When creating your own color combination for Kumihimo, take a photo of the starting ”setup” so that you can reproduce it later. Attach your samples next to the photo print-out.

Use fusible thread when seaming – weave in a few picks – A Margaret Coe trick that she shared in 4 shaft weaving on Facebook. For more ideas on this tip see: http://joyofweaving.com/articles/weaving-tips-invisible-fusible-thread

…credit to Margaret Coe for the tip, I’m including her picture that she posted to demonstrate.

OWG’s library has a DVD “The Loom Owner’s Companion – Know and Love Your Loom!” by Tom Knisely. It is a excellent resource if you are having problems with your weaving and not sure why. Many problems with loom or other tools are described and how to repair. All parts of the loom, types of looms and tools purpose are described and how to maintain them. When was the last time you did preventive maintenance on your loom? This DVD covers what to do to keep your loom in working order. It is a must see. For a preview see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iwu1pgZnXfA

In the basket study group one was observed using small bundles of sea grass and mentioned that when a large bundle is purchased the first thing that was done was to cut up the large roll into the typical length used. This was followed by comments: “Why didn’t I think of that!”. I used that tip recently and was happy with the results. If you are with a study group or with others and your hear a great idea that you want to use, write it down and drop it in the TIP JAR at the next OWG program or mail it to getrotter@comcast.net. It could be about weaving, who to travel with or maybe a great gardening tip. What are we learning?

to open the OKFiberFest tour page.For detailed information on this package, click ->here.  This link will redirect to the OKFiberFest web site.

This link is provided for information only: OKFiberFest is not endorsed by or affiliated with Olympia Weavers Guild.

EMBROIDERED SPACES
APR 4–MAY 6, 2016
The Gallery at the Kenneth J Minnaert Center for the Arts
South Puget Sound Community College
2011 Mottman Rd SW, Olympia, WA 98512

The ethereal hanging installations of Amanda McCavour employ the material of thread as metaphor for memory and how we remember the spaces we call home.

Opening reception: Mon, Apr 4, 6-8 pm
Artist Amanda McCavour will also be leading a workshop at Arbutus Folk School on Sunday, April 4th.

Embroidered Spaces
Apr 4–May 6, 2016

June 4th and 5th from 9 am until 4 pm
June 18th from 9 am until 12.30 pm
June 25th from 9 am until 4 pm

The guild offers to guild members a Beginning Weavers Course. One of our guild members teaches the course, which comprises 3 and one half days of class over a three week period. This leaves time for weaving between classes.

The cost is $125. If one doesn’t have a table loom or any of the other small equipment items needed for the class, these can be rented from the guild. Classes are scheduled when we have 3 or 4 people interested in taking the class, which generally works out to 2 or 3 times a year. Participants will learn how to warp a loom, weave 2 projects and learn how to plan projects, selecting appropriate patterns and yarns.

If interested in joining the guild and taking the course, please contact the guild website.

Delightful ideas fell out of February’s Tip Jar

* When tying on a new warp to previous project warp, leave the old warp though the heddles and the reed. This will help the new warp from tangling while winding it on!!

* Beat is very important in weaving. If your draft calls for a square pattern, you need to regulate your beat so that the packs per inch roughly equal the ends per inch so the pattern comes out square instead of rectangular.

* Picking washed fiber can be done with no tools but using a dog brush or a flicker will produce fiber ready for roving See: flicking

For more techniques on preparing fiber see: prepare fiber

* To get some beautiful shades of gradual color change in your yarn, ply in a prescribed sequence. For example in a 3 ply blend Yellow, Blue and Red like: Y Y Y, Y Y B, Y B B, B B B, B B R etc.. A sequence can also be a warp or weft structure.

If you would like stripes see: stripes

* In Sheep to Shawl at the Washington State Fair the weft is produced the day the shawl is made, so tends to be the same color. A tip the weavers heard from a judge is to use the color of the weft for the warp floating selvages. It makes a nice edge and the weft and warp bury down in together. In “Let’s talk color” they used this idea when there were color changes in the weft and they have other related tips when the weft changes color. Check out:
lets-talk-color

For more ideas on good selvages see:
improve-weaving-selvedges

* Tamie said she swore by weaving programs when designing for Sheep to Shawl. If you are interested in using computer programs talk with Carrie about what is happening in the Weaving Design Software Study Group.

* Two person warping is a great practice and can catch errors early in the process. Invite a friend to help and have a warping party. Wine after warping is recommended.

* Did you enjoy the oatmeal black walnut cookies in February? Someone did and the let the Tip Jar know.

TEN DOZEN OATMEAL COOKIES

2 cups shortening
2 cups brown sugar
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
3 cups flour
2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. soda
6 cups quick-cooking rolled oats
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Beat shortening, sugars, eggs and vanilla until creamy. Add flour, salt and soda and mix thoroughly. Add oatmeal and nuts and mix. Form into rolls 1to 1-1/2 inches in diameter, about 12 inches long, and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill completely. Slice with sharp knife about 1/4 inch thick. Bake on non-greased cookie sheet at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes. Let cool slightly in pan, then remove to cooling rack.

Note: I use more nuts than called for. This time I made 1/2 the recipe and used 1 cup black walnuts. It is the black walnuts, as opposed to regular walnuts or pecans, that give the cookies their particular flavor. Sometimes I break the big batch into several smaller ones and add different things to each part, such as chocolate chips, raisins or date pieces. I think you can do pretty much whatever sounds good.

“Madrona Fiber Arts was started by fiber enthusiasts who wanted to bring great teachers to the Pacific Northwest. We love the camaraderie, creative energy, and the sharing that is generated among students and teachers by combining incomparable teaching, small classes and informal settings.”

http://madronafiberarts.com/

Retreat, Classes, Clinics, Demonstrations and more
The Yarn & Fiber Marketplace is Free and Open to the Public

2016 DATES AND TIMES:
Thursday, February 11th 8:30 am – 6:00 pm
Friday, February 12th 8:30 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday, February 13th 8:30 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday, February 14th 8:30 am – 2:00 pm

PLACE: IN THE PAVILION AT THE HOTEL MURANO at 1320 Broadway Plaza, Tacoma, Washington. From the hotel lobby take the stairs or elevator to the 4th floor and go out the large double doors, across a small courtyard, and into the Pavilion. Follow the signs!

Tapestry Artists of Puget Sound (TAPS) invites artists to submit their tapestries to PACIFIC TIME ZONE. Pacific Time Zone will hang at The Arts Center in Corvallis, OR (theartscenter.net) from August 18 – September 20, 2016.

Details at http://tapestryartists.org/pacific-time-zone/

Power Scour was recommended for cleaning fleece. Look for it at some of our advertisers like http://www.paradisefibers.com/unicorn-power-scour.html and a little tea tree oil cuts grease.
For a review of cleaning fiber products see http://yookiwool.myshopify.com/blogs/yookiwool-blog/17674572-wool-wash-review-unicorn-kookaburra-eucalan-soak

Adding Sizing to single ply use Xanthin gum For detailed instructions See page 109 of “The Spinner’s Book of Yarn Design”, by Sarah Anderson our presenter, available in the OWG Library and the Timberland Library.

Looking forward to hearing more TIPs from the workshops Sarah Anderson taught.

Thanks go to Marjorie sending out the great pointers for putting writing in your weaving.

Other requests came in and are in research.