August Meeting - Fibres

The meeting was held at Barbara's home and members were asked to bring samples of various yarns used in their work and examples woven with them. Here are some of the woven fabrics using both natural and man-made fibres.

Betsy brought along her lovely soft lightweight throw made with merino, possum and mohair fibres. It is woven in a rosepath twill which shows a completely different pattern on the reverse.

Here is a close-up of the yarns, with the space-dyed warp showing up prominently in the fringe.

Joan's warp repp table runner is made with very closely set rayon.

A natural fibre we don't often see in loom weaving is phormium tenax (New Zealand flax or harakeke). It is seen here in a wall hanging by June in which she has used many hand manipulated lace weaves.

This beautifully knitted shawlette was knitted by Nancy and of course the fibre is alpaca.

Not Weaving, but just have to share

Weavers need a break now and then. When Chris was in Christchurch recently she found this 'gap-filler' sculpture display and it's too good not to share.

Continuing the piano theme, how about this one displayed in the Museum .

Or this, from some place unknown. Maybe not weaving but it least it has a textile component.

Happy weaving. I hope the wet weather has given you an opportunity to get to your looms.

Guild Meeting 8 August

Chris showed her small menagerie of animals - an update on the three-shaft pick-up weaving started at the July meeting. Here we can see the side uppermost on the loom (top) and the reverse (lower).

At the Guild meeting Nancy demonstrated what can be done with a niddy-noddy, a plastic plate, some yarn and a few odds and ends.

Jen and June collaborated on this model.

Looking forward to Christmas?

July Show and Tell Part 4

Rose produced a baby wrap made with chunky threads in plain weave, finished with a wide crochet edge.

And a larger throw in different colours, woven in a texture weave suited to the slub yarn.

This wrap has a silvery thread incorporated in the yarn used in both warp and weft in a complex twill pattern. It is finished with a silver-grey satin ribbon along the edges and a silver rat-tail cord to enhance the ends.  This is a UFO that has finally become a FO.

That wraps up the July news but there are more pics to come so keep watching.

July Show and Tell Part 3

Chris shows one of her lovely generously large throws. In spite of her intention for it to be a 'stash-buster' Chris confirms there is just as much stash as ever. Stash-busting just never seems to work!

Here is a close-up of the clever colour blending and the goose-eye type twill construction.

Again, Chris goes for generous size and bold colours for this baby blanket. The crochet edge makes a good finish.

A close-up showing the huck blocks within plain weave squares with a light-coloured outline. The crossing of the colours gives a multi-hued effect.