sutton094

PROGRAM:   THE EVOLUTION OF WOOL , Understanding Fleece from Mountain Goat to Merino with Judith MacKenzie [sadly not in person, but in a great DVD Video] As a kick-off to our Sheep Breed Study this year, Judith on video takes us on a journey not only through the history of the sheep, but also from cut end to tip end of the all important wool staple. We will learn: How individual wool fibers grow Why fleece has changed over the millennia What differences have developed between wild ancient sheep,  primitive breeds, and improved breeds What makes some wool soft, some silky and some itchy Also this month: Vilija Deutschman talking about Dorset Horn Sheep and Dorset Down Sheep The Sheep Breed Study Most of us are already somewhat familiar with the "luxury" wool fibers such as Merino, Rambouillet, BFL, Romney, Columbia, Corriedale, and the various crosses. Many times when spinners buy already prepared fiber for spinning, it simply says "wool" or "Merino X [cross]...

TAKE NOTE: This month's meeting is on a Thursday night as opposed to our normal Wednesday night.  At the beginning of this year for Treadles, we have lots to talk about at this our annual planning meeting. Without a formal "Program Planner", we already have a few plans in place, but it would be great if one, two, or several others stepped up to arrange the plans for a meeting. The attendees at the August meeting often come up with a full schedule for the year. What we will need is for someone to take the lead in the organizational part. Lots of ideas are put forth and it makes it much easier to get things going. We want to know what you want. SHEEP BREED STUDY The ultra rare Apple Pie Loving Breed One ongoing project for the year will be a SHEEP BREED STUDY.  Fourteen different sheep breeds have been picked, from the everyday breed you thought would not make great yarn, to the rare, seldom seen breeds. What you will get as a participant:  one ounce of clean, combed fleece...

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...