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Y Cylchlythyr / The Newsletter
The newsletter is published about twice a year and provides insight in to the activities and events that have occurred across the year.
Some of the newsletter excerpts are posted here but a PDF version is also available to download.
Some of the newsletter excerpts are posted here but a PDF version is also available to download.
GWYNEDD GUILD OF WEAVERS, SPINNERS AND DYERS GUILD CHALLENGE Saturday 9th November 2024
Theme ‘Head or Neck Wear’
Theme ‘Head or Neck Wear’
- The challenge is for members to use up-to 200g fibre/yarn/ stuffing/buttons and/or other materials that the member has chosen to make an item to fit the challenge theme.
- Members will need to use at least 1 of the skills promoted by the guild to make the item; weaving, spinning, or dyeing.
- So, to make an entry in the challenge, you could weave something using yarn that you have not spun yourself, dye yarn that you have not spun yourself to make your item or spin the fibre into yarn to make the item.
- You keep the item you make.
- You must provide information on the source of fibres and skills used to make the
item to display with it. - All challenge items must be brought for display and voting at the November
meeting where the items will be displayed anonymously. - The item judged by the members to be the best in terms of skills used and/or
interpretation of the theme will win the trophy. Each member will use their own judgement and submit a vote.
2024 March Meeting
We did not have a talk or workshop arranged, so members worked on their own projects. At 2pm we heard the guild notices.
The theme for this year’s fibre challenge is Head or Neck wear. See information above. This was chosen following an unanimous vote. This is a friendly and informal challenge to create an item using any of your weaving, spinning and dyeing skills. Bring your completed piece along to the November meeting. Everyone votes for their favorite item. The creator of the item with the most votes takes home the wonderful sheep trophy to display for a whole year. They also have first choice from the raffle.
Events of Interest in addition to our Events Tab Above
12th April guild members will be demonstrating at Llangefni Library
Wonderwool 27th 28th April You can go by coach with Carreglefn Coaches. Make and wear a wild and wacky beanie and you might be awarded a voucher by one of the stewards.
12th May Conway Friendship Day 10am-4pm Betws yn Rhos Community Hall LL22 8EE
18th May Cheshire Guild Friendship Day With a talk on Spinning cotton past and present. Bring a dish for a shared lunch Frodsham Community Centre WA6 7QN
18th-19th May we will be demonstrating at the Anglesey Vintage Rally 10:00-4:00 both days
Show and Tell
Books
Following a suggestion by Elaine members were invited to recommend/ review books others might find useful.
Apologies if I have made a mistake or left your contribution out.
Cyfarfod mis Mawrth
Nid oedd unrhyw weithgareddau wedi trefnu, felly roedd aelodau yn gweithio ar brosiectau eu hunain.
At 2yp clywsom hysbyson yr urdd.
Thema ein her ffibr flwyddyn yma yw ‘Gwisg pen neu wddf’ wedi dewis mewn pleidlais unfrydol. Dyma her gyfeillgar ac anffurfiol i greu eitem gan ddefnyddio unrhyw o’ch sgiliau gwehyddu, troelli a lliwio. Dewch a’ch eitem wedi cwblhau i’r cyfarfod yn fis Tachwedd. Mae pawb yn pleidleisio am e’i hoff eitem. Mi fydd creawdwr yr eitem gyda’r nifer mwyaf o bleidleisiau yn mynd a’r tlws dafad hyfryd adref i arddangos am flwyddyn gyfan, a hefyd yn cael dewis cyntaf o’r raffl. Fydd cyfarwyddiadau mwy manwl mewn atodiad ar wahân.
12 Ebrill – Bydd aelodau’r urdd yn arddangos yn Llyfrgell Llangefni
Wonderwool 27-28 Ebrill – Gallwch fynd ar fws gyda Carreglefn Coaches. Ewch ati i wneud a gwisgo ‘beanie’ gwyllt a gwallgof ac efallai y bydd un o'r stiwardiaid yn dyfarnu taleb i chi.
12 Mai – Diwrnod Cyfeillgarwch Conwy, 10am-4pm, Neuadd Gymunedol Betws yn Rhos LL22 8EE
18 Mai – Diwrnod Cyfeillgarwch Urdd Swydd Gaer, gyda sgwrs ar Droelli Cotwm Ddoe a Heddiw. Dewch â dysgl ar gyfer cinio a rennir yng Nghanolfan Gymunedol Frodsham WA6 7QN
18-19 Mai – Byddwn yn arddangos yn Rali Hen Beiriannau Môn
Roedd gan sawl aelod eitemau i'w dangos a sôn amdanynt.
Mae René wedi bod yn gwneud rhywfaint o nyddu ffractal ac wedi dechrau gweu yn ddiweddar. Mae hi wedi cyfuno'r ddwy sgìl newydd mewn siôl hyfryd siâp cilgant
Rhoddodd Cathy rai cenglau y mae hi wedi'u lliwio'n ddiweddar gan ddefnyddio cen Evernia
Dangosodd Mary belen o edafedd tynnu o’r canol i ni. Gellir defnyddio dau ben yr edafedd ar unwaith os oes angen. Dangosodd Mary i ni hefyd sgarff y mae hi wedi ei gwneud gan ddefnyddio patrwm pwyth sy’n cynhyrchu ffabrig rhesog sydd o liw gwahanol ar bob ochr. Os hoffech chi ddysgu'r naill dechneg neu'r llall, mae Mary'n hapus i roi arddangosiad i chi.
Bu Kay yn modelu siaced, sef ei dilledyn cyntaf wedi’i wneud o gnu y mae hi wedi’i liwio, ei nyddu a’i wehyddu ei hun. Roedd llond llaw bach o doriadau ar ôl.
Mae Carol a Jenny ill dau wedi bod yn gwneud defnydd da o'u pryniannau Wonderwool.
Mae Carol yn methu peidio â phrynu 100g o lawer o ffibr yn ei hoff liwiau ac yna’n meddwl tybed beth y gallai hi ei wneud â'r edafedd sy'n deillio ohono. Ei hateb oedd creu siwmper hyfryd gyda sgwariau intarsia ac ambell streipen. Mae'r siwmper yn ei ffitio'n berffaith.
Roedd Jenny wedi prynu lliwiau naturiol o ffibr o fridiau defaid Cymreig. Ar ôl ei nyddu, defnyddiodd Jenny rywfaint ohono i wau siwmper gwaith lliw gyda motiff drosto i gyd; roedd y tyllau breichiau yn ‘steeked’. Defnyddiodd Jenny fwy o'i hedafedd lliw naturiol i wehyddu sgarff hir a llydan.
Yn dilyn awgrym gan Elaine, gwahoddwyd yr aelodau i argymell/ adolygu llyfrau a allai fod yn ddefnyddiol i eraill.
Mae Rosie yn argymell Exploring Woven Fabrics gan Janet Philips a dangosodd sampl mawr yr oedd hi wedi'i wehyddu i ni yn dangos effaith 24 o edafedd gwahanol ar batrwm unigol, yna gellid archwilio'r rhain ymhellach. Mae Janet Philips wedi ysgrifennu llyfr arall o'r enw Designing Woven Fabrics.
Mae gan Pat Denne The Knitters Handy Book of Patterns gan Ann Budd. Patrymau ar gyfer hetiau menig, sanau, siwmperi ac ati. Mae hyn yn ddelfrydol ar gyfer troellwyr oherwydd rhoddir pob patrwm mewn meintiau a mesuryddion lluosog. Mae Ann Budd hefyd wedi ysgrifennu The Knitters Handy Book of Sweater Patterns a The Handy Book of Top Down Sweaters yn yr un fformat.
Roedd llawer o ddiddordeb yn arddangosfa Anne Campbell, Hilary a Sue Willis o nyddu edafedd cotwm mân iawn gan ddefnyddio gwerthydau cynnal.
Ymddiheuriadau os ydw i wedi gwneud camgymeriad neu heb gynnwys eich cyfraniad.
We did not have a talk or workshop arranged, so members worked on their own projects. At 2pm we heard the guild notices.
The theme for this year’s fibre challenge is Head or Neck wear. See information above. This was chosen following an unanimous vote. This is a friendly and informal challenge to create an item using any of your weaving, spinning and dyeing skills. Bring your completed piece along to the November meeting. Everyone votes for their favorite item. The creator of the item with the most votes takes home the wonderful sheep trophy to display for a whole year. They also have first choice from the raffle.
Events of Interest in addition to our Events Tab Above
12th April guild members will be demonstrating at Llangefni Library
Wonderwool 27th 28th April You can go by coach with Carreglefn Coaches. Make and wear a wild and wacky beanie and you might be awarded a voucher by one of the stewards.
12th May Conway Friendship Day 10am-4pm Betws yn Rhos Community Hall LL22 8EE
18th May Cheshire Guild Friendship Day With a talk on Spinning cotton past and present. Bring a dish for a shared lunch Frodsham Community Centre WA6 7QN
18th-19th May we will be demonstrating at the Anglesey Vintage Rally 10:00-4:00 both days
Show and Tell
- René has been doing some fractal spinning and has recently taken to knitting. She has combined both new skills in a lovely crescent shaped shawl
- Cathy handed round some skeins she has dyed recently using Evernia lichen
- Mary showed us a centre pull ball of yarn. Both ends of the yarn can be used at once if required. Mary also showed us a scarf she has made using a stitch pattern which produces a ribbed fabric that is a different colour on each side. If you would like to learn either of these techniques Mary is happy to give you a demonstration.
- Kay modeled a jacket which is her first item of clothing made from fleece she has dyed, spun and woven herself. There was a tiny handful of offcuts left over.
- Carol and Jenny have both been putting their Wonderwool purchases to good use. Carol can’t resist buying 100g lots of fibre in her favorite colours then wonders what to do with the resulting yarn. Her solution was to create a lovely jumper with intarsia squares and anoccasional stripe. The jumper fits her perfectly. Jenny had bought natural shades of fibre from welsh sheep breeds. Once spun Jenny used some of it to knit a colourwork jumper with an all over motif, the armholes were steeked. Jenny used more of her natural coloured yarn to weave a long wide scarf.
- There was a lot of interest in Anne Campbell, Hilary and Sue Willis’ display of Spinning very fine cotton yarns using support spindles.
Books
Following a suggestion by Elaine members were invited to recommend/ review books others might find useful.
- Rosie recommends Exploring Woven Fabrics by Janet Philips and showed us a large sample she had woven showing the effect of 24 different threadings ? on a single pattern, these could then be explored further. Janet Philips has written another book called Designing Woven Fabrics.
- Pat Denne has The Knitters Handy Book of Patterns by Ann Budd. Patterns for Hats mittens,socks, jumpers etc This is ideal for spinners because each pattern is given in multiple sizes and gauges. Ann Budd has also written The Knitters Handy Book of Sweater Patterns and The Handy Book of Top Down Sweaters in the same format.
Apologies if I have made a mistake or left your contribution out.
Cyfarfod mis Mawrth
Nid oedd unrhyw weithgareddau wedi trefnu, felly roedd aelodau yn gweithio ar brosiectau eu hunain.
At 2yp clywsom hysbyson yr urdd.
Thema ein her ffibr flwyddyn yma yw ‘Gwisg pen neu wddf’ wedi dewis mewn pleidlais unfrydol. Dyma her gyfeillgar ac anffurfiol i greu eitem gan ddefnyddio unrhyw o’ch sgiliau gwehyddu, troelli a lliwio. Dewch a’ch eitem wedi cwblhau i’r cyfarfod yn fis Tachwedd. Mae pawb yn pleidleisio am e’i hoff eitem. Mi fydd creawdwr yr eitem gyda’r nifer mwyaf o bleidleisiau yn mynd a’r tlws dafad hyfryd adref i arddangos am flwyddyn gyfan, a hefyd yn cael dewis cyntaf o’r raffl. Fydd cyfarwyddiadau mwy manwl mewn atodiad ar wahân.
12 Ebrill – Bydd aelodau’r urdd yn arddangos yn Llyfrgell Llangefni
Wonderwool 27-28 Ebrill – Gallwch fynd ar fws gyda Carreglefn Coaches. Ewch ati i wneud a gwisgo ‘beanie’ gwyllt a gwallgof ac efallai y bydd un o'r stiwardiaid yn dyfarnu taleb i chi.
12 Mai – Diwrnod Cyfeillgarwch Conwy, 10am-4pm, Neuadd Gymunedol Betws yn Rhos LL22 8EE
18 Mai – Diwrnod Cyfeillgarwch Urdd Swydd Gaer, gyda sgwrs ar Droelli Cotwm Ddoe a Heddiw. Dewch â dysgl ar gyfer cinio a rennir yng Nghanolfan Gymunedol Frodsham WA6 7QN
18-19 Mai – Byddwn yn arddangos yn Rali Hen Beiriannau Môn
Roedd gan sawl aelod eitemau i'w dangos a sôn amdanynt.
Mae René wedi bod yn gwneud rhywfaint o nyddu ffractal ac wedi dechrau gweu yn ddiweddar. Mae hi wedi cyfuno'r ddwy sgìl newydd mewn siôl hyfryd siâp cilgant
Rhoddodd Cathy rai cenglau y mae hi wedi'u lliwio'n ddiweddar gan ddefnyddio cen Evernia
Dangosodd Mary belen o edafedd tynnu o’r canol i ni. Gellir defnyddio dau ben yr edafedd ar unwaith os oes angen. Dangosodd Mary i ni hefyd sgarff y mae hi wedi ei gwneud gan ddefnyddio patrwm pwyth sy’n cynhyrchu ffabrig rhesog sydd o liw gwahanol ar bob ochr. Os hoffech chi ddysgu'r naill dechneg neu'r llall, mae Mary'n hapus i roi arddangosiad i chi.
Bu Kay yn modelu siaced, sef ei dilledyn cyntaf wedi’i wneud o gnu y mae hi wedi’i liwio, ei nyddu a’i wehyddu ei hun. Roedd llond llaw bach o doriadau ar ôl.
Mae Carol a Jenny ill dau wedi bod yn gwneud defnydd da o'u pryniannau Wonderwool.
Mae Carol yn methu peidio â phrynu 100g o lawer o ffibr yn ei hoff liwiau ac yna’n meddwl tybed beth y gallai hi ei wneud â'r edafedd sy'n deillio ohono. Ei hateb oedd creu siwmper hyfryd gyda sgwariau intarsia ac ambell streipen. Mae'r siwmper yn ei ffitio'n berffaith.
Roedd Jenny wedi prynu lliwiau naturiol o ffibr o fridiau defaid Cymreig. Ar ôl ei nyddu, defnyddiodd Jenny rywfaint ohono i wau siwmper gwaith lliw gyda motiff drosto i gyd; roedd y tyllau breichiau yn ‘steeked’. Defnyddiodd Jenny fwy o'i hedafedd lliw naturiol i wehyddu sgarff hir a llydan.
Yn dilyn awgrym gan Elaine, gwahoddwyd yr aelodau i argymell/ adolygu llyfrau a allai fod yn ddefnyddiol i eraill.
Mae Rosie yn argymell Exploring Woven Fabrics gan Janet Philips a dangosodd sampl mawr yr oedd hi wedi'i wehyddu i ni yn dangos effaith 24 o edafedd gwahanol ar batrwm unigol, yna gellid archwilio'r rhain ymhellach. Mae Janet Philips wedi ysgrifennu llyfr arall o'r enw Designing Woven Fabrics.
Mae gan Pat Denne The Knitters Handy Book of Patterns gan Ann Budd. Patrymau ar gyfer hetiau menig, sanau, siwmperi ac ati. Mae hyn yn ddelfrydol ar gyfer troellwyr oherwydd rhoddir pob patrwm mewn meintiau a mesuryddion lluosog. Mae Ann Budd hefyd wedi ysgrifennu The Knitters Handy Book of Sweater Patterns a The Handy Book of Top Down Sweaters yn yr un fformat.
Roedd llawer o ddiddordeb yn arddangosfa Anne Campbell, Hilary a Sue Willis o nyddu edafedd cotwm mân iawn gan ddefnyddio gwerthydau cynnal.
Ymddiheuriadau os ydw i wedi gwneud camgymeriad neu heb gynnwys eich cyfraniad.
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Trauma Teddy Knitting - 2022
The guild is knitting 'trauma teddies' in support of Ukranian children and families. If you would like knit a teddy the pattern can be downloaded below. It is important to follow the pattern exactly and not to have any additions. Choose your own colours and use up ends of yarn. We recommend that you avoid using white, but otherwise enjoy making different combinations. Submit your knitted teddy to the guild at one of our monthly meetings.
Fibre Exchange - November 2019
All Wales Challenge & Event - October 2019
All Wales Challenge theme for the 2019: ‘Patterns of Wales’
Our design focused on imagery associated with the geological landscape, farming and slate heritage.
Our display was organised by colours in association with the seasons.
Our design focused on imagery associated with the geological landscape, farming and slate heritage.
Our display was organised by colours in association with the seasons.
Dyeing Day at Treborth Gardens - September 2019
The September dyeing day was ‘bubbling’ as usual with a dozen or more hot plates turned on in the beautiful surroundings of Treborth Gardens. Using knowledge and a bit of luck, a variety of colours and textures appeared and by the end of the day the drying racks were full. Experiments of all different types from natural dyes to bright KoolAid! The sun also did a good job drying all the days production.
World Spin in Public Day at Venues in North Wales - September 2019
Spinning in public is always an event we look forward to particularly if the weather is fine, 2019 was spectacular in terms of wall to wall sunshine but it was a bit windy. Members enjoyed their days at Caernarfon Castle, Llynnon Mill (Anglesey) and the National Slate Museum (Llanberis).
A Summer School Experience @ Askham Bryan in York - August 2019
During the month of August, I was fortunate enough to be accepted to attend the Guild Summer School. As the only participant from our guild I was not alone because we had Chris J. who had the prestigious opportunity to be a tutor for one of the workshops and Rosie was at the end of week trade show for SaoriMor. Throughout the intensive week I attended the course titled “Stranded Colourwork for Handspinners” with Ann Kingstone. While I was a bit unsure whether or not my hands would hold out knitting so intensively all week I discovered a range of techniques including: two stranded colour knitting (like Fair Isle), three stranded colourwork, travelling colourwork, Norwegian purl and cabling without a cable needle. With a technique introduced each day there were strong expectations that we would complete our ‘remedial knitting’ each evening. I broke a few needles trying to ‘knit tighter’ as encouraged by Ann to ensure that my patterns would be clear and some rows had to be re-knit with attention and concentration. Alongside all the technical development were tales of the history of knitting, a display of knitting sticks and storytelling in Yorkshire dialect. This is an experience that I will never forget and I do feel like I am a more accomplished knitter, and that perhaps I need to have more confidence in my abilities as a knitter because my hands survived after all!
- Sarah K.
- Sarah K.
Gwynedd Guild at the Anglesey Show - August 2019
On August 13th and 14th members of the Gwynedd Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers attended the Anglesey show to demonstrate the art of spinning and show our spun and dyed wools and finished articles knitted, crocheted and woven. On the Tuesday Eva brought with her great wheel, all of the visiting families were able to chat about the old folk tales of pricking fingers and sleeping for 100 years. We had 4 members on the Tuesday and sadly only 3 as Mary had been unable to join us.
For the Wednesday we also changed the layout of our display, necessary as the items being displayed were different. The weather on the Tuesday was fine and sunny but the Wednesday was showery and the showers were heavy but we are in the permanent hall and so we were snug and dry.
Both days were very busy with lots of people coming over to talk to us and we might have a few new members as a result, there was a lot of interest and our new leaflet was useful to give to people, but most people needed to be encouraged to take one away rather than just picking one up. The flow of people on the Wednesday was variable as when the showers started there was a sudden influx of wet people and mud, but at least the site management did a rapid mop up between showers!
This is a great show and all members who do a stint get an opportunity to look around the show for free, it is a busy site with a lot going on both days. If you haven’t done this please do at least one of our spinning in public opportunities as they are great fun. - Cathy O.
For the Wednesday we also changed the layout of our display, necessary as the items being displayed were different. The weather on the Tuesday was fine and sunny but the Wednesday was showery and the showers were heavy but we are in the permanent hall and so we were snug and dry.
Both days were very busy with lots of people coming over to talk to us and we might have a few new members as a result, there was a lot of interest and our new leaflet was useful to give to people, but most people needed to be encouraged to take one away rather than just picking one up. The flow of people on the Wednesday was variable as when the showers started there was a sudden influx of wet people and mud, but at least the site management did a rapid mop up between showers!
This is a great show and all members who do a stint get an opportunity to look around the show for free, it is a busy site with a lot going on both days. If you haven’t done this please do at least one of our spinning in public opportunities as they are great fun. - Cathy O.
Hand Carding and Long Draw Spinning - July 2019
In 2018, we decided to try different speakers and with the growth in our membership we are able to have more speakers in to teach us different techniques, so in 2018 a relatively new committee member was tasked with booking the next year’s speakers and was coerced to be the vice chair as well. So back in the spring of that year I did the bookings for 2019 and for July we had Freyalynn Close-Hemsworth booked to deliver the workshop on Hand-carding and long-draw spinning to make beautiful lightweight woollen yarns. During 2018 I should have seen the impending resignation of our then chair coming earlier than I did but by our Christmas meeting it was clear that our chair was going to resign, and then in late December I had a heart attack which made it difficult for me at our January meeting which I was very keen to attend as I had booked Fiona Nisbet to do Silk – from Silkworm to Fabric Lecture and Silk Spinning Workshop but had to get a lot of help from others on the committee.
Typically for our meetings we are getting 25 to 35 members attending which can be quite hard to manage as we only have one big room to use in our venue so it can be a bit noisy with chat going on so as chair I have to be forceful sometimes to get a bit of quiet, they may regret having me as chair.
- Cathy O.
Typically for our meetings we are getting 25 to 35 members attending which can be quite hard to manage as we only have one big room to use in our venue so it can be a bit noisy with chat going on so as chair I have to be forceful sometimes to get a bit of quiet, they may regret having me as chair.
- Cathy O.
Whorls and Looms at Parc Cybi Roundhouses - June 2019
Some years ago the Gwynedd Archaeological Trust undertook excavations at an Iron Age site at Parc Cybi near Holyhead, on Holy Island off Anglesey. Jane Kenny of the Trust gave a talk to the guild focussing on the spindle whorls found associated with a group of roundhouses. The site, which had 5 roundhouses, was occupied over a long period and the houses themselves had substantial stone walls which would have been topped by a conical thatched roof. In all, 33 spindle whorls were found at the site, ten being recovered from a single roundhouse prompting the idea that it may have been the focus for textile work. The whorls were all made of the same fine-grained but soft stone, the origin of which is yet to be determined. Several whorls showed some decoration and they were regular and well-made. The weights of the whorls ranged from 12g to 38g and diameters 30 - 50mm. Perhaps this suggests different types of fibre were being spun and plied? No fibres survive on the site, but there is evidence that sheep were present, so yarns produced probably included wool, but perhaps flax or other bast fibres were spun as well. The roundhouse with the whorls also had a mystery post hole which did not seem to be structural but was close to the area where the spindle whorls were found. A suggestion is that backstrap looms were being used and the post could have been used to tension the warps. It is known that backstrap looms were used in Ireland at this time, rather than warp weighted looms. At this period the sea would have been a cultural highway rather than a barrier.
In the discussion after the talk some members were insistent that spindle whorls would not have been ‘lost’ as the archaeologists term it (in order to be ‘found’ by excavation). A spindle whorl would have been highly valued and the group found together probably represented an area where they had been stored in baskets, on a shelf or hung up and were abandoned through some kind of catastrophic event - perhaps an epidemic or local conflict which caused rapid abandonment of the dwelling or whole settlement. It was an excellent talk and prompted a good discussion and exchange of ideas.
– Hilary M.
In the discussion after the talk some members were insistent that spindle whorls would not have been ‘lost’ as the archaeologists term it (in order to be ‘found’ by excavation). A spindle whorl would have been highly valued and the group found together probably represented an area where they had been stored in baskets, on a shelf or hung up and were abandoned through some kind of catastrophic event - perhaps an epidemic or local conflict which caused rapid abandonment of the dwelling or whole settlement. It was an excellent talk and prompted a good discussion and exchange of ideas.
– Hilary M.
A 'Dyer's Bed' on Gardener's World - April 2019
A nice surprise this week to see Monty Don start a 'dyer's bed' on the Easter edition of Gardener's World with Rachel de Thame. It will be interesting to see the follow up on this garden in episodes to come but in the meantime here is the list of plants mentioned on the television series.
Isatis tinctoria (Woad) - dye colour: blue, created from the foliage. Flowering reduces efficacy, pick leaves.
Hypericum x hidcoteense 'Hidcote' (St John's wort) - dye colour: varied yellow to brown, created from flowers.
Alcea rosea 'Halo Cerise' (Hollyhocks) - dye colour: varied pinks to purples, created from flowers.
Rubia tinctorum (Dyer's Madder) - dye colour: reds, created from roots.
Calendula officinalis (Common marigold) - dye colour: soft orange, created from flowers.
One of the best resources for dyeing with plants is the book Wild Colour by Jenny Dean.
Dean is great at providing details on how to cultivate and harvest plants while also the procedures for dyeing.
Knowing that we have our annual dyeing day in September this is an excellent opportunity for growing your own dye plants this year!
#gardenersworld #dyersgarden #plantstodyefor #dyerday #dyersbed
Isatis tinctoria (Woad) - dye colour: blue, created from the foliage. Flowering reduces efficacy, pick leaves.
Hypericum x hidcoteense 'Hidcote' (St John's wort) - dye colour: varied yellow to brown, created from flowers.
Alcea rosea 'Halo Cerise' (Hollyhocks) - dye colour: varied pinks to purples, created from flowers.
Rubia tinctorum (Dyer's Madder) - dye colour: reds, created from roots.
Calendula officinalis (Common marigold) - dye colour: soft orange, created from flowers.
One of the best resources for dyeing with plants is the book Wild Colour by Jenny Dean.
Dean is great at providing details on how to cultivate and harvest plants while also the procedures for dyeing.
Knowing that we have our annual dyeing day in September this is an excellent opportunity for growing your own dye plants this year!
#gardenersworld #dyersgarden #plantstodyefor #dyerday #dyersbed
Felting Workshop with Nicole le Maire - March 2019
We were privileged to have Nicole le Maire giving us a day of instruction on felt making, a bit different but many of us who had met Nicole in her role of leading the Calon Wlan organisation and noted the fabulous felt jacket she wears were interested in learning how to make this form of woolly textile. So, we had the room laid out with tables in two lines allowing space for all of us to make felt.
Nicole gave us a brief introduction to the making of felt which is thought to be the earliest form of fabric made with wool. Basically, the animals make it themselves if they are kept in close confinement at a time when they are naturally shedding their wool, which primitive breeds of sheep do, the action of their feet on the shed wet wool will felt it.
We were told that we use natural wools, dyed or processed fibres, we could add in locks, spun threads, other fibres such as silk and objects such as beads, and mirrors. We were encouraged to take time in laying out the wool as that will save time later and that it is important that the felt shrinks as that is important for the longevity of the fabric.
So, we set to it, setting out the layers of fibre on-top of a layer of material or netting, thin layers and each layer at 90 o angle crossways until there is a good thickness of layers, the lay out the coloured fibres and embellishments on top. It was necessary to add soap and spray warm water to dampen it as you go. The top and bottom layers of fine bubble wrap added and roll it up into a sausage and then roll it up and down the table, several hundred times! Boy was that hard work, but in the end all of us had a lovely original piece of felt!
Nicole gave us a brief introduction to the making of felt which is thought to be the earliest form of fabric made with wool. Basically, the animals make it themselves if they are kept in close confinement at a time when they are naturally shedding their wool, which primitive breeds of sheep do, the action of their feet on the shed wet wool will felt it.
We were told that we use natural wools, dyed or processed fibres, we could add in locks, spun threads, other fibres such as silk and objects such as beads, and mirrors. We were encouraged to take time in laying out the wool as that will save time later and that it is important that the felt shrinks as that is important for the longevity of the fabric.
So, we set to it, setting out the layers of fibre on-top of a layer of material or netting, thin layers and each layer at 90 o angle crossways until there is a good thickness of layers, the lay out the coloured fibres and embellishments on top. It was necessary to add soap and spray warm water to dampen it as you go. The top and bottom layers of fine bubble wrap added and roll it up into a sausage and then roll it up and down the table, several hundred times! Boy was that hard work, but in the end all of us had a lovely original piece of felt!
Making Bags from Our Weaving - February 2019
Silk Spinning with Fiona Nisbet - January 2019
Information to be added.
Fibre Exchange - November 2018
With a theme of ‘nature’ decided upon for the fibre exchange, this year fibre was exchanged in the early months of the year and returned transformed in to many different projects in November! Congratulations to Kat who took home the sheep trophy for her beautiful weaving!
Thank you to Kay and Annie for the photos.
Thank you to Kay and Annie for the photos.
Wonderwool Wales - April 2018
Thank you to Susanne who once again booked and organised the coach trip to Wonderwool Wales, at the Royal Welsh Showgrounds in Builth Wells, April 2018. This is an event that many members look forward to on the calendar. As a showcase for the fibre industry both in Wales and the UK the event continues to grow from strength to strength with both regular and new exhibitors. It was great to see our local Saori Mor (Bangor) crew there too! Am sure that many members are already looking forward to returning in 2019.
Age Cymru Gwynedd a Mon Event - April 2018
Dyeing Talk with Katie Weston from Hilltop Cloud - March 2018
In March, Katie Weston from Hilltop Cloud gave us a splendid talk and demonstration on techniques associated with dyeing with acid dyes.
Safety issues.
The use of these dyes is safe and the acid used is acetic acid - the acid that makes lemon juice or vinegar sour. These dyes work on all protein-based fibres such as wool and alpaca, any animal fibre and silk. These dyes were developed by chemists and the invention of these started in 1848 with the first synthetic dye which was a purple dye. The dyes used today are safe and the safety is constrained through European regulations and post Brexit it is expected that these regulations will be incorporated into UK legislation. But with all chemicals the use of these need to be kept away from food and it is important to use equipment that you do not use for food preparation, this is the case for dyeing with natural materials too also the acidity will eat metal pots and implements, this is also the case for ammonia used for some dyeing with lichens. The dyes are in powder form and it is important not to breathe in the dust, so use of a dust mask is a good idea when mixing the dyes with water and the use of nitrile gloves when mixing and using the dyes is recommended.
Using the dyes.
Use of metric measurements is best for working out percentages, so mixing a stock dye at 2% can be easily done by mixing 2g of dye with 100 ml water, some of the dyes do not mix well with water and addition of a little washing up liquid and using hot water will help this, stock solutions can be kept in plastic bottles indefinitely. Also, the acid used can be made using citric acid powder to mix a stock solution of this use 50g of the citric acid powder with 100ml of boiling water. Using the citric acid solution would typically require 10ml of the stock solution to 100g fibre.
Depth of shade also has a measure so for a depth of shade 1 use 1 ml of dye solution to 1g of fibre. The dye shades that can be bought are many but these can be made by mixing the primary colours, for dyeing these are, turquoise, royal blue, blood red, magenta, lemon yellow, and daffodil yellow, also some secondary colours, where acid milling dyes are recommended, violet, scarlet, jade and emerald, and neutrals black, grey, dark brown and chestnut are recommended and with these the whole spectrum of colours can be obtained.
Also, we are advised not to add the citric acid until the dye is applied to the fibre. The quantity to use depends on the acidity of the water, tap water where I live is surprisingly slightly alkaline, but 10ml of citric acid to 100g fibre is the recommended quantity as a general guide. To use acid dyes the fibre with the dye applied and citric acid requires heat, this can be done either by boiling 20 minutes, steaming 20 minutes, microwaving 15 minutes or in the oven at 150oC for 1 hour. Wrapping the fibre with the applied dye and citric acid in catering grade cling film which contains PVC which is suitable for use in the oven. Before use the fibre should be soaked in water with some washing up liquid, Katie does this in 100g chunks for ease of measurement of the dyes.
Katie then went on to show us how to do this type of dyeing in practice using a microwave oven for the heat process.
Making a repeat colour pattern.
To start layout a suitable length of clingfilm and the piece of fibre zigzag along the length and prepare the colours you plan to use by adding together quantities of the base (primary and secondary) colours into plastic jars using plastic syringes, 1 for each of the base colours being used. The colours achieved should be tested on a piece of kitchen towel, do this for all the colour mixes intended to be used to check that they will work well together, in doing this it is good to vary the colour strengths light and dark. Next pour the colours on in stripes that will repeat along the total length of the fibre, push the colour in to the fibre by using your fingers (with gloves on!), turn the fibre over to check for white patches and work the dye in to this side. Then add the citric acid to fix the dye onto the fibre using another plastic syringe. Then roll the sausage of fibre up in the cling film being sure to exclude all of the air, place in a plastic box and put into the microwave. The heating times for the dyed fibre vary with the different colours, to check whether the dye has been taken up fully insert a syringe into the cling film wrapped sausage in the plastic box and withdraw some liquid, if it is clear then the process is complete. Leave the fibre to cool before washing it and drying, if it is messed with whilst it is hot it will felt.
There are lots of ways to use this type of dyed fibre, once spun the single can be plied using Navaho or chain plying will keep the stripes. Alternatively, the length of fibre can be broken up into lengths to mix the colours together. Another way is to spin the fibre is to split the length in two at the middle and spin one half as an individual single, the other half can be split further into 2 or 3 separate sections and spin this into a single, then ply these together to get a variegated thread, or these can be plied with a single in a different colour to get a different appearance.
Safety issues.
The use of these dyes is safe and the acid used is acetic acid - the acid that makes lemon juice or vinegar sour. These dyes work on all protein-based fibres such as wool and alpaca, any animal fibre and silk. These dyes were developed by chemists and the invention of these started in 1848 with the first synthetic dye which was a purple dye. The dyes used today are safe and the safety is constrained through European regulations and post Brexit it is expected that these regulations will be incorporated into UK legislation. But with all chemicals the use of these need to be kept away from food and it is important to use equipment that you do not use for food preparation, this is the case for dyeing with natural materials too also the acidity will eat metal pots and implements, this is also the case for ammonia used for some dyeing with lichens. The dyes are in powder form and it is important not to breathe in the dust, so use of a dust mask is a good idea when mixing the dyes with water and the use of nitrile gloves when mixing and using the dyes is recommended.
Using the dyes.
Use of metric measurements is best for working out percentages, so mixing a stock dye at 2% can be easily done by mixing 2g of dye with 100 ml water, some of the dyes do not mix well with water and addition of a little washing up liquid and using hot water will help this, stock solutions can be kept in plastic bottles indefinitely. Also, the acid used can be made using citric acid powder to mix a stock solution of this use 50g of the citric acid powder with 100ml of boiling water. Using the citric acid solution would typically require 10ml of the stock solution to 100g fibre.
Depth of shade also has a measure so for a depth of shade 1 use 1 ml of dye solution to 1g of fibre. The dye shades that can be bought are many but these can be made by mixing the primary colours, for dyeing these are, turquoise, royal blue, blood red, magenta, lemon yellow, and daffodil yellow, also some secondary colours, where acid milling dyes are recommended, violet, scarlet, jade and emerald, and neutrals black, grey, dark brown and chestnut are recommended and with these the whole spectrum of colours can be obtained.
Also, we are advised not to add the citric acid until the dye is applied to the fibre. The quantity to use depends on the acidity of the water, tap water where I live is surprisingly slightly alkaline, but 10ml of citric acid to 100g fibre is the recommended quantity as a general guide. To use acid dyes the fibre with the dye applied and citric acid requires heat, this can be done either by boiling 20 minutes, steaming 20 minutes, microwaving 15 minutes or in the oven at 150oC for 1 hour. Wrapping the fibre with the applied dye and citric acid in catering grade cling film which contains PVC which is suitable for use in the oven. Before use the fibre should be soaked in water with some washing up liquid, Katie does this in 100g chunks for ease of measurement of the dyes.
Katie then went on to show us how to do this type of dyeing in practice using a microwave oven for the heat process.
Making a repeat colour pattern.
To start layout a suitable length of clingfilm and the piece of fibre zigzag along the length and prepare the colours you plan to use by adding together quantities of the base (primary and secondary) colours into plastic jars using plastic syringes, 1 for each of the base colours being used. The colours achieved should be tested on a piece of kitchen towel, do this for all the colour mixes intended to be used to check that they will work well together, in doing this it is good to vary the colour strengths light and dark. Next pour the colours on in stripes that will repeat along the total length of the fibre, push the colour in to the fibre by using your fingers (with gloves on!), turn the fibre over to check for white patches and work the dye in to this side. Then add the citric acid to fix the dye onto the fibre using another plastic syringe. Then roll the sausage of fibre up in the cling film being sure to exclude all of the air, place in a plastic box and put into the microwave. The heating times for the dyed fibre vary with the different colours, to check whether the dye has been taken up fully insert a syringe into the cling film wrapped sausage in the plastic box and withdraw some liquid, if it is clear then the process is complete. Leave the fibre to cool before washing it and drying, if it is messed with whilst it is hot it will felt.
There are lots of ways to use this type of dyed fibre, once spun the single can be plied using Navaho or chain plying will keep the stripes. Alternatively, the length of fibre can be broken up into lengths to mix the colours together. Another way is to spin the fibre is to split the length in two at the middle and spin one half as an individual single, the other half can be split further into 2 or 3 separate sections and spin this into a single, then ply these together to get a variegated thread, or these can be plied with a single in a different colour to get a different appearance.
To make a variegated dyed braid.
This colour combination does not have a repeat pattern and gaps can be left to leave some white wool. To start layout a length of clingfilm as before and the length of fibre, mix the colours in the same fashion but this time blob the dyes leaving spaces between the colours to keep some areas white. Again, spread out the dye with fingers to reduce the amount of white to what looks best. Roll up in clingfilm and place in a plastic box and microwave as before.
For this colourway spinning can be done in all of the ways identified above.
To make a gradient colour braid.
Gradient dyeing is one colour grading into another this can be done in two ways one is based on one colour with dark shading to light the other uses a gradient of different colours.
Katie did these using silk as the fibre, for the first she used a mulberry silk brick and this needs to be soaked for a week before use, the first gradient was an ombre gradient using a single colour with the colour gradient from dark to light. Again, the process starts with laying out a longer length of clingfilm and then layout the roving of fibre and spreading this out using fingers and flapping the roving against the table to assist it to open out. Then split the length of the roving in two, and then double each length over so that there is two separate lengths side by side with the middle of each length at one end of the clingfilm and the ends at the other. The colour then is applied with the darkest shade at the middle sections where the roving is doubled and by adding water as the colour is applied to dilute the colour along the length of the clingfilm to the ends where it is lighter in shade. For the silk the dye has to be thoroughly mushed into the silk, using an action rather like CPR.
For the second gradient Katie used a Tussah silk brick using the same soaking and spreading method, tussah silk has more texture than mulberry which is shinier and smoother. The same process of laying out the fibre as before then mixing the colours and checking that these will work together, this is particularly important for the colours that will be adjacent to each other as these will merge when they are in the clingfilm. To apply the dye it is a similar process to the repeat colour braid but with the fibre laid out in the way outlined above apply the first colour leaving a small quantity and add a small quantity of the second colour to mix together and place between the first and second colour on the length of fibre, this process is repeated along the length of the fibre with the transition zones dyed with a mixture of the two adjacent colours.
The heating process for these is the same as the previous ones.
This completely filled the day with the exploration of wonderful colours and produced brightly coloured fibre skeins similar to those that were for sale from Hill Top Cloud of which we also bought materials for our individual stashes. Maybe one day I will have the courage to try these techniques, and I am wondering whether I could use the techniques for my lichen dyes, but I do not think I would be able to do this due to the ammonia smell, so maybe I will invest in some acid dyes!
Thank you to Cathy O. for documenting all this insightful information for our newsletter.
This colour combination does not have a repeat pattern and gaps can be left to leave some white wool. To start layout a length of clingfilm as before and the length of fibre, mix the colours in the same fashion but this time blob the dyes leaving spaces between the colours to keep some areas white. Again, spread out the dye with fingers to reduce the amount of white to what looks best. Roll up in clingfilm and place in a plastic box and microwave as before.
For this colourway spinning can be done in all of the ways identified above.
To make a gradient colour braid.
Gradient dyeing is one colour grading into another this can be done in two ways one is based on one colour with dark shading to light the other uses a gradient of different colours.
Katie did these using silk as the fibre, for the first she used a mulberry silk brick and this needs to be soaked for a week before use, the first gradient was an ombre gradient using a single colour with the colour gradient from dark to light. Again, the process starts with laying out a longer length of clingfilm and then layout the roving of fibre and spreading this out using fingers and flapping the roving against the table to assist it to open out. Then split the length of the roving in two, and then double each length over so that there is two separate lengths side by side with the middle of each length at one end of the clingfilm and the ends at the other. The colour then is applied with the darkest shade at the middle sections where the roving is doubled and by adding water as the colour is applied to dilute the colour along the length of the clingfilm to the ends where it is lighter in shade. For the silk the dye has to be thoroughly mushed into the silk, using an action rather like CPR.
For the second gradient Katie used a Tussah silk brick using the same soaking and spreading method, tussah silk has more texture than mulberry which is shinier and smoother. The same process of laying out the fibre as before then mixing the colours and checking that these will work together, this is particularly important for the colours that will be adjacent to each other as these will merge when they are in the clingfilm. To apply the dye it is a similar process to the repeat colour braid but with the fibre laid out in the way outlined above apply the first colour leaving a small quantity and add a small quantity of the second colour to mix together and place between the first and second colour on the length of fibre, this process is repeated along the length of the fibre with the transition zones dyed with a mixture of the two adjacent colours.
The heating process for these is the same as the previous ones.
This completely filled the day with the exploration of wonderful colours and produced brightly coloured fibre skeins similar to those that were for sale from Hill Top Cloud of which we also bought materials for our individual stashes. Maybe one day I will have the courage to try these techniques, and I am wondering whether I could use the techniques for my lichen dyes, but I do not think I would be able to do this due to the ammonia smell, so maybe I will invest in some acid dyes!
Thank you to Cathy O. for documenting all this insightful information for our newsletter.
A tribute to Anne B. from Hilary M.
We have lost a respected and valued Guild member with the unexpected death of Anne B. in January at the age of 79. This came as a shock to our members who recalled Anne at the December 2017 meeting seemingly well and as full of ideas and projects as ever.
A number of Guild members attended Anne’s funeral on 16th February and we learned quite a lot about her. A lovely tribute was given by Charmaine, a friend of Anne’s since they both started school at Birkenhead High School at the age of five. Even as a small child Anne was notable as quiet, unassuming, gentle and unworldly. A serious illness as a child left her lame but she was uncomplaining and accepted the disability and ignored it – she did not let it stop her doing what she wanted to do. Art became her focus as a teenager and together with Charmaine, entered the Laird School of Art in Birkenhead, subsequently going on to Liverpool Art College – this was the sixties and it was all happening in Liverpool!
Anne subsequently taught art in schools, moving to the Bristol area and becoming a weaving tutor at the art college there. After a number of jobs and her now elderly parents having moved to Anglesey, Anne too moved to the island. Living in Brynsciencyn she found it difficult at first, but later made contacts in the lively local artistic community. It must have been at this time that Anne became a Gwynedd Guild member and I’d like to think that the fellowship and shared interests within the Guild were one of the reasons that Anne became settled in the area.
Anne did move away from Anglesey once more. After both of her parents had died she decided to take up the offer of a retirement flat in Yorkshire. Moving to smaller accommodation she decided, ever practical, to concentrate on art and to give up spinning and weaving and sold some of her equipment and fleece stash to Guild members. However, Yorkshire did not suit her and after several years Anne was back on Anglesey and remained here for the rest of her life. She rejoined the Guild and gradually spinning and weaving became part of her life again – she bought back a wheel she had sold and bought a new loom which would fit into her small house.
Anne liked working with fine fleeces and natural colours. Her speciality was fine spinning, and a number of Guild members benefitted from a workshop she held at the Guild meeting in August 2017. Her meticulous approach resulted in work of a very high quality.
A very private person, her Christian faith was important to her. She remained, as we know, gentle and never critical of others. Anne was an active and gifted member of the Guild and we are lucky to have had such an accomplished Guild colleague.
**more memories of Anne from other guild members will be published in the next newsletter. Thank you to Hilary for this tribute.
A number of Guild members attended Anne’s funeral on 16th February and we learned quite a lot about her. A lovely tribute was given by Charmaine, a friend of Anne’s since they both started school at Birkenhead High School at the age of five. Even as a small child Anne was notable as quiet, unassuming, gentle and unworldly. A serious illness as a child left her lame but she was uncomplaining and accepted the disability and ignored it – she did not let it stop her doing what she wanted to do. Art became her focus as a teenager and together with Charmaine, entered the Laird School of Art in Birkenhead, subsequently going on to Liverpool Art College – this was the sixties and it was all happening in Liverpool!
Anne subsequently taught art in schools, moving to the Bristol area and becoming a weaving tutor at the art college there. After a number of jobs and her now elderly parents having moved to Anglesey, Anne too moved to the island. Living in Brynsciencyn she found it difficult at first, but later made contacts in the lively local artistic community. It must have been at this time that Anne became a Gwynedd Guild member and I’d like to think that the fellowship and shared interests within the Guild were one of the reasons that Anne became settled in the area.
Anne did move away from Anglesey once more. After both of her parents had died she decided to take up the offer of a retirement flat in Yorkshire. Moving to smaller accommodation she decided, ever practical, to concentrate on art and to give up spinning and weaving and sold some of her equipment and fleece stash to Guild members. However, Yorkshire did not suit her and after several years Anne was back on Anglesey and remained here for the rest of her life. She rejoined the Guild and gradually spinning and weaving became part of her life again – she bought back a wheel she had sold and bought a new loom which would fit into her small house.
Anne liked working with fine fleeces and natural colours. Her speciality was fine spinning, and a number of Guild members benefitted from a workshop she held at the Guild meeting in August 2017. Her meticulous approach resulted in work of a very high quality.
A very private person, her Christian faith was important to her. She remained, as we know, gentle and never critical of others. Anne was an active and gifted member of the Guild and we are lucky to have had such an accomplished Guild colleague.
**more memories of Anne from other guild members will be published in the next newsletter. Thank you to Hilary for this tribute.
A Curtain of Poppies
A part of the war centenary, Wonderwool Wales will be displaying the 'curtain of poppies' in April 2018. These poppies have been made and submitted by members of guilds and others from many different places to create a monumental display. As a guild we prepared our poppies early in 2018 to be submitted and below is an image of our submission. Thank you to Cerys for the photo.
Untouched - A Textile Mill Rediscovered
An really interesting link forwarded to the guild from Rhiannon. The images are a photographic documentation of the Leri Tweed Mill, Talybont nr Aberystwyth when it was rediscovered after being abandoned.
The page reads:
"Little history can be found about the mills but they were built on the site of an old furnace which smelted the lead from local lead mines. Records date this back to 1642. The mill itself stopped meaningful production around 1958-60 in-line with when the UK became a net cotton importer and the general demise of the industry put paid to over 800 mills. At this time the two mills (the one photographed here is further down the riverbank) were purchased by Mr J Hughes – he ran the mills with his wife till the end of 1980 as a popular tourist attraction. In the August of 1981 they put the whole site, including a 6 bedroom house, the two tweed mills, a craft shop and 14 acres of land around the river bank with shooting & fishing rights, for sale at a guide price £150,000. The site appears never to have been sold and has gradually fallen into decay since."
The photographic images can be found here:
http://www.whateversleft.co.uk/industrial/leri-tweed-mill-talybont
The page reads:
"Little history can be found about the mills but they were built on the site of an old furnace which smelted the lead from local lead mines. Records date this back to 1642. The mill itself stopped meaningful production around 1958-60 in-line with when the UK became a net cotton importer and the general demise of the industry put paid to over 800 mills. At this time the two mills (the one photographed here is further down the riverbank) were purchased by Mr J Hughes – he ran the mills with his wife till the end of 1980 as a popular tourist attraction. In the August of 1981 they put the whole site, including a 6 bedroom house, the two tweed mills, a craft shop and 14 acres of land around the river bank with shooting & fishing rights, for sale at a guide price £150,000. The site appears never to have been sold and has gradually fallen into decay since."
The photographic images can be found here:
http://www.whateversleft.co.uk/industrial/leri-tweed-mill-talybont
Quarry Bank Mill Trip - October 2017
We had a lovely day out as a group at Quarry Bank Mill a National Trust property near Manchester airport.
The wet weather didn’t diminish our spirits. The trip both ways was full of chatter and laughter. We were met by an NT volunteer who sorted our tickets for us, supplied us each with a map and the time of our tour later in the afternoon. First stop though was the coffee shop; we then all went our own ways, only to find ourselves in the mill itself, those originally heading for the garden having been caught out by the rain.
The NT staff certainly knew what they were talking about and had been warned that we were there. This meant that they left off explanations of warp and weft, for example, but became more technical. It was fascinating.
Café again for lunch, a walk to the village to the Weavers Cottage exhibition and our appointment at the Apprentices House and then the shop where we were able to purchase both fabric produced at the mill and some of the cones of cotton for our own use. What a bargain! Wonder what we will use them for?
No trip just happens and many thanks are due to Cathy O. for her hard work in organising this trip. - Kate L.
The wet weather didn’t diminish our spirits. The trip both ways was full of chatter and laughter. We were met by an NT volunteer who sorted our tickets for us, supplied us each with a map and the time of our tour later in the afternoon. First stop though was the coffee shop; we then all went our own ways, only to find ourselves in the mill itself, those originally heading for the garden having been caught out by the rain.
The NT staff certainly knew what they were talking about and had been warned that we were there. This meant that they left off explanations of warp and weft, for example, but became more technical. It was fascinating.
Café again for lunch, a walk to the village to the Weavers Cottage exhibition and our appointment at the Apprentices House and then the shop where we were able to purchase both fabric produced at the mill and some of the cones of cotton for our own use. What a bargain! Wonder what we will use them for?
No trip just happens and many thanks are due to Cathy O. for her hard work in organising this trip. - Kate L.
Gwynedd Guild Friendship Day - September 2017 @ Llangoed Hall
Once again it was our pleasure to host a Friendship Day in the village hall at Llangoed. Several members had Sales tables and we were also able to welcome Nunoco once again with their wonderful array of fibres. It was difficult not to succumb to the variety of items on sale.
There was lots of chatter as we caught up with old friends and made new ones, exchanging news and hints and tips. The chatter didn’t diminish over lunch either though the comments turned to the “Try this, it’s delicious” sort. There was indeed a wonderful array of food, so much of it home cooked. Maybe we could have an exchange of Friendship Day recipes?
Tea and coffee flowed throughout the day with more cakes and biscuits. The raffle was well supported and thanks are due to all who generously donated a prize. I don’t think there were many who didn’t win something.
The day finally drew to a close and it was time to pack away. Thanks are due to those who helped make the day a success. Every little bit of help counts to make the day run smoothly and to allow the major organisers a few minutes of time to themselves. - Kate L.
There was lots of chatter as we caught up with old friends and made new ones, exchanging news and hints and tips. The chatter didn’t diminish over lunch either though the comments turned to the “Try this, it’s delicious” sort. There was indeed a wonderful array of food, so much of it home cooked. Maybe we could have an exchange of Friendship Day recipes?
Tea and coffee flowed throughout the day with more cakes and biscuits. The raffle was well supported and thanks are due to all who generously donated a prize. I don’t think there were many who didn’t win something.
The day finally drew to a close and it was time to pack away. Thanks are due to those who helped make the day a success. Every little bit of help counts to make the day run smoothly and to allow the major organisers a few minutes of time to themselves. - Kate L.
Anglesey Show - August 2017
Spin Thin Workshop with Ann B. - August 2017
Caernarfon Show - July 2017
Freestyle Knitting with Crafts from the Dungeon - June 2017
Each year that Bea from Crafts in the Dungeon joins us for a workshop it is a new experience.
Her ‘freestyle knitting’ workshop involved each participant exploring a series of knitting strategies. As you can see below when put together they create a great assemblage of texture and colour.
Her ‘freestyle knitting’ workshop involved each participant exploring a series of knitting strategies. As you can see below when put together they create a great assemblage of texture and colour.
Blending Board Workshop with Ann C. - May 2017
During our May meeting I participated in the blending board workshop taught by Ann. This was a great opportunity to experiment with creating my own rolags. Since I still consider myself a beginner at the guild, this workshop provided the opportunity for me to learn to create my own blended rolags for spinning. With excellent instruction and all the required supplies organised by Ann the group(s) created their own coloured rolags inspired by images from greeting cards. Using blue, orange, white, yellow and some pink I created three different samples: a subtle blend, a bright blend and a striped blend. These rolags have already been spun up on my drop spindles and plied with another turquoise and pink single. Both informative and practical this was a great workshop, thanks to Ann. - Sarah K.
Ikat Talk with Mary H. - March 2017
In March, Mary headlined the meeting with her talk on Ikat. Mary shared with us her experiences of living on the Indonesian island of ‘Sumba’ as a teacher and her knowledge of traditional Ikat weaving. She noted that one of the key traits to watch out for when purchasing Ikat is the ‘colouring in’ on the front of the textiles. When added after weaving or painted on the colour only appears on one side of the textile. The process of Ikat remains a bit of a mystery and it sounds like this is purposeful in order to maintain traditional knowledge within the communities. When you see the intricate details on the Ikat textiles, many given to Mary as a traditional leaving presents, it is evident that there is a strong connection with time, patience and skill. The most skilful traditional designs are worn and shared between the communities, while more efficient designs are created for the tourist industry. Alongside discussion of the textiles, Mary reminisced about the people, animals and landscape of Indonesia. It definitely made me dream of experiencing life in other cultures. Perhaps so much so that I forgot to take pictures!? Not sure that they would have captured the subtle shades and shimmers. When Mary donates these exquisite textiles to a big museum (!) and they are put on display we can definitely schedule a guild visit!
Dyeing with Lichens with Cathy O. - November 2016
At our November meeting Cathy presented her research and experimentation with lichen dyeing. With an enthusiastic manner and a well prepared presentation she walked us through both the historical associations of dyeing with lichens and her practice of lichen dyeing. Historically we were taken on an adventure that included the Roman Empire and the use of lichens in Scotland as they were aligned with the Gordon family. Cathy was originally inspired to research the use of lichens after a visit to Tenerife informed her of the crucial role that this island had in the export of lichens for dyeing processes throughout Europe. With reference to a few key source books for both identification and dyeing, for example Karen Casselman’s book ‘Lichen dyes the new source book’, Cathy explained the details of collecting lichens (in an environmentally sensitive way!), shredding the lichens ready for dyeing, measuring the ratios of ammonia and the weeks of fermentation that were involved in dyeing with these natural sources. As always with dyeing it was amazing to see how the colours changed from the original lichen through to the dyeing and then with species like Xanthoria that photo oxidize while the fibres dry in the sunlight, magically changing from pink to blue. An inspiring talk! Thank you Cathy for sharing your knowledge.
Teresina (from Wild Fibres) at Treborth - June 2016
We are always lucky to have a visit from Teresina of Wild Fibres / Wild Colour. At our June meeting she presented her talk on ‘silk’ at Treborth Gardens in Bangor. Her knowledge is exceptional and she recounted the importance of silk as a sign of power and its movement from China to Paraguay as the mulberry trees diminish in China and Paraguay have been supplying the majority of silk for Italy. Silk, as a triangular fibre, traps the light – hence the additional shimmer that we commonly associate with silk fabrics. The silk ‘worm’ (actually a caterpillar) has a life cycle of 10 week and takes 72 hours to create the cocoon; while also being the only domesticated insect. It is the cocoon that is boiled down to produce a silk that can be reeled and wound to produce fibre.
Of the different types of silk, Tussah was identified by Teresina as the easiest to spin and, as such, a good starter silk for spinning. Tussah silk, mainly from India, is more golden in colour and comes from a lime green caterpillar that turns in to the most amazing moth (see picture). As a guide silk is best when mixed in a 50/50 blend of silk and wool. As well as being long, lustrous and luxurious as a fibre, silk also takes dye really well producing vibrant and even colour. When buying or breeding cocoons it is important to think about the weight of silk you desire in the end. For example, 100 cocoons is approximately 80 grams but after removing the pupa this reduces to 22 grams and then once the sericin is removed only 15 grams remains. On her website, Teresina notes that “you would need about 60 silkworms and two kilos of mulberry leaves to make a pongee silk scarf 150 cm by 40 cm which weighs 12 grams.” (http://www.wildfibres.co.uk/html/silk_cocoons.html) This makes the production of silk very expensive and it requires a high volume of mulberry leaves. To produce the initial 100 cocoons, the silk worms would have eaten 10 kilos of mulberry leaves. Am already wondering what my silk spinning skills might be like since I have not yet attempted this. However, in the meantime, I loved the idea of using unwoven dyed silk ‘hanky’ to knit with. The silk ‘hankies’ are cheaper to purchase than to make and you can find them here: http://www.wildfibres.co.uk/html/silk_fibres.html I wonder whether a few silk hankies will make it in to the dye baths at our upcoming dyeing day at Treborth in September. Any interest? For more information and ideas associated with silk Teresina’s website is very informative. -- Sarah K. |
Twiddlemuffs
The guild have been really active before and during the holidays creating 'twiddlemuffs' as a suggestion from one of our member (Ann, I think!) we thought it would be a nice way to support patients with dementia by knitting basic hand muffs.
What is a 'twiddlemuff'?
It is a knitted band that has items like ribbon and buttons attached to both the inside and outside. Patients with dementia on wards in hospitals and care homes can slip their hands in these muffs and occupy their hands. They help stimulation whilst on the wards and NHS Foundations like Warrington and Halton Hospitals have found that they are "simple and valuable" to their patients.
The initiative is part of a project called ForgetMeNot at the Warrington and Halton Hospitals but it is possible to do the same initiative locally.
Below is the link to the pattern, give it a go BUT REMEMBER --- use washable acrylic yarns (not handspun!)
The pattern can be found on the following website http://www.whh.nhs.uk/_store/documents/twiddlemuffsknittingpattern.pdf
What is a 'twiddlemuff'?
It is a knitted band that has items like ribbon and buttons attached to both the inside and outside. Patients with dementia on wards in hospitals and care homes can slip their hands in these muffs and occupy their hands. They help stimulation whilst on the wards and NHS Foundations like Warrington and Halton Hospitals have found that they are "simple and valuable" to their patients.
The initiative is part of a project called ForgetMeNot at the Warrington and Halton Hospitals but it is possible to do the same initiative locally.
Below is the link to the pattern, give it a go BUT REMEMBER --- use washable acrylic yarns (not handspun!)
The pattern can be found on the following website http://www.whh.nhs.uk/_store/documents/twiddlemuffsknittingpattern.pdf
Navajo Plying
Below are the instructions from Hilary M. for Navajo plying. This is a follow up from her demonstration at a guild meeting this past year.
- This makes a three ply yarn from singles.
- It is a useful technique if you have one bobbin of singles yarn.
- It also allows you to control sections of different colours in the plyed yarn.
- Take the end of the singles yarn and make a loop and fold it back on the end coming from the bobbin - you will now have three strands of singles lying next to each other, the loop and the working end which goes back to the bobbin.
- Tie the start (loose end and two other strands forming the loop) to the leader on your bobbin.
- Keeping the first loop open, start plying and pull the working end through the loop – this makes another loop.
- Repeat and keep repeating. It’s like making a chain.
- The loops can be any length and loop length can vary within the yarn.
- You can control colour changes by starting a new loop as the colour in the singles changes, or overlap colour changes to make the transition less sharp.
- Skein the plied yarn and rinse to remove excess twist.
A Saori Sample
Well here it is! The sample of saori weaving from my win in
the raffle at Caernarfon Show, in July, on Rosie's Saorimor stall.
I used a variety of fibres and even tops.
I was really enthused by it as I could see how I would be able to
use a lot of my handspun and fibres stash.
My husband must have been impressed as he decided he
would buy me a loom for Christmas and my big birthday in 2016.
(saves him thinking what to buy!)
At present I am weaving a long scarf for him, then I am going
to make something for myself with a multi-coloured silk warp.
Saori weaving is catching on as there are now quite a few
guild members that do saori weaving! It seems Rosie has
suitably inspired many of us.
-- Enid McK.
the raffle at Caernarfon Show, in July, on Rosie's Saorimor stall.
I used a variety of fibres and even tops.
I was really enthused by it as I could see how I would be able to
use a lot of my handspun and fibres stash.
My husband must have been impressed as he decided he
would buy me a loom for Christmas and my big birthday in 2016.
(saves him thinking what to buy!)
At present I am weaving a long scarf for him, then I am going
to make something for myself with a multi-coloured silk warp.
Saori weaving is catching on as there are now quite a few
guild members that do saori weaving! It seems Rosie has
suitably inspired many of us.
-- Enid McK.
Christmas Part - December 2015
Each December we enjoy food and socialising as well as some time making a small craft. All before the fibre exchange results!
'Crafts from the Dungeon' Visit - November 2015
please visit again soon to read this write up.
Drum Carding Workshop - November 2015
We were delighted to welcome Jill Shepherd to our guild to tutor us for this workshop. We were very grateful to Katie, who was unable to attend, to arrange for Jill to step into her shoes for the day.
In all, fourteen of us gathered at Llandygai, drum carders at the ready. Jill was only too happy to recap on how to use a drum carder before getting us started. The first task was to take a piece of a photograph from a magazine and pull out the colours. We played with these using coloured pencils, noting any changes to each one we through we should make - lighter or darker shades, omitting the colour completely, for example. When we were satisfied with our notes we then went to choose the fibres we would use from the vast array Jill had brought with her. The carding started, followed by spinning and plying a small amount to see if we would like the end result. Jill explained that this is how we would be expected to show our thoughts and plans should we decide to work towards any of the Associations certificates of achievement.
It surprised us just how colours could change between the drum carder and the spun single, between the single and the plied yarn and again between the plied yarn and the knitted sample square. I thought back to Pat W.'s talk on Harris Tweed and how the colours are so very wild and bright when they are first selected, and how they change so much when spun and woven, to give the soft, heathery colours we associate with Harris Tweed.
A break for lunch and then we were encouraged to make our own selection of fibres and see what we could blend with these. When we had done this, Jill showed us various ways of removing the blended fibre from the drum carder, including using a dizz, something I had at home but had not used successfully before. Thank you Jill!
Show and tell allowed us to see what our friends were producing and to hear how they had come to their final piece. It will be interesting to see what the batts are made into.
Finally, Jill gave some advice to the felt makers amongst us on how to card for felting, hopefully now being put into good use in readiness for our Christmas activity!
If any one has images of the work this produced from their batts please send it in to be featured in a future newsletter!
In all, fourteen of us gathered at Llandygai, drum carders at the ready. Jill was only too happy to recap on how to use a drum carder before getting us started. The first task was to take a piece of a photograph from a magazine and pull out the colours. We played with these using coloured pencils, noting any changes to each one we through we should make - lighter or darker shades, omitting the colour completely, for example. When we were satisfied with our notes we then went to choose the fibres we would use from the vast array Jill had brought with her. The carding started, followed by spinning and plying a small amount to see if we would like the end result. Jill explained that this is how we would be expected to show our thoughts and plans should we decide to work towards any of the Associations certificates of achievement.
It surprised us just how colours could change between the drum carder and the spun single, between the single and the plied yarn and again between the plied yarn and the knitted sample square. I thought back to Pat W.'s talk on Harris Tweed and how the colours are so very wild and bright when they are first selected, and how they change so much when spun and woven, to give the soft, heathery colours we associate with Harris Tweed.
A break for lunch and then we were encouraged to make our own selection of fibres and see what we could blend with these. When we had done this, Jill showed us various ways of removing the blended fibre from the drum carder, including using a dizz, something I had at home but had not used successfully before. Thank you Jill!
Show and tell allowed us to see what our friends were producing and to hear how they had come to their final piece. It will be interesting to see what the batts are made into.
Finally, Jill gave some advice to the felt makers amongst us on how to card for felting, hopefully now being put into good use in readiness for our Christmas activity!
If any one has images of the work this produced from their batts please send it in to be featured in a future newsletter!
Motiv8
Again we were invited to attend Motiv8 in Caernarfon, a day for people with mental health issues to come along and see if there is an activity which might inspire them and give them another focus.
We set up in the hall at the Sports Centre along with a large and varied number of other groups who had a variety of information and things for people to see and try.
We had taken the peg looms as they are easy to set up and easy for people to use. Our group had a number of examples with then to show the variety of items that could be used, with the emphasis on recycling as an affordable way of using the craft. We had lots of interest in the peg looms and a good number of people trying them out. We also demonstrated a spinning wheel and a table loom: some people also tried weaving on the table loom.
During the event there were various sport activities happening, including wheelchair basketball. With a presentation of trophies at the end by an ex-paralympian who had been invited to spend the day with us.
We were treated to a buffet lunch by the organisers. This was provided by the 'pay as you feel' cafe from Bethesda, whose aim is to provide hot meals from food that otherwise be thrown away as it is close to it's sell by date, or is surplus to requirements. The cafe asks customers to pay what they feel the meal is worth, though no one is excluded because they can't afford to pay.
It was a very friendly atmosphere all day and I think I can safely say we had a lovely day.
We set up in the hall at the Sports Centre along with a large and varied number of other groups who had a variety of information and things for people to see and try.
We had taken the peg looms as they are easy to set up and easy for people to use. Our group had a number of examples with then to show the variety of items that could be used, with the emphasis on recycling as an affordable way of using the craft. We had lots of interest in the peg looms and a good number of people trying them out. We also demonstrated a spinning wheel and a table loom: some people also tried weaving on the table loom.
During the event there were various sport activities happening, including wheelchair basketball. With a presentation of trophies at the end by an ex-paralympian who had been invited to spend the day with us.
We were treated to a buffet lunch by the organisers. This was provided by the 'pay as you feel' cafe from Bethesda, whose aim is to provide hot meals from food that otherwise be thrown away as it is close to it's sell by date, or is surplus to requirements. The cafe asks customers to pay what they feel the meal is worth, though no one is excluded because they can't afford to pay.
It was a very friendly atmosphere all day and I think I can safely say we had a lovely day.
Wonderwool Wales 2015
Bed’s a bit hard & narrow. Where am I? Oh yes, Builth Wells in the campervan for Wonderwool Wales. Time to get up, walk the dog and get the shuttle bus (30p a trip, proceeds to Air Ambulance) from the camping area up to the show. As usual, once through the door, my brain was overwhelmed by the array of colour and colourful items on display. Where shall I start, ooh, look at that .. and that .. and that. That’s new, haven’t seen that before ..... So many people walking about feasting on colour and the variety of things on display.
For the sake of my sanity I went in search of the items/stalls listed on my shopping list, only deviating occasionally to look at other stalls en route. I’m always tempted by fleeces, plenty of those on display along with their sources e.g. Shetland, Badger face, Alpacas. Only bought a half fleece – and I did have a plan for it. The colour and shades of dyed tops and yarns mesmerize me though I didn’t need any of those this year. I did want some natural grey fleece for a project, got some and a little absolutely pure black. One or two of those ‘I like that, don’t know what for but I know it will come in’ found their way in to my bag.
So many ideas - ‘I could do that’ or ‘I could incorporate that into what I’m doing’ or ‘I never thought of doing it that way’. And ooh, that man who brings those wonderful woven knee rugs in all sorts of subtle colours (told me it took him three and a half days to warp up for a piece I was looking at) has actually brought some offcuts and bags of little bits for the first time. That means I can take some home & enjoy the colours.
Lunch, take the dog out, back to the halls for my first workshop - Needlefelting: make a seal. I imagined myself coming away with a shapeless blob that only I knew was a seal but under the expert guidance of Jenny Barnett everyone of us made a passable seal. As a tutor Jenny was great, friendly, helpful, encouraging, thoughtful. We each had a little pack of materials, fleece, sponge, needles, and as a bonus, a tiny chocolate bar and – yes, I was the first to need them - sticking plasters. Two hours went in a flash, needlefelting is easier than I imagined and very forgiving. If you don’t like the way something has turned out - alter it. It’s like a form of woolly plasticine, just stab away with your felting needle and remodel. My seal is watching as I type this, awaiting an adjustment to his flipper.
Next day, last time round the stalls and off to the next workshop - Weaving with Sticks. I had thought this would be fiddly and I would lose control of the sticks (well, my walking poles are always getting away from me). Wrong again. Weaving with sticks (we did only start with two) was incredibly easy, your work grows fast, every member’s creation and colour choice reflected their individuality
And then it was time to go home. --- Veronica H.
For the sake of my sanity I went in search of the items/stalls listed on my shopping list, only deviating occasionally to look at other stalls en route. I’m always tempted by fleeces, plenty of those on display along with their sources e.g. Shetland, Badger face, Alpacas. Only bought a half fleece – and I did have a plan for it. The colour and shades of dyed tops and yarns mesmerize me though I didn’t need any of those this year. I did want some natural grey fleece for a project, got some and a little absolutely pure black. One or two of those ‘I like that, don’t know what for but I know it will come in’ found their way in to my bag.
So many ideas - ‘I could do that’ or ‘I could incorporate that into what I’m doing’ or ‘I never thought of doing it that way’. And ooh, that man who brings those wonderful woven knee rugs in all sorts of subtle colours (told me it took him three and a half days to warp up for a piece I was looking at) has actually brought some offcuts and bags of little bits for the first time. That means I can take some home & enjoy the colours.
Lunch, take the dog out, back to the halls for my first workshop - Needlefelting: make a seal. I imagined myself coming away with a shapeless blob that only I knew was a seal but under the expert guidance of Jenny Barnett everyone of us made a passable seal. As a tutor Jenny was great, friendly, helpful, encouraging, thoughtful. We each had a little pack of materials, fleece, sponge, needles, and as a bonus, a tiny chocolate bar and – yes, I was the first to need them - sticking plasters. Two hours went in a flash, needlefelting is easier than I imagined and very forgiving. If you don’t like the way something has turned out - alter it. It’s like a form of woolly plasticine, just stab away with your felting needle and remodel. My seal is watching as I type this, awaiting an adjustment to his flipper.
Next day, last time round the stalls and off to the next workshop - Weaving with Sticks. I had thought this would be fiddly and I would lose control of the sticks (well, my walking poles are always getting away from me). Wrong again. Weaving with sticks (we did only start with two) was incredibly easy, your work grows fast, every member’s creation and colour choice reflected their individuality
And then it was time to go home. --- Veronica H.
Member Profile - Pat D.
As part of our 40th year celebrations I thought that it would be nice to recognise some of our members as a way of telling the newer members something that they may not know.
I want to celebrate Pat Denne who is the only member of our Guild who was at the first meeting 40 years ago, and is the only one of the founding members still with us. I suspect that the whole thing was her idea in the first place. She has faithfully come to almost every meeting since, only very unavoidable happenings have ever prevented her from coming.
I believe she has as much enthusiasm now as she had then for spinning, weaving, knitting and creating. And she is so creative, almost every time we meet she has something new and interesting to show us. Her enthusiasm is catching, and she is an inspiration to all of us.
It was through her connections with the university that we found our beautiful meeting room in the botanic gardens which we have had recently to give up, but we did that for very good reasons, with so many new members the Guild had outgrown the space!
Pat has also done a lot of work with the countrywide Association of Guilds, including acting as librarian for their book collection for many years, all to promote and encourage new people to exlore the crafts of spinning weaving and dyeing which she loves, I am sure she has done much more but she is often too modest to say.
Thank you Pat D. for all that you have done for the guild. ----- Anne B.
I want to celebrate Pat Denne who is the only member of our Guild who was at the first meeting 40 years ago, and is the only one of the founding members still with us. I suspect that the whole thing was her idea in the first place. She has faithfully come to almost every meeting since, only very unavoidable happenings have ever prevented her from coming.
I believe she has as much enthusiasm now as she had then for spinning, weaving, knitting and creating. And she is so creative, almost every time we meet she has something new and interesting to show us. Her enthusiasm is catching, and she is an inspiration to all of us.
It was through her connections with the university that we found our beautiful meeting room in the botanic gardens which we have had recently to give up, but we did that for very good reasons, with so many new members the Guild had outgrown the space!
Pat has also done a lot of work with the countrywide Association of Guilds, including acting as librarian for their book collection for many years, all to promote and encourage new people to exlore the crafts of spinning weaving and dyeing which she loves, I am sure she has done much more but she is often too modest to say.
Thank you Pat D. for all that you have done for the guild. ----- Anne B.
All Wales Event @ Minerva Centre, Llanidloes - October 2015
This was our biennial trip to Llanidloes to meet up with all the other Welsh Guilds. Much preparation had gone into the design and creation of the Guild Challenge – this time the theme was ‘60’ reflecting the 60th anniversary year of the Association of Guilds of Weavers, Spinners & Dyers. The Challenges were displayed all together and Gwynedd Guild’s looked good amongst a high standard of entries. We also put up an excellent display of work done by Guild members.
After coffee on arrival, the morning was taken up by looking at all the work displayed and browsing the suppliers stands – with not a little purchasing going on (after all we do need to support the suppliers who have brought all these goodies along). There were about 12 stands with a wide range of supplies and equipment.
After lunch – and the drawing of the raffle, the talk was held in the Community Centre. Due to the original speaker having had to cancel at short notice Andrew Johnson, Pembrokeshire Guild, gave a talk on Ecclesiastical Textiles. With his usual enthusiasm and wide knowledge Andrew explained the role of ecclesiastical textiles and showed illustrations examples of historic items – such as the medieval Syon Cope which can be seen at the V&A museum. He also showed examples of banners and altar cloths he had woven and embroidered himself.
The busy event ended mid-afternoon in time for the trip home. --- Hilary M.
[Image to the left is our guild entry for the All Wales Challenge 2015]
After coffee on arrival, the morning was taken up by looking at all the work displayed and browsing the suppliers stands – with not a little purchasing going on (after all we do need to support the suppliers who have brought all these goodies along). There were about 12 stands with a wide range of supplies and equipment.
After lunch – and the drawing of the raffle, the talk was held in the Community Centre. Due to the original speaker having had to cancel at short notice Andrew Johnson, Pembrokeshire Guild, gave a talk on Ecclesiastical Textiles. With his usual enthusiasm and wide knowledge Andrew explained the role of ecclesiastical textiles and showed illustrations examples of historic items – such as the medieval Syon Cope which can be seen at the V&A museum. He also showed examples of banners and altar cloths he had woven and embroidered himself.
The busy event ended mid-afternoon in time for the trip home. --- Hilary M.
[Image to the left is our guild entry for the All Wales Challenge 2015]
Harris Tweed Talk with Pat W. - October 2015
This month at the guild meeting we had the pleasure of listening to Pat W. talk about her experiences of the weaving traditions on the islands of the Lewis, Stornaway, and Harris, in the Outer Hebrides in Scotland. With the subtle whir of the spinning wheels in the background, Pat outlined how although it is called 'Harris' tweed the weaving is done throughout the Outer Hebrides and as long as it is manufactured in the correct ways it is classified as 'Harris Tweed' and hallmarked with the iconic orb. (see the logo on the picture left)
The manufacturing process involves thoroughly checking for the high standard before the mark is received. It was interesting to hear how it required 8 spinners to facilitate the work of 1 weaver, as well as how the handlooms were used until the end of World War 1.
Of course Pat's images included many pictures of the sheep: Scottish black face, Shetland and Hebridian. With the Scottish black faced sheep providing most of the wool of the tweed industry. The Hebridian sheep have a dark fleece and, as such, the dyeing processes would be different. Achieving the traditional tweed colours happens through a precise dyeing and carding process. For each blend a recipe is used and different colours are weighed to achieve the right blend. The fleece is then carded through a series of industrial carders to achieve a smoothly blended fleece in the soft colours that we have come to associate with the tweed fabrics.
When recounting her travels around the islands Pat also recalled her encounters with individual weavers, mostly male, and the cramped weaving sheds that they work in on a daily basis to produce the woven fabrics. We were all very envious of the views from the shed windows. Definite competition for our local coastlines!
All in all it was a talk that inspired us all to think about the potential of weaving and the highly skilled weavers on their islands in the North.
Perhaps there is a guild trip in there somewhere ... we can always dream!! --- Sarah K.
The manufacturing process involves thoroughly checking for the high standard before the mark is received. It was interesting to hear how it required 8 spinners to facilitate the work of 1 weaver, as well as how the handlooms were used until the end of World War 1.
Of course Pat's images included many pictures of the sheep: Scottish black face, Shetland and Hebridian. With the Scottish black faced sheep providing most of the wool of the tweed industry. The Hebridian sheep have a dark fleece and, as such, the dyeing processes would be different. Achieving the traditional tweed colours happens through a precise dyeing and carding process. For each blend a recipe is used and different colours are weighed to achieve the right blend. The fleece is then carded through a series of industrial carders to achieve a smoothly blended fleece in the soft colours that we have come to associate with the tweed fabrics.
When recounting her travels around the islands Pat also recalled her encounters with individual weavers, mostly male, and the cramped weaving sheds that they work in on a daily basis to produce the woven fabrics. We were all very envious of the views from the shed windows. Definite competition for our local coastlines!
All in all it was a talk that inspired us all to think about the potential of weaving and the highly skilled weavers on their islands in the North.
Perhaps there is a guild trip in there somewhere ... we can always dream!! --- Sarah K.
Friendship Day - September 2015
Our 2nd Friendship day happened in September at Llangoed Hall in Anglesey. It was really great to see other guilds return and visit while also sharing knowledge and experience with other weavers, spinners and dyers. Of course there was a wonderful display of food too!
Annual Dyeing Day at Treborth Gardens - September 2015
I really enjoyed the dyeing day at Treborth. It was so nice to be back there again - it felt like going home! And what a perfect and beautiful day it was. We often get sunshine on dyeing day making the colours on the drying racks glow in the light. Stunning! We filled the greenhouse with bustle and bubble and distinctly plenty smells. There was room for all of us to have a stove and dyepot each and in such an open and friendly sharing atmosphere we could all dib our yarns and fibres into each others pots.
As usual I ended up with a lot of yellows but they were all very different yellows! My favourite is the hollyhock that Ann H. brought which came out as an unexpected beautiful dark pewter grey. I also like the soft light yellow that came from the eucalyptus leaves that Pam collected from the grounds although I have noticed some of it is going darker in the daylight already. All my yarns and fibres were wool or silk mordanted in alum.
There were inevitably some that did not work such as the pomegranate that Pam or Ann brought in (can’t remember which) anyway, it didn’t give any colour at all to speak of and the marigold that I used, kindly donated by Rhiannon (McC.), came out very, very pale yellow. There were a whole heap of other dyes such as wild cherry bark (beige) alder bark (dark gold) and violet rosewood chips (sort of purpley brown). Then there were some kool aid colours giving vibrant orange and green, and some regulars such as cochineal, madder and logwood.! Hilary M. brought in some of her freshly collected woad and made a small vat to demonstrate the process and which some of us were able to sample. All in all a perfect day.
As usual I ended up with a lot of yellows but they were all very different yellows! My favourite is the hollyhock that Ann H. brought which came out as an unexpected beautiful dark pewter grey. I also like the soft light yellow that came from the eucalyptus leaves that Pam collected from the grounds although I have noticed some of it is going darker in the daylight already. All my yarns and fibres were wool or silk mordanted in alum.
There were inevitably some that did not work such as the pomegranate that Pam or Ann brought in (can’t remember which) anyway, it didn’t give any colour at all to speak of and the marigold that I used, kindly donated by Rhiannon (McC.), came out very, very pale yellow. There were a whole heap of other dyes such as wild cherry bark (beige) alder bark (dark gold) and violet rosewood chips (sort of purpley brown). Then there were some kool aid colours giving vibrant orange and green, and some regulars such as cochineal, madder and logwood.! Hilary M. brought in some of her freshly collected woad and made a small vat to demonstrate the process and which some of us were able to sample. All in all a perfect day.
Meeting @ Llandygai - August 2015
Our Guild does not normally meet during August, but we had agreed to book the room this year as it was available at Llandygai, we can meet and get on with own work if so wished, and most of us were spinning or weaving
As it turned out, there was lots to do and discuss, namely the All Wales Challenge 10/15 – ‘60’, as it is the Guild Association’s 60th anniversary, Hilary M. had brought in the wonderful woven background she had made and Sue McP. spent time fitting it to the backing. We also checked that every part of it had been taken up by various guild members and so nothing had been overlooked.
Kate L. then brought the discussion round to the Friendship Day on 12/09 with the final details, the layout of the rooms and the stage, etc., what time to get there by, and the contact of special guests including former guild members. I will open the Llangoed Village Hall at 7.45am, and, when the first person arrives, I will go down to the bakery and collect the scones. I reminded everyone that it is Beaumaris Food Fest that weekend, but I have been assured that all the roads will be open.
Kate also stated that she had ordered the books that we had voted on to buy and add to our Guild Library.
The tickets and which guild members, etc, was also discussed, with regard to the Anglesey Show – 11/12 08.
Next item discussed was the Dyeing Day in the greenhouse at Treborth 05/09, notes by Hilary M. on mordanting had been circulated to all members via e-mail by me. Margaret M. and Rose P. will bring the ‘tea stuff,’ and it was agreed that bringing our own mugs would be a good idea.
The Fibre Exchange was discussed, the theme is a useable bag, and in a change from the norm to add to the 100gms of fibre by using something that has been recycled such as buttons, old bag handles, unravelled and reused woolly jumpers, old shirt as lining, as long as it is recycled. Folk reminded to bring their fibre to the dyeing day.
Carol A. made a point about the World Spinning Day we are doing, as last year, in Penrhyn Castle 19/09 – that arrangements are under way and names taken of those wishing to attend.
Hilary M. showed a few of us including me, who had not made it to the last meeting, how to do Andean plying and Navajo plying – wonderful.
I felt that we had passed a relaxing and rewarding day together. --- Annie L.
As it turned out, there was lots to do and discuss, namely the All Wales Challenge 10/15 – ‘60’, as it is the Guild Association’s 60th anniversary, Hilary M. had brought in the wonderful woven background she had made and Sue McP. spent time fitting it to the backing. We also checked that every part of it had been taken up by various guild members and so nothing had been overlooked.
Kate L. then brought the discussion round to the Friendship Day on 12/09 with the final details, the layout of the rooms and the stage, etc., what time to get there by, and the contact of special guests including former guild members. I will open the Llangoed Village Hall at 7.45am, and, when the first person arrives, I will go down to the bakery and collect the scones. I reminded everyone that it is Beaumaris Food Fest that weekend, but I have been assured that all the roads will be open.
Kate also stated that she had ordered the books that we had voted on to buy and add to our Guild Library.
The tickets and which guild members, etc, was also discussed, with regard to the Anglesey Show – 11/12 08.
Next item discussed was the Dyeing Day in the greenhouse at Treborth 05/09, notes by Hilary M. on mordanting had been circulated to all members via e-mail by me. Margaret M. and Rose P. will bring the ‘tea stuff,’ and it was agreed that bringing our own mugs would be a good idea.
The Fibre Exchange was discussed, the theme is a useable bag, and in a change from the norm to add to the 100gms of fibre by using something that has been recycled such as buttons, old bag handles, unravelled and reused woolly jumpers, old shirt as lining, as long as it is recycled. Folk reminded to bring their fibre to the dyeing day.
Carol A. made a point about the World Spinning Day we are doing, as last year, in Penrhyn Castle 19/09 – that arrangements are under way and names taken of those wishing to attend.
Hilary M. showed a few of us including me, who had not made it to the last meeting, how to do Andean plying and Navajo plying – wonderful.
I felt that we had passed a relaxing and rewarding day together. --- Annie L.
Nigel's Leaving Do - August 2015
Ah - the day of our lovely Nigel’s retirement as Curator for Treborth Botanic Garden, and it was bright and sunny.
Mary H. and myself went to his party to represent our Guild, though many of our Guild members were also there in their other guise as Friends of Treborth – Pat D., Peggy G., Sue S., Hilary M. and Cath O.
We were asked to be there for 1.00pm, I collected Mary from her Bangor home at 12.00 noon which left us plenty of time to get back over the bridge, park at the athletic circuit car park and walk back with Mary to the ‘Do’ – it was, after all, the first day of the school summer holidays.
We were all ushered into the Lab with our pressies. The room was full with his family, friends, colleagues, and students past and present – including a live link with a couple in the South of France busy renovating a house, who were keen to take part in Nigel’s party. We were asked first about our gifts – I was not expecting this and had nothing prepared but it was fine - I had put Rhiannon McC.’s beautiful woven scarf in a gift bag – the bottom of which I put a layer of my home made pot pourri which also contained eucalyptus leaves, lavender and scented rose petals on top of which I put purple tissue paper then the scarf and then more purple tissue paper, the bag was printed up with flowers, butterflies and birds, and also our card of Persephone inside of which I put the card of Orchids. Mary had made a vase with orchids in and she told Nigel all about it – the folk in the live link were shown these items and everything that followed. Nigel received many wonderful things – including lots of special books which were on his book wish list, the most amazing beautiful bird bath that had been fashioned from yew from Treborth with a sculpted polished slate base and the most wonderful polished sculpted slate bowl – to me it just said ‘touch me I am very tactile’, somebody else had made him a deer complete with antlers all made from Treborth offcuts of wood including the bit with lots of twiggy new growth that made perfect antlers.
Later, we all wandered off outside to the food area for nibbles and drinks to take into the big Marquee, opposite which were musicians in the greenhouse. We spent the next couple of hours chatting to various folk, eating and drinking, I also got a bit of a catch up with Carolyn – Nigel’s wife, we used to work together. Mike Dilger, ‘off the tele’ – Countryfile, and one of Nigel’s ex students was asking us all about Spinning and Weaving.
About 4.00 there were speeches – University personnel, colleagues, students and family, and some tears towards the end. By about 6.00, Mary and I were flagging, our guild girls portioned up some of the lovely food that was being laid up for later, and we said our goodbyes with hugs and kisses for Nigel and Carolyn – as we drove past in the car Nigel was on his beloved mower which had been done up ‘garden style’ but in the ‘just married’ theme!!
--- Annie L.
Mary H. and myself went to his party to represent our Guild, though many of our Guild members were also there in their other guise as Friends of Treborth – Pat D., Peggy G., Sue S., Hilary M. and Cath O.
We were asked to be there for 1.00pm, I collected Mary from her Bangor home at 12.00 noon which left us plenty of time to get back over the bridge, park at the athletic circuit car park and walk back with Mary to the ‘Do’ – it was, after all, the first day of the school summer holidays.
We were all ushered into the Lab with our pressies. The room was full with his family, friends, colleagues, and students past and present – including a live link with a couple in the South of France busy renovating a house, who were keen to take part in Nigel’s party. We were asked first about our gifts – I was not expecting this and had nothing prepared but it was fine - I had put Rhiannon McC.’s beautiful woven scarf in a gift bag – the bottom of which I put a layer of my home made pot pourri which also contained eucalyptus leaves, lavender and scented rose petals on top of which I put purple tissue paper then the scarf and then more purple tissue paper, the bag was printed up with flowers, butterflies and birds, and also our card of Persephone inside of which I put the card of Orchids. Mary had made a vase with orchids in and she told Nigel all about it – the folk in the live link were shown these items and everything that followed. Nigel received many wonderful things – including lots of special books which were on his book wish list, the most amazing beautiful bird bath that had been fashioned from yew from Treborth with a sculpted polished slate base and the most wonderful polished sculpted slate bowl – to me it just said ‘touch me I am very tactile’, somebody else had made him a deer complete with antlers all made from Treborth offcuts of wood including the bit with lots of twiggy new growth that made perfect antlers.
Later, we all wandered off outside to the food area for nibbles and drinks to take into the big Marquee, opposite which were musicians in the greenhouse. We spent the next couple of hours chatting to various folk, eating and drinking, I also got a bit of a catch up with Carolyn – Nigel’s wife, we used to work together. Mike Dilger, ‘off the tele’ – Countryfile, and one of Nigel’s ex students was asking us all about Spinning and Weaving.
About 4.00 there were speeches – University personnel, colleagues, students and family, and some tears towards the end. By about 6.00, Mary and I were flagging, our guild girls portioned up some of the lovely food that was being laid up for later, and we said our goodbyes with hugs and kisses for Nigel and Carolyn – as we drove past in the car Nigel was on his beloved mower which had been done up ‘garden style’ but in the ‘just married’ theme!!
--- Annie L.
A Group Visit to SaoriMor - July 2015
In July, six members booked an afternoon of Saori weaving with Rosie. We were not required to take anything with us as all is provided. I think we took some biscuits but Rosie provided snacks with the coffee so even that was unnecessary.
Rosie’s studio is a joy to work in (or just to visit ). The work space is very well laid out with six Saori looms plus a large sewing table where bags and other things are made up. Various interesting samples and tapestries ornament the walls and shelves hold enormous arrays of colourful yarns, some on cones, some in balls and some piled into baskets. Everything is sorted into colour ranges. A collection of books is available to look at and to buy. Various garments, bags and smaller items such as key rings are also on sale.
However, we were there to work so, having changed into slippers at the door, this being a Japanese interior, we each selected a ready warped loom and listened to Rosie’s detailed instructions which were something like the following: “Just do anything you feel like, using any of the yarns you can see and be adventurous or not, as you wish but do enjoy yourselves”. I think we had all done weaving before so pressed ahead with enthusiasm but for anyone without experience, the Saori looms are extremely easy to use and Rosie is there to help and advise.
Work can be removed from these cleverly designed looms at any time without disturbing the warp so at the end of the afternoon, Rosie gave us each our piece. You will see from the photos that a variety of work was produced, each one interesting and attractive. I have mine hanging by my sewing machine and keep thinking of different ways to use it – I just need to make some more so I can carry out all my ideas, if I live long enough!
We all thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon and found it a worthwhile experience which we have no hesitation in recommending to others. Making our own group of six ( the maximum number ) was good so just get together and find out for yourselves. Enjoy!
PS I think several of our group are now saving up for Saori looms!!
--- Pat W.
Rosie’s studio is a joy to work in (or just to visit ). The work space is very well laid out with six Saori looms plus a large sewing table where bags and other things are made up. Various interesting samples and tapestries ornament the walls and shelves hold enormous arrays of colourful yarns, some on cones, some in balls and some piled into baskets. Everything is sorted into colour ranges. A collection of books is available to look at and to buy. Various garments, bags and smaller items such as key rings are also on sale.
However, we were there to work so, having changed into slippers at the door, this being a Japanese interior, we each selected a ready warped loom and listened to Rosie’s detailed instructions which were something like the following: “Just do anything you feel like, using any of the yarns you can see and be adventurous or not, as you wish but do enjoy yourselves”. I think we had all done weaving before so pressed ahead with enthusiasm but for anyone without experience, the Saori looms are extremely easy to use and Rosie is there to help and advise.
Work can be removed from these cleverly designed looms at any time without disturbing the warp so at the end of the afternoon, Rosie gave us each our piece. You will see from the photos that a variety of work was produced, each one interesting and attractive. I have mine hanging by my sewing machine and keep thinking of different ways to use it – I just need to make some more so I can carry out all my ideas, if I live long enough!
We all thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon and found it a worthwhile experience which we have no hesitation in recommending to others. Making our own group of six ( the maximum number ) was good so just get together and find out for yourselves. Enjoy!
PS I think several of our group are now saving up for Saori looms!!
--- Pat W.
40th Anniversary Celebrations - June 2015
The 40th Anniversary of the guild was celebrated in June with a big bash in our new location, Llandygai Village Hall. It is great to have a new location with more space to facilitate our growing community. Highlights of the day included: Ann B.’s amazing Shetland wool ‘wedding ring shawl’ and the CAKE! Below is a gallery of pictures taken by Annie, our guild secretary.
Embroiderers Guild Visit - May 2015
On Saturday May 2nd we had a wonderful visit from Olga and friends from the embroiderers guild based in Beaumaris. After a brief introduction and encouragement she set us off on the task of producing some 'couching' samplers. This method is effective in 'trapping' the wool and designing patterns to embellish garments or pieces of work. Having not done too much embroidery recently it was refreshing to reinvestigate it and 'take a walk' with the needle and thread, as suggested by Olga. Everyone was keen to give it a go and by the end we all had started to create little samplers using different fabrics and stitches. Although I was feeling warn out when I arrived at guild by the end I was lulled in to a quietly productive trance. When arriving home I couldn't really stop and my Saturday night involved more embroidery (maybe a bit sad for some, but a delightful reprieve for me!).
I am really pleased with what became of my sampler (see image on left).
I managed to capture a few bits from others and will post other photos from the event as received.
I am really pleased with what became of my sampler (see image on left).
I managed to capture a few bits from others and will post other photos from the event as received.
Hi-tech weaving for medicine
An article from the BBC recently discussed how Bolivian women weavers are helping to create hi-tech medical products.
Cardiologist Franz Freudenthal has set up a clinic in Bolivia to help children born with heart problems, including hole in the heart. He uses a device called an occlude to seal the hole, but his version is so small and intricate that it is difficult to mass produce. Freudenthal has enlisted an army of Bolivia’s Aymara women to make these tiny devices in a special “clean room”. These devices, which look like a miniature top hat, are woven from a single strand of nitinol, a super elastic metal usually used in military industries. Nitinol can memorise its own shape so it can be folded up inside a catheter and passed through the groin to the hole in the heart where it can be expanded to recover its original shape and block the hole. It remains there and does not need to be changed.Bolivia is one of the poorest countries in South America and lacks the specialist facilities and medical staff to treat children born with heart problems, which can be exacerbated by the high altitude. Dr Freudenthal has earned international praise and awards for his combination of traditional crafts and high technology.
The full article can be found online at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-32076070
Thanks to Kate for spotting it in the news!
Cardiologist Franz Freudenthal has set up a clinic in Bolivia to help children born with heart problems, including hole in the heart. He uses a device called an occlude to seal the hole, but his version is so small and intricate that it is difficult to mass produce. Freudenthal has enlisted an army of Bolivia’s Aymara women to make these tiny devices in a special “clean room”. These devices, which look like a miniature top hat, are woven from a single strand of nitinol, a super elastic metal usually used in military industries. Nitinol can memorise its own shape so it can be folded up inside a catheter and passed through the groin to the hole in the heart where it can be expanded to recover its original shape and block the hole. It remains there and does not need to be changed.Bolivia is one of the poorest countries in South America and lacks the specialist facilities and medical staff to treat children born with heart problems, which can be exacerbated by the high altitude. Dr Freudenthal has earned international praise and awards for his combination of traditional crafts and high technology.
The full article can be found online at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-32076070
Thanks to Kate for spotting it in the news!
Experimenting with the heddle loom - a piece from Pat W.
In January, Pat sent me this lovely image of a piece of work that she had
recently removed from her rigid heddle loom, she commented how she
was “expecting to find a terrible muddle as it is last summer's "have a go"
piece. However, it looked not too bad so I finished and pressed it and I
attach photo of the result. I did the beginning and other odd bits but some
sections were done by quite young children and they did really well.”
It is always great to see experiments and ideas that people are trying.
There is no need to stash them away in your closets!
Please share them with us and we can work on creating a gallery of
work created by guild members for the website
--- from experiments to masterpieces.
A Visit to Whitchurch Silk Mill
We spent a delightful couple of hours at Whitchurch Silk Mill, near Winchester last November. In 1985, the mill was set to close but thankfully the Whitchurch Silk Mill Trust was established and the mill continues to work.
Seen in the photograph is their part time weaver, Hannah Futcher, busy setting up the loom ready to weave the D-Day silk design she created to commemorate the 6th June 1944 and the launching of Operation Overlord by the Allied Troops. The colours of the silk were inspired by the “Together” propaganda poster and is made of silk stripes and white cotton yarn for the warp and a variety of wefts along its length, including cotton. The fabric will be used to make bags to sell in the shop.
This Georgian Silk Mill is the oldest working silk mill in the UK, still weaving in its original building, and still using some of its original 19th century machinery, including two power looms as well as producing goods for its shop. It also takes on commissions: next time you are watching “Sense and Sensibility” look for Kate Winslett – her Marianne Dashwood wears a silk ribbon in her bonnet woven at Whitchurch. Or look for Lady Ludlow in the 2007 production of “Cranford”. She wears a dress of champagne silk and black cotton moire taffeta woven at the mill. These are just two of the examples of fabrics woven for many television and theatrical productions which you will find framed on the walls of the café. - Kate L.
Seen in the photograph is their part time weaver, Hannah Futcher, busy setting up the loom ready to weave the D-Day silk design she created to commemorate the 6th June 1944 and the launching of Operation Overlord by the Allied Troops. The colours of the silk were inspired by the “Together” propaganda poster and is made of silk stripes and white cotton yarn for the warp and a variety of wefts along its length, including cotton. The fabric will be used to make bags to sell in the shop.
This Georgian Silk Mill is the oldest working silk mill in the UK, still weaving in its original building, and still using some of its original 19th century machinery, including two power looms as well as producing goods for its shop. It also takes on commissions: next time you are watching “Sense and Sensibility” look for Kate Winslett – her Marianne Dashwood wears a silk ribbon in her bonnet woven at Whitchurch. Or look for Lady Ludlow in the 2007 production of “Cranford”. She wears a dress of champagne silk and black cotton moire taffeta woven at the mill. These are just two of the examples of fabrics woven for many television and theatrical productions which you will find framed on the walls of the café. - Kate L.
Kate's South Africa Visit - 2014
One wish I had during our trip to South Africa was to see a weaver bird and its nest. It was the right time of year for them to be nest building, as it was early spring, so I was delighted to find so many of them building their nests in a Service Area when we stopped for coffee. A coach load of Brits and a couple of Canadians all piled off with cameras at the ready. The wretched birds then decided to have a bit of fun and fly off as fast as they could; I am sure one was peeping out of its nest hole to see whether or not we were looking. Local people seemed very bemused by this activity on our part but both our guide and driver had seen it all before and were happy to share some information. It was then that we learned that these birds are not viewed in a favourable light by crop farmers, as these seed feeders cause a lot of damage. Weaver birds build some very intricate structures to nest in which are amongst the largest ones to be built by birds. Not bad when you learn they are not that big, being related to finches! Most are yellow, like the ones we watched, but they can be red, brown or black. They begin by wrapping and tying grasses around several branches to form the basis of the construction, and then they weave in and out of these anchor points to form the nest. The entrances are at the bottom, to deter predators, and may even have a tube like extension for extra protection. The males are the main weavers and nests are often built within a community of like - minded weaver birds. The weaver birds are the only birds recorded to be able to tie knots.
Holiday Fibre Exchange - December 2014
As a regular tradition the fibre exchange occurs each autumn and fibres are transformed in to various objects in time for our December meeting. This year the variety and quality of work was no exception. With all participants producing a range of beautiful entries. Top honours this year went to Pat D. for her lace shawl (the first image below). Congratulations and thank you to all those who participated.
Shoe Museum Visit by KateWe came across a Shoe Museum within the confines of a bigger museum, not a huge exhibition but three examples caught my eye. The first was a woven shoe from Russia. These Bast shoes are made primarily from bast, a fibre from the bark of the birch or linden tree. They are a kind of basket weave made to fit the shape of the foot. These now obsolete shoes were the traditional footwear of forest areas of Northern Europe. Bast shoes are still being worn in rural Russia at the beginning of the 20th century. They are now sold as souvenirs or are used by ethnic music and dance groups as part of their costumes. Another interesting shoe was
the one below, which comes from Norway and was made and worn during WW2. Due to
terrible shortages people had to be very creative. Both ladies and mens shoes
were made with woven paper uppers and wooden soles, ordinary items made in
extraordinary circumstances. My final picture is of this Tibetan boot. So much
work has gone into this; look at the colours and varying weaves. I think it may
be the reason why I bought myself an inkle loom. Keep watching my feet – you
may yet see me in a pair of paper shoes with inkle loom fastenings! (for other images please see the Winter 2015 Newsletter).
Cambodia Culture & Textiles with Janet - November 2014
This November at the guild meeting Janet shared with us the images and textiles from her adventures in Cambodia. Silk weaving has a traditional role in Cambodian culture with traditional skills being taught to young girls. One of the organisations helping to promote women's work through quilting and craft is Mekong Plus. The 'iconic krama' is worn in many different ways by Cambodian men, women and children as a headscarf, skirt or event to carry a child. The styles of wearing the krama was kindly demonstrated by our Cambodian guest Laysrin. She also brought one of her wedding dresses to show the level of decoration and embroidery (a detail is shown in the images below). We are thankful to have such adventurous members and grateful for Janet and Laysrin's time to share their experiences, images and (of course) textiles.
A Visit from the Wool Board - October 2014
At our October meeting, Gareth Jones from the Wool Board joined us to talk about different activities and elements associated with the Wool Board and wool grading in the UK. There were a variety of interesting points made by Mr. Jones including:
Mr. Jones also spoke about the success of the Campaign for Wool which has helped to promote British wool both nationally and internationally since it is partnered with Australia and New Zealand. Associated with the campaign are smaller events including Wool Week that takes place in October and LoveWool UK that helps to provides details of community events promoting wool. Dyeing Day - September 2014
We had a full day meeting devoted to dyeing at the beginning of September, which has become something of a Guild tradition. It was, fortunately, a dry and sunny day and we were lucky enough to be able to use the cool house (the large greenhouse next to the Treborth lab). This gave us plenty of room and everyone could set up the stoves on the tables, rather than at ankle height in the passage as we used to do.
Lots of exciting stuff was going on: Pat tried out used tea bags as a dye and also tansy, Mary experimented with coreopsis and Carol achieved a lovely brown from walnut. Amongst other dyes being tried were cochineal, ragwort and pomegranate. I processed some home-grown woad and everyone had a chance to dip skeins in the vat to get a lovely blue. By the end of the day the drying racks were loaded with brightly coloured skeins. It is always an interesting and very satisfying event – sharing knowledge, dyepots, dyes and exploring colour. - Hilary M. Rhiannon's holiday at Ynys Enlli / Bardsey Island - July 2014
Rhiannon had a 'last minute' holiday this year at Ynys Enlli / Bardsey Island and has written a wonderful narrative about her experience in this Autumn's newsletter. If you would like to read the whole story please download the newsletter above.
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'Animal Fibres' talk with Teresinha Roberts from Wild Fibres - June 2014
Teresinha Roberts joined us this month (June) for a second talk. We are so pleased to welcome her back. She came last year to talk about 'plant fibres' and we are fortunate to have her return this year for her 2nd talk on 'animal fibres'.
As her website tells us Teresinha:
"is a Brazilian-born textile artist and sculptress who has an MSc in biology and a City & Guilds in art. She wrote a field guide to southern Brazilian birds and worked on a World Wide Fund for Nature project in the Amazon before turning to art and sculpture.
Teresinha specialises in projects using textiles and natural dyes. She has a workshop in Birmingham's prestigious artists' complex, the Custard Factory."
As usual, Teresinha has a wealth of information and is able to provide us with insight in to types of fibres, where they come from, their originals, practical uses and suitable ways of blending fibres. Some of her tips included:
- using black alpaca because it is a stronger black (no white strands), and when spinning alpaca make it finer because it is denser than wool.
- cashmere (from goats) can be substituted with yak or camel as a less expensive option#
- when blending, blend similar lengths of fibre, for example yak + shetland wool = same length
- one of the best blends for knitting is 1/3 Luxury Fibre (i.e. camel,yak) + 1/3 Tussah Silk + 1/3 wool
- 1 micron = 1,000 mm
- mohair (goat) is a nice fibre for natural dyeing
- mohair is also a nice fabric for making socks because it is durable and retains sheen, however, blend with another fibre because it has no elasticity
With all these tidbits of information in our minds we are all left wondering what we are going to create next. However, there is no doubt that if we need expert advise and unique materials we know where to find them. Teresinha's information and supplies for both dyeing and fibres can be found on her websites: Wild Fibres and Wild Colour. As always, we thank her for sharing her vast knowledge with us, and we look forward to another talk in the future.
Basketmaking with Mandy Coates - May 2014
During the month of May when we are all just starting to think about the weather improving, our gardens growing and more, we were pleased to see Mandy Coates arrive with inspiration for baskets, growing willow and more!
Mandy lives in Moelfre near Abergele, Conwy, and has been a basket maker for about 30 years. She took on the tradition as a way of developing new skills, keeping tradition skills alive and because she also had an interest in growing willow (salix). She grows a range of different varieties of salix and cuts the crop during the winter months (November to March) when it is dorment and before it comes back in to leaf in the spring.
The different varieties of willow provide her with a range of natural colours that she then uses to design her baskets and willow work.
For this event, Mandy provided us with a short talk about the history, growing and coppicing of willow before demonstrated how to construct a simple spiral vessel that could hold a tea light or be a little decorative basket. With simple, easy to follow instructions we all had a chance to create a basket for ourselves. It was wonderful to see everyone get involved and create their own basket. Working in pairs and with willow swinging around he baskets were quickly shaped.
For more images of her work and to contact Mandy for more information go to her website http://mandycoates.co.uk
Mandy lives in Moelfre near Abergele, Conwy, and has been a basket maker for about 30 years. She took on the tradition as a way of developing new skills, keeping tradition skills alive and because she also had an interest in growing willow (salix). She grows a range of different varieties of salix and cuts the crop during the winter months (November to March) when it is dorment and before it comes back in to leaf in the spring.
The different varieties of willow provide her with a range of natural colours that she then uses to design her baskets and willow work.
For this event, Mandy provided us with a short talk about the history, growing and coppicing of willow before demonstrated how to construct a simple spiral vessel that could hold a tea light or be a little decorative basket. With simple, easy to follow instructions we all had a chance to create a basket for ourselves. It was wonderful to see everyone get involved and create their own basket. Working in pairs and with willow swinging around he baskets were quickly shaped.
For more images of her work and to contact Mandy for more information go to her website http://mandycoates.co.uk
Wonderwool Wales, Builth Wells Showground - April 2014
It was another successful year at Wonderwool Wales. For the first year they had a third hall of traders and space for the 'sheepwalk'. This is great sign that things are growing and Wonderwool Wales is still gaining momentum. The guild organised and travelled down on a coach and within an hour of arriving the bags and purchases were already mounting up! Thank goodness for the 'bag creche'!
I was particularly taken with some of the innovative ways of displaying the fibres and the equipment. But this didn't distract from the huge variety of fibres, techniques and equipment to be sampled
With traders involved in felting, weaving and spinning there was definitely something for everyone. Practical workshops were presented alongside displays of garments, supplies and artworks.
If you are ever looking for inspiration then this is definitely one of the must see shows of the year.
I was particularly taken with some of the innovative ways of displaying the fibres and the equipment. But this didn't distract from the huge variety of fibres, techniques and equipment to be sampled
With traders involved in felting, weaving and spinning there was definitely something for everyone. Practical workshops were presented alongside displays of garments, supplies and artworks.
If you are ever looking for inspiration then this is definitely one of the must see shows of the year.
Friendship Day - March 2014
We are so pleased with the success of our friendship day this month. Thank you to all those who came to enjoy the conversation, the food and the day.
We look forward to seeing you again soon!
We look forward to seeing you again soon!
Nunoco Fibre
At our December meeting we were discussing sourcing local products and Nunoco came up as part of this conversation. Nunoco was first introduced to us at a meeting this past year by Chris J. whom many know for her drop spindling expertise. I just remember them dropping off these luscious looking fibres during one of our meetings at Treborth, so I decided to get in touch with them for a bit more information.
Nunoco, is a local Bethesda-based business, started by Candy and Lora Jones. As friends and sisters-in-law they have built a business that allows them to be creative and enjoy their jobs.
When asked about what inspires their work and influences their colour choices Nunoco replied,
"We both have backgrounds in art and we look at our surroundings through artistic eyes, seeing colour and pattern everywhere not only in nature but literally everything, from beautiful heathers on the hillside to the cheese in the fridge! When we create our batts, we use the colours almost like paint, mixing and blending the shades on the carder. We tend to use commercially dyed wool rather than dying all our wool ourselves, because of the quality and intensity of the colours. We don't pretend that we know everything about sheep or spinning but we are constantly learning all the time, through our own experimentation and also from the encouraging feedback and discussions that we have with our customers on Ravelry. It is true that living in this beautiful area with sheep on the doorstep has been a tremendous influence on the beginnings of our business but it's expansion is due to our wonderful customers all over the world!"
As a guild, we wish them all the luck with their business and I am sure that there will be some guild products using Nunoco in no time!
If you are looking for Nunoco on the web then they can be found on etsy, facebook and ravelry. See the info below.
www.nunoco.etsy.com
https://www.facebook.com/nunocofibre
www.ravelry.com/groups/nunoco
Enjoy!
Nunoco, is a local Bethesda-based business, started by Candy and Lora Jones. As friends and sisters-in-law they have built a business that allows them to be creative and enjoy their jobs.
When asked about what inspires their work and influences their colour choices Nunoco replied,
"We both have backgrounds in art and we look at our surroundings through artistic eyes, seeing colour and pattern everywhere not only in nature but literally everything, from beautiful heathers on the hillside to the cheese in the fridge! When we create our batts, we use the colours almost like paint, mixing and blending the shades on the carder. We tend to use commercially dyed wool rather than dying all our wool ourselves, because of the quality and intensity of the colours. We don't pretend that we know everything about sheep or spinning but we are constantly learning all the time, through our own experimentation and also from the encouraging feedback and discussions that we have with our customers on Ravelry. It is true that living in this beautiful area with sheep on the doorstep has been a tremendous influence on the beginnings of our business but it's expansion is due to our wonderful customers all over the world!"
As a guild, we wish them all the luck with their business and I am sure that there will be some guild products using Nunoco in no time!
If you are looking for Nunoco on the web then they can be found on etsy, facebook and ravelry. See the info below.
www.nunoco.etsy.com
https://www.facebook.com/nunocofibre
www.ravelry.com/groups/nunoco
Enjoy!
'Vessels' Fibre Exchange - December 2013
Starting with a theme of 'vessels' and a mystery bag of fibre (100g), each participant in this year's fiber exchange went off to create something unique. The challenge was a tough one which left those involved wondering what kind of 'vessel' they would be creating and how.
In the end, there were a variety of vessels. One for pencils, another for wool, some elaborate, others floral. It was great to see the creativity and techniques on display.
The winning entry for this year came from our guild secretary - Annie (see left).
Congratulations and we hope that you can find a nice place to display the sheep ... until next year.
[Click on the images below to enlarge them.]
In the end, there were a variety of vessels. One for pencils, another for wool, some elaborate, others floral. It was great to see the creativity and techniques on display.
The winning entry for this year came from our guild secretary - Annie (see left).
Congratulations and we hope that you can find a nice place to display the sheep ... until next year.
[Click on the images below to enlarge them.]
Marram Grass Weaving - October 2013
It was lovely to meet Enid Mummery at the October meeting and learn the history of marram grass weaving. Enid told us about the women of Newborough who would weave the marram grass into mats to sell to the farmers as roofs for their hay ricks. These would be made by joining strips together until they were nine feet in length and the width of a “Welsh Yard”, this being 40 inches according to Wikipedia! When these mats were no longer needed an innovative teacher in Newborough had the forethought to teach the girls to weave baskets instead which could be sold to the tourists. Enid had some fine examples of her own to show us.
Marram grass can only be harvested with the proper authorisation. It is, sadly, a dying craft which Enid would love to pass on to others. - Kate L.
Marram grass can only be harvested with the proper authorisation. It is, sadly, a dying craft which Enid would love to pass on to others. - Kate L.
'Persephone' - The All Wales Challenge - October 2013
On the 5th of October 2013, the Gwynedd Guild revealed their submission for the All Wales Challenge at the Minerva Centre in LLanidloes. The guild had been working on our submission in secrecy for many months leading up to this event. Last year, our 'orchids' submission received top honours and the guild was keen to have another good showing. The All Wales Event set the theme of 'seasons' as the focus for all the guilds. Having thought about it our guild decided to base our piece on the theme of 'persephone' and the myth that surrounds the creation of the seasons. Using influences from the Art Nouveau work of Alphonse Mucha a designed was developed and soon tasks were being allocated. It was important for the guild that it was a group effort and as a result we had participation from all skill levels and all types of weaving, spinning and dyeing. In the end the resulting pieces were brought together by Sue P. and Kate.
Cerys attended the event and recalls -
"The bi-annual All Wales Guild Challenge was on 5th October this year, and it was my first visit. Myself, Pat D., Mary and Pippa travelled on the coach with the Llyn Guild. Our Persephone and their Green Man had seats to themselves! We arrived at 9.30 and set to arranging and pinning up the pieces of Guild members work we had brought for the display. Thank you to all those who kindly let their work out of their sight! I really enjoyed looking at the Guild displays, Pippa and I went round several times and noticed something different every time. Such a variety of work, all of such a high standard, very inspirational. The set pieces for the challenge were very different interpretations of the theme, seasons. Very colourful and full of intricate detail (especially ours!). The silver salver was awarded to the Gwent Guild for their display of members work. I made a mental note of the clever ways of hanging and setting the pieces off to their best. After lunch we had a talk by Jim Gaffney of Textile Traders called 'On the Silk Road'. He and his wife had travelled widely bringing textiles to Britain. The slide show was of photos taken mainly around Central Asia, very much off the tourist trail! The quality of work produced without 'mod cons' was truly impressive. We handled samples of embroidered cushion covers,throws, hats and large felt mats used in Yurts. I had a look at their website blog (www.textiletechniques.co.uk) which was also really interesting, documenting all the countries visited. Back in the Minerva Centre there were trade stands to browse, I picked up a few things (for the stash of course).Overall a very interesting and enjoyable day out."
Thank you to everyone who contributed, it is another outstanding effort.
Cerys attended the event and recalls -
"The bi-annual All Wales Guild Challenge was on 5th October this year, and it was my first visit. Myself, Pat D., Mary and Pippa travelled on the coach with the Llyn Guild. Our Persephone and their Green Man had seats to themselves! We arrived at 9.30 and set to arranging and pinning up the pieces of Guild members work we had brought for the display. Thank you to all those who kindly let their work out of their sight! I really enjoyed looking at the Guild displays, Pippa and I went round several times and noticed something different every time. Such a variety of work, all of such a high standard, very inspirational. The set pieces for the challenge were very different interpretations of the theme, seasons. Very colourful and full of intricate detail (especially ours!). The silver salver was awarded to the Gwent Guild for their display of members work. I made a mental note of the clever ways of hanging and setting the pieces off to their best. After lunch we had a talk by Jim Gaffney of Textile Traders called 'On the Silk Road'. He and his wife had travelled widely bringing textiles to Britain. The slide show was of photos taken mainly around Central Asia, very much off the tourist trail! The quality of work produced without 'mod cons' was truly impressive. We handled samples of embroidered cushion covers,throws, hats and large felt mats used in Yurts. I had a look at their website blog (www.textiletechniques.co.uk) which was also really interesting, documenting all the countries visited. Back in the Minerva Centre there were trade stands to browse, I picked up a few things (for the stash of course).Overall a very interesting and enjoyable day out."
Thank you to everyone who contributed, it is another outstanding effort.
The Weavers Cottage, Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire
Kate L. recalls her visit to this cottage in Scotland.
If you are ever on your travels around here, you must go to the weaver’s cottage in the small village of Kilbarchan where you will receive a very warm welcome. This was once a weaving village with over 800 looms housed in the cottages. You can still find yourself wandering around the lanes with names such as Shuttle Street and Loom Lane. The National Trust for Scotland took over this weavers cottage in 1954 and it houses the last of this villages looms.
The property manager and handloom weaver is Christine Macleod. Dave and I spent a lovely hour with her as she explained how a loom works and gave us a potted social history. The visit is “hands on” and both Dave and I had a go at weaving on the loom she has set up for this reason. In fact, a group of 24 Brownies had been the last ones to try the twill weave. We then went over to the 200 year old loom she uses herself to design and make the tartans seen around the various National Trust properties in Scotland. She has just designed and completed two tartans to commemorate the Battle of Culloden and the Battle of Flodden. As this was a National Trust property I wasn’t able to take photos inside so please don’t be fooled by the very plain photo of the outside of the cottage which I have included. As well as the looms there are also spinning wheels there for you to try and a dye garden to walk around with explanation and quantities on the signposts. The rest is a marvellous social history explained by a fascinating video and the varying scenarios laid out inside the cottage.
If you have 10 minutes to spare do go to www.scotlandsstories.com and listen to Christine telling you all about her loom.
Did you know that a Scottish tartan has to be symmetrical? Whatever combination of colours you use for the warp you have to weave as the weft!
If you would like to read more about Kate's Scottish adventures then please stay tuned for the winter newsletter in January!
If you are ever on your travels around here, you must go to the weaver’s cottage in the small village of Kilbarchan where you will receive a very warm welcome. This was once a weaving village with over 800 looms housed in the cottages. You can still find yourself wandering around the lanes with names such as Shuttle Street and Loom Lane. The National Trust for Scotland took over this weavers cottage in 1954 and it houses the last of this villages looms.
The property manager and handloom weaver is Christine Macleod. Dave and I spent a lovely hour with her as she explained how a loom works and gave us a potted social history. The visit is “hands on” and both Dave and I had a go at weaving on the loom she has set up for this reason. In fact, a group of 24 Brownies had been the last ones to try the twill weave. We then went over to the 200 year old loom she uses herself to design and make the tartans seen around the various National Trust properties in Scotland. She has just designed and completed two tartans to commemorate the Battle of Culloden and the Battle of Flodden. As this was a National Trust property I wasn’t able to take photos inside so please don’t be fooled by the very plain photo of the outside of the cottage which I have included. As well as the looms there are also spinning wheels there for you to try and a dye garden to walk around with explanation and quantities on the signposts. The rest is a marvellous social history explained by a fascinating video and the varying scenarios laid out inside the cottage.
If you have 10 minutes to spare do go to www.scotlandsstories.com and listen to Christine telling you all about her loom.
Did you know that a Scottish tartan has to be symmetrical? Whatever combination of colours you use for the warp you have to weave as the weft!
If you would like to read more about Kate's Scottish adventures then please stay tuned for the winter newsletter in January!
Solar Dyeing - The Results - September 2013
Our September meeting revealed the results of the solar dyeing experiment that we starting as a group in March. The results were outstanding and extremely varied. It was a feast of greys, blues and violets from our red cabbage experiments as well as rusty oranges and pale creams from other experiments. It goes to show how important it is to document the variations that occur depending on time, mordant and quantity of dye stuff. Congratulations to all those who participated.
'Wild Shepherdess' with Kate Humble
For those of us who might have seen this programme on BBC2 it was well worth the watch. I missed it the first time around but after Enid mentioned it I managed to find it 'on demand' on my new fangled tv.
The three episodes covered her travels and insights from Afghanistan, Peru and Australia. Starting in Afghanistan, with the Wakhi Shepherds, she documents the primitive approach to shepherding in an very unforgiving landscape and as part of the migration called 'The Kuch'. The dramatic landscape was awe inspiring but also challenging for the shepherd and their families. They were, however, resourceful, and used every aspect of the animals in order to provide a life for their families. In Peru, Kate visited not only the llama/alpaca farmers in the High Andes but also the factories that rely on these farmers to promote their high end product around the world. Like all good shepherds Kate received her fair share of alpaca spit! Finally, Kate ends up in Australia and visits not only the traditional sheep stations but also the new farms approaching their craft with more interest in science as a way of improving their breeds and their product. The final episode explores a few controversial aspects of farming in the modern age, but it is nice to see that Kate is not afraid of addressing these issues and that she is able to provide a variety of perspectives. - Sarah K.
It is likely that this programme will be replayed on BBC2 so if you missed it, keep an eye out!
The three episodes covered her travels and insights from Afghanistan, Peru and Australia. Starting in Afghanistan, with the Wakhi Shepherds, she documents the primitive approach to shepherding in an very unforgiving landscape and as part of the migration called 'The Kuch'. The dramatic landscape was awe inspiring but also challenging for the shepherd and their families. They were, however, resourceful, and used every aspect of the animals in order to provide a life for their families. In Peru, Kate visited not only the llama/alpaca farmers in the High Andes but also the factories that rely on these farmers to promote their high end product around the world. Like all good shepherds Kate received her fair share of alpaca spit! Finally, Kate ends up in Australia and visits not only the traditional sheep stations but also the new farms approaching their craft with more interest in science as a way of improving their breeds and their product. The final episode explores a few controversial aspects of farming in the modern age, but it is nice to see that Kate is not afraid of addressing these issues and that she is able to provide a variety of perspectives. - Sarah K.
It is likely that this programme will be replayed on BBC2 so if you missed it, keep an eye out!
An Evening of Crochet - May 2013
Our May meeting was focused on building and improving our crochet skills. For some of us this was the first time while for others it was an introduction to a new pattern. I found this to be an informative evening and after one to one tuition am able to start and stop a square. This may not sound like much to some but I am enjoying my new abilities.
I feel that the whole evening was enjoyed by all. Delyth and her daughter were very helpful and easy going. Delyth's daughter stood by me while I tackled all stages of the square, she is a patient and kind girl and a credit to her mother.
We had a lovely evening with a lot of laughter, as usual! Some successes were clearly evident while others were small but important achievements.
It might be a good idea to ask for more tuition from Delyth ...
... once I have had a bit more practice of course. - Carol Adlam
Delyth Owen is normally found at Siop Anna in Porthmadog but also runs a Stitch & Bitch group in Caernarfon on a Thursday evening. She is very accommodating of all levels of skill. The Thursday session in Caernarfon takes place at YLP Haberdashery on Palace Street.
The link below is a Welsh blog post about the Caernarfon group and, if you scroll down, you may even recognize the woman in pink!
http://papurdre.net/2013/04/13/stitch-and-bitch/
I feel that the whole evening was enjoyed by all. Delyth and her daughter were very helpful and easy going. Delyth's daughter stood by me while I tackled all stages of the square, she is a patient and kind girl and a credit to her mother.
We had a lovely evening with a lot of laughter, as usual! Some successes were clearly evident while others were small but important achievements.
It might be a good idea to ask for more tuition from Delyth ...
... once I have had a bit more practice of course. - Carol Adlam
Delyth Owen is normally found at Siop Anna in Porthmadog but also runs a Stitch & Bitch group in Caernarfon on a Thursday evening. She is very accommodating of all levels of skill. The Thursday session in Caernarfon takes place at YLP Haberdashery on Palace Street.
The link below is a Welsh blog post about the Caernarfon group and, if you scroll down, you may even recognize the woman in pink!
http://papurdre.net/2013/04/13/stitch-and-bitch/
WonderWool Wales - 27/28 April 2013
A day of travel and shopping to Builth Wells for the Welsh Festival of Wool.
Once again I had to decide between celebrating my son’s birthday and going to WonderWool Wales with the Guild. No contest there! (Actually, he didn’t come home that weekend – perhaps he learned from last year?)
I’m sure the journey was faster this year but the lovely weather helped as there was so much beautiful scenery to view from the coach windows. We piled put of the coach at the Showground and quickly set off, eager not to lose a minute.
Now, the rule for me this year was not to add to the stash. I had a shopping list which did not include fleece, just extra knitting needles and a parcel to collect from Paul Brittain. Well, Enid saw some fleece in my kind of colours, courtesy of a Devon Longwool, and then some from a Hampshire Down which she said I ought to have as I grew up there so, the stash has grown again. I think it is becoming out of control. Anyway, I blamed Enid when I arrived home and got away with it. Add in a couple of knitting kits – handy for the caravan - and the bags I wasn’t going to take because I wouldn’t need them filled up.
If you have never been to WonderWool Wales you really should try to come with us. It’s not just fleece and knitting notions and ready spun wool and spinning wheels and looms and the catwalk and the exhibitions... It’s a day out with the Guild and an opportunity to meet people from other Guilds.
Many thanks to Susanne and Enid who organised this annual event for us once again. - Kate L.
Once again I had to decide between celebrating my son’s birthday and going to WonderWool Wales with the Guild. No contest there! (Actually, he didn’t come home that weekend – perhaps he learned from last year?)
I’m sure the journey was faster this year but the lovely weather helped as there was so much beautiful scenery to view from the coach windows. We piled put of the coach at the Showground and quickly set off, eager not to lose a minute.
Now, the rule for me this year was not to add to the stash. I had a shopping list which did not include fleece, just extra knitting needles and a parcel to collect from Paul Brittain. Well, Enid saw some fleece in my kind of colours, courtesy of a Devon Longwool, and then some from a Hampshire Down which she said I ought to have as I grew up there so, the stash has grown again. I think it is becoming out of control. Anyway, I blamed Enid when I arrived home and got away with it. Add in a couple of knitting kits – handy for the caravan - and the bags I wasn’t going to take because I wouldn’t need them filled up.
If you have never been to WonderWool Wales you really should try to come with us. It’s not just fleece and knitting notions and ready spun wool and spinning wheels and looms and the catwalk and the exhibitions... It’s a day out with the Guild and an opportunity to meet people from other Guilds.
Many thanks to Susanne and Enid who organised this annual event for us once again. - Kate L.
British Alpaca Festival @ NEC, Birmingham - March 2013
This was something had hoped to do last year but somehow I missed it. So this year I was on the ball!!
My plan was to go on my own but a friend of a friend who has Alpaca was going too so we met up on the way.
An early train from Bangor meant we were at the NEC in Birmingham for 10.30am just as the place opened.
Tickets for entry to the festival were £8.
As we entered the first thing I noticed was the smell, not a bad smell but definitely unique. My friend said this was a typical alpaca smell. The hall at the NEC was massive and the Alpaca area did not cover all of it,not a bad thing as we were able to go around and be sure we had not missed anything. My friend was interested in breeding and looking after Alpaca, while I went for the fibre and to see what could be made with it.
On arrival we found that there were demonstrations, so I got myself booked in. The first one was titled 'How to skit a fresh shorn alpaca', I had no idea so found this very interesting. The main thing I took home was not to be afraid to get rid of bits that were not going to be any good. It goes against the grain to throw anything away but better in the long run. I have yet to practice this but will try. There were competitions going on all the time, with short and long haired and some lovely baby ones. The second demonstration I attended was a needle felting using a machine called an embelisher. It was a bit like a sewing machine with about 6 needles doing the felting. I thought this was really good, but at about £600 for the machine it was not for me. The ladies doing this were very talented and artistic, making items such as fascinators, flowers and even garments like coats and jackets.
Of course there were stalls selling fibre and some of it managed to find its way into my bag!!! After walking around for hours, it was time for home.
The NEC is a convenient place with the train station in it and not far to walk. Making this a great one day journey from North Wales.
I had a nice time and may go again next year. Anyone interested? - Carol A.
More information on alpacas can be found on the British Alpaca Society website.
My plan was to go on my own but a friend of a friend who has Alpaca was going too so we met up on the way.
An early train from Bangor meant we were at the NEC in Birmingham for 10.30am just as the place opened.
Tickets for entry to the festival were £8.
As we entered the first thing I noticed was the smell, not a bad smell but definitely unique. My friend said this was a typical alpaca smell. The hall at the NEC was massive and the Alpaca area did not cover all of it,not a bad thing as we were able to go around and be sure we had not missed anything. My friend was interested in breeding and looking after Alpaca, while I went for the fibre and to see what could be made with it.
On arrival we found that there were demonstrations, so I got myself booked in. The first one was titled 'How to skit a fresh shorn alpaca', I had no idea so found this very interesting. The main thing I took home was not to be afraid to get rid of bits that were not going to be any good. It goes against the grain to throw anything away but better in the long run. I have yet to practice this but will try. There were competitions going on all the time, with short and long haired and some lovely baby ones. The second demonstration I attended was a needle felting using a machine called an embelisher. It was a bit like a sewing machine with about 6 needles doing the felting. I thought this was really good, but at about £600 for the machine it was not for me. The ladies doing this were very talented and artistic, making items such as fascinators, flowers and even garments like coats and jackets.
Of course there were stalls selling fibre and some of it managed to find its way into my bag!!! After walking around for hours, it was time for home.
The NEC is a convenient place with the train station in it and not far to walk. Making this a great one day journey from North Wales.
I had a nice time and may go again next year. Anyone interested? - Carol A.
More information on alpacas can be found on the British Alpaca Society website.
Hilltop Cloud Workshop - 9 March 2013
A One Day Workshop with Katie Weston at Treborth Gardens.
I had met Katie at Wonderwool and Woolfest on previous occasions and set the ball rolling for her to visit us. All was sorted for the workshop by Cerys.
Katie used to be a science teacher but decided to change vocation in March 2011. She moved into her family home in the hills between Dolgellau and Machynlleth hence her business name ‘Hill Top Cloud’. Some of you may know her as ‘Hilltop Katie’ her ravelry name.
We were shown a film of her work and inspirations from nature’s colours. British wod and natural colours are used as much as possible and she highlights the rare and more unusual breeds to show the public and wider audience.
All the fibres are handpicked, hand-blended, and sometimes hand-dyed by Katie for the workshop. After explaining about ‘colour’, we picked our choice of fibres from the table. Synthetic fibres and sari silks were available for embellishment.
Using the pictures or favourite postcard that were were asked to bring for inspiration we started making our batts. I chose colours that I wouldn’t normally dream of using, i.e. grey as the main colour blended with bright yellow, bright orange and bright yellow and lilac. Unfortunately I haven’t had time to spin my batts but was pleased with the end result.
Toward the end, we delved in to Katie’s sales table which was fantastic, and we all spent far too much (perhaps no surprise!).
An excellent day was had by all. - Enid McK.
I had met Katie at Wonderwool and Woolfest on previous occasions and set the ball rolling for her to visit us. All was sorted for the workshop by Cerys.
Katie used to be a science teacher but decided to change vocation in March 2011. She moved into her family home in the hills between Dolgellau and Machynlleth hence her business name ‘Hill Top Cloud’. Some of you may know her as ‘Hilltop Katie’ her ravelry name.
We were shown a film of her work and inspirations from nature’s colours. British wod and natural colours are used as much as possible and she highlights the rare and more unusual breeds to show the public and wider audience.
All the fibres are handpicked, hand-blended, and sometimes hand-dyed by Katie for the workshop. After explaining about ‘colour’, we picked our choice of fibres from the table. Synthetic fibres and sari silks were available for embellishment.
Using the pictures or favourite postcard that were were asked to bring for inspiration we started making our batts. I chose colours that I wouldn’t normally dream of using, i.e. grey as the main colour blended with bright yellow, bright orange and bright yellow and lilac. Unfortunately I haven’t had time to spin my batts but was pleased with the end result.
Toward the end, we delved in to Katie’s sales table which was fantastic, and we all spent far too much (perhaps no surprise!).
An excellent day was had by all. - Enid McK.
Solar Dyeing
A group experiment in natural dyeing, March 2013.
One of our workshops on this year's programme was solar dyeing. We all gathered for our Saturday meeting with Kilner jars, mordanted fibre and a variety of different organic material in our carrier bags. Kate and Annie, our workshop leaders, on the other hand had been very busy chopping up red cabbage for all of us. The plan was that we would all complete a red cabbage dye pot and then each do a dye source of choice in our second jar (or third or fourth). With avocado, berries, onion skins, nettles, bark, daffodils, lichens and all sorts on display we are bound to come out with some interesting results in the coming months.
By layering fibre, cabbage, fibre, cabbage ... all the way up the jar and then filling with water the dye process was on its way and many were surprised how quickly the red cabbage started to take to the fibres. Lovely white fleece turning to a light blue-ish grey in front of our eyes.
My two jars arrived home and were placed in the kitchen window to 'cook' for the next few months. So far, we have had a sunny spring and summer and should this continue then I am sure that the jars will be ready in no time!
I am looking forward to the results and to different shades that are developed from the various potions. September will be here soon, so stay tuned for the results! In the meantime, I will work on some stove top dyeing for the All Wales Challenge. - Sarah K.
One of our workshops on this year's programme was solar dyeing. We all gathered for our Saturday meeting with Kilner jars, mordanted fibre and a variety of different organic material in our carrier bags. Kate and Annie, our workshop leaders, on the other hand had been very busy chopping up red cabbage for all of us. The plan was that we would all complete a red cabbage dye pot and then each do a dye source of choice in our second jar (or third or fourth). With avocado, berries, onion skins, nettles, bark, daffodils, lichens and all sorts on display we are bound to come out with some interesting results in the coming months.
By layering fibre, cabbage, fibre, cabbage ... all the way up the jar and then filling with water the dye process was on its way and many were surprised how quickly the red cabbage started to take to the fibres. Lovely white fleece turning to a light blue-ish grey in front of our eyes.
My two jars arrived home and were placed in the kitchen window to 'cook' for the next few months. So far, we have had a sunny spring and summer and should this continue then I am sure that the jars will be ready in no time!
I am looking forward to the results and to different shades that are developed from the various potions. September will be here soon, so stay tuned for the results! In the meantime, I will work on some stove top dyeing for the All Wales Challenge. - Sarah K.
Blueberry Angoras
After a few days in Pembroke with grandchildren swinging through trees, jumping off towers, shooting bows and arrows and toasting marshmallows over an enormous firepit I decided I needed a day out. I scanned the “What’s on around here” part of the tourist paper and spotted “Blueberry Angoras”. Dave plugged the postcode into some gizmo and discovered it was only 40 minutes away and we set off. The lady in the iphone gave us directions which we followed to the word, and we duly arrived 58 minutes later.
Blueberry Angoras are to be found at the bottom of a zig zag road taking you to a small hamlet in the bottom of the valley. Turn by the chapel and follow your nose and there you are, beautiful scenery for miles, gorgeous goats to greet you and a very warm welcome from the owners. We were supplied with coffee, a husband chair (an essential for any spinning or weaving business) and a father-in-law chair as well.
The shop is part of the house and held some delights for me. More fleece, even after my promise not to add to the stash; as I write this 400 grams of Angora goat is drying outside in the sun. I also bought some of their ready spun to knit a little jacket for my smallest granddaughter. Not because I have favourites, but because that was all that was left and she’s the only one small enough.
It was a delightful morning, me with the fibre and Dave with the goats and father-in-law just enjoying the peace. Sadly, Blueberry Angoras are retiring this year so we won’t see them at the shows, but the house is for sale, as are the goats, so, if you fancy a change, how about taking it over? - Kate L.
Blueberry Angoras are to be found at the bottom of a zig zag road taking you to a small hamlet in the bottom of the valley. Turn by the chapel and follow your nose and there you are, beautiful scenery for miles, gorgeous goats to greet you and a very warm welcome from the owners. We were supplied with coffee, a husband chair (an essential for any spinning or weaving business) and a father-in-law chair as well.
The shop is part of the house and held some delights for me. More fleece, even after my promise not to add to the stash; as I write this 400 grams of Angora goat is drying outside in the sun. I also bought some of their ready spun to knit a little jacket for my smallest granddaughter. Not because I have favourites, but because that was all that was left and she’s the only one small enough.
It was a delightful morning, me with the fibre and Dave with the goats and father-in-law just enjoying the peace. Sadly, Blueberry Angoras are retiring this year so we won’t see them at the shows, but the house is for sale, as are the goats, so, if you fancy a change, how about taking it over? - Kate L.