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!

Sewing Clinic

Jeni & Mary
(photo courtesy of Lander Art Center)

Come for an evening of sewing projects. Learn how to hem your jeans, sew on a button, or mend your favorite clothes.

Are you stuck on a project? Bring it in.

Is your sewing machine giving you fits? Mary and Jeni check it out.

Having trouble reading a pattern? The Sewing Surgeons are here to help. Mary and Jeni will focus on a specific skill each night.

Some machines will be available or bring your own.

Learn some sewing basics in a fun and friendly atmosphere.

Registration and fees apply - Information can be found here

Interweave Yarn Fest

It's not too early to register for the Interweave Yarn Fest in Loveland, CO.

List of classes/workshops can be found here

Information on the instructors can be found here

A preliminary list of vendors can be seen here

Registration forms can be found here

Kylie S. - Young Spinner

Kyle S.
September 26, 2015

 Nine-year old, Kylie S. is the youngest member of the Guild and often shows the items she has knit during the Show and Tell segment of the meetings.

Maggie Casey gives Kylie S. some suggestions.

Kylie and her mom (Sabrina) are new spinners, and both attended the full day of spinning instruction with Maggie Casey on Saturday.

Navajo Plying - Professional Development

Maggie Casey demonstrates Navajo plying
Riverton, WY
September 26, 2015

It suddenly got quiet in the room when Maggie Casey began to demonstrate the process of Navajo plying, which creates a three-ply yarn.

Navajo plying 

Dawn P. wanted a closer look at the process of Navajo plying.

American & English Longdraw - Professional Development

Vicky B., Brianna F., Salli A., Colleen J., Dawn P, and Cinde P. prepare cotton bolls for
spinning to learn how to spin with short fibers. 

Saturday afternoon, nine spinners learned the difference between American and English Longdraw and how the techniques can be used with different fibers.

By holding on to the seed in the cotton, spinners were able to spin the
short cotton fibers on to their yarn. 

 Maggie Casey gave each participant a cotton boll and showed them how to fluff the cotton fiber, hold on to the see within it, and spin the short cotton fibers. By working with cotton, students could see how they might use the technique when spinning with other short fibers like cashmere.

Sandy W. and Sabrina S. prepare some yarn
for a lesson. 

Spinning participants display their yarn
Dawn P., Salli A., Colleen J., Sandy W., Maggie Casey, and Cinde P.
Kris P., Kylie S., Brianna F., Sabrina S., and Vicky B.
Not pictured: Laura B.
Riverton, WY
September 26, 2015

Boucle Spinning - Professional Development

Saturday morning's class was eager to learn a new technique.
September 26, 2015

Saturday morning, nine spinners brought their wheels for the second day of classes with Maggie Casey. The morning class spun two fibers together (merino and adult mohair) to create a boucle yarn.

Sandy W., Sabrina S., Kylie S., and Vicky B. first spin with merino
Riverton, WY
September 26, 2015

Salli A., Laura B., Colleen J., and Dawn P. prepare their first assignment
to spin a length of merino roving. 

First the students spun a section of merino and then added the mohair.

Colleen J.  

Laura B. begins the process of "abusing" the yarn
 to create the boucles.

Once the spinners had a length of merino and mohair spun, then they headed to the kitchen. The sample hanks were submerged into very hot water with dish soap and used sink plungers to agitate the wool. After a time, the yarn was then plunged into ice water to force the fibers to shrink; thus, causing the mohair to create the boucle loops. The process was repeated at least twice.

Vicky B. whacks her yarn on the kitchen counter.

The final step in the process was whacking the yarn against the kitchen counter or on the railing outside the building. The "abused" yarn became curly boucle.

Drop Spindle Class - Professional Development

Maggie Casey explains how to determine fiber length  to Sandy W.,
Dana H., Vicky B., Jeni V., and Sabrina S.
September 25, 2015
Riverton, WY

Every two years the Guild offers opportunities for members to receive instruction from professionals. The topics (spinning, weaving, knitting/crochet) are covered on a rotation schedule, and 2015 was the year for spinning.

Two years ago, the Workshop committee contacted Maggie Casey,  a well-known spinner and author from Boulder, CO, and booked her for two days of professional development.

Maggie Casey demonstrates how to determine fiber length

On Friday, Maggie povided a full day of instruction on Drop Spindle spinning to five eager students. All but one of the students had a wide range of experience with the drop spindle, but Maggie provided new techniques for the participants. The group learned the proper way to handle the drop spindle, determine fiber length, spin the fiber into yarn, wind bobbins, and ply the yarn.

Vicky B. tries a new method of holding
the fiber

Sabrina S. concentrates on getting the right twist.

Maggie Casey assists Jeni V. with her technique.

Dana H. enjoyed spinning and visiting. 

Maggie Casey uses the Spolmaskin to transfer the yarn from
the drop spindle to a bobbin.

After spinning enough yarn for two bobbins,
 Sandy W. prepares to ply the two together
using a lazy kate. 

Sandy W. plies the yarn from two bobbins.

Vicky B. and Jeni V. ply yarn
onto Vicky's spindle. 

Plied yarn is wound on a niddy noddy 

Sample of yarn that was spun and plied
by the students.

Drop Spindle students proudly show their success.
Jeni V., Sabrina S., Sandy W., and Magie Casey
Vicky B. and Dana H.
September 25, 2015
Riverton, WY

Class Opportunities

Several places in the County are offering opportunities to take classes; some taught by Guild members 

Maggie Cassey Spinning Weekend - spaces still available. Information can be found here

Lander Art Center - sewing and knitting classes - schedule can be found here

Riverton Recreation - sewing and knitting classes - schedule can be found here - craft classes start on page 9 of the brochure

Lander Recreation - assorted classes - schedule can be found here

Fall Fiber Retreat at Togwotee Mountain Lodge - November 6 - 7 - 8, 2015 

     $99.00 a night for a room with double occupancy, $15 for each additional person per night

     Food money is shared. Contact Cinde for more information: cindejpfisterer@hotmail.com

If you know of any additional classes, please use the email address at top right.