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Ontario Handweavers and Spinners –

Next Regular Meeting: February 12, 2014, 7:00 p.m. Portsmouth Town Hall

President's Message:

Ah winter in Kingston…does that mean slip sliding along, hip waders to navigate the puddles caused by torrential rains or shovelling again and again and yet again? You just never know from one day to the next, but the one thing that does remain constant and unchanging is the warm welcome you get as you walk through the doors into the guild room.

The sound of knitting needles being used is nothing new at the guild, but right now there are a number of very colourful sweaters being knitted – for teens in Kenya. If you have not started your sweater yet, there is still plenty of time – until June! The pattern was published in the last newsletter, but if you lose things the way I can lose things, I would be happy to send a copy to you. I believe we need 80 sweaters to top what we gave a couple of years ago. So grab your needles and come join us at any Open Studio.

You may have noticed that there is a pile of stuff in the guild - well maybe more than just a pile, it is pretty big and the last time I looked it was a bit of a mess. But never fear, it just means that we are cleaning and downsizing. Our new studio space at the Tett does not have the storage space that we currently have, so we have to carefully consider what we need to have for a studio as well as materials for teaching and what materials we could part with. This is never an easy task and the board has been working on this for the past couple of weeks. We have asked our instructors for their input and are gradually moving items into piles – keep, can go and maybe this can go. Once we have completed the sorting process, we will be offering the items for sale. The sale will be advertised to members first and then opened to the general public if need be. However, at the moment, we are attempting to be very strict about not accepting any new donations of anything that we need to store until we have made decisions about what we already have.

The studio is still very much in use and it is wonderful. The tablecloths are just about finished – nine and a runner at last count. Once the tablecloths are off, then a blanket warp will be put on the 100” loom. At the moment there are rag rugs, woolen rugs, yardage and towels on the Toika all being woven. Did you get a chance to test drive the Toika? It is an amazing loom and quite an experience to use. Rumour has it that there may be a warp for rag rugs going on, but that is only a rumour. You might ask Lena if she has heard anything about it.

Open Studios are going strong. Both have people who are actually using equipment – like looms, spinning wheels, carders. Elaine demonstrating the “picker” and if you have never seen a picker in use it is quite the piece of equipment. I figure anything that in the instructions suggests keeping children away, throwing bits of fleece at it and wearing not just an apron but a leather apron and never ever putting your hands inside is not something that I will ever try! Elaine did and loved it. I think she is my hero now. But there are also others who just come to hang out and that is fine. Open Studio can be used as a time to just relax with other likeminded people. The evening group likes to eat together, come join us.

Movie night in January was right in the middle of the deep freeze, but that didn’t stop an intrepid band of eager moviegoers. Andean Spinning was very informative and interesting. Nilda demonstrated some very interesting and unusual techniques. I never realized that toes were so important. Our snacks also moved up a notch, Poppycock rather than popcorn – lovely treat; thanks, Nancy.

Pantone has revealed the colour of the year for 2014. It is Radiant Orchid and it is gorgeous and a lovely treat after tangerine and emerald – both beautiful but strong colours and challenging to work with. Check it out at .

See you at the guild!

Marilyn

This Month’s Program: Crochet Necklace. The materials needed are a crochet hook – 5 or 6 mm, scissors, fancy handspun or fancy necklace yarn and a bead with a large hole.

Spinners Group: Our group usually convenes on the first Wednesday of each month. All are welcome for part or all of the day.

KHWS Spinning Group – 2014 Hostess List

January 1 – Pat Hardy,

February 5 – Candace Featherstone,

March 5 – Sylvia Currie,

April 2 – Alison Ginn,

May 7 – Elaine Horemans,

June 4 – Margaret Duncan,

July 2 – Jennifer MacPherson and friends,

August 6 - Jennifer MacPherson and friends, Studio,

September 3 – Beth Abbott,

October 1 – Ruth MacLeod,

November 5 – Nancy Carr,

December 3 - Jennifer MacPherson and friends, Studio,

Open Studio Dates: Thursdays Afternoons

: Wednesday Evenings

Thursday Afternoons:

Every Thursday, from 10 until 2 members and friends are invited to take advantage of the resources available at the Studio - library, equipment, advice, wisdom. The studio has been a hive of activity and it is expected that this will continue. A busy place is a great place to visit, so if you know of people who are curious about the workings of the guild, invite them to pay a visit.
Sock Patches: Thursday, January 30
Eventually, every sock - no matter how beautifully knitted, no matter how gorgeous the fibre, no matter how perfectly spun - every sock will present a hole. There are many ways to deal with holes in the soles. One of the solutions is a sock patch knitted directly over the hole. If you would like to see how it's done, or if you would like to do one yourself, the technique will be demonstrated at Open Studio on Thursday, January 30 at 11:30. If you would actually like to mend a sock, bring along a holey sock, a similar yarn of any colour and 4 or 5 double pointed needles. It's a quick and elegant fix!
Landscape Bags: Thursday, February 27
Spinning colourful fibre for landscape bags is a lot of fun, and the result is always a bit of a surprise. The 'technique' for creating these bags will be demonstrated at Open Studio on Thursday, February 27 at 11:30. It’s as simple as blend, spin, knit and full - but dependent on the colour selection you've made! Have a look at some bags that have already been created. Perhaps you will want to have a little fun and produce your own creations!
Hope to see you at Thursday Afternoon Open Studio, and don't forget to bring your lunch!

Evening Open Studio

A time for those who couldn`t make it to a regular Open Studio to get together. It sounds easy and viable, but wait - something has to change. Evening studios require food - hmm what a plan – someone cooks for me and all I have to do is show up and enjoy being with others and maybe working on a project or two- and I repeat, someone else cooks for me. Where do I sign up?

The meals are very casual, they have to be able to be prepared in a crockpot, they are vegetarian, and hopefully are tasty. Like magic other bits appear to supplement whatever is in the crockpot that evening, like cookies, rolls, grapes and most importantly smiles and laughter.

As a teaser, here is the recipe for what was in the crockpot one Wednesday in January:

Red Lentil and Vegetable Curry

1 tbsp. vegetable oil

1 large onion, finely chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced

3 tbsp. mild or medium Indian curry paste

1 ½ cups grated sweet potato

1 cup dried red lentils, rinsed

1 ½ cups tomato sauce

2 cups vegetable broth

3 cups packed baby spinach

1 ¼ cups drained, roasted red peppers, chopped

Salt (optional)

In a skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion, garlic and curry paste; cook, stirring occasionally, for three minutes. Stir in sweet potato and lentils. Stir in tomato sauce and bring to a boil. Transfer to slow cooker. Stir in broth. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until lentils are very soft. Stir in spinach and red peppers. Cover and cook on high for about 20 minutes, until spinach is wilted and peppers are heated.

(Curry pastes can be quite salty, taste at the end of cooking and add salt if necessary.)

Serves 4 and maybe more

Come see for yourself what is in the crockpot. Everyone is welcome.

KHWS Workshops: Welcome to all our new spinners and weavers who have just taken our Guild introductory January and February workshops. We hope we get to meet you at our meetings, Open Studios, or further workshops. We have mentors who will help you with questions and techniques to help your new skills develop.
We have space in our Winter/Spring workshops!! We work hard to offer interesting workshops, so please sign up now for any you would like to go forward. Several members asked for the Felt Flowers when Esther showed them to us at our meeting. You need to sign up by this Thursday, Jan. 30th for the workshop to go!! We have changed the workshop to a one day workshop on Saturday Feb 8th.
Our new spinners and those looking for introduction to a new fibre will be interested in Spinning with Alpaca. We also have a follow up to our Introduction to Wheel Spinning in the Woollen and Worsted workshop.
From Log Cabin to Shadow Weavewill introduce weavers to the interesting, easy patterns that can be woven on these structures and expanded into intriguing Shadow weave.
If you would like to see how you can break away from geometric patterns and weave circles and curves, then Network Drafting (and weaving samples) is for you. We are very lucky to have our visiting instructor, Jette Vandermeiden, to lead us through this. There are just a couple of spaces left!!
We hope to see lots of yardage woven from this fall's November workshop. To guide you through turning your cloth into a wearable garment we have Handwoven Jacket or Vest (sewing with handwovens). Anyone can participate if you have 2.5 metres of fabric!
Questions, or to sign up, please contact: Jackie Sylvester, or Bridget Lewis,

Felt Flowers *** please note the change to a one day workshop!!

One day of learning to make pre-felt and designing flowers. Exciting accessories, jewellery, ornaments, fill a vase!!

Dates: Saturday, February 08, 2014
Times: Sat. 9:30 am. – 4:30 pm.
Instructor: Esther Grav
Cost: $60.00 members, $75.00 non-members
Limit: 10
Materials fee: paid to instructor

Spinning with Alpaca

A brief introduction to alpacas, the animals.

Attributes of alpaca fibre. How to assess the range of quality in alpaca fleeces, including grading by fineness. Preparation of alpaca fleece for spinning. Test spinning: various grades, staple lengths, and with a variety of pre-spinning preparations. Combining alpaca with other fibres. including test spinning these blends.

Hands-on will include: skirting a fleece; looking at a variety of alpaca fleeces to see the range of fineness and other attributes; flick carding, drum carding and combing alpaca in preparation for spinning; spinning alpaca and alpaca blends.

Date: Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014
Time: 9 am – 4 pm
Instructor: Nancy Carr
Cost: $60.00 members, $70.00 non-members
Materials fee: paid to instructor

3 Intro. to Spinning – Woollen and Worsted

One morning of fibre preparation and learning to spin woollen and worsted.

Dates: Saturday, March 01, 2014
Times: 9 am. – 12 noon
Instructor: Margaret Duncan
Cost: $30.00 members, $40.00 non-members
Limit: 7 Spinning wheel and materials included.

From Log Cabin to Shadow Weave

First participants will explore basic 2-shaft Log Cabin. In a logical progression this elementary structure is then expanded to 4 shafts leading into fascinating Shadow Weave. The difference between the two systems – Atwater and Powell – will be explained. Theoretic exercises in designing Shadow Weave patterns will enable participants to make original designs.

Date: Saturday – Sunday, March 8 – 9, 2014
Times: 9 am. – 4 pm.
Instructor: Susi Rennick
Cost: $120.00 members, $140.00 non-members

Network Drafting

Network drafting is a method of designing curvilinear threadings for multishaft looms. The weave design on the fabric shows more curvature and breaks the rigidity of the vertical/horizontal lines that weaves usually have.

Two methods of designing will be used: digitizing and telescoping. Using a freehand curve, you will learn to create a proper network draft by using various matrices called initials, and then develop a tieup and a treadling plan.

(note: all cancellations must be received before February 15th)

Dates: Friday - Sunday March 21 – 23, 2014
Times: 9 am – 4 pm
Instructor: Jette Vandermeiden
Cost: $200.00 members, $230.00 non-members

HandWoven Jacket or Vest (sewing with handwovens)

Sew a jacket or a vest with handwoven fabric. Learn construction, sewing and finishing techniques. Especially recommended for those who took Beyond Beginners 2 in November and now have your fabric woven or those who have their own finished, washed 2.5 yards (note: this is approx. 3.5 yd. pre-washed fabric off your loom).

Dates: March 29
Times: Saturday 9 am. – 4 pm. Plus a scheduled one half day to finish.
Instructor: Roberta McKinney
Cost: $90.00 members, $100.00 non-members

Information:

If anyone is willing to knit a sweater for Kenya, to be completed by June, then I will leave kits with the yarn and pattern at the guild. Please call me to let me know who has taken a kit so that I can keep track of them. Thanks.

Donna

Coming Events:

Used Equipment and More Sale

(help us downsize)

A group has been busy going through some of the equipment at the Guild, which we will not be able to move with us to our new studio because of space restrictions. We are going to offer these items to our members first and then, if need be to others outside our guild. We are preparing a list of items and prices. There will two opportunities to purchase. We are using Open Studio times, so that members who cannot make a daytime sale will be able to make an evening sale and vice versa. The doors to the studio will remain shut until the stated times

– 5:30PM on Wednesday, February 5 and 10:00AM on February 6. Members are encouraged to drop in at either time or perhaps both. A list of equipment will be circulated prior to the sale. Some duplicate magazines, books will also be offered. Please check your email for updates.

March Challenge 2014

The March challenge is fast approaching! Finish up your project while watching the Olympics and bring it to the March meeting for judging (see criteria below). We will have a guest judge or two, and lots of prizes.

Theme:Think Big!
Create a piece at least 60 inches long in any one direction. Use the 2014 winter Olympics as inspiration. Planning for a large piece is necessary to avoid disappointment and unnecessary expense of both money and time. Give this project some thought, and be inspired by the lengthy training athletes go through to compete at their best.

Categories: Weaving

Knitting using handspun yarn

Handspun yarn – skein(s) (at least 1000 yards total)

Other (felting, basketry, band-weaving)

Prize for longest item (not a skein)

Criteria: - Open to all KHWS members

- Up to 2 entries per person accepted, to be delivered prior to the meeting, March 12, 2014

- Entries must have been created within the previous calendar year (since the March challenge 2013) and never been shown before

• Entries must be accompanied by a project sheet: a write-up of not more than 75 words explaining the inspiration and how it reflects the theme, fibre content, technique, and pattern(s) used
• please note if you are a novice (less than 2 years experience) in the category entered

- No identification whatsoever allowed on entry or document

Suggestions:

Woven items: blankets, tablecloths, curtains, table runners, rugs, large garments (both surfaces included in the measurement).

Knitted items: shawls, stoles, scarves, large garments such as sweaters or long vests (both surfaces included in the measurement). Mittens joined with I-cord do NOT qualify.

Other items: long nuno felted scarves, felted garments, large baskets, items made with several pieced inkle or tablet-woven bands.

Skeins: For spinners who do not find enough time to actually complete a large project, spinning a large quantity of yarn for that purpose will qualify. Yarn must be all of one kind and the intended project described.

March Challenge 2014 Judging Criteria