Mission Accomplished - Fiber Fest

All ages enjoyed themselves the Fiber Fest

The mission of the Fremont Fiber Arts Guild is is to give fiber artists of all skill levels the opportunity to get to know other artists, learn new techniques, and to share ideas, resources, and talents with each other and the community.

As the photo above and the posts from the last two weeks illustrate, the Guild clearly met its mission at the 2016 Fiber Fest. Over 140 individuals walked through the doors, and each was touched by the events and displays surrounding them.

Thank you to all the Guild members who planned and organized the event, who worked behind the scenes, who presented demonstrations, who taught classes, and who donated items for the silent auction, and who donated food for the lunch. Well done, ladies!

Vendors - Fiber Fest

This week will feature the activities of the Fremont Fiber Arts Guild Fiber Fest, held on Saturday, September 10, 2016.

Collen J. (guild member) was a vendor at the Fiber Fest and had a variety
of items for sale: yarn roving, needles, and spinning wheels

Vicky B. brought the traveling microphone to Grand Loop Yarn
 to talk about their booth and shop. Their booth had yarn for dyeing,
 roving, and a selection of knitting yarn.

In Sheep's Clothing had needle-felted pictures for sale as well as roving,
soap covered with felted wool, and other finished projects

Mountain Meadow Mill had yarn for dyeing, dyed yarn, and roving

Pleasant Valley Livestock brought a selection of fleeces

Sheep Camp Quilts provided fabric (wool and cotton) for those who sew

The Shepherd's Mill's booth tempted shoppers with finished weaving (think
camel, cashmere, wool), spinning wheels, yarn, and shawl pins. 

Silent Auction - Fiber Fest

This week will feature the activities of the Fremont Fiber Arts Guild Fiber Fest, held on Saturday, September 10, 2016.

checking out the silent auction items and bids

Members and their friends donated items for the Silent Auction, which was displayed in the middle of the building. Items ranged from original, framed photographs, to fabric, to yarn, to weaving tools, and to finished shawls and baby sweater sets.

A bidding frenzy broke out as the time to close the auction neared. The Guild netted slightly over $400 from the auction. The money will be used to fund future Professional Development.

Members in Action - Fiber Fest

This week will feature the activities of the Fremont Fiber Arts Guild Fiber Fest, held on Saturday, September 10, 2016.

Jeni V. prepares a sign to direction traffic to the Fiber Fest

Maia R. organizes up her materials for a demonstration

Mary H. takes time to do some shopping at Sheep Camp Quilts' booth

Laura B. answers a question about looms

Buttons A. places an order with a vendor

Mary H., Brenda H., Alice B., and Vicky B. visit in the "Dr. is IN" booth

Liz P. explains the vendor's thank you
card attached to a door prize 

Rachel B. and Cheryl O. chat while knitting and crocheting 

Fiber Animals - Fiber Fest Display

the sheep on display loved the attention they received at the Fiber Fest

Cinde P. made arrangements for the fiber animal display at the Fiber Fest. Two sheep, two goats, and three angora rabbits drew a lot of attention from both children and adults.

Winter had a large area, a carrot, and some rabbit kibble

Beginning Knitting - Fiber Fest Class

This week will feature the activities of the Fremont Fiber Arts Guild Fiber Fest, held on Saturday, September 10, 2016.

Dana H. assists a young man with his stitches

Dana H. and Christy P. offerred a class in beginning knitting. They first had one young student, but one of the vendors came in a bit later for a lesson, too.

Dana supervises two beginning knitters. 

Yarn and needles for the class were provided by Christy P. and some of her suppliers. Thank you, Christy!

Beginning Crochet - Fiber Fest Class

This week will feature the activities of the Fremont Fiber Arts Guild Fiber Fest, held on Saturday, September 10, 2016.

Mary H. teaches a gentleman how to crochet

Mary H. and Cheryl O. taught a class in beginning crochet at the Fiber Fest. They had one student, a gentleman who works but does not live in the community. He wanted something to do in the evenings in his motel room. 

He caught on to the craft quickly and purchased a kit (yarn and hook) to continue practicing his new skill. 

Tunisian Crochet - Fiber Fest Demo

This week will feature the activities of the Fremont Fiber Arts Guild Fiber Fest, held on Saturday, September 10, 2016.

Maia R. shows the technique of Tunisian crochet
 to those gathered for her demonstration

An interested group gathered at Maia's demonstration table to learn more about Tunisian Crochet. Maia showed examples of projects and explained the technique. Some stayed after the demonstration to try the craft.

Drop Spindle - Fiber Fest Demo

Sandy W. explains how to begin using the drop spindle

When Sandy began her demonstration of drop spindle, only four individuals were seated at the table, but by the time she finished, she had a crowd gathered around and required Briana F. to help her in assisting those who tried the technique.

closely watching the technique so it can be tried. 

drop spindle was intriguing for those attending the Fiber Fest

Yarn Substitution and Color Selection - Fiber Fest Demo

This week will feature the activities of the Fremont Fiber Arts Guild Fiber Fest, held on Saturday, September 10, 2016.

Christy P. shares her knowledge of yarn substitution and color selection

Christy P. is a yarn and fabric representative and knows her way around the trends of the industry. At the Fiber Fest, she discussed yarn substitution and how to select colors for projects.

Rigid Heddle Loom - Fiber Fest Demo

This week will feature the activities of the Fremont Fiber Arts Guild Fiber Fest, held on Saturday, September 10, 2016.

Laura B. tells the participants the finer points of the rigid heddle loom

Laura B. is no stranger to a loom or weaving. You will note from last week's posts that she also demonstrated the pin loom, and primitive weaving during the Fiber Fest. All of her demonstrations were anticipated, and the participants in the rigid heddle demonstration gained knowledge as she showed them the parts of the loom and the finished projects that she had on display.

Primitive Weaving - Fiber Fest Demo

This week will feature the activities of the Fremont Fiber Arts Guild Fiber Fest, held on Saturday, September 10, 2016.

working on a primitive weaving project

One of the members was ill and unable to present her demonstration, so Laura B. filled in with a demonstration on primitive weaving. Katheryn E. had prepared the materials, but she was also unable to attend the festival.

The announcement was made that a primitive weaving class was starting, and three children came to make a weaving on a paper plate.

After some instruction from Laura, the three jumped right in and began their weavings.

Steeking - Fiber Fest Demo

This week will feature the activities of the Fremont Fiber Arts Guild Fiber Fest, held on Saturday, September 10, 2016.

Brenda H. explains the steeking process

Prior to the Fiber Fest, Brenda knit several samples so those attending her demonstration would be able to have some hands-on experience.

Participants learned two ways to prepare for the steek - crochet and back-stitching. They discovered steeking was not as scary or difficult as they first thought.

Pin Loom - Fiber Fest Demo

This week will feature the activities of the Fremont Fiber Arts Guild Fiber Fest, held on Saturday, September 10, 2016.

Laura B. shows how to begin working with a pin loom

Laura B. brought materials to demonstrate using a pin loom. She showed participants how to load and begin weaving squares on the small loom. Laura had a variety of samples and explained how to turn them into finished projects.

Needle-felting - Fiber Fest Demo

This week will feature the activities of the Fremont Fiber Arts Guild Fiber Fest, held on Saturday, September 10, 2016.

Vicky B. explains the process of needle-felting

Vicky B. brought materials for a hands-on demonstration. The participants worked with a cookie cutter for a controlled needle-felted object.

participants worked on their needle-felted project

Dyeing Natural Fiber - Fiber Fest Demo

This week will feature the activities of the Fremont Fiber Arts Guild Fiber Fest, held on Saturday, September 10, 2016.

Cinde P. spins yarn to dye on Saturday

Cinde's work began on Friday as we waited for vendors to arrive and set-up their booths. Cinde concentrated on spinning the roving into yarn for the Saturday demonstration of dyeing natural fiber.

Cinde P. stirs the yarn in the dye bath

Saturday, Cinde could be found outside working with the dye bath. She spun and dyed enough yarn for a sweater. Those who stopped by could ask her questions about the process.

dyed yarn drying in the sun

In the afternoon, Cinde's yarn was finished and drying in the sun for all to see.

Fiber Fest This Weekend

Plan to attend

Fremont Fiber Arts Guild Fiber Fest 

Saturday, September 10, 2016

 in Riverton, WY 

(map given below)

click on the following links for specific information.

Vendors' list

Demonstration and Class schedule

Lots of Door Prizes - courtesy of the vendors

Directions from the intersection of East Main and Federal Blvd., Riverton, WY

click on image to enlarge

Fiber Fest Activities

Laura B. demonstrates using a drop spindle
Fiber Fest 2011

Those attending the Fiber Fest will have an opportunity throughout the day to see demonstrations and take classes on a variety of topics. In the past, both men and women participated in the Fiber Fest activities.

The activities planned for the Saturday, September 10, 2016 Fiber Fest at the Fremont Center (old armory) on the Fremont County Fairgrounds in Riverton, WY include:

Demonstrations  - held in the main hall

     10:00    Pin Loom Weaving - Laura B.

     10:30     Drop Spindle - Sandy W.

     11:00     Steeking - Brenda H.

     11:30     Rigid Heddle Weaving - Laura B.

       1:00     Blending Board & Drum Carder - Sali A.

       1:30     Tunisian Crochet - Maia R.

       2:00     Needle-Felting - Vicky B.

       2:30     Cross-Stitch - Linda W.

       3:00     Yarn Substitutions - Christy P.

Colleen J. demonstrates wheel spinning at Fiber Fest 2009

All Day Demonstrations 

        Wheel Spinning - Colleen J.  - at her vending booth

         Dyeing - Cinde P.  -  outside

         Fiber Animals - Cinde P.  -  outside

Mary H. explains  to  Jeni V. and Jean A. how to begin crocheting
Spring Retreat 2014

Classes - held in the classroom

         9:30 - 11:30     Beginning Knitting  - Christy P. & Dana H.

         1:00 -  3:00     Beginning Crochet -  Mary H. & Cheryl O

The Fiber Fest has something for everyone. 

Come and spend the day with us. 

Fiber Fest Vendors

vendors at the 2014 Fiber Fest

Fiber Fest will be held on Saturday, September 10, 2016 at the Fremont Center (old Armory building) at the Fremont County Fairgrounds in Riverton, WY.

The day (9AM - 4PM) will be filled with demonstrations on a variety of topics, classes in Beginning Knitting and Beginning Crochet, assistance with difficult or stalled projects, a silent auction, and vendors.

The following vendors will be at the Fiber Fest -- check out their websites to see what products may bring for their booths. Since there are no local yarn shops in Fremont County, this will be an opportunity to see some luscious yarns and wool in person and an opportunity to enhance your stash. 

Sheep Camp Quilt Supply - near Riverton, WY

Mountain Meadows Mill - near Buffalo, WY

Shepherd's Mill - Phillipsburg, KS

U Design It Yarn - Phillipsburg, KS

The Grand Loop - Cody, WY

In Sheep's Clothing - Sweetwater Station, WY

Jennings Family Fibers - near Riverton, WY

Be sure to mark September 10, 2016 on your calendar. Come to the Fiber Fest to learn, to shop, and to get help on your projects. Bring some friends and spend the day.

Fiber Fest 2016 - Save the Date

Vendors provide a variety of yarn and fiber selections
Fiber Fest - October 2014

Fiber Fest 

sponsored by Fremont County Fiber Arts Guild

Saturday, September 10, 2016

9 AM – 4 PM

Heritage Hall @ Fremont Co. Fairgrounds

Riverton, WY

                                           • Vendors (yarn, wool, fabric & others)

                                           • Demonstrations – ALL day

                                           • Morning and Afternoon Classes

                                           • Fun Activities for ALL ages

The "Doctor" will be IN to help with Fiber Crafts and to answer questions

Guild members provide demonstrations for a variety of fiber crafts
Laura B. demonstrates Drop Spindles at the Fiber Fest 2014

Tentatively, the demonstrations for the 2016 Fiber Fest will be:
    •  Weaving
    •  Color selection
    •  Using a blending board
    •  Spinning
    •  Steeking
    •  Reading Knitting Charts
    •  Dyeing wool

Guild members will offer assistance and answer questions at the "Doctor" is IN area. Bring your problem projects to see if they can help.

Guild members Sheri H. & Bea R. offer
assistance in knitting at the 2014 Fiber Fest

All day, Guild members will be working on their fiber crafts in the main display area - watch them work and ask questions. Some members may let you try the techniques of. . .

Knitting
Jamie D. knit a rug with yarn made from old T-shirts.
She showed Fiber Fest attendees that knitting needles
 can be any size - even HUGE
2012

Spinning
Colleen J. drew a large crowd while spinning on display area
during Fiber Fest 2012

Rug Twining
Nancy S. coached an attendee of Fiber Fest 2014 as he worked on twining.

Needle-Felting
Nancy J. assisted a woman as she tried needle-felting at the 2012 Fiber Fest 

Crochet and Knitting
Mary H. and Jeni V. worked on projects at the 2012 Fiber Fest

Fiber Fest 2016 will have

 even more vendors, 

 demonstrations, 

displays,
and activities.

Mark this event on your calendar!