Whorled News

The Newsletter of the Carson Sierra Spinners and Weavers

           January 2008

  Whorled News is a bimonthly, published six times a year on odd months.

---

Carson Sierra Spinners & Weavers  2120 Ives Ave Reno NV 89503 Web Site: http://www.scs.unr.edu/~ashannon/cssw

Sharon Campbell, Editor (775) 846-9095 (cell) (775) 969-3121 (long distance) institches@rtci.net

Officers:

President: Heidi Erickson (775) 322-4790
VP: Kathleen Sensenig (775) 359-3764
Secretary: Connie Vann (775) 775-827-4218
Treasurer: Doris Woloszyn, (530) 993-4296

Whorled News is a bimonthly, published six times a year on odd months.

January 12th Guild Meeting  is at the Armory in Carson City.  Here are the details from Linda Lindsay:

HIYA! The January 12^th meeting will be held at Carson City Armory. If you’re coming from Reno, go south on 395 until the freeway runs out at Hiway 50. Turn left and go east until you get to Graves Lane. The Slotworld Casino will be on your right. Turn right on Graves and continue THROUGH the Roundabout up the hill. The State Prison will be on the right. Just past the Prison is the Main Gate for the Armory. You will have to stop at the gate and show ID (Drivers License is fine). The Main entrance to the Armory is the door where the flagpoles are. Once again, you’ll have to show ID and sign in. Go through the three doors on the right, and all the way across the Armory Floor. We’ll be meeting in the Dining Room.

From Dayton/Fallon/Fernley, go west on Hiway 50 until you get to Graves Lane, (Slotworld), turn left, and continue as above.

From Gardnerville/Minden, go north on 395 until you get to Fairview. The Railroad Museum will be on your left. Turn right on Fairview and head uphill until the road curves left. The Main Gate to the Armory will be on your left, just past the curve. Watch out for the first driveway, it’s not the right one. Continue until you get to the gate with the Guard shack.

The January Learning Tree will be about Knitting Machines. I’ll have plenty of yarn to play with, but if you’d like to bring your own sock yarn for space dying, please bring only about 4-5 oz, and have it pre-wound into a ball. Knitting Machines don’t like to play with skeined yarn, they prefer coned or balled. I’ll have 3-4 machines available for use, but if you have a knitting machine hiding under your bed, bring that too, and I’ll try to help you get it up and running.

This meeting is Brown Bag.

 

February 9^th Guild Meeting location is Bartley Ranch and is Potluck. 

Drive .8 mile west from the intersection of McCarran Blvd and Hwy 395.  Turn left (south) on Lakeside Drive and continue .4 mile.  Bartley Ranch is at the north base of Windy Hill.  Turn left on Bartley Ranch Road and continue several hundred feet to the main parking lot.  This meeting is Potluck.

 

November 2007 CSSW Minutes

The meeting was called to order by Kathleen Senseing.

Those in attendance included:  Mariann LaMorte, Doris Woloszyn, Sue Gottsacker, Judy Wells, Nancy Pryor, Eileen Jacobs, Marilyn Clarke, Mim Bullard, Amy Shannon, Lauren and Kathleen Sensenig, Angie Evenden, Janet Schueller, Laura Cunningham, Linda Loken,  Sharon Woolley, Monique Giron, Mary Anne Christiansen, Becky Pennington, Polly Holmes, Ulla Yandell, Mary Bayer, Janet Drozd, Linda Lindsay, Kristen Schnepel, Virva Porcelli, Calista Snyder and five children, Rachel and Mai Girard, and Madeline Finch. Introductions were made for all present.

Treasurer’s Report was read and approved. It was moved and seconded that Doris can buy required supplies (postage, stationery etc) as needed.

Minutes for the last meeting were waived. As there was no secretary available, Linda Lindsay volunteered to take minutes.

First order of business was the Fair.

• Amy reported that the next Fair will run from 20 to 24 August, 2008.

• Changes to classes are required to be sent to the Fair Organizers by the end of this month.

• There will be no Fiber Auction this year, as last year’s auction was disappointing. It was suggested that a bulletin board be put up instead.

• Marilyn Clarke suggested that we highlight a specific breed for the display. It was moved and seconded that the rare breed be Tunis. Becky Pennington volunteered to help provide the wool.

• We will also showcase Primitive Breeds again, and keep the Nevada Grown Category.

• It was suggested that we add a Cotton, Linen, and Bast fiber Category.

• A Novice Category and Junior Spinner Contest were discussed. It was decided that more discussion is required. It was also suggested that a Novice/Junior Display be created instead, with Participant Ribbons instead of prizes.

• The Spinning Contest was discussed, and we decided to play it by ear for the next Fair, as that contest is not a part of the Fair Book anyway.

Nancy Pryor is still talking with Stephanie about a Spinning Workshop.

A Natural Dyeing Workshop was brought up, probably with Marilyn Clarke, possibly in May or June. It would be held outside, and 5-6 burners would be available.

The Learning Tree for the meeting was scheduled to be a Deb Chandler Video, dressing looms, and weaving. The membership would be broken down into two groups, one weaving and one warping, and then switch.  The January Learning Tree will be Fiber Preparation. Linda Loken was asking for subjects for next years Learning Tree, and making a list of requests.

Show and Tell.            

• Nancy Pryor showed an extremely finely spun skein of singles, two scarves, and a warp dyed with Rabbit Brush.

• Mary Bayer showed a sweater that she knitted for a very young man of her acquaintance.

 

December, 2007 - CSSW Minutes

Welcome:

Introductions:  Several guests in-attendance.

Approve the Minutes:  Linda Lindsey took the Minutes at the November Meeting.  They are on their way to the Newsletter.  Thanks to Linda for filling in!

Treasurer’s Report:  $1,514.45.  Membership runs Jan-thru-Dec.  Members are encouraged to pay ‘08 dues.  $15/yr basic package.  $20/yr inclusive of mailed Newsletter, received bi-monthly. 

Learning Tree Report:  January Meeting features Linda Lindsey demonstrating knitting machines at the Armory Building in Carson City.  Maps will be furnished on the CSSW website.  Bring yarn to be used in the demonstration.  Linda Loken will have the ‘08 Learning Tree Calendar put together for the January Meeting.

Elections ‘08:  Current elected officers were asked if they would care to continue, as were the appointed officers.  All agreed to go on, however Amy Shannon will not be present during State Fair ‘08.  Kathleen Sensenig also announced that she will be moving to Pennsylvania about 6 months from now.

Newsletter Report:  Sharon Campbell says that the posed questions are helping members come up with something to add to the bi-monthly publication.  She hopes this will continue, and thanks members for those articles sent-in.

Fiber Friends List:  Connie Vann discussed further details re: finalizing the list.  Members will be asked individually if they’d like to be listed, what their expertise(s) happen to be, how they like to be contacted (in-person, by phone, by email), and if they would like to be compensated $$.  Once completed, the list will be printed up for members in rough draft form, and will be subject to change on a continuing basis.  This is because the circumstances of members continually change, and being listed is voluntary.  The list is intended to be a simple tool for assisting members, both new and old, in finding their way around a rapidly-growing organization, and expediting their own learning process(es).

Fiber Workshops Report:  Nancy Pryor announced that the Dye Workshop will be held in May, at Marilyn Clarke’s home, on a day other than meeting day.  A signup sheet was passed around.  This will be a 2-day workshop, featuring instruction in red, yellow, and blue, with variations thereof.  Small skeins of yarn will be provided.  Cost-per-participant will be announced.  There will be another September Workshop with Stephanie.  However, particulars need to be locked in.

Retreat:  Toni Pierce announced that she will reserve space at Davis Creek for our Guild Meeting Day in September ’08.

Spin-Off Contest:  Mim Bullard still needs volunteers for judging, and other jobs.  Starts inn February and continues through mid-March.  Should be a neat learning experience.  Sharon Campbell and Toni Pierce volunteered, with Linda Loken on-reserve.

Guild Equipment:  Amy Shannon will check website to see if the old list of equipment is still included.  If not, a new list will need to be made.  Members currently storing equipment must bring in a list to the January Meeting, and see Doris.  Marilyn Clarke researched the cost of a 5’ x 5’ storage unit w/o insurance.  ($60/mo.)  Problems with temperature changes, humidity, and security.  Question raised:  How does CSSW pay $720/yr?  Should CSSW look for volunteers to store items at-home instead?

Amy’s Messages:  “Merry Christmas” from Wayne Jesko

                               Doris Hoskins holds Wayne Jesko’s roving to sell.

                               Eileen Hickey says “Merry Christmas from Texas!”

Scarf Project:  Has been voted on.  Details still to be worked out and specified in time for State Fair ’08.

Show ’n Tell:

• Heidi E. - New Pathways for Sock Knitters book.

• Marilyn C. - 3 skeins of naturally-dyed yarn in 3 colors.

• Linda Lindsey - announced a source for locally-built spinning wheels.  Workmanship very fine.  She hopes to bring Mr. to a meeting so members can meet him.

• Mim - a felted purse, nuno-felted scarf.

• Linda Loken - handwoven scarf from workshop at last meeting, made by participating members.

• Amy Shannon - 3 knitting books, a ripple-stitch scarf knitted side-to-side, a blue fuzzy hat she space-dyed, and 2 pine needle baskets made at a recent Nevada Museum of Art workshop.

• Nancy P. - a jacquard-loomed bedspread her ancestor spun, dyed with madder, and loomed in 1854, a throw she spun and wove 20 years ago, the (finished) Sheep-to-Shawl piece, and a hand knit cardigan knitted in-         the-round-from-the-hip-up.

• Mary- news of a sweater she knitted for a child which fit perfectly.  Also, news that Washoe Co. School District plans to hire her.

• Visiting child - a doll scarf she made on a round loom.

• Melanie Carr - got a job in Elko, and will have 5 acres of land at her new residence.

• Libby Hejny - 2 skeins of homespun wool - merino and Dorset.

Adjourn for Lunch:  Potluck.

Workshop:  None planned for today.

 

Question:  What are your fiber-related ambitions for the coming year?

Mary:  I have several major goals for the coming fiber year. 

1)  I want to take a smallish (4 pounds about)fleece and do everything from the washing of the fiber, dyeing if that is to be, carding it somehow (hopefully on a super carder since I need to use an electric one) all the way to the finishing touches of making it into a sweater for me.

2)  I also want to knit a cardigan sweater based on Knitting in the Old Way with steeks for the sleeves and the front opening.  This may also be part of goal one. 

3) I also want to spin a more consistently sized and plied yarn.  I made progress this year, but am hoping to get more help in one of the Stephanie workshops to meet that goal faster than I would on my own. I am going to try knitting with smaller needles like a 4-6 to get a more stable fabric. I want to do a top down pullover with a lower neckline in the front than the back and a tighter ribbing that will hold its shape. 

4)And I hope to be doing this on a new set of laminated needles from Knit Pics.  I will order one and give it a try, but in looking at the one at the meeting, and emailing back and forth with friends on the Internet, I think I will like them. 

That will be a full plate with starting a new job, but we will see how far I get  along the continuum.  That is probably enough for 5 years, not just one.

Becky Pennington:  I am going to learn how to do Irish Crocheted Lace with my handspun. I just discovered it, it is the absolutely most beautiful crochet I have ever seen, if you get a chance, Google it. 

Janet Drozd:  Finish some UFOs!

Helen McFarlane:  My fiber ambitions for the coming year are to sell all my fleeces!   I have about three dozen beautiful Icelandic fleeces in my shed- all skirted and weighed, and I would like to see them put to good use! 

Nancy Grundy:  Because of my advancing age I plan to reduce some of my stash even if I have to sneak some of into my dog's bed.

Connie Vann:  My fiber-related ambitions for 2008 are to (a) spin with intent, (b) warp my loom and start weaving, (c) create an unusual scarf for the Scarf Project, (d) learn more about natural dyeing, (e) create a trunk show of handmade items on the web (f) help new members of CSSW plug-in with the Fiber Friends List.  There are more, still in the conceptual stage.  Only so many hours in a day...

Nancy Pryor:  My fiber goals for the coming year are 1)  Finally get my looms set up after 4 years in storage.  Especially  the tapestry loom.  As I have many tapestries planned.  I am working on the cartoons now.  2)  Complete some handwoven garments that have been in my imagination for some time.  3)Share my love of textiles with more people, especially all of the fantastic members of our guild.  4)  Do all that is possible to help our wonderful guild thrive.  If that isn't enough, too bad.  Sounds like enough to me.

Sharon Campbell:  I’d like to weave something from mill-spun yarns – maybe dishtowels??

Virva Porcelli:  My fiber-related ambitions for the coming year?  Now this is a subject I can relate to. I definitely have some fiber-goals for this coming year. And I have a whole year to accomplish them, which makes it even better. 

1)  The biggest one is almost like "Sheep-to-Shawl". I want to take a project - weaving or knitting - and go all the way from the fleece to the finished product.  I have already picked out the knitting pattern, a beautiful but simple cardigan. I am not worried about the knitting part, I have been knitting for ages.  I bought a beautiful black Merino fleece from Laura Cunningham in November Spinners' meeting and have already washed it, teased most of it and carded about half of it once.  So, I am on my way with the fleece already.  Then comes the fun part, the spinning. This is the part I am most concerned of and afraid of.  How should I spin it, make it 2-ply? Am I going to be able to spin it thin enough to ply and be able to knit? Spin it woolen or kind of woolen/worsted ? I am more comfortable with short draw as of right now. So woolen, I really have to practice on the long draw. It is the spinning which is going to be the tricky part, my challenge for this coming year. But then, of course, I have a great bunch of soul mates to guide me along and ask for help and advice.

2)  My second goal is to learn to spin Penelope's fiber, my little (or maybe not so little, she weighs about 6 1/2 lbs) French Angora bunny and knit something from that.  3)  The third goal is to start using my looms more. I have found some great weaving patterns for jackets and other simple, not-much-sewing clothes. But first I'd better get more familiar with my loom and weave some towels or place mats.  4)  And then I want to learn to crochet some socks. I always hated to knit them but loved to wear woolen socks and Libby said she has some crochet sock patterns.

So, that is going to be my other fiber/spinning project for the year.

Boy, I could just keep going and going. The longer I write, the more projects keep popping up in my mind. So, I'd better finish for now and concentrate on these once.  Hope everybody had Happy Holidays and the Santa was generous with the fibers this Christmas.

 

 Spindle Awakenings                                                                                                  Sharon Campbell

I joined the guild oh so many years ago after being invited by Lisa Jones in an email.  We both belonged to the same online knit list, and when she saw the .reno. in my email address, she sent me the information for the next guild meeting, which was in Hazel Ryland’s weaving studio in Carson City.  I still was of the mind that it didn’t make much sense to spin yarn when you could buy perfectly good yarn in a store.  I think what drew me back to the following meetings was the relationship between the members – I wanted to be part of that.  After several months I located a drop spindle online at Carolina Handspun, when it was still in Virginia.  It was a 3 ounce Louet and all it would do was drop.  I took it to the next meeting, which was at Nancy Grundy’s house, and received plenty of help and sympathy.  I asked Allison if she had started on a drop spindle and she said, that she had indeed purchased one first, and about twenty minutes later, bought a wheel.  That’s the path I took and drop spindling dropped from my mind.

I had noticed how adept Nancy is with her drop spindle and she does it so effortlessly.  Then Amy got bit by the bug and finally, I couldn’t help notice how Heidi would wander around after meetings with her spindle and visit.  I could visit or I could spin, but it’s pretty hard to do both when you’re tethered to a spinning chair.  Mostly, I didn’t ever want to go through the frustration that had been my initial experience when spinning on my wheel is so satisfying.

Amy and I were having lunch with Allison one day this fall.  She had already told me that she was bringing my belated birthday present, but I wasn’t prepared for it to a drop spindle!  And I certainly didn’t know how to react.  I already knew I didn’t want to learn, but Allison jumped up from her chair, came over and was instantly spinning yarn.  She commented on the craftsmanship and performance.  I was still stunned.  Amy is a teacher, and with some brief, well-directed instruction, I began to make yarn, and the spindle didn’t drop.  Within minutes I was hooked, so to speak.  I have since purchased two more, and because of a defect in my birthday spindle, it has to go back to the woodcrafter so Amy has loaned me one in the interim.  I brought my spindle to the last guild meeting and I found that I too can visit and spin – at the same time. 

 

The Learning Tree                                                                                                                 Linda Loken

We are so excited about the Learning Tree this year.  Not just for what we bring to our members, but for what the experiences teach all of us.  We have had some learning experiences in 2007, beyond the basic topics of the class that tell us we are ready for more!  When members of the guild were interviewed for topics they are interested in covering, a couple of things were clear – we want more and we want greater participation.

Alright....here it comes! We are also trying to incorporate more flexibility in the schedule so that we don't rule out doing what everyone really wants to be doing in favor of a CALENDAR!  Such creative people can hardly be content with the restraints of a calendar.  So for this year we are going to have targets of interest as opposed to hard scheduled, way out in the future, events.  We will schedule out a couple months ahead of time and maybe some whacko dates out there that we need to commit to in order to line the person that wants to teach up with the people that want to learn.

Hope that's not too fuzzy for you.  If it is, let me know and if enough people object, we can always go back to the way we used to do it. 

For January, we are lucky to have the seriously enthusiastic, hard to deny, energy of Linda Lindsay dedicated to sharing her passion (and I mean PASSION!) for knitting machines with us.  Thanks to all for agreeing to assemble at the Armory in Carson so that Linda will be able to have everything all set up for us (are we lucky or what!) when we arrive at the January meeting so that she can get right to it and kinda go over the nuts and bolts of it to acquaint us with the endless potential of a knitting machine.  Don't forget to bring some yarn to give it a shot yourself.  We want hands on participation so that we all learn and grow and get the bug to try new things.

Speaking of new things...we are privileged to have Allison all lined up to show us another fascinating aspect of the knitting world at our February meeting.  Allison is going to share with us a unique technique of knitting referred to as “Portuguese” Knitting.  Well, I'm no dummy, but honestly I haven't got much idea what that means even though I can even find Portugal on a map – It's right by Spain, right? 

It's more of a technique for holding the yarn and positioning yourself as you knit, but I am going to leave it to Allison to share, for she has got the real story behind it all!  May be some folklore and stories to go with it even!  Maybe...I can't promise!

The targets of interest for the future (pending targets of interest) include the following:

• Spinning specialty yarns - boucle, core spinning, beads – hands on

• Fiber preparation -  washing, carding, combing – hands on

• Plying- regular, both ends of the ball, double, triple, Navajo – hands on

• Hand spindles – fundamentals, hands on help me do this kinda stuff

• Spinning different fibers –  Alpaca, Merino, Silk, Angora, Mohair, and man made stuff

• Tapestry weaving – Designing, warping, basic techniques – hands on

• Acid dyes, natural dyes, cool-aid dyes – We can't get enough!  Tell us more! Let’s do it!

• Spinning to specification – I wanna make ____, so how do I make myself spin like that?

• Spinning wheel maintenance – What to look for, do, think about, and how to fix

• Inkle loom – Overview of process with hands on exploration

• Tunisian Crotchet – Becky has got some Prize Winning ideas for us to try!

• Finishing techniques – We might have to do two of these...maybe three – one for knitting, one for weaving and maybe one for spinning.

• Knit Felting – I feel a sampler coming on!

• Needle Felting – Yet another call for experimentation!  Let's make something!

• Weaving – its complex, but we want everyone to try it any how!

 

CLASSIFIED ADS:  (A free service to our guild members.  Ads run four months unless otherwise requested)

2JP - Barn cleaning, FREE mohair fleeces, black and white, some white and a few red, A few wool fleeces, also free.   Merino wool/Angora rabbit blend socks.  Classic or Nordic(extra cushion) Very warm. Grey or cream colors.  Men's and ladies sizes.  Perfect gifts for anyone who works outside, skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, hunting or has poor circulation.  $16.00-$18.00 per pair.  Call Polly Holmes 775-577-2100 or email at holmes2jp@pyramid.net.

Instructions:   Spinning, knitting, crocheting and felting instruction available at my studio starting in January, 2008.  Beginners to more advanced, individuals or groups.  Wheel rentals available.  Email me with your needs or to obtain my class list.  Sorry, not handicapped accessible (private residence).  Also, Used and new books for sale covering spinning, knitting, weaving and dyeing.  Allison Judge  fiberist@sbcglobal.net or phone 544-3564

Markman Farm Dairy House Boutique, open Friday – Saturday, 12 pm – 5 pm, thru December 22.  716-325 Highway 395, Standish, Calif.  254-1011.  Tea Cozies, kitchen linens, handmade soap, bee balm, gifts, knitting patterns, handspun yarn, wool room, Jacob roving, raw fleece.  $100 gift certificate, door prize drawing August 25^th. 

Loom for Sale:  I have a LeClerc Nilus 45" 4 shaft loom for sale.  I also have the warping board, lease sticks, books, etc.  Attached it the advertisement for a new loom (retail value for new is $2390).  I would like $1500 for everything.  I live in Carson City and have no way to deliver the loom, so if anyone is interested in buying it, they will have to come to pick it up.  Donna - home - 775-882-8432; cell - 775-721-4158

 

Carson Sierra Spinners & Weavers

Our guild was formed in 1976 in an effort to create a resource for practicing and aspiring fiber artists in and near Carson City, Nevada.

Our goal is to:  Promote appreciation and knowledge of the fiber arts in our community through demonstrations, fairs, and other activities; provide a support network for fiber artists and enthusiasts in our area; Keep the fiber arts alive by encouraging others to take up spinning, weaving, knitting and other related arts; Support local and global fiber-related causes.

Meetings are normally held the 2nd Saturday of the month.  Plan to arrive after 10 a.m.; meetings are called to order at 11 am, with lunch and socializing afterwards.  Bring your spinning wheel, knitting or other handwork, and items for sharing. We welcome members and their guests at all levels of expertise.

Newsletter Submissions:  must be received no later than the last Wednesday of the month for inclusion in the next newsletter.  Submissions must be made in writing and sent by e-mail or snail mail by the deadline to Sharon Campbell, institches@rtci.net

Dues: Membership dues are $15.00 (without mailed copy of newsletter) or $20.00 per year if you select to receive the monthly newsletter via U.S. mail.  Membership runs from January to December.  Please provide your current email address when paying dues.  Send dues to: Doris Woloszyn at P.O. Box 229 Chilcoot, CA  96105, and make checks payable to Carson Sierra Spinners & Weavers.

Please Send Guild Correspondence to: 

Amy Shannon
2120 Ives Ave
Reno, NV 89503
ashannon@unr.edu

            RETURN TO CSSW MAIN PAGE