July Meeting at Win's, Part 2

Win was showing and telling but I had my eye on her magnificent felt beads!

Like the albatross and penguins on her wall.

This was Win's tapestry just off the loom. Birds and shorelines are among her favourite subjects.

These are the colours she dyed in the microwave oven, ready for her next work which will be similar to . . .

Jenny's interpretation of a group challenge. Well done Jenny. I'm sorry if the photo is upside down or sideways!

New member Jen has been learning to weave under June's tuition. She's wearing her first scarf. Lovely colours Jen.

And this is her first bag. Sorry it's not a good photo - too much sunshine!

A close-up of the weave on the front of the bag.

by Rose Pelvin

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

Bag, by Jenny Murray

Elegant and lovely. This bag is smaller and more delicate than it appears in the photo.

by Meg Nakagawa

September Meeting Part 3

Light and airy . . . A beautiful lightweight top, part of a three-piece catwalk outfit by Jenny.

Note Jenny's . . . Woven, designed and tailored by Jenny. Beautifully finished and it will never go out of style.

A Marion . . . Marion was a member of our group for many years till she shifted to the deep south. We miss her.

A new owner . . . Jan waltzed home very happily in her new skirt, which solved one of Joan's dilemmas.

by Rose Pelvin

September Meeting Part 2

From evening dress . . . A sparkling model by Jenny, made when rag weaving was "in."

Joan began . . . Probably Joan's first jacket, all handspun.

Joan ponders what to do with fabric woven by Tricia years ago.

June's latest, hot off the loom at the bay. Tricia looking on.

Just add . . Dot has been making scarves by the dozen. Just the thing to add a spark to one of Joan's jackets.

by Rose Pelvin

September Meeting Part 1

Our September meeting, on the 21st, focused on cutting and sewing handwoven fabrics. It was quite a hoot - a lot of fun and a few laughs bringing out garments "ancient and modern," though the emphasis was on the ancient, some being between thirty and forty years old. A lot of pieces had stood the test of time and there were a lot of comments such as "timeless," or "you could wear that now." Expert workmanship in the construction was much admired. One happy result was a skirt changing hands and being worn home by its new owner. There was a good discussion about the many rolls of fabric that have been stashed away and not made up. Some people went home with a clearer idea of what to do next.

Beautifully tailored . . Joan's coat and skirt tailored under Birgite's instructions. (It was this skirt that ended up with Jan.)

An early model . . . One of Jenny Murray's first woven garments. She went on to make several fashion parade outfits.

An old curtain . . . Joan's. She gave it a vigorous fulling and the various yarns reacted differently. The colour is original, not overdyed. We all thought she should make a pair of big floor cushions with rich cords and tassels.

As new. . . Jenny Murray. A more recent model in Marnie Kelly's boucle yarn.

English warp... Betsy brought this warp home from England and searched till she found the perendale weft for it.

by Rose Pelvin

What Weavers Wear

And during our July meeting, some of the weavers wore their own creations. Here's Anne's scarf:


Jenny's scarf and knitted alpaca jacket.


And Win's hand-painted scarf.


by Rose Pelvin

Funky Fibre, Part 5

Joan McLauchlan, "After the Storm", handwoven double corduroy floor rug.

Win Currie, Funky Scarf, filled neck decoration, handwoven in silk, alpaca and merino.

Jenny Murray, "Fractured", woven tapestry in wool, silk, and cotton.

Tricia Jane, Scribble knitting scarf.

Meg Nakagawa, "And her Scarf Stopped the Traffic", cotton.

by Rose Pelvin

Funky Fibre, Part 4

Rose Pelvin, "Oh My Stars!", table setting: linen runner, four linen coasters and four cotton napkins.

June McKenzie, "Remembering Tamarillos" vest, handwoven, wool and rayon ribbon, handmade cord and beaded buttons.

Judy Bool, ruana in merino/mohair and alpaca/silk.

Chris Beech, "Dusk", handwoven wool/mohair throw rug.

Jenny Murray, "Falling Shadows", woven tapestry.

by Rose Pelvin