Home spin February

Fay finished this knee rug - love the colours

Hilda was sorting some alpaca fibre that she dyed

And I think this was some silk that she is going to blend in

I am spinning some of Leo's gilled Merino

March Meeting

Jayne has been busy spinning some Merino/Alpaca from Ashfords

the colour is Rosehip - very pretty and beautifully soft

She has finished her third jersey like this and hopes it is her last!! for a while!

Some of Jayne's Halfbed  spun and navajo plied

Pamela felted and made these slippers for Barbara - just right for the winter

She also knitted these socks and will soon be making another pair :-)

She has been a busy lady because she also spun, dyed and knitted this cardigan

Not her favourite pattern - it took rather a lot of concentration

Vida dyed some of her Alpaca  - all of these were dyed using the same amount of dried flax pods and every one is different!

We have a few sensory bands underway ready for our open day

Carol James

The Sashweaver

Carol James is in New Zealand from Canada and spent the afternoon telling us about how she got into first - finger weaving and then sprang braiding.

It was a fascinating insight into some of the history of the crafts and her own personal story, her enthusiasm was obvious and infectious with most of us eager to give it a go

She brought along several items to demonstrate what could be achieved

Here are two bags made from some finger woven fabric, the fabric was originally used to make sashes worn by men around their waist for various practical reasons and also later for ceremonial use.

This was how Carol got the name 'The Sashweaver'

Sprang is a different technique that produces a very elastic fabric

Here it has been made into socks

A scarf - the original width of the fabric can be seen in the bands worked at either end and the elasticity in the body of the scarf is amazing

Another beautiful sprang scarf - when colours are used they travel vertically down the work

mini sprang vests showing the versatility of the fabric and the range of patterns that can be achieved

The same style of sprang used to create a bonnet and drawstring purse

Gloves - one constructed and felted from one piece and the other deconstructed

A fun piece - a misers purse

finger weaving can be three dimensional - here creating a ruffled neck piece

A traditional style finger woven sash

Same technique made into a scarf

and another using chunky yarn

A bag made from finger woven fabric

If you are interested to hear more about Carol's work she has a web site - http://sashweaver.com/

and there are also several youtube videos

See you all at the open day