An assortment of weaving activities and projects

From left to right: Sandi Dunn, Debbie Harris, Mimma Draga, Kate Kitchen and Agota Dolinay

Earlier in the week, I invited a number of weavers who take my weaving classes to assist me in doing some restoration work on a Flemish verdure tapestry.

From left to right: Kate Kitchen, Michele Dubois, Mimma Draga, Debbie Harris, Agota Dolinay and Sandi Dunn.

No one seems to know its title and we are unsure of who the figures are in the tapestry. I am also thinking that the tapestry is older than the owner believes it is - more in the neighbourhood of 500 years old, based on the fading of certain colours, the kind of composition and the figures. Here we are sewing on the hanging device.  By the end of the day we were tired but we thoroughly enjoyed each others company while doing such a mundane task! Kate kept us entertained with her singing!

Experimentation with new fibres is something that many weavers and knitters enjoy doing. Here, Agota Dolinay created her own huck design and used a subtly coloured silk yarn.

 Leslie Wynn wanted to share her latest project 'at home' project, using a combination of yarns, the warp being Harrisville, and the weft an unidentified yarn from an unknown supplier. She created this upholstery type fabric that is different on both sides, using a 1/3 herringbone.

 Kate Kitchen has taken up singing and the ukulele and has been spending much of her free time singing and playing when she is not weaving. She wove a bound weave strap for the ukulele and lots of people are asking to buy them.

 My students inspire me as much as they claim I inspire them. From each of them I discover qualities their qualities which provide me with a constant source of admiration. In this case, Fran was preparing a warp for a set of placemats. Unexpectedly the whole warp collapsed and her warp became an instant mess. She was determined to salvadge as much thread as possible and spent much of the day extracting the mutlicoloured threads from the body of the warp threads. What a task! One that I would definitely not endeavour. I doubt my sanity would hold out that long. Yet I know there are a number of you (and you know who you are) that go about this task calmly and with the utmost of patience. Bravo! Let's share more of our 'disaster' stories!

 

Two painted warps. On the left, by Anne Vagi, and on the right, Janet Andrews.

Another painted warp class and tonight we practiced gradation - trying to go from one end of the warp to the other by gradually changing from colour A to colour B (some used more colours).

[] Thank you to those who have paid their equipment fee. There are still some outstanding. Please remember to remit so that I can continue to provide you with some of the basics things we require for the class.

[] A correction to the schedule of the Wednesday weaving classes - May 16 is the last Wednesday class. If you picked up a sheet with the class dates on it, the last class does not appear.

[] I am doing a bike-a-thon for Heart & Stroke - Ride for Heart on the DVP (closed of course) on June 3. If you would like to make a donation go to https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=482564&supId=356112001 or if you don't feel comfortable doing it on-line, I'll be bringing in a pledge sheet. I'll be riding the 25k.

[] We have set a 'dye' day date to take place during the summer for those of who who wanted to participate in the 8 week one but could not. Anyone is welcome to join us but there is a limit as to how many people can do this one day intensive dye workshop so rsvp asap. The cost is $30. We are using only procion mx dyes which are for plant fibres such as tencel, bamboo, cotton. Silk can also be used. You must bring your own yarn and they must be either prepared as warps or in skeins. The date is August 25. It will take place in Georgetown. Maureen Krinicic has offered to host us at her house. She is providing the tables and a tent to shade us from direct sun and/or protect us from rain. We'll probably arrange car pooling.

Info from you

Susan Abrams writes:
Hi Line,
I noticed when I looked at your most recent Toronto Weaving School Newsletter and projects that the link for the "More Than Just a Yardage Sale" at the Textile Museum goes to "Mail Chimp". Unless I missed it I couldn't find either the poster below or the link to Strand News in my attachment. I just realized that maybe Mail Chimp comes up because it is shown on the bottom of the brochure..? The link to Strand News is www.strandnews.ca.   I realize this is a bit confusing. When I sent you the earlier email I tried to forward both the brochure (below) and the link to the website.
Also, the poster was intended to ask people to donate materials to the sale as well as attend it. People can either drop off their donations to the museum or, if they are large donations, have them picked up by phoning the number in the brochure.
If you wouldn't mind sending the information again when you send your next newsletter I'd appreciate it. Thanks again for your help.

From Petra a picture of newly born lambs in Wearyall Hill in Glastonbury in the UK.

Julia has a 21 inch width tapestry floor loom in perfect condition. It is Canadian made, and is a replica of the Ashford floor loom which retails for $600.00. A stretcher and a beater are included. She is asking $300.00 but is willing to negotiate.Contact Julia at juliajoyous@gmail.com.

 See you next week!