Wrapping up the year

Meetings are finished for 2016 but still the work is being produced. Here is Win's beautifully woven tapestry of Havelock. Artistically framed by a professional, it looks superb. Congratulations Win.

 Rose has done very little weaving this year but has managed to fit in another alpaca/silk wrap as none of the previous ones have hung around very long. This one is the vibrant "peacock" colour.

 In what has become an annual outing, Rose's "Litehaus" which was made for an exhibition some years ago is hanging again in a Christmas Lights display at St Andrew's Church. For the first time ever it is lit the way it was planned to be lit with a flickering "flame" inside at the top. It also has three streams of fairy lights hanging down through the column constructed of sequins trapped in fine cotton and lurex double weave pockets.

 That's a wrap for 2016. Warm Christmas wishes and happy holidays to all.

Scandinavian Special

Win took on a complex project when she started this linen runner. Everything about it is perfectly Scandinavian, and there is also a special design element. The 17 blocks across the width are each laid in by hand, then moved on diagonally to make the next row. Perfect accuracy was needed, and achieved. Well done Win. It's good to see one of our members weaving in linen.

Note the hemstitching for a perfect finish.
 

Weavers' Meeting October 2016

Some of the show and tell at the October meering.

A soft and cosy throw, just off the loom, from Chris

Is this deflected double weave? Not really but it certainly has an interesting texture

Chris also produced this piece in diversified plain weave which was one of the topics suggested for our attention

Show and tell from Rose was a scarf in baby alpaca yarn, woven in a 3-end huck lace diamond pattern

There was much more to see but unfortunately the photographer got carried away looking at everything and forgot to take pictures until some members left, taking their goodies with them. Promise to do better next time! 

CF Guild October. A Visit from the Lacemakers

Members of the lacemaking group were guests of the Guild in October.

Rosemary demonstrated her very complex Binch lace - lots of bobbins and lots of pins!

 

Sylvia's neat little travel bag . . .

opens out to be a fully functional lace pillow.

 

Samples of many types of hand made lace were on display

Including this piece made by our very own Jan at some time in a previous existence.

Rose is working on a block pillow to try out variations of Milanese lace.

Like many crafts people, Sylvia adds many disciplines to her repertoire and this quilt is one of her UFOs which she says she is now going to finish. 

 

September Show and Tell

Judy produced this length of tweed in a soft wool 2ply. It has a lovely handle.

Chris brought back from her travels these samples of genuine Harris tweed.

Also Harris tweed. This cap was one of Joan's purchases.

And here is undyed wool from the Outer Hebrides

Nancy finds beautiful alpaca yarns wherever she goes.

More inspirational yarns for Nancy to knit.

This handkerchief was re-discovered recently by Joan.  It is edged with hand made bobbin lace by Dawn Hansford whose fibre work we have been admiring for years. The bookmark is Rose's first attempt at bobbin lace incorporating gimp.

September Meeting

August came and went . . . several members made a trip over to Mapua to catch up with our colleagues from over the hill. I escaped to Wanaka for R & R.

September brought back some members who had travelled further afield; Joan and Chris having separately visited Scotland's Outer Hebrides with emphasis on the Isles of Harris and Lewis, among other geographically interesting places.
More about that in the next post.

The topic for the month was braiding and Joan and Chris had set up a variety of hands-on techniques for people to try.

 Jan uses her foot to assist in making a "walking" or "slentre" with loops on her fingers.

 Here are two different braids made with this technique.

 This is a lucet, an ancient lace-making tool. It makes variations of a square braid.

 A multitude of various plaits and twists can be made on warp ends.

 Joan weaves a narrow warp-faced braid on a table loom with the reed removed.

 Win, Chris and Jan all tried braiding with a clipboard as an anchor.

July Meeting

We were lucky to have another sunny day for our July meeting.
We welcomed new member Lizzie, seen here on the right.

And this is Lizzie's new toy. This is the "before" picture.

With a bit of advice from Judy - and others - we think she will do well,
so look forward to an "after" picture before too long.
Don't you love the buttons on her detachable sleeves!

Joan had been on an overseas trip and here she is showing samples of tweed fabric from the Isles of Lewis and Harris

She tells us that tweed and tartan are everywhere in Scotland

Thank you Joan. We love seeing the results of your travels

More from the June Meeting

Although we are all weavers and meet to discuss our work, most of us do other things as well, so our show and tell usually includes some of these extras. Here are some "other" items that showed up at our June meeting.

Nancy's knitted alpaca throw was light and lovely and beautiful to handle

This is a very creative piece from Wendy. What is it - you may ask . . .

Here it is on Fern, our pin-up model. It is a cowl and a hood in one. A howl . . . ?

The cute boots are from Wendy also. Who says they have to match?

Another Wendy Wonder. This is a cowl knitted in silk (or maybe a silk/wool mix?)

Betsy knitted this hat from her own handspun - perfect for winter

Win had spent a very busy weekend felting this fashion garment

and here is the back view.

Rose brought along a lace work in progress - feeling happy to have learned how to turn a corner.