotton yarn; it looked suitable for warp. (Not really, it should have been spun tighter; oh well.) Then I had to tear up cotton yardage for the weft. (Thank you, Carol Berry, for the brainstorm session!) I thought I had enough, ha ha ha.
Even at only 1” wide, the strips were hard to beat in firmly. I did have a tapestry beater that I use every 2” of weaving. My longest temple just barely fits – good thing I made a warping mistake and left off 2” of width. Some mistakes turn out well.
Of course I ran out of the first weft material and had to go into my quilting stash for something compatible. I went from a “harvest” patterned cloth to a green-on-green batik type cloth. The grist of the new weft was ever so slightly less dense. It packed down easier but did not dramatically change the appearance of the pattern.
I ran out of that, too. Now I'm working on a blue-blue-white cloth, again less dense. As much as I loved the first cloth (mmm, a riot of color), and the 2nd (ah, the mineral malachite), the blue is the best. Reminds me of my great-aunt's blue-and-white china.
There's still 1/3 of the warp left to go, and I will probably have to change weft again. I'm pretty sure that no matter what I use, it will look good. In any case, I've never been so happy to see the end of the warp approach!
Technical Details:
  Warp = cotton warp, unknown grist; probably equivalent to 3 strands of 8/4 carpet warp. 3 yards long, 8 dpi in a 10-dent reed. 31” wide with floating selvedge at left and right.
  Weft = 1” wide cotton quilting cloth, unwashed. I have no idea how many yards; I'll just keep weaving until I run out of warp or weft whichever occurs first.

Fiber Fusion

Hello fibery friends,
This has been a very challenging year as we all know and due to our concerns for our wonderful team (that's you!) we have had to make some gut wrenching decisions.  We want to be sure we are all safe and have decided that the Fiber Fusion event, as we know it,  will not happen this year. Be assured we are planning on 2021 and have already begun our plans for next year...
But not to worry, as we have some surprises in store for our event this year. We are planning to have some on line events for that weekend in October so stay tuned!
The official announcement will be released on Saturday, April 25, but because we value your participation and because without your help in  past years this show couldn't have been as great as it has been, we wanted you to know before the announcement is made to the public.
Soooo know that we will see you in person in 2021 and hoping that you can join us online in October for our virtual fibery event.
Stay safe and spin on (or knit on, whatever you do...) and thanks for stepping up and joining our Fiber Fusion team. You are so appreciated.
​
Corky Savoie
Fiber Fusion Team
Volunteer Coordinator
Fiber Fusion Team

A while back, Sheri Ward created the first stuffed animal head (Mr.Moose) that hangs on the wall in the Jansen Art Center front weaving studio. She followed with the cockerel (see exhibit photos this newsletter). With time on their hands and a glass of wine or two as inspiration, Sheri and Marilyn have spent some of their sheltering in place time creating these two new additions (Pig and Unicorn) which, at some point will be up on the wall as well, along with a fox and rabbit, whose photos may make the June issue.

Warp and tabby weft are cottolin, pattern weft is 3/2 cotton, and the overshot pattern is cats paws & snail trails.
​by Sheri Ward

From Mary Oates loom during the stay at home

Now that I am home indefinitely, I decided to tackle krokbragd.  It seems so simple.  Only 3 shafts that you treadle 2/3, 1/3, 1/2.  The pattern comes from the color changes.  I began with rug mugs on my table loom.  Here’s what I have learned so far.  First, not all three ply yarns are equal.  This is also true when you are doing tapestry.  Some are more springy and do not pack as tightly so that can change the evenness of the pattern. The second thing is the frequent yarn color changes which affect the selvage.  That’s a work in progress as is what to do with the ends as you start or end.  Madelyn van der Hoogt suggests you work them in later.  We will see.  It also makes for interesting edges.  So for now I am working on my samples and remembering how slow bound weave is.  It doesn’t speed it up to be on a table loom. Oh well, I have nowhere else to be.  I’m working towards a wall sampler and then a rug.  When I get tired of that I move on to my tapestry loom. A other example of slow weaving. That’s weaving in the time of the shut down.

Stash Building Weave Along

Guild member Kelley Dragon has alerted us to an open invitation from Tien Chiu (website: [email protected]) to be part of a Stash Building Weave Along Project (free of charge) beginning May 23. Tien Chiu and a friend of hers have picked out a draft, decided on some yarn guidelines and what they’d like to teach with the project, including how to identify fiber content and yardage, mixing yarn sizes, putting mixed warps on the loom and weaving with mixed warps and wefts. For further information, check out her website.

Exhibits

Jansen Studio Showcase Exhibit Extended Through August
The Jansen Studio Showcase Exhibit, first put on display in early March, will remain on exhibit through the end of August to give everyone a chance to see it. The Studio Showcase features an exhibit of pieces by students and instructors of the various studio, and it’s on display in the Library on the second floor. The new date for taking the exhibit down is august 27, and for artists to retrieve their work is August 28.

Rug by Mary Rawlins
checked towel by Marcia Ford 
Cockeral by Sheri Ward 
​Eco-died scarf by Mary Oates

Felted apple print by Donna Hunter, overshot scarf by Patrick Keiley 
​Blackbird felted piece by Brigid Wilson

Felted hats by Flora Carlisle-Kovacs
Eco-dyed and embroidered panels by Paddy Bruce
Eco-dyed panel by Dori Painter

Fall Fiber Showcase 2020
Guild members are invited to exhibit their textile creations this fall at the Fall Fiber Showcase 2020. The show will be on exhibit during the months of September through November. It will be open to all guild members, Jansen students and instructors and members of the Jansen Textile Group. This exhibit will be similar to those we’ve had in the past few years, associated with Fibers and Beyond. Be thinking about what you might want to show off in this lovely exhibit venue and stay tuned for details.

Announcements

​New Newsletter Editor Elected

Guild member Marilyn Olsen is now the editor of the newsletter. She joined the Guild after moving from Indianapolis, Indiana in 2004, retiring from a career in public relations, marketing and publishing. You can see that we have now created a slightly new format for the newsletter and welcome your input. ([email protected])


Have something to add to the newsletter?
​
 Whatcom Weavers Guild Newsletter welcomes news about textile related activities.  We do not accept commercial advertisements of goods or services.
Please e-mail your submission to:  [email protected].
Your submission should include: title of event (e.g Eco Dyeing Workshop), name of Instructor or group leader (e.g. Donna Hunter), and location, time and cost (if any).  It may also be helpful to give directions to the location.
If you are including any photos, they must be attached to the e-mail and be in JPG format. (Do not embed the photo in the email.)
Deadline for submissions is the 25th of the previous month.  (e.g. deadline for March would be February 25).
We do not charge for listing sale of weaving or spinning equipment.  Please see the listing in this issue for an example.  Your ad will run for 60 days.  

Guild Library Contents now online

Dori Painter, the Guild’s librarian is pleased to announce that the entire library inventory can now be viewed online (click here to see the inventory). The magazines and other resources are now also being uploaded to the site.

Video You Might Enjoy

This video was created especially for the Whatcom Weavers Guild by Susan Haines, Professor of Dance at Western Washington University, MFA, Pilates instructor and Neurokinetic Therapist. Susan is also the mother of Charlotte, the young weaver in my neighborhood.
This 20 minute video leads us through specific release exercises to balance the muscles of the hand and wrist and open tight upper backs so you can keep on weaving! We will find greater ease of motion at the wrist by "gliding" the fascia through a full range of motion. Sit down and follow along. you'll be glad you did!

Activities and Schedules of other Organizations

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 many of these groups in our area.

Olympiaweaversguild.org
Whidbeyweaversguild.org
Liz Moncrief, www.aweaversway.com
Skagitcountyweaversguild.org
Spindrifters: Contact Kelley Dragon ([email protected]) 

Stehekin Spinning Rendezvous

For more information about the Stehekin Spinning Rendezvous call 509-682-4677 or visit stehekinvalleyranch.com.

News From ANWG
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The Whatcom Weavers Guild is a member of ANWG, the Association of Northwest Weavers Guilds. This organization is an association of fiber arts guilds located throughout the Pacific Northwest United States and Canada. ANWG provides support and information to its members. It also sponsors an association-wide conference every two years. The Whatcom Weavers Guild partnered with the Seattle Guild to plan the conference held at Western Washington University in 2013.
Each guild is encouraged to designate a Guild member to attend ANWG meetings and keep member Guilds up to date on ANWG activities. Susan Torntore is our guild’s representative.
The next ANWG conference (Fiber Connections) will be held at Wilamette University in Salem, Oregon, June 7-12, 2021.

Challenge Project

ANWG also offers its members the opportunity to be a part of challenge project. For this conference, the challenge will be based on the work of American fashion designer Bonnie Cashin. The challenge will involve the creation of a NOH Coat which was one of her iconic designs from the 1950s – 1970s and was featured in a 1990 edition of Threads Magazine.
For further details on this challenge, contact Susan Torntore ([email protected])

Classified Ads

We will resume publishing classified ads as soon as it is again safe to be up, around and in each other's homes to buy looms and supplies.