Holiday Party December 8

Spinning Cotton with Erica!

It's that time of the month again!

Photo by Erica of her 20 lb. bale of cotton

Sunday's (Nov 10) guild meeting will include a presentation and workshop on spinning cotton, led by member Erica F. Erica loves to spin cotton, check out some of the beautiful things she's made from her hand spun cotton here: Erica's blog and here

Don't forget to modify your bobbin!!

There will be a materials fee of $3-$5 for anyone who would like to participate in the hands-on workshop.  We'll be trying out at least 3 different varieties of cotton in roving form, as well as learning how to make cotton punis on handcards.  We may also have cotton bolls to spin from thanks to Amanda, and a demo of punis on the drum carder thanks to Donna.  Thanks to Dennis for supplying some of the cotton!  


Please bring your wheel set to spin at your fastest ratios and a fat core bobbin (if you have one) or a half full bobbin, or an empty bobbin with something wrapped around it, like a chunk of pipe insulation as pictured on page 14 of this document:  http://spinolution.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/MachIIUserGuide20100304.pdf

Spinning with Drop Spindles

Sunday October 13, 2013

This month's program will focus on spinning with a drop spindle. Linda C. will cover the basics, plying, and she will also show you how to get some variety in your yarns. Anne P. will talk about some of the different types of spindles. And for those of you already quite adept at drop spindling, please bring in some of your spindles and tell us a bit about them, what they're good for, and to let others try them. If anyone has problems with a spindle they have, bring it in and see if someone can help you with it. 

Once the presentations are done, if those of you that are good at this would let others try your spindles and help out any others that may need it. Wool will be provided, both Linda and Sue P. will have spindles available for sale. If you have a specific fiber you would like to try and/or find the best spindle for, bring it in to try on other's spindles.

I've been thinking about next year's spinning challenge and thought maybe we should try a challenge with a drop spindle, for a change. So here is your opportunity to find out how to do it!

Western NY Fiber Arts Festival 2013

The Western NY Fiber Arts Festival is almost here. For time/place information go to www.wnyfiberartsfestival.com .  Michaele and Victoria need the names of volunteers and spinners to be put on a list for passes to get into the festival. There are passes for 4 spinners who will demonstrate for at least four hours, and passes for those who will volunteer for 4 hours for positions such as greeting customers at the front table to hand out brochures, and working at the Used Equipment Sale table. Please e-mail them with your name right away at michaelewe@roadrunner.com or locusthill@yahoo.com and also please honor your commitment to volunteer so the Festival Committee is not left with absent volunteers at the last minute. 

There are also a few spots still available for Mary Fisher’s morning class; Painting with Wool, and her afternoon class; Sculptural Wool Felting. More information is on the WNY Fiber Arts Festival web site.

Please contact Michaele or Victoria with any questions.

Mary Fisher's creative creations. Don't miss this chance to learn how to felt wool. 

Rainbow dyeing

Here are some photos of the results of todays dye program. It was a perfectly beautiful day for this type of project, reflected in the results! First time dyeing for some, hopefully we will see some spun up in the next few months. I think I have these labeled properly, let me know if I don't.

Joanne

Peter

Mary

Mary

Petra

Kris

Dye Day September 8th

Information for Sunday's meeting has been sent out to those of you participating.  

Let me know:

If you didn't receive it and should have. Please email me directly, or contact Doreen.  

If you would like to participate, there is enough dye. The fee is $5, you bring 8 oz. of fiber.

If you would like to dye more than 8 oz., we can charge you accordingly.

Dye Day–Sunday September 8

I was hoping I could get a rough count of how many of you would like to participate in dyeing roving at the September meeting. You can bring 8 oz. to dye. I will have the dyes pre-mixed, you will need to bring your prepared fiber and a container to work in (more info on this later). You will be setting your dye at home, I'll have instructions for you on that. This is a chance to try dyeing roving, in case you have not done so before, and/or try to play with color you might ordinarily not use.

I will do a count tomorrow, but for others that aren't there, who are interested, need to get in touch with me SOON-Sunday, August 18th at the latest!!!  I need to know how much dye to buy.

Hull House Sheep to Shawl

Lenore graciously shared her photos of the completed shawl for The Hull Family Home Auction. http://www.hullfamilyhome.org 

Doreen caught the action!

Thanks to all those spinners from our guild and The Weavers' Guild of Buffalo who helped spin the yarn for this beautiful shawl! Thanks too, to Daft Dames for providing the warp and warping the loom, Sandy from Long Meadow Farm for the lovely fiber, and of course, to Lenore for the beautiful weaving (and for sharing these photos).

Lovely Cathy modeling the finished shawl. (Photo L. T.)

Members of Common Threads Spinning Guild and Weavers' Guild of Buffalo
spinning fiber  from Long Meadow Farms. (Photo D. K.)

Lenore at the loom with a HH docent.
Warp provided by Daft Dames Handcrafters. (D. K.)

Finished shawl (L. T.)

Finished shawl–Stunning! (L. T.)

I guess this is our 6th Shawl for the Hull House! (D. K.)

July 2013 Meeting at Amanda's Farm

Our annual Field Trip Meeting in July was fantastic. We met at Amanda's house, Willow Glen Farm in Cowlesville NY.  The weather was perfect to spin on her porch and chat with our spinning guild members.  Amanda took us for a tour of her farm showing off her sheep, angora goats, llamas, ducks and chickens. Her house and property are lovely, and we were treated to a large array of delicious snacks and beverages while we enjoyed a quiet afternoon of spinning.

Thank you for hosting this meeting Amanda, and thank you to all who provided the snacks and beverages.

July 21 Meeting

(photo by Amanda)

Remember, July's meeting will be a field trip to Amanda's (Willow Glen Farm), and will be held on the third Sunday this month, 7/21. Contact Liz, Doreen, or Amanda if you need the address or directions. Bring a chair, we will be spinning on her porch, so inclement weather should not be a problem. Amanda recommends muck boots if you would like to see the farm and fields, especially with the rain we have been receiving. Hope you can make it!

According to google maps this is just over 4 miles off the 400 exit 54–rt. 78/20A.

June Meeting 2012–COLOR!

COLOR

COLOR

COLOR

COLOR

COLOR

From Bonnie C: June's presentation will be a combination of hands on color wheel basics, for those who choose to participate, handout color charts, discussions on color theory, the meaning of colors and the effect color has on people. "Why and how do those colors work together?" will be discussed.  Bring along some yarn that puzzles you and we will figure it out.  You will have the opportunity to mix paint if you so choose. Bring what you feel you need to cover yourself. Very basic supplies will be provided.

Also, July's field trip meeting to Amanda's will be held on the THIRD Sunday in July, the 21st! Please try to let one of us know if you are coming so Amanda has some idea of how many will be there. 

Kindred Kreek Fiber and Craft Event

The Critter Ranch Open House

April Meeting 2013

Our next meeting will be on Sunday April 14th, 1:00-4:00  at the Burchfield.

Our program will be: Warping and Basic Weaving on a Rigid Heddle Loom.

I'll show you how to direct warp with a peg, which is a fast and easy way to start your project. Then I'll demonstrate some basic weaving techniques.

Weaving produces a much different product from knitting or crocheting.

It's fast  and uses less yarn, so your precious hand spun will go much farther. 

Shepherd's Wool Market

Auction!!

Don't forget! Bring what you can, and bring some money, too! Non-spinning/non-fiber items are ok too. Let's raise some money for our guild!

Long Meadow Farm Open House Reminder

Click for larger image:

Friday March 8 and Saturday March 9, 10-5.

Sunday Feb. 10

Using Hand Cards:

Well this month went fast!

For February's meeting, we will be working with hand cards. This will be an informal presentation.

Hand carding can be tricky until you get the feel for it. And although some will swear by their method, if it doesn't feel right to you, it can be a frustrating experience.  We would like everyone to bring in their hand cards and demonstrate the method they prefer to use, and hopefully, tell us when and what they use them for.

Where using a drum carder may seem a way more efficient way to blend colors or fibers, hand cards can work better in some situations, for instance if you want a specific shift or gradation in color. (See Margaret's Citron Shawl in the October blog post). They are also great for small amounts of fiber and for experimenting. And of course, they are more affordable. 

So, please bring your hand cards and some fiber (Roc Day fiber would work.) For those of you that don't have cards, I think some people offered to bring extras, and there should be plenty around for you to try it.

Don't forget March 10 is our second auction, please start thinking about things to donate! Hopefully, it will be as successful as our last one.

If anyone has photo's of Patsy's workshop, you can send them to one of the moderators for posting.

Remember, the spinning challenge is to make something with your Roc Day fiber, You can do anything you want, any pattern, add fiber, etc.

Roc Day: Roc Soup–making of a super batt

Round and round and round we go…

Lots and lots and lots of fiber

Jelly roll

Ready to "slice" and divide up!
Thanks to everyone for making this a big success!

Sunday January 13, 2013

Roc Day! 

Happy New Year all! 

We will be making (hopefully a giant) Roc Soup Batt for Roc Day this year.

Anyone wishing to participate needs to bring in at least 4 oz. of decent, spinnable fiber, any color. In theory, once the giant batt is made in horizontal layers, we divide it vertically through the layers. The fiber going in should be well enough prepared that you can spin from it coming out (although you ultimately decide final prep.)

The way it works is you put 4 oz. in, you get 4 out. If you would like more, please add in 4 oz. increments. We will not weigh incoming fiber unless you want us to, or someone donates extra and we can take more home than we brought.

NO alpaca, mohair or angora!!!

Some of our members have serious allergies to these fibers. If you are unsure of your fiber content, please bring in something else!!! If someone has a problem with any other fiber, please let us know.

Acceptable fibers include wools, llama, silk, tencel, bamboo, firestar, angelina, locks (not mohair), noils.

We will need some scales to weigh the smaller batts once the soup is made. I'm bringing a small electronic kitchen scale that weighs in ounces and grams, it is more than adequate for our purposes. If 3-4 people could bring one in things should go quickly. Put your name down in the Ravelry group if you are bringing one, once we have 4 people, we should be set.

The resulting fiber will be the new spinners' challenge. You can do any project you like using any technique you like: knit, crochet, felt, weave, etc. The February meeting will be working with hand cards as a follow-up for a prepping technique you can use for this. 

If any of you have completed the last spinning challenge, please bring it in to show us.

Hope to see you all there!

Don’t forget, all guild members are invited to Patsy’s lecture on Thursday Jan. 24th!

“Using your Yarns: A Look at the Creative Process”

Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village (former Amherst Museum) 
Thursday Jan. 24th 6:30 pm Free!

3755 Tonawanda Creek Road 
Amherst, NY 14228 Phone: 716-689-1440