October 2020 Newsletter

Well, Fall is officially here. Pulling out the woolly sweaters, making soup, waiting for a dryish day to sprinkle the poppy seeds that Wendy gave me. Pink peony-blossom poppies will be such a joy when they show up in the early summer, rain or shine! We have tasted the first ripe fruit from my little Florina Apple tree. Though this variety is reputed to be a good keeping apple, I don’t think they will last long. Sweet, tart and crisp. And don’t they look nice on a handwoven cottolin towel?

The madder (red) is setting seeds, and the roots will be ready to dig up in a few weeks. I have discovered just how easily weld (yellow) will take over the garden, and gave weld to Mary for her Eco-dye group. There is more, if you want some! My japanese indigo plants (blue) are a little sparse this year, but I have seed for next year. The local harvest this year includes flax grown by Jane and Yvonne, with seed saved from my Fairhaven plots of a few years ago. Jane and Yvonne are experienced spinners, used to working with wool, so this is a new venture for them. Flax is having a resurgence among fiber folks across the country, and it grows well in our climate!

A large part of my Covid-keeps-us home-and-working-around-the-house this summer has involved renovating a small outbuilding for secure storage and a dye studio for me. It’s done. My dye pots, hotplate, drying rack, plant material, and supplies obtained from Maiwa Supply over the years, now have a dedicated place. There is a counter for the notebooks and scale, a workbench for the hotplate and crockpot. With a wonderful sense of satisfaction and elation, I stirred up the first “cauldron” with cochineal and logwood last week, and was faced with the sobering fact of a steep learning curve for Ikat and painted warps using plant dyes. Weaving and dying are the journey of a lifetime, for sure.

An interest group is forming for those who want to weave the VAV magazine “World’s Best Hand Towels” for the Guild Challenge and you are all invited! While the weather cooperated, several of planned warps and measured them outside, and had a warping demo. Let me know if you are interested. The PDF is in a link further on in this newsletter. There are a number of interest groups forming, getting back together with safety protocols, and moving onto ZOOM, as we all get used to online programming. Plus, in person programming is getting organized, with Covid protocols, at the Jansen Center! Towels, blankets, felting and more! More details further along in the newsletter.

Daryl Lancaster’s program for the September Guild meeting via ZOOM came off without a hitch. It was great to meet up with Daryl again, and see the inside of her studio! Her explanations, examples and technical material on combining weave structures and hand-dyed warps were inspiring and empowering. Again, a steep learning curve for me, but I think I am starting to get it! I am looking forward seeing Laverne Waddington, Backstrap Weaver, who will join us from her home in Bolivia for our October Program. We are working out the logistics of an online workshop with Laverne, no travel required. ​
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​As the rain keeps us indoors, I am taking my time, dealing with thousands of miles of string, in a multitude of ways. How many of us, throughout history and pre-history, have spent the winters engaged in just such activities? On it goes.
Hoping you and yours are safe, secure and busy enough to be happy. See you soon!

​
​​​Carol Berry
2019-2020 WWG President

Guild Program Review
Daryl Lancaster (Dori Painter)

“In September one of my guilds held its second ZOOM meeting, and the first ZOOM with a program given by Daryl Ebling Lancaster. It was fabulous! I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Daryl’s programs in person several times, workshop with her in person and this meeting was just as great as having Daryl in the room bodily with us. Even though we have had to make accommodations these days with conferences and workshops being cancelled, this does not mean that our guilds must suffer from lack of inspiration. The good thing is we can get up and grab a muffin and refill our coffee cups without disturbing the presenter. If your guild normally meets in the evening, you can even grab a second glass of wine, without worrying about having a designated driver!”

Guild Meetings and Programs – Fall 2020 – Online

October 17 - Laverne Waddington,
Weaving on Simple Looms in South America
Meeting starts at 10 am - break 11-11:15, 
Program starts 11:15am - 12:45pm. 
Zoom link and PDF will be sent the week before.


November 21 - Marilyn Romatka,
Ikat weaving in Uzbekistan
Meeting starts at 10 am - break 11-11:15, 
Program starts 11:15am - 12:45pm. 
Zoom link and PDF will be sent the week before.


December 19 - Zoom Business Meeting, Potluck, Show and Tell.
Bring snack and a beverage for one! 
Meeting starts at 10 am - break 11-11:15, 
Potluck and Show & Tell starts 11:15am - 12:30pm. 
Zoom link will be sent the week before.

Announcements

Guild Library contents 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.

Guild Library new check-out procedure

The majority of items in the Guild Library have been moved from St. James Church to Carol Berry’s Studio in Bellingham. Books, magazines and videos can be accessed two ways:
A book or video can be requested and Carol will pull the request, fill out the check-out card, and place the book in a bag on the enclosed porch to be picked up at a pre-arranged time. 
Guild members can make an appointment to view the collection in person and select items to check out. Studio visitors will be required to be Covid symptom free and wear a mask at all times while in the building.

The Guild Library is located about 1.7 miles from St. James Church, in Bellingham. There is a bathroom, with handwashing and hand sanitizer available, adjacent to the room where the books are kept. Appointments to access the Guild Library are available most days of the week, between 9 am and 4 pm. Contact Carol by email to make an appointment [email protected]. She will give you the address and a number to text or call before your arrival. 

For those who have checked out a book and haven’t been able to return it for the last 6 months, You can return your books now! Send an email to [email protected], with book return in the subject line. Carol will get back to you about dropping it off curbside at the Studio. A reminder message will be sent out soon to folks who have books checked out. ​

 Workshop

Details are being worked out for an on-line workshop with Laverne Waddington, for up to six students. The class is suitable for those who can warp and weave a  warp-faced plain-weave band 1-2 inches wide, on an Inkle Loom. No pick-up weaving experience necessary. The inkle loom needs to be a standard type in that it uses individual string heddles and requires the weaver to raise and lower the layers of thread by hand to create the sheds.....the Schacht and Ashford models are good examples. Dates are still in flux, but most likely late October to mid-November. Contact Sharon Allen or email info@whatcomweaversguild for more information.

Sheltering in Place

Below are four tapestries I've been working on as we are sheltering at home.  The rooster is woven in four selvedge form and is 95% wool and 5% acrylic.  He's (name coming later) i part of my Friends of the Fair series.  The Barn is 8.5"x 6", the Nautilus shell is 6.5" x 6",  the Sailboat is 6"x6" .  All are 100% wool on cotton warp.  Sheila Atwater

I wove 3 baby blankets in 8/2 cotton from my stash.  The pattern is from the Nov.-Dec. 2019 issue of Handwoven magazine.  Two of the blankets have striped borders with a solid center (blue and green) while the third is a large plaid.  The warp pattern is as shown in the draft.  The
weft pattern is my own.  The sett is 30 epi and measures 35 in. in the reed.  The blankets are soft but sturdy and should keep baby cuddled up nicely.  Two have been given to August deliveries and the last is awaiting a December arrival.

​The remains of my warp are still on the loom.  If anyone has a yen for the lovely textured Huck pattern, you could tie on and weave something of your own.  The loom is in my garage and there is a heater for comfort.  The warp will be available for tie-on and weave through October. 
Marcia Ford

2020-2021 Guild Challenge(s)

Every year, the Challenge committee dreams up a fun challenge for our collective creativity! Last year’s Challenge yielded lovely results, based on founding member Linda Rees’s lifetime collection of yarn color wraps. It was fun just to see all of Linda’s color schemes, and choose what we liked, or what we thought would help us “push the envelope” creatively. The results included tapestries, towels, a tote bag, shawl, scarf, Inkle bands and more!
This year, we have several source ideas to challenge us, which can be pursued separately, or combined. 

Whatcom Weavers Guild 2021 Challenge Options

“World’s Best Handtowels - from VAV, the Swedish Weaving Magazine
This handtowel pattern is a reconstructed draft, based on handtowels woven at the “Hamsta Home” a care home for men with disabilities, in Timro, Sweden. The latest issue of VAV - available in the Guild Library, has an article about the origin of these towels and the author/designer’s personal connection. The project requires a four shaft loom, and is very suitable for a table loom or a floor loom. The project will be warped on the Guild Table Loom, and a narrow version, for mug rugs, will be warped on the Guild’s tiny “Structo” loom, which members can check out of the Library and take home for weaving. 

VAV magazine has generously provided us with a PDF of the project instructions and draft for these towels. (Link to PDF here) As designed, they are woven in 16/2 cotton, two threads to a heddle. They can also be woven in 8/2 cotton, or in 22/2 cottolin, one thread to a heddle. Bonus Detail: These towels are finished with a zig-zag stitch and a sweet little fringe - no hemming! 

“Bento Bag” - from Handwoven Magazine
Several members have made this type of bag, in a class at the Ragfinery. Very simple sewing! We had a little discussion about making a Bag as a Guild Challenge this year. And then there it was in the latest issue of Handwoven!  If you don’t subscribe, the magazine is available in the Guild Library. The project as shown in the magazine was woven on a rigid heddle loom. It could be any type of fabric of medium weight and drape. All it takes is a piece of medium weight cloth 3 times as long as it is wide.  A section of “World’s Best Hand Towel” fabric, from the VAV project, would work very well!

ANWG 2021 Conference Colors 
The “Worlds Best Hand Towels” as designed, call for a natural unbleached warp, and any colors you like for stripes in the weft. Bobbin buster!  OR - Use the ANWG conference colors for Fiesta stripes, and triple your challenge accomplishment. (Link to PDF of the ANWG Conference Colors)
Samples of the Bockens Cotton versions of the Conference colors, in 16/2 and 8/2 will be available at Carol’s Maple Street Weaving Studio.

Whatcom Guild Challenge Details
Start planning now to complete 1, 2, or all 3 parts of the 2021 Challenge. We will set up an online interest group, ask questions and chat about our progress. The Big Reveal, where we show off our results will be the May and/or June Meeting Show and Tell sessions.  We also share photos of Member Challenge projects in monthly newsletters, as they are completed and submitted.

If you would like assistance planning your project, ordering yarn or assessing the usability of yarn you have, measuring a warp, dressing a loom, or want to borrow a table loom, email [email protected], with WWG 2021 Challenge in the subject line.
​
ANWG 2021 Challenges (from Susan Torntore)
Susan has information about the Conference Challenges for the ANWG 20121 Conference in Salem, OR, next summer! See the ANWG Notes below for details and links.

Education and mentoring

Well guys, our outside small groups, are coming to an end as fall closes in.  But that does not mean, we can’t share our knowledge and information.  We can still keep out community connected.  Remember, we do have mentors to answer questions or teach a new skill.  There are also some study groups of 5 or less forming in a January at the Jansen. There will be a tapestry study group starting on the 3rd Tuesday of January, an eco dye group the first Tuesday of the month, and if there is interest, a rigid heddle group.  There are still openings.  It will only cost    $20 per group, per meeting.  All safety protocols will be followed.  If you are interested in either mentoring or a study group just email me through our guild email and I will get back to you.  
​Mary Oates

Upcoming Events at the Jansen Art Center

Plans for classes and study groups are taking form.

• The first formal class we'll have will be Beginning Weaving with Sheri Ward and Marcia Ford.  Dates are Thursdays, Nov. 12, 19, Dec. 3, and 10, from 12-3 pm.  Sheri and Marcia have agreed to co-teach the class, with up to four students in the back studio, and up to four others in the front studio.  So we'll be within the social distancing guidelines, five people in each room, and plan to keep everyone safe.  Information and registration for the class will soon be posted on the Jansen's website, www.jansenartcenter.org.

• We have a small study group weaving towels on the table looms, round robin style. There are four of us, we're using cottolin for warp and weft, with two looms set up for weaving towels in twill or plain weave, one in huck and one in M's and O's. It's been fun having the companionship of other weavers, and at the end we'll each have four new hand-woven towels.  We may well continue this type of study group going forward.
• Carol has been leading a group weaving cottolin towels on one of the Glimakra looms.  Some people who originally signed up for this group have not been able to come to the J, so there is room for someone who wants to participate.  Contact Carol if you have an interest.
• We'll be doing double weave blankets on the other Glimakra loom at the J. We'll soon be planning this, with a lot of that via email.  If you're interested in participating, contact Sheri.
• When people feel comfortable, the Eco-Dyeing group will start meeting on the first Tuesday of the month.  Contact Mary Oates if you're interested.
• Donna will be back leading the felting group on the third Tuesdays of the month, when participants feel ready.
• The Tapestry group plans on meeting every other Tuesday in the Library at the J.  Stay tuned.
• A block-printing study group or class is in the offing.  Marilyn and Sheri have been testing the techniques they learned from the Ajrakh block printers last fall, and plan to share that sometime soon.

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 are 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. 

Videos You Might Enjoy

Life of Cotton - 李子柒 Liziqi, China. A Charming video in which a skilled young woman grows and process cotton, and makes new bedding for her grandmother.

New York Textile Month
New York Textile Month, always in October, has been going on for several years, but this time it is available on-line due to Covid.  To access these videos, start at the site www.textilemonth.nyc, and explore.  If you click on "View More Episodes" under the Youtube button on the home page, you'll see a complete listing. 
The videos vary considerably in topic.  There are ones on creative recycling, textile design in cooperation with industrial production, an insight into Anni Albers design process, and much more.  The videos seem to be about an hour long each, so I only sampled some and watched most of one. The one I watched was "Dead Craft Walking?  A Handweaver's Take on Traditional Skills." It features Justin Squizzero, a Vermont resident and weaver of historic fabrics for use in museums and various sites of historic re-enactments (George Washington's home in Mt. Vernon, for example).  It's worth watching for information on traditional techniques, designs, and use of color, which we sometimes imagine are far more restrained than they actually were.  The video is about 45 minutes long.  If you want to know more about Justin's weaving practice, he has a website at www.theburroughsgarret.com. 

How to submit to the newsletter

Have something to add to the newsletter?
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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. ​

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]) 

News From ANWG
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​The Association of Northwest Weavers Guilds (ANWG) is located in the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada including Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories and the Yukon.  ANWG provides services and support that might not be available to the individual guilds such as a classifieds ads site for members.  Your membership in the Whatcom Weavers Guild includes full access to ANWG.
 
The ANWG newsletter address is:  [email protected]
 
Susan Torntore is the guild’s voting  representative to the ANWG board. Questions about ANWG?  Contact Susan [email protected].
 
Fiber Connections,  the 2021 ANWG Conference will be held at Willamette University, Salem, OR, June 7-12.  Workshops will be held Monday-Thursday, seminars will be on Friday and Saturday.  Check the conference website for more information.
 
Open and Juried Show Exhibits include a runway show and a towel exchange.  Calls, entry criteria forms and deadlines can be found here.

The Conference Colors Exhibit offers attendees to create a space where they can present items in the conference colors including towels, garments, yardage and other items.  For further information visit this page.
 
Towel Exchange:  Stay tuned for More information about this popular activity.  

STUDY GROUP OPPORTUNITY—Weaving Challenge ANWG Noh Coat
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).

This study group will:
Provide the Threads article and coat pattern
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 ZOOM STUDY GROUP for this challenge, beginning in September, email Susan Torntore ([email protected]).

Get ANWG Challenge info here. ​

Classified Ads

FOR SALE
Schacht Tension Box – Used with the sectional warp beam, the Schacht Tension Box features a mounting bracket that adjusts to fit all Schacht looms: Wolf, Standard or Cranbrook. It would be compatible with other floor looms as well. Features include: two-sided sturdy construction with a reed at the back, an adjustable tension knob, a heddle to make the cross and a swiveling reed at the front to adjust the feeding width of the warp. Like new; never used. $220 (Current online price is $340).
Contact Kelley Dragon, [email protected]

FOR SALE
Shaw Island Fleece Company wood floor loom. $400 (open to negotiation). 48” x 48”. 4 harnesses, t treadle, sectional beam. Warping wheel is included. The loom is near a doorway for easy viewing and social distancing will be respected. 
Beautiful white tapestry yarn for sale: Very large skeins going for $4.50 each, a quantity of 10 pounds total enough for a big project.
Contact: Denise Snyder, [email protected]. ​

4-Shaft Cherry Norwood Floor Loom - My friend, Cathy Markham is selling this beautiful, lightly used 4-shaft, cherry Norwood floor loom.  It has a 40” weaving width (49” overall width) and a sectional beam.  She acquired the loom in 1982 and wove on it for about 5 years. Afterwards it traveled with her and was set up as a beloved piece of furniture. Her job required a lot of traveling and she turned to other fiber arts that were more portable; knitting, needle work, quilting and rug hooking. She has downsized, has no room to set up the loom and realized that it needs a new home. She is selling it with the original matching cherry bench that opens for storage, many extra metal heddles, 4 reeds (6, 8, 10 and 12 dent), a Harrisville Designs wooden bobbin winder, 4 boat shuttles with extra bobbins 2 ski shuttles, other miscellaneous weaving tools, a few weaving books and a handmade sectional warping board. See attached photos. The loom has been well cared for and is in excellent condition.  Asking $950 or best offer.  Please contact Cathy Markham for any questions about the loom - 360-722-4267, [email protected]. The loom is currently set up in my studio on Camano Island - a drive-on island north of Seattle. Questions regarding pick up or transport should be directed to me, Sandra Swarbrick, [email protected].

Leclerc 8 shaft table loom. Free to good home, or long term loan. New aprons. 10 dent reed. 20 inch weaving width. Outside loom dimensions 30 inches wide, 26 inches deep, 22 inches high. Recently used for deflected double weave. Heavy, does not move when you beat. Located in Bellingham. 
Contact Carol Berry, [email protected]

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I recently received this awesome sewing machine through a Facebook group that I am part of.  It needs a Molly Chambers tune up for a potential issue with reverse, but is free to anyone who will use it.

Sharon Allen
[email protected]