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Upcoming Workshop:

Keep the dates open! Dec. 3rd - 5th, 2010
by Karen

We will have Carol Rhoades up from Wisconsin to teach a spinning workshop Dec 3 – 5, 2010. Carol Rhoades, PhD, has been spinning for more than thirty years. Her special interest is primitive sheep and how to efficiently prepare and spin their wool for traditional knitting. Carol is Spin Off’s technical editor and a frequent contributor. She has translated several Scandinavian knitting books into English. She has a lot of traditional textile knowledge of Scandinavia and the English Islands. There are many techniques for hand carding but Carol is the ultimate expert on hand carding and woolen spinning. I have taken classes from her several times at SOAR and Madrona. Her teaching style is relaxed and gentle but you walk away in awe of what you have learned. This is an opportunity not to miss. The class topics are still be announced. Watch the web site for more info over the summer.

Robyn Spady's Workshop Choices For January 2011 - give your input at the September meeting!
The Workshop Committee is happy to announce that we will be hosting weaver and designer Robyn Spady January 15, 16 and 17, 2011. Robyn learned to weave over 35 years ago and has completed HGA's Certificate of Excellence with specialized study in "Loom Controlled Stitched Double Cloth". In addition to double-faced fabrics, she also explores uncommon weave structures and narrow warp weaves.

There are four possible workshops we are considering:

1. Extreme Warp Makeover
   Hate to warp, but love to weave? Want more versatility from a single warp? Then this is the workshop for you. Participants will warp their loom with choice of one of three four-shaft threadings and perform an extreme makeover and weave it many different ways . . . twill, lace and overshot to swivel, corduroy, deflected weft and double-faced. You will be 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.
   
   
2. Pictures, Piles, Potpourri and Perplexing Curiosities
   This workshop is for intermediate to advanced weavers and adventuring-seeking beginners who want to learn new weave structures. In this round-robin workshop, participants will expand their knowledge and experiences in weave structures they may have heard of but may not have woven. A surefire weaving adventure and challenging journey of warp and weft. Structures include multi-block swivel and bead leno, corduroy, velvet, samitum, corkscrew twills, lampas and Beiderwand.
   
   
3. There are Two Sides to Every Cloth
   All cloth has two sides, so why not make them as distinct and interesting as possible, even completely different? On as few as three shafts, it's possible to weave versatile fabric that possesses a completely different appearance on each side. In this round-robin style workshop, participants will be presented with numerous ways to achieve cloth with two different sides, including double-faced twills, double-faced overshot and stitched double cloth. This workshop is for intermediate to advanced and adventurous beginners. A total of 15 double-faced weave structures are covered, including two in depth presentations on designing and weaving stitched double cloth and on seaming and design techniques for reversible garments made from double-faced fabrics.
   
   
4. The Fab Four
   The Beatles are not the only "Fab Four". Four-shaft looms are fabulous and frequently underestimated for their potential and versatility. Much of this value may be found in uncommon weave structures that are capable of producing distinctive and remarkable results. In this round-robin workshop weave structures explored will include but are not limited to: diversified plain weave, integrated weaves, swivel, single block bead leno, corduroy, Bedford cord, deflected supplementary warp and cannele. Workshop for beginners to advanced.

The real challenge will be to select which workshop we want Robyn to teach so be sure to attend the
September Guild meeting where we will have the information sheets available and at that time we ask weavers to choose which of the above workshops you would like Robyn to offer. Be sure to check out Robyn's work in Shuttle, Spindle and Dyepot and Handwoven Magazine.

Upcoming Workshops Ideas
Workshop Committee is working on the following for the next two years (no specific dates or contracts set with these people).

• Spinning workshop with Carol Rhoades, Fall 2010
• Robin Spaddy Weaving Workshop, January 2011
• Bobbie Irwin Weaving Workshop, Fall 2011
• Threads 2011 Fashion Show (in lieu of Spring workshop)
• Spinning workshop with Sarah Anderson
• Spining Class in Fall
• Another Drop Spindle workshop with Tom
• Weaving Class in Winter
• Rigid Heddle Weaving workshop with Dolores
• Dyeing workshop: Pam Gresfrud, Chris Abshire, and/or Michelle Coburn

A contemplative moment...
From Finding Balance – Jennifer Shafer
Spinning is a combination of art and science, philosophy and physics, intuition and logic. We’re taught to draft and join and spin, but only skill and experience can tell us how much twist is enough for a particular fiber. We learn the attributes of two-ply, three-ply, and cabled yarns but choose to do one or the other “because it feels right.” Perhaps this is why spinning is so satisfying: both halves of our brains—the intuitive, emotional side and the calculating, rational side—get a chance to shine.

UPCOMING WORKSHOP:

• 2010 Jane Stafford - Terrific Twills-- 3 days, Round robin weaving exploring a number of twill patterns through 3 basic design principles tie-up, threading, and treadling. Samples are woven on a variety of natural fibers.

"Pretty Colors"
Multi colored rovings for a Spinning for Color class taught by Deb Menz.

Presentation of $600 grant from the Alaska State Yarn Council to
Alice Sherp (VFAG) and Michelle Coburn (AWSG) for the Orenburg Lace Workshops.

The natural dyeing class was tons of fun.
Gathered the dye supplies...

and had some fun!

Every color of the rainbow!

 

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