Marblrough Weavers in the National Exhibition

May I present to you work submitted by Marlborough Weavers:

"Kingfisher", scarf in two layers, Win Currie

"A Walk on the Withers", wall-hanging, Chris Beech

"Save the Forests", rug, by Chris Beech

"Old Gold", scarf, Judy Bool

"Twilight", scarf, centre, June McKenzie

"Wind in the Tussocks", scarf, second right, June McKenzie

"Festival", wall-hanging, Peg Moorhouse. 

"Taranaki", tapestry, Win Currie

"Winter Wonderland", scarf woven in double weave, Judy Bool

"Moon Shadow", scarf, Judy Bool.

"Triple Treat", boxes, Chris Beech. Exquisite. 

"Relishing Red", bag, Tricia Jane 

"Prayers", shawl, Meg Nakagawa

Our own Rose Pelvin was the organizer of this exhibition, and she was pleased with the result, and though she didn't explicitly say it, with the collective efforts of Marlborough Weavers, no doubt.


by Meg

Merino & Silk Scarf, by Judy Bool

Judy says. "This scarf has warp in silk, weft in merino with scale, the 8-shaft network draft by Ingrid Boesel in 20 EPI can be found on Page 33 of Weavers magazine, Issue 25."


by Meg Nakagawa

"Deflected Doubleweave # 2 - Two Grays Scarf", by Judy Bool

For my second version of the draft in the 2007 Handwoven magazine (issue 133) I chose a 74/2 2ply merino yarn. Both shades of gray were used double in the warp and weft, set at epi and ppi of 20. This is the same set as my first version but it gave this scarf a firmer hand than the Red and Gold scarf.

Weave It, Felt It - Part 2

One of Win's signature "frilled" scarves, mainly alpaca and silk
but felted merino on one edge to create the curves.

Judy's Bronson Lace scarf, woven in the softest cashmere - lovely to handle.

Deflected Double Weave makes the rich pattern in this red and gold scarf from Judy

“Underwater Fantasy No 2”, Merino wall panel by Christine

Two eye-catching evening wraps from Denise. One is nuno felted.

"Flotsam" wrap by Christine. Nuno felted, with some of the fabric cut away.

"Medusa's Slippers", felted wool with snakes! People loved these!

by Rose Pelvin

Weave It, Felt It

Win's handwoven wool wrap and Rose's indigo-dyed cotton tray cloth.


Sue's window hanging, inlay in fine white wool.


Chris's "Blue Yonder" throw rug showing changing blue tones.


Judy's "Two Greys" scarf in deflected double weave


One of Denise's "Seaweed" Necklaces


One of Katie's stunning felted collars


Christine's felted animal print bag with plaited leather handle, and scarf to match.
And Adie's triangular felted bag.


Wendy's collection of colourful felted balls was popular and
rather depleted by the time I took the photo.

by Rose Pelvin

Wall Hanging, by Judy Bool

My personal challenge for 2010 was to weave a wall hanging. An article by Betty Booth in Issue 21 of The Wheel magazine was just what I needed.

The warp was 22/2 black Cottolin and 16/2 black linen, wound together.
The pattern weft was the cottolin and linen wound together with an unspun woolen variegated yarn, used double, for the pattern rows. I also used a metallic yarn in this pattern row.

Finished size is 60 inches by 30 inches.

I am pleased with the final result - but would I weave another? Maybe. It was enjoyable laying in the fancy yarns but nobody told me that linen has a mind of it's own!

by Judy Bool

July Meeting: Part 3: Show and Tell

Rosemary has her first piece since her return to weaving off her loom. This lovely throw has a handspun warp and incorporates some mohair boucle in the weft to give a slight texture and a hint of blue.

Judy is well on with her garment project, having made two coordinating fabrics as part of the plan.

Joan is wondering how Judy got her cashmere/silk yarn from China in four days to make this glorious scarf.

Judy's beautiful shawl with a lovely soft handle.

Chris has a look at Rose's fabric, a backed tabby with a coarse cotton surface reinforced by a fine merino in soft blue.

An old faithful. Rose periodically weaves a few yards of bookmarks with a different warp patter each time, using oddments of yarn and ensuring a supply for small gifts.

by Rose Pelvin

Show and Tell at Peg's, by Rose Pelvin

Judy shows her work to Peg and gets unqualified approval.
A lovely shawl from Judy, but it is not fine enough for her liking!

We also had a peek preview of her garment project but I won't show you that yet. Suffice it to say it made me realise I had better get busy.

by Rose Pelvin

Judy is Going Japanese

I received an email from Judy Bool, who was at Saturday's garment fitting workshop.

Says Judy: "Today I finished winding the warp for the first part of my Japanese Vest (1 November 1994 issue) - the fronts and back. I'm using 2/28 alpaca/silk yarn - warp is camel and weft will be black. I was going to use a peacock blue with the camel but I think the black will be more striking. I'm off to wind on the warp and start threading."

We are so looking forward to a fashion show at the end of this year.

by Meg Nakagawa

March Meeting

"What inspires you when you weave to create a garment?" was the theme of this month's meeting last Monday. We discussed how we are inspired to weave for a garment.

Some weavers look at the yarns and design fabric. Some of us look at what is in fashion in clothing stores and catalogs and go home and create their own. Others start with colors.

We got to see and feel some garments, as well as samples of garment fabrics.

One of Jenny's lovely coats.

Rose's eye lash sample of Joan's blouse? (I miss out on a lot by not going to every meeting!)

And we also had our usual show and tell.

Judy's merino sample - unwashed

Judy's merino sample - fulled

Betsy's bag with sari yarns - summer side

Betsy's bag - winter side

Betsy's mohair wrap - the middle part of the wrap was brushed, but in the two ends boucle loops were kept.

Anne Udy scarf

Nancy's hat from a kit set (?)

Nancy's hat on Joan

Last but not the least, Nancy's husband Robin Taylor's debut piece; the weft is hand-spun (by Nancy) alpaca, the warp is 80% wool, 20% alpaca.

I'm sorry for the sorry photos and report; I am both thrilled and overwhelmed by the idea of sewing and I was very preoccupied.

by Meg Nakagawa