sutton094

Our next get-together is a "just-for-fun" picnic at Larkey Park, Walnut Creek . The park is adjacent to Lindsey Museum and at the corner of 1st Ave. and Buena Vista, just off Geary Rd. The possibility of a white fox joining us from Lindsey is probably remote, but we'll all have a fun time anyway. Meet at 5 pm , or whenever you can get there. Bring your own drinks, a pot luck dish to share, a spinning wheel and a chair. Bring your spouses and kids if they would like to come. The picnic will be great to keep all of us excited about participating in "Tour de Fleece". Wendy is working with Morgaine on the possibility to have fibers available for those who want to try something new. Something a bit out of the norm. "Tour de Fleece", July 4th thru July 26th, runs concurrent with the "Tour de France" and if you are a fan, its a wonderful time to sit, watch the bicyclists, the French scenery and spin a bit. Sample some French wines also! Could be fun...

18th Annual Spinning at the Winery June 6, 2015 - 10 am to 4 pm Retzlaff Winery 1356 S. Livermore Ave, Livermore $5 entry per person Check the last blog for more pertinent information about this event.  Treadles members:  there are still work spots needed to be filled for that day! A message from Joan: Volunteers Needed for spinning at the Winery Saturday, June 6 10 am to 4 pm Many of you have signed up to volunteer but we need more to fill in some slots.  we have a big guild and should be able to fill more slots.  If you have never been before, it is a fun day to greet old friends, spin, taste some wine, etc.  It is a big fund raiser for our guild and enables us to have dye days with no charge to members, buy equipment, DVD's, etc for members' use. Most of the jobs are one hour slots.  Spouses can also help as well. Our needs:     Entrance Fee/Greeters (collect the $5 entrance fee that goes to Retzlaff Winery)    ...

DYE DAY SATURDAY, MAY 9TH,      FROM 10 AM TO 4 PM LINNIE'S HOME--1280 ELMWOOD DR. WALNUT CREEK 94597 PHONE--925 300-8431 linnie.altman@gmail.com From Linnie: HI EVERYONE ! Dye Day is just around the corner. We are a bigger group this year so we will be playing it by ear, as we don't know how many people will show up. I live in a small older neighbor hood and parking is some what limited so you may need to walk a half a block or so. Please do not park in front of mail boxes as the mail man needs access.  This year we are going to dye with Dharma acid dyes and we will be painting or squirting the dye onto the fiber. Acid dyes are used on animal fibers so wool, silk, and any animal blends work well. Be sure to soak your fiber over night in a solution of 1 part white vinegar and 3 parts water--up to a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water. Just before you come Saturday morning, please carefully wring the fiber and bring in plastic bag. The other dye we will be using will ...

Our next meeting is still on April 15 [see previous post below] but Dye Day info needed to get out soon to give everyone time to prepare. Fiber dyed in shades of blue and purple When: May 9th, Saturday Where: At Linnie Altman's home: 1280 Elmwood Dr., Walnut Creek, CA, 94597  cell- 925-300-8431 Time: Starting at 10 am and ending at 4pm Preparation: We will have dyes to be dyeing wool and tussah silk [with acid dyes] using the painting method Hopefully we will be doing 2 indigo dye vats for cotton, silk or rayon All participants need to bring their own fiber : prepared for dyeing--washed clean fiber and  pre-soaked in a vinegar and water bath over night (necessary when you are painting with acid dyes). The measurements of the soak are 1 to 3 or 1 cup of white distilled vinegar mixed with 3 cups of water. Make enough to cover the fiber and soak over night. Right before you come to dye day gently wring the water out and put in a plastic bag. If you are going to use the indigo...

NOTE:  Change of date, time and meeting place. April 15   Treadles mini class with Sarah Anderson  at New Life Fellowship Church, 3535 Chestnut Ave, Concord 6:30 - 9:30 This program will actually be a 3 hour mini workshop on Drafting , so you will need to bring: Spinning wheel (or spindle if that's what you use) in working order,  3 bobbins, a lazy kate (if you have one),  handcards (if you have them) and  a lap cloth.  as per a note from Sarah: "They will need fiber to spin and I haven't done this class with a large group where I don't control what fiber we're using. Most of the techniques can be learned with a basic medium top like Ashland's Corriedale cross top or Falkland top. The rolags are best made with a short staple fiber (2-3 inch) which isn't always easy to find. We could use washed locks."  We will have some extra handcards to loan out during the meeting. We won't do a huge amount of handcarding but it is helpful to have real rolags t...

Attention all T2T Spinners : An Incredible Opportunity With an Incredible Teacher - Sarah Anderson As you know, we have been trying this year to teach all our new and returning spinners the basics so as to bring all of you up to a level where you feel comfortable in taking classes and understanding guild speakers.  To quote Judith MacKenzie , "Sarah brings to the new world of yarn design, two important things: a bright curiosity and an innate love of beauty and order. Sarah is the consummate spinner."  With an enthusiastic personality and the publication of two books, she is one of the most sought after teachers of the moment. Please take advantage of this lucky opportunity! One of the best spinning teachers at an unheard of price and a group of friendly spinners--what more could one ask!!  This workshop would be much more expensive if offered at a conference, or any other venue. Our Guild is charging rock-bottom prices to just cover costs. Don't let this one pass you by...

Note: The March meeting is on a different night than our usual meeting time "KNIT, NOSH & SPIN" This will be an informal night of snacking, working with our fibers and discussing business for the Guild. If you come, it will not be boring! Don't eat dinner that night, bring a simple dish to share, savory or sweet, and we will work out some items we've had to table at the last few meetings to make time for speakers. Bring your wheels or your knitting for two hours of knitting, spinning & noshing. This will also be the evening that the lottery for the Sarah Anderson workshops is drawn. If you have not read about the workshops and mini classes, scroll down to the previous blog and get informed. February Meeting Minutes [Linda B., secretary]  The 7:00 p.m. meeting was preceded by a half hour demonstration by Sultana C. for those new spinners wanting to know the difference between worsted, semi-worsted and woolen spinning techniques.  President Laura H. began the me...