January 2003 Weavers Guild Meeting
Sunday, January 19, 3:00-4:00 at Diachbha's house in Kent, followed by a fieldtrip to the weaving dept. at Kent State University
In attendence Diachbha, Jane, baby Hunter, Jeanne, Jendriska, Kore, Leah, Ceinwyn, Demelza, Ellencwen, Hathewisse, Branwyn, and Becky
Member Reports  
Becky Sewing a gambezon to wear over her armor.
Branwyn Prepared for spinning class at Cleftlands event (class notes and assembling spindles).
Ceinwyn Wound bobbins for bobbin-lace class which she hopes to attend.  Finished spinning and plying (two-ply) four ounces of wool/mohair blend.  Currently spinning green fiber which is either silk or a silk-rayon blend.  Working blackwork embroidery on small cushions.
Diachbha Wove two scarfs and wove samples on the jack loom.  Currently, her loom is warped up with a double-weave pickup project.  Also weaving seal tags (for use with wax seals) on an inkle loom.  Traditionally, seal tags were red;  hence the origin of the term "red tape."  The tags are flat-woven (not card-woven) and are for use by  the Kingdom of Calontir. 
Ellencwen Carded the Tunis fleece for the guild project and is spinning it with a drop spindle.  Sheared the rabbits.  Spun angora on the wheel.  Knitting a grey angora scarf.
Hathewisse From the acid-dyed wool singles (see December meeting minutes), wove a 10-foot length of fabric in a combination of three patterns--diamond twill, rep weave, and herringbone.  Fulled the fabric in the washing machine on the gentle cycle.  Working on knitted socks for her son (finished one pair for him already).
Jane Knitted a chenille shawl with a beaded fringe.  Knitted blue socks using a heel-less spiral pattern (the heel is not turned, so the result is similar in form to a tube sock).  Made felt.  Made a chatelaine which includes a needlecase.  Knitting another shawl.
Jean Repairing a Turkish hat (involves taking it apart then reassembling it). 
Miscellania  
 
Hathewisse brought spun samples of fleece from the "Lord of the Rings" sheep.  The current issue of SpinOff magazine has an article about the special breed, Stansborough Gotland,  which was the source of wool for the hand-woven cloaks in the film.  To order samples of the fleece, contact
Stansborough Fibres
P.O. Box 9120
Wellington, NZ
stansborough@xtra.co.nz
Linen-rayon fabric is currently on sale for 25% off at JoAnn Fabrics.
Diachbha passed around her copy of the "Wearing Wool" calendar produced by a group of spinners in Maine.
After the business meeting, the guild drove over to campus for a tour of the KSU weaving department, where Diachbha is a teaching assistant.  The facility has a small studio with several computerized jacquard looms plus two large classrooms of more traditional looms.  Diachbha has been weaving samples of different jacquard patterns for vestments for Calontir's royalty.  Due to the recent winter break, most of the looms did not hold works in progress.  Tim, one of the graduate students, has made a collection of felt dresses and was photographing models wearing his work  The guild thought the dresses were wonderful.  He is going to send Diachbha a postcard with the date of his show.
December Meeting Old business from last meeting--Emma will forward a copy of the guild charter with the final revisions to Branwyn for submission to the Gwyntarian MOA&S.
Upcoming Events  
 
January 25, 2003 "A Regular Event in Cleftlands: A Winter Hunt," Cleveland, Ohio
March 22, 2003  North Oaken A&S and Military School, Tallmadge, Ohio 
Emma will be teaching classes at this event.
April 26, 2003  Mid-Ohio Fiber Gathering, De Graff, Ohio 
May 2003  Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, location to be announced
The festival is always held the first full weekend in May.  The site will be updated for the 2003 festival in February.
May 8-11, 2003  38th International Congress on Medieval Studies, Kalamazoo, Michigan 
June 22-29, 2003 Midwest Weavers Conference 2003,  Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, Illinois 
(members commented that the location is an easy drive from northeast Ohio;  accomodations are on-campus and will be reasonably priced--besides, it is fun to stay in the dorms)
June 27-July 4, 2004  Convergence 2004, Denver, Colorado
Registration materials will be available on the website in Fall 2003.
Next Meeting
Saturday, February 22nd, 7:00 at Jane's (Angelique's) house in Kenmore (Akron).
Since the guild will be having a dessert revel and gift exchange to celebrate St. Agatha's Day, the meeting will be open to members only.   If you would like to participate in the gift exchange, please bring a small, wrapped gift.  The price limit is ten dollars; hand-made gifts are welcome (and very appropriate for this group).  Traditionally, members have used their imaginations to devise dishes in the form of Agatha's saintly emblems.
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