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THIS MEETING IS ONE WEEK EARLY FROM OUR USUAL. So make a note on your calendar! PROGRAM:  SPINNING ALPACA & STASH REDUCTION I love growing fiber for you. The big knitters conference, Stitches , begins on the 20th, the day after our meeting. In preparation for the enormous shopping opportunities there -- we are going to have a "Stash Reduction" evening. Go through all your yarns and fibers; what have you had for years that you will never use; which colors can't you stand anymore; what do you just not want anymore? Bring it to give away, trade or perhaps sell. Its good to clean out at least once a year! Bring your wheels also as we'll be taking a break from our study of cotton and linen and spend the evening spinning alpaca. We tried to get a speaker to talk about alpacas, but guess what, they're all headed to Stitches. Member Wendy donated some already to spin alpaca roving for us to play with. Another friend of a friend donated a bag of her pet alpaca fleece w...

NOTE - NOTE - NOTE This month's meeting is not only a week early, its on a different night! Tuesday evening instead of Wednesday evening. Just remember, all these small hassles enable us to have a free meeting space. THIS MEETING'S PROGRAM:   "What's Your Bag?" One of the activities for us to participate in at the CNCH 2014 Conference is a Guild Display Gallery. The theme for this conference is: "What's Your Bag?" Techniques and materials are an open field, and so we have chosen to make Oil Bottle Bags . They will be displayed together at one of the conference galleries. At left is a the type of bag we are going to be making at this meeting. We'll begin the bag by learning how to weave on a simple cardboard loom - if you haven't already done so as a child! No spinning wheels at this meeting [if you are interested is starting your bag] Everyone will get a supplies bag with the basics, including a brand new oil bottle. This will be your oppor...

PROGRAM:   MORE ABOUT SPINNING COTTON with Kate & Will Taylor Kate and Will are going to expand on what Stephanie began about the "art" [trial] of spinning this wonderful, comfortable, wearable, frustrating fiber. They keep saying all it takes is a sense of adventure and and a bit of practice. Bring your wheel, a set of cards [cotton cards if you happen to have some], and some cotton fiber. The packs that were given out at the August meeting are just fine, plus we will have a bit more at this meeting to give everyone for experimenting. If you have and want to try spinning on a charka or spindle, bring one. If you are interested in ordering some more flax for yourself, here is another place other than The Woolery to check:  Halcyon yarn has some that is labeled "short" fibers that are perhaps like the roving Vilija had which is actually easy to spin in that form. They have it both in bleached white and natural. halcyonyarn.com The finished thread you get wil...

PROGRAM: LINEN - From Seed to Garment  with Nancy Van Tassel and Vilija Deutschman The lovely flax plant Two of our own Treadles members have been working with flax and linen for a number of years now. Nancy Van Tassel has had a fun and successful time growing her own flax to process into linen. She will talk about her successes, failures and give pointers on what it takes to try it yourself. She has also had an article about the process published in the Ashford's publication, The Wheel.  Vilija has been spinning and weaving with linen since her days working at Conner Prairie Living History Museum  in Indiana where the whole process was a part of the 1836 farmstead display. She will demonstrate different ways to dress a distaff, how to spin line flax even if you don't have a distaff, talk a bit about woven linen cloth, as well as give pointers on spinning flax into linen. Flax in various stages of preparation Bring your own wheel to give it a try. You will have a chance t...

REMEMBER : Sept. 26 is a Thursday, not our usual Wednesday meeting day. PROGRAM Stephanie Gausted will demonstrate and teach us how to spin cotton on your wheels. Actual foot powered wheels, not Charkhas, so be sure to bring your wheel. Note: she says "large bobbin lead, single drive wheels are very difficult to spin cotton, as are jumbo flyers". So hopefully, you have alternatives. If you have a fast flyer or small whorls for your wheel, bring those, but its not necessary. Stephanie will have fiber for everyone. At the August meeting, Mindy handed out many various samples of cotton fiber that Will & Kate donated for our year of Cotton & Linen emphasis. She will bring what is left over for those who were not there. It was a great collection and will be a great start to experiment with this wonderful fiber. THE COTTON & LINEN CHALLENGE The lovely yellow bloom of a cotton plant So some will say, especially if one is not a weaver, what exactly do I do with handspun,...

The August meeting has traditionally been our planning meeting for the year. No different this year. Its a good way for all of us to contribute ideas for upcoming meetings and the focus for the year, when we choose to have one. Mindy and Linnie have stepped up to help put together programs after Laura's terrific three year term as Program Chair. Its not an easy job, and this meeting helps the program chair[s] with looking for and finalizing ideas. a cotton plant ready to pluck and spin They have already been hard at work and have a plan that we can help flesh out at the meeting. The focus this year will be on spinning and working with cotton and linen fibers. We are hoping for speakers, a workshop or two, and, of course, the July Dye Day to cap off the year. hand spun linen thread You will also have a chance, at this meeting, to sign up for a "special project"  we will have that may have a somewhat limited number of people who can participate. Those who come help plan fo...