by Barbara N. (aka Frankie)
Christmas is just around the corner and most people are going to craft fairs and shopping on the weekends in order to meet the demands of this coming season. Here in Hudson’s Hope, our annual Craft Fair has just come and gone. Each year I think that I really should try to get things ready so that I can participate and have a table at our fair, and every year it passes me by once again. I just don’t seem to get enough product ready in time! That’s why it seems so strange to be able to say that I have been working on scarves and shawls all through the autumn splendor for a show that won’t happen until next year. Every 3 years the North Peace Spinners and Weavers have a show at the gallery in Fort St. John and next October will be the time to have everything ready for that. Our show’s title will be called Shawls, Scarves, Socks and Shoelaces, and so in a complete turn around from my normal behaviour, I have begun to prepare for that now! I’m shocked at myself frankly. With this in mind, I thought that it might be interesting to devote a newsletter and it’s articles to what people do to prepare for craft fairs, farmers markets and gallery shows.... or any venue where a good supply of product is necessary. We also have our normal reports, we have our president’s message and we have our traditional Pot Pourri. I have also included a pattern for Glomitts which you can knit with your homespun yarn for those you love and like to see have warm hands for the Christmas season. In addition I hope that you will find lots of information here that will help you get ready for the coming Christmas season.... and I hope that yours is full of peace joy and a wonderful sense of accomplishment as you look around you and see the pleasures of this happy time of year.
President’s Message
submitted by Rene G.
Hello to all – As I write this, snow is gently falling. After a beautiful fall, winter has arrived and is making itself known with cooler temperatures and of course, those flakes. Now is the time for serious fibre arts. It is ‘our’ season.
How did you all do in finishing off the warps from the Plain Weave workshop? Just recently I washed, finished and organized all the samples for my book. I think we all got some very interesting ideas and help from that workshop, not to mention that we all now know how to properly and efficiently prepare warps and get them on the looms. Jane was an outstanding teacher and a wonderful house guest too. I was very inspired.
Plans are coming along nicely for the next 2 conferences. You will hear more about spring in Fairview in the next newsletter when plans are finalized. Sandra Fearon is booked for the fall workshop in Hudson’s Hope. I want to give you a ‘heads up’ that there will be a maximum class size of 14 participants for that workshop. That is the top number we could squeeze out of the instructor, so it will be a first come/first serve basis again. If there is enough interest we will consider adding a second, different class. Please let me know what you think and what you would like to see.
There was a boat shuttle left after the last workshop. If you are missing one, let me know. It is possible that it is mine as I recently acquired some new-to-me ones and have not bonded with them yet. But I want to give you all first option because I do not know for certain.
Merry Christmas to all and to all happy, productive spinning and weaving. Rene
Fairview Guild
submitted by Doreen V.
We would like to extend a sincere thank you to Ft. St. John et al for hosting the fall conference. It was a great weekend in which we had a great time visiting with other guilds and learning a great deal from Jane S. Now we have to apply some of her techniques to our winter weaving. Every Monday afternoon, the Fairview Fine Arts Centre is a-buzz in Studio 1. Maisie, Ellen, Verla, Loretta and Doreen are busy doing something. Most of the samples from the last two workshops have been finished with some extra warp for those who want to practice a bit more! Maisie just finished a beautiful baby shawl for her newly born great-grandson on the sixty inch loom. Ellen is going to finish a blanket on the same warp in a different colour. Loretta is working on a table runner in the rep warp. She is working on the 45 inch eight-harness loom and is doing a fine job. Loretta is our mentor for getting us going and keeping us going! Whenever we're in a bind, either Loretta or Maisie are there to help us out. Verla is finishing a rug on the rug-loom. We are using rags as weft. Everyone will have completed at least one rug by the end of the month. Maisie is almost finished her recycle bag and then Verla will try her luck on that loom. Loretta and Brittany finished the rug-mugs that have been on one of the looms forever, and I think the plan is to try to make some chenille weft that we can use on the rug loom to complete a rug and see what that looks like. Maisie has just about finished her Theo MoormanFairview would like to wish all of you a Merry Christmas, and great winter spinning, dyeing and weaving.
North Peace Spinners and Weavers (Fort St. John)
submitted by Barbara N. (aka Frankie)
The members of the NPSW have been preoccupied with many different things this fall. The Artspost is being threatened with closure and that hangs over all of us since we have really appreciated the ability to visit the Artspost and weave on any of the guild looms. There are ongoing meetings that are addressing our concerns to the Arts Council and we hope that they will not close the Artspost as it will mean that we once again do not have a central location in which we can come together to work on our various projects. We also are having difficulty filling some executive positions. While we have had these monkeys on our back Rene, our president continues to strive and keep us active. Besides hosting the PCSW fall conference, we have recently had a workshop for beginners on warping a loom and our October meeting saw us get together for a garage sale and swap and shop. We also had a wonderful day in September viewing the many distaff bags that were made to be sent to our sister guild the Pembrokeshire guild in Wales. We are happy to know that our Christmas parcel arrived at their guild in plenty of time for their Christmas party. We have now begun, in addition to our monthly spinning days, to get together at the Artspost once a month for a weaving day and we hope that this will meet with as much success as have the spinning days.
Christmas is coming and so we are all looking forward to our annual Christmas potluck and gift exchange which will be hosted this year at Rene’s house once again. Such a lovely day for a lovely season.... I’m sure we will all have a great time.
We send our best wishes to all in the PCSW for a happy and safe Christmas season.
Hudson’s Hope
submitted by Barbara N. (aka Frankie)
It has been a really quiet fall for the Hudson’s Hope Spinners and Weavers. Carol and I have gotten together just a couple of times to do some spinning and once to do some felting. We have been felting distaff bags and then embellishing them and they look really awesome.
I have been working on a lot of different handspun samples as I get ready for that gallery show that I mentioned in the editor’s blurb. So far I have two shawls completed and four scarves.
I am now in the process of knitting a fuchsia alpaca shawl in a lace pattern
and a Fair Isle shawl in a combination of cream blue and different shades of purple. Both are very striking even if I do say so myself. I have just finished spinning a lovely fine yarn in Optim which is a modified merino and Tencel product. It will be the warp for what hopefully will become a stunning scarf on my loom.
Carol has been working quite often in her new job and so has not had lots of time for spinning but is managing to get a few hours here and there to work on a 6-ply yarn for socks. Carol also has recently made the big decision to become a shepherd and what’s really neat is that as I down size my flock of sheep Carol’s flock is increasing. All good fun really.
The season for quiet restful ease with family and friends will soon here and we wish you all plenty of days to watch the flakes drifting slowly to the ground in a warm house with a hot cup of tea by your side as you complete all the projects you set for yourself... in other words a joyful Christmas season with all good wishes.
Saskatoon Lake Weavers
submitted by Mae T.
The Fall Conference at Fort St. john has everyone who attended completing samples and teaching those who were unable to attend. The Mohair seminar has Shannon, and Marion ready to apply what they have learned. The colours they have chosen are beautiful. Shannon is using the threading technique for her 100% Mohair afghan. We are all watching with interest.
Marion is threading tea towels in soft pastel shades. Joan has just completed hand towels in beige and brown. Verna May is weaving hand towels. Mae is threading a shawl pattern on Shuberts Serenade, 947 ends. A challenge. Gudrun just completed a rag rug. Dark background with choral contrast.
We have a new member, Nancy Rigby. Needless to say we are happy to have her.
Christmas is almost upon us and we are thinking about projects that are fast and attractive.
Happy Holidays
Valleyview Spinners And Weavers
submitted by Josie M.
Since it is our first time contributing to this newsletter, a quick overview of our club is in order. We have a core group of about 12 members that meet once a month from September to May. This is our fourth year together and we are trying to establish a little more structure and organization. Not enough to take away the fun or casual atmosphere of our gatherings though. We are now meeting (with a few exceptions) on the first Saturday of the month and this year we decided to do a Christmas gift exchange (home made, fibre based) and we are considering a group project that will showcase our varied talents.
Speaking of varied talents, the Valleyview group is quite diverse. Many of our members are producers owning a very wide range of animals including specialty sheep like Bluefaced Leicesters, Jacobs and Shetlands, as well as Cashmere goats and Angora rabbits. Alpacas and llamas too. I think we have just about everything covered.
The talents, skill levels and experience of our members also encompass a wide range. We have wet felters, needle felters. members with experience and expertise dyeing with natural and man made dyes, spinners, weavers and knitters. We even have a wide range of ages with 3 young people in our group, the youngest being 12 years old.
So far this year we have had a planning meeting with summer Show and Tell, a gathering dedicated to spinning, a special presentation on 3D needle felting and have a dyeing session planned for next month.
The special needle felting presentation was on November 13th. Aleeta Haas of Beaverlodge generously donated her time to give our members and a few extra interested people a hands on lesson in 3D needle felting. Aleeta brought several examples of her beautiful work to show to the group and many amazing projects were at least started that day.
One of our members (me actually) has just recently completed illustrations for a locally written children’ s book. The illustrations are all made of wool using both wet felting and needle felting
and will be available at the Grande Prairie Farmers Market Christmas Sale. The author and illustrator have also been discussing a show with the Prairie Art Gallery.
So much to tell. Looking forward to the next newsletter.
Pot-Pourri
submitted by Joan Y.
There were many positive things about the fall conference at Fort St. John and I am grateful for all those who worked hard to make it so. One of the most long lasting things for me was that I was allotted the “Weft Faced” sample to do, with a warp threaded at 5e.p.i., and only 50 ends to thread! I have been weaving more samples ever since.
The weft-faced weave is great for rugs, place mats, tote bags, purses, chair pads, mug rugs, warm vests and so on. For instructions for a rag rug see Handwoven magazine 1991 Jan - Feb, and for a “beaded Amulet Pouch” see the May - April issue of 1996. I’m sure there are many other weft-faced projects in weaving magazines and books.
For those weavers who have not woven a weft-faced item, you thread your warp threads well spread (e.g. 5 e.p.i.) and use a soft, thick yarn for the weft, so that it beats together tightly to cover the warp completely. Many tapestries are woven in this method.
Our conference instructor gave us 5 patterns to try out, and also encouraged us to experiment and create our own patterns. this really stretched one’s mind, as the loom is threaded with a simple plain weave or twill threading. It’s the use of colour that makes the difference, combined with the manipulation of just 4 harnesses. I have managed to create a couple of different patterns.
I have discovered that this is a good method for using up thrums (of thick yarn), either short pieces for mug rugs, or longer ones for bags, etc. Just now I am weaving 10” wide pieces for small bags which will have side fringes. Try it, and have fun.
All good wishes for a Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year.
Fall 2011 Conference Update
submitted by Patricia M.
A 2 -day Shadow Weave Workshop with Sandra Fearon on Sept. 23, Sept 24 and 25.
Friday evening the 23rd: I would like to just have a social (wine and cheese) for those who are going to be here that night. Maybe Sandra could be here also so we could have a 'meet and greet'.
Evening of the 25 she would give a talk about the GCW Testing Program.
Background: Sandra was here once before for a conference which we held at St. Peter's. She had been in Bangladesh working with the people to develop their textiles for the American market. Her husband is a water resource engineer and interested in waterways and dams.
For Sale
I have a table model Leclerc warping mill for sale: $150 1.8 metres per rotation/maximum 22 yards total/height 38"/width 26" Anyone interested can contact me at 250.783.9351 weekdays. I could bring it to the spring conference or mail it.
Thanks, Pat M.
Glomitts
submitted by Barbara N. (aka Frankie)
I wanted to make my brother-in-law a pair of Glomitts for Christmas. They are a hand covering that combined the qualities of gloves and mittens. They are also called Soldier’s mitts as they originated with people who use guns frequently and need the dexterity of their fingers but do not want to have their fingers get cold. You might know them as fingerless gloves with the flap that goes over the top of the fingers. I searched online for a pattern that might work and was surprised that this very practical item was not hardly mentioned anywhere. I could only find one pattern online and it was not at all what I was hoping to find. As a result of my research, (or lack there of), I decided to make my own pattern. I hope there are those of you out there that can make use of this knitted pattern.
Mens Glomitts
Using 4mm knitting needles cast on 50 stitches.
Row 1: *K 3, P2, repeat from * to end.
Row 2: Knit on knit stitches and purl on purl stitches.
Row 3: same as Row 1.
Row 4: same as Row 2.
Row 5: *Knit 3 and pass the first of the 3 over the other 2, P 2, repeat from * to end.
Row 6: * Knit 2, P1 increasing F and B, P1, repeat from * to end of row.
Continue on knitting rows 3 through 6 until you have completed 8 patterns.
Increase for the width of the hand in this way.
Knit rows 3 through 5.
Next Row: *K1 increasing F and B, K 1, P 1 increasing F and B, P1, repeat from * to end. 60 stitches.
Continue knitting the following rows until 4 more patterns have been completed.
Row 1: *K3, P3, repeat from * to end.
Row 2: Knit on knit stitches and purl on purl stitches.
Row 3: *K3 and pass the first of the 3 over the other 2, P3, repeat from * to end.
Row 4: *K3, P1 increasing F and B, P1, repeat from * to end.
Making the thumb hole: for the left hand glove.
Row 1: K3, (P3, K3) 3 times, K1.Then, knit the next 6 stitches in pattern with your contrasting scrap yarn. Drop contrasting scrap yarn so that both ends of it are hanging to the outside of the Glomitt (this makes it easier to remove the yarn later). Slide these 6 stitches off of the right needle back onto the left. Pick up your working yarn, and continue knitting Glomitt in the main pattern. This means you’ll knit the six stitches knit with the scrap yarn on your left needle again. Continue to the end of the row maintaining the pattern. Just keep knitting in the main pattern like nothing ever happened until 17 patterns have been repeated from the original cast on.
Cast off.
Making the thumb hole: for the right hand glove:
Row 1: (K3, P3,) 4 times, K2. Then, knit the next 6 stitches in pattern with your contrasting scrap yarn. Drop contrasting scrap yarn so that both ends of it are hanging to the outside of the Glomitt (this makes it easier to remove the yarn later). Slide these 6 stitches off of the right needle back onto the left. Pick up your working yarn, and continue knitting Glomitt in the main pattern. This means you’ll knit the six stitches knit with the scrap yarn on your left needle again. Continue to the end of the row maintaining the pattern. Just keep knitting in the main pattern like nothing ever happened until 17 patterns have been repeated from the original cast on.
Knit the thumb by removing the scrap piece of yarn and picking up 6 bottom stitches and 3 stitches in the side, 6 more across the top, and 3 more down the other side. There should be 18 stitches in all, divided over three sive 3 mm DPNs evenly. Knit thumb in stockinette stitch to length desired decreasing in this manner for the top of the thumb:
Next Row: *K2 tog, K1, repeat from * to end. 4 stitches per needle.
Next Row: Knit
Next Row: *K1, K2 tog, K1 repeat from * to end. 3 stitches per needle.
Break yarn and thread a darning needle, then pull the thread through all remaining stitches and draw tight, ending with a sewing stitch to hold the top of the thumb together. Darn in the tail of the thread.
Flap for the Glomitt:
Cast on 60 stitches with 4 mm needles.
Row 1: *K3, P3, repeat from * to end.
Row 2: Knit on knit stitches and purl on purl stitches.
Row 3: same as Row 1.
Row 4: same as Row 2.
Row 5: *K3 and pass the first of the 3 over the other 2, P3, repeat from * to end.
Row 6: *K3, P1 increasing F and B, P1, repeat from * to end.
Continue in pattern until 2 patterns have been completed.
Follow the first five rows of the pattern then:
Change to 3.25 mm needles and continue in stockinette stitch for 6 rows. Mark the middle of the row with a stitch marker.
Next Row: *K2, sl 1, K1, psso, knit to the last 4 stitches before the stitch marker*, K2 tog, K2. Pass the stitch marker from the left needle to the right and continue from * to * K2 tog, K2.
Continue in stockinette stitch for 2 rows.
Next Row: *K2, sl 1, K1, psso, knit to the last 4 stitches before the stitch marker*, K2 tog, K2. Pass the stitch marker from the left needle to the right and continue from * to * K2 tog, K2.
Continue in stockinette stitch for 2 rows.
Next Row: *K2, sl 1, K1, psso, knit to the last 4 stitches before the stitch marker*, K2 tog, K2. Pass the stitch marker from the left needle to the right and continue from * to * K2 tog, K2.
Continue in stockinette stitch for 1 row.
Next Row: *K2, sl 1, K1, psso, knit to the last 4 stitches before the stitch marker*, K2 tog, K2. Pass the stitch marker from the left needle to the right and continue from * to * K2 tog, K2.
Continue decreasing in this manner until 12 stitches are left. 6 before the marker and 6 after the marker.
To Cast off:
Slip first 6 stitches onto an extra size 3.25 needle or a stitch holder or a cable needle.
Fold the Flap in half and K 1 stitch from each needle together continuing in this manner until end. You should have 6 stitches. Cast off in usual manner.
Finishing the Glomitt
Sew the side seams on the glove and on the flap darning in any end as you go.
Stitch between the fingers, a few stitches with your darning needle, if you want the fingers defined. You can also leave the hand open.
Sew the flap on the back of the glove 1 inch from the top. The flap can be held open with a magnet... I use a hematite bead on the back of the Glomitt and on the tip of the flap.
The right hand glove is the same as the left except using the instructions for the right hand thumb directions.
Give them a try because they certainly are handy (no pun intended). Now that I have mine finished my dear husband is looking at them with a sparkle in his eye... I guess I had better not put those knitting needles away yet!
Preparing For A Sale
edited by Barbara N.
I thought it might be fun to sell at our local craft fair some of the stuff that I make. But I have always wondered how people were able to make so much and have so much product for all the craft fairs that occur at this time of the year. Not having had any experience in this area I thought I would ask a couple of friends who do have experience. This is what they had to say:
Getting Ready for a Craft Sale:
by Cheryl Peebles
I usually begin during or right after a sale….. I say this with a little tongue in cheek. I am never as prepared for a sale as I want to be – I never really have as much product as I want to have, and I never really hit the mark with what is the big item this year. But as I said I usually start to prep for next year right after the sale I’m in. I make plans to start in January – make 1 item a week: not a big task I don’t think (at the time) and plan to focus on just a few types of items. Let’s say this year I want to focus on T-towels, and placemats. Makes following through with the plan of 1 item a week a lot easier – one warp – lots of items. An item always sells better if there is a lot of choice in color, design, size…. (or so I think). There is a theory that one can expect to sell about half of what one brings.
In truth I diddle around through the year and about the end of August or mid September I freak out & start working really hard to get ready. Sometimes I manage to follow through with the idea of a focus item…. More often than not I end up with a bunch of items left from last year that I add to the mix.
One of the very best motivators for me is when I am sharing a booth at a juried show. Big money invested in the weekend and a colleague to answer too. We start out a couple months before the show (yes, way later than our original plan) make a goal & check in with each other every few days to see how & what we have accomplished. I find myself to be really productive when I am answering to someone else.
I sometimes make up a bunch of warps so that another is ready as I complete one. This works well for scarf warps. I try to make a warp at least 2 scarves long – thread the loom one night & weave it up the next – if I have a warp in waiting then I try to dress the loom again that night so I am ready to go the next night. (this is the procedure I use when I am working at a day job). A long t-towel warp ensures that I can get maybe 10 t-towels done before having to dress the loom again. I make sure I use a threading that I can get a lot of variation in pattern & color. In this case I would make myself weave a t-towel before leaving the loom- there is a lot of deal making with myself when in production. ie: weave a full item before leaving the loom, or get that item woven before going to bed or put in a minimum of 2hr on the loom or weave 1 hr have a cup of tea weave 1hr or weave all morning or….well, you get the picture. It may not work for everyone but I do manage to produce when working this way.
One really important factor in being successful at a sale is picking the right type of craft show to be in. I have found that if there is a lot of mop head dolls, Tupperware, and grandmas knitting with acrylic, this is a wrong place for selling hand weaving . If there is a lot of handwork like embroidery, pottery, wood working, stained glass etc.. then this type of show attracts the customer that are looking for something more unique, artisan produced. There is nothing wrong with crafts/ hobby type shows – I have just found that weaving & spinning doesn’t sell very well at them. Another big factor that I have experienced in a successful show is where it is held – if it is in a community (size doesn’t seem to matter) a long ways from a major shopping centre (like a mall) Sales are really, really good…. ( I speak of when I was in Stewart). I don’t know if there is a perfect recipe in preparing for a show, but I do know that we need to have lots for sale and there is no way to get there but to really work.
What say you all? I’m always open for ideas. Cheers Cheryl
Getting Ready for a Sale:
by Marion Walker
If you are planning to participate in a show or sale where you will be displaying your hand made goods, there are a few things you should consider before attending.
1) Do you have the time and energy to carry you through?
2) Is this a well attended and advertised event?
3) Have you heard good reports about this venue?
4) Are the other merchants carrying good quality items?
When getting ready for your event these are a few thing to consider.
1) Are my products able to compare to other high quality items?
2) Do I have enough product to carry me through the sale for the number of days it will run?
I suggest that you start making your items a year in advance so that you have a good stock on hand.
3) Find a good friend or partner to share your booth with if you need help, or if it is an expensive show.
4) How to display my products is very important. You will need lots of table space and shelving. Plan on using items to elevate some of your products for eye appeal. Decorative table cloths are needed and red is a color that will draw the customer into your booth.
5) Be informative to your customers when they ask you questions about your products.
6) Price your items for what they are worth. Do not under price the value of your skill or the time it takes to create your items.
There are many customers who are unwilling to spend what your item is worth to you, but just remember that there are many more customers who will appreciate your creativity and time, and those are the customers you are looking for.
Most important of all is to have a pleasant attitude towards the customers. This will create a loyal customer base for you. They certainly aren't going to step into your booth if you are negative or show a sour disposition. Remember to smile and enjoy yourself.
These wise words from two very capable people have inspired me to work hard to finish all the items I have in mind for the gallery show next year, and who knows, maybe just maybe I might have enough stuff in time for the annual craft fair here in HH next year.
I hope this helps you in your endeavors to sell your creations...
