Weaving & Color

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Liz Gibson discusses the ways that color is affected by weaving itself in this Spring/Summer 2017 edition of Knitty

Get Warped: A Theory About Color for Weavers

Avoiding the Gap

Weaving Resources

Yarnworker provides an extensive list of resources (books, DVDs, websites, online groups, classes, and loom manufacturers) on this page. 

Nalbinding

This craft will be demonstrated by Hailey R. at the March Guild meeting.

Crochet Basketweave

There's a Knot in My Yarn!

Very Pink Knits demonstrates how to work with an unexpected knot in a skein/ball of yarn.

Show and Tell - January

Cinde P. models her hand-knit sweater coat

Cinde P. brought cowls and neck warmers to show the group

Sali A. shows the members the shawl she
knit from yarn gifted by her daughter. Sali
also made her tunic top.

Sali A. crocheted a neck warmer and used button covers for the buttons.

Details of Sali A.'s shawls

Sue O. crocheted a scarf from yarn gifted from her grandson

Rachel B. knit a Wonder Woman shawlette

shawlette knitting detail
lots of short rows

Jeni V. is knitting two socks at a time with Happy Feet yarn gifted by a friend

Mary H. made a tote from cork fabric. She will be
teaching a class at her sewing group in February 

Sandy W. spun the yarn and knit a Solar Eclipse shawl for her mother

close up of Eclipse shawl 

Sandy W. has been spinning yarn for a sweater

Twelve Days of Christmas spinning by Sandy W. 

Another beautiful shawl knit by Sandy W. 

Colleen J. showed the members her handspun
wool and suri silk yarn

Colleen's yarn

Colleen J. is nearly finished with a knit poncho with
tail spun embellishments

New member, Hailey R. brought a crocheted
cowl that resembles knitting 

Hailey R. is experimenting with German sock patterns,
written in German

Hailey R. brought a sample of two-color crocheting. 

New Officers

How To Spray Baste a Quilt

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Intimidated by the process of preparing a quilt for machine quilting on your home sewing machine? 

To gain confidence in the procedure, check out the comprehensive photo tutorial on How to Spray Baste a Quilt on Cluck Cluck Sew. 

Meeting Reminder

If you are unable to attend the meeting but would like your name on the ballot, please contact Nancy (email in the right-hand column) and tell her which office, so she can add your name to the ballot.

Positions available:
   •  President
   •  Vice-President
   •  Secretary
   •  Treasurer

Spinning Yak Using Supported Longdraw

According to Stephanie Flynn-Sokolov,  "To spin yak, you will need a wheel with a very high drive wheel to whorl ratio. One way to achieve this is with a very big drive wheel. Down fibers like camel, yak and bison yearn to be spun longdraw. The supported longdraw seems to work best for me. Using this drafting technique may require some practice if your default drafting is a short draw, forward or back. After attaching the fiber to your leader you will be gently controlling the twist with your forward hand. Your fiber supply hand cups the fiber while allowing a small amount of fiber between your thumb and forefinger. Since the fiber is fine, we will be spinning a fine yarn, and since the fiber is so short the drafting triangle is microscopic in comparison to a medium weight wool yarn. In the drafting triangle your fiber supply turns into yarn, so the more fiber you feed in, the heavier your yarn. Pull your fiber supply hand away from your forward hand while using your forward hand like a stop gate to open, shut, twist and untwist the twist between your hands allowing only enough twist through to twist those tiny fiber in the triangle between your forefinger and thumb on your fiber supply hand. Then treadle, open the front hand finger and thumb and let the yarn draw on."

More information on spinning with Yak can be found on the Schacht Spindle Company blog.

Imperfection - an opinion

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Celebrating the Imperfect

by Louise Tilbrook

It's something that I've noticed for a while and it's one of those things that once you've noticed it you see it everywhere. Women belittling their achievements be they large or small. Working in the science sector I'm well used to seeing women overlooked and also overlooking their own achievements but I see it in everyday life too and specifically in knitting.

I've noticed a recent "thing" where women are seemingly happy to show off their latest knitting project but feel compelled to point out its errors and "flaws". Why on earth do we do this to ourselves. Even worse, why do we post something and actively draw attention to it in a sort of "spot the ball" competition.

There's a well known knitting quote which I think is attributed to Elizabeth Zimmerman but has also been used by Stephanie Pearl Mc-Phee to the effect that if the mistake won't be noticed by a man on a galloping horse then it's absolutely fine to leave it. There is a 99% chance that it won't be noticed by anyone be they knitter or non-knitter (known as muggles to you and me).

I have to admit that I'm definitely of the school where frogging or ripping something back to correct a mistake is absolutely a last resort. Even things such as a mis-crossed cable I can generally live with unless it is really 'front and centre'. But whilst I'm happy to live with it I certainly wouldn't go around pointing it out to friends and acquaintances.

Flaws and imperfections are what makes us human surely? Handmade objects are made with love and care and yes, the odd imperfection (or design element, as I prefer to think of them) is part and parcel of what makes them special. Anyone can have an Aran sweater, but only you will have one with a slightly wibbly cable on the left sleeve.

Originally posted on Louise Tilbrook Designs - October 30, 2017

Please Serve

The annual Guild election of officers will be held on January 20, 2018. Please consider putting your name on the ballot for one of the positions: president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer.

Filling an officer role does not mean that you are required to do the job alone. Being an officer simply means that you are responsible for ensuring that the job gets done. As an officer, you are allowed and encouraged to ask other members of the Guild to help you fulfill your duties.

The term of office is one year for each of the positions. Contact Nancy (email in the column to the right) and express your interest in a specific office. She'll add your name to the ballot. 

Weaving in Ends

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Changing yarn colors in a project results in ends that must be secured either by sewing (weaving) the ends into the finished work or securing the yarn ends in as you go. 

Cherry Heart at Crochet Corner provides a photo tutorial on the process of securing the ends as you work on a project. 

Weaving in Ends as You Go

Sewing on Knit Fabric

Melly Sews explains the different types of stitches used when sewing with knit fabrics. She discusses stretch percentage and recovery of the fabric and how it determines the type of stitches to use.

A print version of the video: Types of Stretch Stitches

Sewing with Neoprene

In the last few years, neoprene has become a very fashionable fabric. It was once only used for wetsuits and beer cozies, but now you'll find fashion designers using it too. The appeal of neoprene is its ability to hold its shape and to create creative looks. It's unique, for sure, but it's important that you use it with the right type of garments and that you know what you're getting into before you try to sew with it. While it's definitely not the most challenging type of fabric to work with, it can offer it's own set of issues that you should be aware of. Watch this tutorial for the lowdown on cutting, sewing and caring for neoprene so that you can tackle it like a pro!

source: Professor Pincushion

Selecting Colorwork Palette

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Selecting colors for stranded knitting does not have to be frustrating. Check out the nine hints for color selection that Interweave shared in this article.

Yarn Balls

Adding some splashes of color to your winter is as easy as creating some airy "yarn balls" to place in a basket or simply arrange on the table.

Sally Reese explains the easy process on P&G everyday.

Warning Signs of a UFO

Can you tell when your project is at risk of becoming a UFO (UnFinished Object)? The American Quilter's Society features some signs to alert you and steps you can take to prevent an alien invasion.

While the tips were written for quilters, they can apply to any type of craft.

Upcycle Sweater Challenge - Beginning

wrapped packages ready for the sweater swap
December 2017

The Upcycle Sweater Challenge was kicked off at the December meeting held at the Lander Public Library. Members who wished to take part in the challenge brought a wrapped wool sweater. Members selected a package and the challenge officially began. Members have until June 1, 2018 to make something with the sweater or the reclaimed yarn.

Brenda H.

Cheryl O.

Cinde P.

Corrine G. 

Jeni V. 

Katheryn E.

Laura B. 

Nancy S.

Rachel B.

Sam G. 

Sandy W. 

Sue O. 

Show & Tell - December

Jeni V. knit a cowl with sparkly, bulky yarn

Jeni V. knit a shawl, a lined mitten (with Dawna H.),
a shoulder cape and a hat

Dawna H. knit a shawl for the June shawl exhibit at the Lander Art Center,
a two-color hat, and a pair of fingerless mitts. She also knit a pair of lined
mittens (see photo in Jeni's project collage above)

Laura B. made a jacket from a wool batt

back of Laura B.'s wool jacket

Laura B. has been knitting mittens with the charity knitting group

Laura B. wove a sampler with pockets
to hold her weaving tools

Laura B.'s weaving

Rachel B. knit a feather and fan scarf

Sam G. made some mittens from a felted sweater

Sandy W. is knitting a shawl

Sue O. crocheted a cowl with gradient yarn

Corrine G. knit a hat for a friend who loves turtles

Corrine G. knit a hat for a friend

Corrine G. designed a hat that uses short rows and asked members
if they would like to test knit her pattern