Monday, March 29, 2010

Mystery Request

Donna is in the midst of developing a program for the guild, but she needs some help with materials. Without giving anything away, she needs some Burda sewing patterns - the kind with the pattern pieces printed on blue paper. The envelopes and instruction page are not needed and the condition of the actual pattern is of no concern.

Hmmm.....this sounds very interesting.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

New Wool?


Not really, but definitely a new direction for an old fiber. Check out March 22, 2010 Time Magazine article "Icebreaker a New Natural" and its discussion of a company in New Zealand doing some fascinating stuff with merino fleece.


Donna Ball

Program Chair

Saturday, March 13, 2010

We Have A Library!

We have just received donations for our library! Based on the extremely limited number of items the terms of lending will be limited to members only for one month with NO renewals and an overdue fine of $5.00 per item per month. Members with overdue fines will not be allowed to borrow additional items.

Please see the guild librarian, Debbi Lesse, if you would like to borrow or donate items.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

March 14 Program Notes

Common Threads Spinning and Dyeing Guild

March 14, 2010, 1:00 - 4:00 pm Daylight Saving Time begins, don't forget to set your clocks ahead by one hour!

Continuing our theme of wool prep,l today we'll be picking and carding, both by hand and machine.

Donna will demonstrate what the picker is and how it works, as well as hand picking. Erica will giver her fabulous demonstration on hand carding both cotton and wool, making punis, cigar rolls and traditional rolags. Phyllis Vasbinder will give an introduction to the drum carder.

Each of these topic could be an entire program - we're just skimming the surface for those who have never worked with fleece, need a refresher on hand carding or are curious about the drum carder or picker. These techniques can also be used with purchased ready-to-spin fiber for many, many different color blending techniques.

Bring your carders, questions, problems, hints and tips!!!

Donna Ball
Program Chair

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Any Ideas?


This is a wheel I purchased about five years ago from a woman in her 70's. She told me it was used by her mother for as many years as she could remember. She believed the wheel was brought over from Germany and was typical of what the women in her city of Buffalo neighborhood used on their front porches during the after dinner hours of many summer evenings.

I just love the idea of the gals sitting on the front porch exchanging bits of gossip while keeping an eye on the children running from one front yard to another.
Could anyone tell me anything about this wheel? The wheel is a bit warped and chipped; I am not sure a drive band would even stay put.
Comments?

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Thursday, March 4, 2010

Another Load of Wash

Donna found two more links to lighten your wash day!

From HJS Studios and another about grading fleece.

And I have been getting a sneak peek to the behind the scenes plans for our March program. I know you are going to be so excited! Please do not forget that we are meeting the SECOND Sunday of March - just 10 days away.