Cuyahoga Weavers Guild

Weaving and other fiber-based fun for 45 years and counting

CWG November 16 meeting features Rust Belt Fibershed

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Our program on November 16th will feature a representative from Rust Belt Fibershed to discuss their mission of “creating a collaborative network of regenerative fiber farmers, processors, and designers from the Rust Belt Region to explore the possibilities of working with the resources in our fibershed, in particular sheeps wool, alpaca, flax, and plant dyes, whose work demonstrates a commitment to creating a ‘soil to soil’ fashion and textile system.”
Program will start at noon followed by a business meeting and show and tell.

Cuyahoga County Library Warrensville Branch

https://cuyahogalibrary.org/branches/warrensville-heights

December 21st  is the Guild’s Annual Holiday Luncheon.  Keeping with tradition, Jessie Adler has again offered to host.  Details to follow.
Let me know if you have any questions,

—

JoEllen

CWG October meeting is on Thursday, October 19

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October meeting program:  Thursday, October 19th
Lunch & social time:  11:30. Program at 12:00 followed by business meeting.
Cuyahoga County Warrensville branch Library
If you cannot attend in person, Zoom link will be sent in email.
Also, for those who are participating in the Study Group this year, please bring your stash to share and exchange. You can then add to what you will use or get a selection to use.  We are continuing the yarn selection for those who missed the first Study Group.
Denise Kovnat Lecture and Power Point
Dorset Buttons: A Heritage Craft
Dorset buttons, designated in England as a “Heritage Craft,” continue to delight fiber artists today as colorful, whimsical embellishments for jewelry, surface-design and fasteners for handmade clothing. The variations are limitless and they can be created anywhere using only curtain rings, a tapestry needle and yarn (and beads if you choose). Further, you can customize these buttons to match your own creations, using yarns from your stash.


Dorset buttons have been around for centuries, beginning in the 17th century as a cottage industry in County Dorset on the English Channel. Come hear the history of these lovely designs, viewing lots of inspirational photos along the way, and learn how to make them on your own.

Study Group is October 5 at 10:00am

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Thursday, October 5, 2023, 10:00am

An RSVP will be most welcome.

Please come to Patty’s  house for our first Study Group meeting of the weaving year. Please bring a bag of beautiful yarns, long enough to be usable, hopefully they will look pleasant together and see what happens as we exchange. Study group is open to any member of the Cuyahoga Weavers Guild.

Study Group has the deliciously intriguing title “Grab Bag Texture Project.” What’s that ask you? Even were I to be able to really explain it, I might wait for our first meeting and have the fun of everyone sharing their own description.  Surely that will be inspirational! My notes say—

Texture

Fiber (with texture I think) to share

Surprise Bag

Exchange

Combine with my own

Rust Belt FiIbershed offers flax and a demonstration on September 9

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Jo Ellen sends this:
Rust Belt Fibershed has offered us some flax.  Note that the flax is not ready to be spun- most of it will not even be retted.  So it will need to be fully processed!  If interested send a message through rustbeltfibershed.com to make arrangements.
They will be processing flax as a demonstration at Hale Farm on September 9 at 10am for any  members interested in the process!  There is admission.
Rust Belt Fibershed describes their organization as:

We are a bioregional textile community  growing hope and resilience through local fiber, local color, and local labor.

Fall newsletter deadline is approaching—Friday, September 1

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Eeek, September 1 gives very short notice.  Please send newsletter materials, especially items of summer doings and program notes for the upcoming CWG year. A President’s letter, program notes, study group ideas and member’s profile will all be welcome.

No doubt that photos of your projects, a new technique or yarn you are trying,  or a weaving reference book you have discovered will be welcome. Or even an essay about your weaving adventures, discoveries, or compatriots. Perhaps a quandary that you would like help with.

In earlier discussions about the foibles of our weaving work might fit into a new column based on Penelope’s weaving tactics——you know, the part where she weaves and unweaves.  We all have stories about our version so please send yours.

Contribute directly to Nancy or to newsletter@cuyahogaweaversguild.com

 

Dye Day 2023

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Hello CWG

Here’s an update on the CWG Dye Day planned for Thursday August 17th. Please RSVP to robert.breitzmann@gmail.com if you plan to attend.

We will start at 10AM and dye till 3PM. Come when you can and leave when you must. I’ve got the dyes, but bring your own fiber or purchase a blank to play with for $.50 each. I will be showing how I paint a warp. Bring a brown bag lunch if you like. If it rains we will set up in the garage and adapt as needed.

All the natural dyes except Indigo require a mordant. If you have soda ash at home, please soak your fibers overnight beforehand. If not, you can put everything to soak when you arrive. The fiber reactive dyes will have the mordant already added. All of the natural dyes will work on protein or cellulose fibers but mordants may change for the black walnut.

I learned a lot last year and hope several changes will improve our results.

This year we will have the following natural dye pots:

Black Walnut for a nice brown.

Indigo for blue.

Cochineal for blue/red.

Madder makes orange/red.

Logwood for light purple.

Pomegranate to make green/yellow.

Please RSVP if you plan to attend.

Bob
robert.breitzmann@gmail.com