of Peoria
Place: The Weaving
Room
2026 N. University
Program:
Introduction to Block Weaving
By Joan Quigg
Meeting
Information
The program on Sectional Warping has been postponed until a later date. Joan Quigg graciously volunteered to provide the May program on Introduction to Block Weaving.
The April program was given by Lise’ Mundwiller. Lise’ shared techniques for weaving fabric with a completely different pattern on each side. The weave structure is not that of a traditional double weave. She provided beautiful examples of fabric woven in this way. THANKS Lise’.
Weaver’s
Challenge
Each member is asked to come to the May meeting with ideas for a new Guild logo.
2007 Open House
Attendance was down at the Open House this year in part because of many conflicting community events. The Ballance-Herschell House was a lovely site and everyone attending seemed to enjoy themselves. Thanks, Weavers!
Name-Draft
Study Group
The Name-Draft Study Group will meet at 9:00 AM on Saturday, April 28 at the Weaving Room. Come prepared to decide on yarn type and color as well as size of squares. It is not too late to join this group if interested. The actual project will not start until after the Weave-O Project is completed in July.
Upcoming
Workshops
Jennie Hawkey continues to work on plans for two Guild Workshops. Suzanne Halvorson will be invited to teach a workshop in the fall of 2007 on weaving with chenille yarns. Sharon Alderman will be invited to teach a workshop in 2008 on “Snazzy Yarns: How to Use Them Not Lose Them”.
A Bit About
Washing
Wool &
Alpaca
One of the things I learned at the Illinois Alpaca Owners and Breeders Show this year was that soap can be very damaging to items made from alpaca fiber. The breeders said that cool to barely warm water could be used but only ONE drop of a mild soap should be used to lower the surface tension for cleaning.
Deborah
Chandler said something similar about sheep’s wool in the May, 1981, Handwoven
(p.22). She indicates that unwanted felting may occur because the amount of soap being used as well as the
degree of agitation.
She states,
“The nature of a single wool fiber is that it is a hollow shaft with scales
around the outside. In an acidic
solution, the scales will close up; stay tight against the central core; in a
basic solution the scales will open out like a blossoming flower. Soap and water create a basic solution. Vinegar and water create an acidic
solution…….So if you don’t want to felt your work to excess, use warm water, not
more than
90 o F. Use only as much soap as needed, and most of all, don’t over-agitate.”
In other words, the more
soap that is used, the more likely both wool and alpaca items will felt
excessively. I was familiar with
excessive temperature and agitation being problematic but was not aware of the
need to use such a minimal amount of soap.
Margo
Interesting Web Site
Our Springfield
weaving friends shared a most interesting web site in their last
newsletter. Take a look at the New
England Weaver’s Guilds web site. www.newenglandweaversseminar.com. From the home page, try the link SWAPS. They have a sample exchange and swatches of
the samples along with the weave drafts are included.