November 2024 Newsletter

And all of a sudden, it is November! Clocks are changing [fall BACK if you don’t remember] the days are shorter, and the rain and grey is here. In my quest to find something positive, I remind myself that I have more time inside for weaving and fewer jobs outside in the yard, other than those pesky leaves. ​
I think my colors in November tend to be more “food based” ……maybe I’m taking after my husband’s 21-pound cat.  I think of the lovely browns and golds of turkey and gravy, the deep reds of cranberries and the greens of fresh Brussel sprouts. Of course, you can’t forget the beautiful orange brown of the delicious pumpkin pie! I’m sure you may have a favorite holiday food with its special colors. I’m going to challenge myself this year to see how I might incorporate these colors into my weaving. 
November Weaving Colors
Another thing that November always reminds me of, is what I am thankful for. There are so many things, my house, my wonderful husband who supports my creative adventures, my family, my health, all my great friends and my small little table looms that fit in the living room and let me weave while watching TV or visiting with my husband. 
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So, enjoy your weaving, and family and holidays and make time for the awesome meeting this month with Robyn Spady. 

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Meg Spaulding
WWG President 2024-2025

November 2024 WWG Fall Program

The WWG November meeting will be held at the Bellingham Public Library on Saturday Nov. 16. The meeting room is in the lower level of the library; go down the stairs/elevator just inside the front door.

Set up and Social Time: 10:00-10:30
Business Meeting: 10:30-11:00
Show and Tell: 11:00-11:15
Break: 11:25-11:45
Program: 11:45-1:15 with Robyn Spady
Social Time and Break Down: 1:15-2:00 There is no mad dash to leave, we have the room until 2:30. Your help is always appreciated in stacking chairs when you are done visiting!
2025 Whatcom Weavers Guild Challenge
Created by: Barbara Young, Dawn M Russell and Galen Haecky Soleimanipour

Our Annual Guild Challenge is the perfect venue for new things – techniques, materials, composition, or anything you've always wanted to try, but haven't gotten around to for whatever reason. The 2025 WWG Challenge requires that you work with black and white (using the fibers of your choice) and offers a list of additional criteria you may wish to choose from.
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Optional—incorporate as many or as few of the following as you wish:
  • Choose one additional color to use with your black and white fibers
  • Try a new-to-you technique
  • Incorporate natural dyes or materials (bonus points if you forage them yourself)
  • Consider including unconventional materials
  • Apply your chosen criteria to create your piece in any fiber-art-related field –weaving, felting, braiding, basketry, paper, stitching or any other fiber-art OR incorporate a variety of fiber arts into your piece
  • Create a 3-dimensional final object
  • Make an abstract piece with no particular function, OR make something that serves multiple functions
  • Produce a piece themed after your favorite book
  • Complete half of your project, then swap with someone else to complete the other half

How many options will you include in your Challenge project? You choose!

Request: During the June 2025 meeting Show & Tell, please share what you learned, what things you didn't anticipate, and any other comments on the process!

Photo deadline is June 16, 2025
 Image by Galen Haecky Soleimanipour

​​News from Committees and Interest Groups

For more descriptions and information about each of the WWG Study Groups, please see our web page for Education.
The Tapestry Focus Group
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The tapestry focus group continues to meet in the Large Conference Room at The Ferndale Library on the First Monday of each month from 1pm-3 pm.  Topics will vary from meeting to meeting, but will always be something new, exciting and different.

The November meeting will be held on Monday Nov.4th 1pm to 3pm.  Bring your weaving supplies and questions.  We will be having a weave-a-thon and will be assisting each other with problem areas and any other questions you may have.   

The December meeting will be on Monday Dec. 2nd from 1 pm to 3 pm.  Subject to be determined.  Remember you are ALWAYS welcome to bring your project with you and ask questions.
 
Sheila Atwater
Tapestry Focus Group coordinator
[email protected] 
Text:  360-201-0818
The Rigid Heddle Weaving Study Group

The group meets monthly on zoom at a to be determined day/time, and once a quarter in person for show and tell. 
​For more questions contact Meg Spaulding at [email protected].
Ikat Study Group

​The Ikat Study Group is continuing this year, with self-directed learning and meeting semi-monthly for sharing and show and tell. We are working through the projects in the book Ikat The essential Handbook to Weaving with Resists, by Mary Zicafoose. The group meets at the Jansen Art Center.
For more information, please contact Carol Berry, [email protected].
​Band Weaving Group

​Weavers of the Band study group continue to meet and share projects and ideas. Contact Cindy Harris for more information.

​The photo is of the finished “threaded in” tablet woven band that was being warped at the September demonstration round robin. Different sequences of turning the cards created four distinct patterns.
Finished Demonstration Band
Online Workshop Opportunities

Although we do not currently have a Workshop chairperson, please see our Study Groups page for a list of recommended online courses and other learning opportunities.
Driveway parties  (a.k.a The Loomatics)

We are taking a break for the winter.  See you next May!
Sharon Allen, 360-305-0111

Community Outreach

Whatcom Weavers Guild sponsors several Community Outreach programs. For more information about these projects, please access the Community Outreach page on our website:
  • Small Looms at the Bellingham Library Skill Share Space
  • Hospice Washcloth Project
  • The Sno-Cap Project
Small Looms at the Library
(12 noon–3PM)

We continue to host the Small Looms program at the Bellingham Public Library.  We are there the first Saturday of every month from noon to 3pm.  We are there to introduce the public to the joy of fiber art and demonstrate that weaving can be done on small, simple, and inexpensive equipment.  We need at least 4 volunteer hosts each month; more is better.  You may visit with the public, demonstrate what you are working on, or help them get started with one of our cardboard looms.  We really encourage you to sign up, so that we know how to plan for our visitors.

To sign up to volunteer: 
Go to our webpage:  www.whatcomweaversguild.org
Go to the Community Outreach page and then to the section for Small Looms at the Library description.
Read until you see “Click Here” and it will take you to the volunteer sign up page.
 
Sheila Atwater, Education and Outreach Chair
[email protected] ​
Small Loom gathering
Hospice Washcloth Project
 At the meeting in October, 24 washcloths were turned in.  That brings our total for 2024 up to 199.  The Goal Meter has the number for Dec at 250. If we can reach that number, there may be a special Christmas treat for everyone who has participated. Thank you in advance.
 
Once again here are the instructions for weaving washcloths for Hospice.
  • Use un-mercerized cotton yarns, 60-100% works the best.
  • The finished cloth should be 10”x10”
  • 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.
  • Bulky hems are discouraged. ‘These cloths are folded small to fit into the kits.
  • When finished, wash in hot water and mild detergent.
  • Dry in the dryer with no softening agents.
  • These cloths will be used once and offered to the families to keep as a memory keepsake.
  • When weaving, please keep the purpose in mind and weave with care and love.
Turn in your finished cloths at the monthly Guild meeting.  Keep them coming.
 
Sheila Atwater, Outreach Chair
[email protected]
Hospice Wash Cloths
Hospice Goal Chart

Whatcom Weavers Guild Libraries

WWG Equipment Library

​Contact Sharon Allen at [email protected] for information on the items available.
WWG Book and Literature Library
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The Whatcom Weavers Guild Library is a collection of over 700 books, magazines and DVD’s.  Primary for weaving, but including all forms of fiber art.  The collection is listed online, utilizing Librarything.com, a free service for libraries of all types and sizes. No password required.
While this gives you a list of all the books and magazines in the library, it does not tell you if your item is currently available.
Email Carol Berry at [email protected] to check available and arrange for porch pick-up.
The library is also available to just come and browse, just email Carol to set things up.
You can also text Carol at 360-920-6152 or [email protected].

Happy Reading!

From the Jansen

Classes and Dye Days at the J

Here are the J’s upcoming classes! Some are already shown on the website and are available for registration.  The others will be coming to the website soon.  Mark you calendars and sign up!

For Fall Quarter we have:
  • ​​Come Weave a Towel by appointment, on-going
  • Immersion Wool Dyeing, Tuesday, Nov. 5; Wednesday, Dec. 11 (these are separate dye days; sign up for them individually)
  • Controlled Ikat or Warp Painting, Wednesday, Nov. 6; Wednesday, Dec. 4; Thursday, Jan. 16 (these are separate dye days; sign up for them individually)
  • Twill Weaving with Sheri Ward, Fridays & Saturdays, Nov. 1 - 9
  • Block Printing with Dyes with Sheri Ward, Thursday, Nov. 7
  • Felted Purse with Donna Hunter, Saturday, Nov. 23
  • A Parallel Threading is a Weaver’s Playground with Robyn Spady, Wednesday ​through Friday, Nov. 13 - 15
  • Indigo Dyeing with Erica McCurdy, Thursday, Dec. 5 (waitlist)
  • Double Weave with Sheri Ward, Fridays & Saturdays, Dec. 6 – 14​
  • ​Rug Hooking with Meg Jobe, Friday, Jan. 31
  • Warp Painting with Natural Dyes with Erica McCurdy, Thursday, Feb. 6
  • Bark Baskets with a Positive Bias with Judy Zugish, Saturday, Feb. 8
  • Beginning Tapestry with Val O’Connor, Fridays, Feb. 21 - March 14
  • Natural Dye Day with Erica McCurday, Thursday, March 6
  • Beginning Spinning with Erica McCurdy, Fridays, March 21 & 28
  • Beginning Weaving with Darlene Mathias, Saturdays, March 22 - April 19
To register and  for more information please visit www.jansenartcenter.org

As a reminder, the J’s hours have changed for the fall and early winter to:  9:30 am to 5 pm, Tuesday through Saturday.  The J is closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Parallel Threading Workshop by Robyn Spady

The J will be hosting Robyn Spady’s three-day workshop, Parallel Threading, Nov. 13-15. 

Robyn’s description:  A parallel threading can provide a weaver with a multitude of options and patterns – from echo weaves and corkscrew twills to turned taqueté and network-drafted twills. Then add weft variations in color and texture and a weaver will find themselves in a playground of possibilities. Workshop participants will pre-warp their loom from a selection of threadings and during the workshop enter into a journey of discovery and exploration of how to transform a parallel threading into a myriad of patterns. The workshop is a combination of presentation/discussion, weaving, and hands-on exercises. Emphasis will be on understanding the design and drafting processes to empower workshop participants to create their own patterns. (Note: This is not a round-robin style workshop. Participants will weave on their own loom.) Four-shafts minimum. Eight-shafts highly recommended.

Sign up soon!  There is still space!


Incorporate Novelty Yarns!  A Presentation by Robyn Spady
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During Robyn’s visit to us in November, she will be giving an informal presentation on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 7 pm, at the Jansen Art Center.   She’ll be speaking about fun and easy ways to incorporate novelty yarns into projects, an idea that’s related to her research on couture tweeds (think Chanel jackets).  This is open to everyone, whether or not you’re taking her workshop.  Come join us!

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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.

Upcoming events of interest to Guild members!

Please contribute details of upcoming events of interest to WWG members to [email protected], or Newsletter Editor Tricia Morell [email protected].
Krokbragd workshop

The Skagit Valley Weavers Guild is inviting us to participate in a Krokbragd workshop. What an opportunity…and it’s on Zoom!  Here are the details:

November 21st (Thursday) ***
November 22nd (Friday)    ***
November 23rd (Saturday) ***

Instructor: Debbie Greenlaw, Author of Krokbragd: How to Design and Weave, and the book Krokbragd Patterns

Debbie will be sharing tips for color and yarn selection, selvedge management, and finishing techniques.  Participants will weave a krokbragd sampler during the workshop.

Cost for people who are not members of the Skagit Guild is $105.00 for all three days!

Here is the link to their workshop page and registration form.

***There will be 5-6 hours of instruction each day, broken up into morning and afternoon sessions.  The GREAT news is when you sign up for this course, you will have unlimited access to each lesson for one additional month.
Evergreen Quilters 2025 Quilt & Fiber Arts Show
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Evergreen Quilters invites you to be a vendor at the 2025 Quilt & Fiber Arts Show.   Once again, the show will be held at the Ferndale Events Center, an 18,000 sq. ft. venue, in Ferndale, Washington.  The show dates are Friday, September 19 and Saturday, September 20, 2025.  Vendor setup is Thursday, September 18.

This is a very popular quilt show and with our increased publicity, we expect it to be even bigger than before! .  This is on a "first come, first served" basis.  We have asked for a February 1, 2025 commitment.  If you wish, you can respond to the email below, however, booth space is only guaranteed once we receive your check. 

Contact Liz Sipes at [email protected] for the Vendor Invitation and Vendor Response forms. I look forward to hearing from you soon!

​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 preceding 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] or [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 Tricia at [email protected] if you have questions.