Guild Skillshare - Focus on alpaca

One of our activities in October was our Guild skillshare on alpaca.  This followed closely on the heels of our visit to the alpaca farm, where we saw the fibre in motion!

Understanding how to select the right fleece for the right project is a skill best learned by handling the fibre, whilst having different attributes explained in detail.  That was exactly what this session achieved, providing a depth of knowledge on different types, grades and uses.

Our committee and helpers had sourced a variety of alpaca fleeces, from the very good to the best put in the bin category.  This was a real boon to our newbies, as the more inexperienced often don't know how to tell what is good, average or poor other than price. 

Our volunteer tutors went through how to select a good fleece, how to prepare it and then onto some spinning to see what we could make.  A 5ft table covered in alpaca fleece is not to be sneezed at, unless of course, you're inclined that way.

To finish off, we were all allowed to take some samples home to play with at our leisure.  Hopefully, we'll get to see what all the fluff turns into in the near future.

Guild Skillshare - Spinning Techniques

There is a wide range of skill within the Guild, some of us are relative newbies, with more enthusiasm than skill, and others are professionals or have many years of experience to share. Whilst we share skill and experience, as well as a few giggles and cakes at every meeting, our Guild skillshares are hosted by an experienced member bravely volunteering to host a more formal session.

This September, we held a spinning technique session, hosted by one of our highly skilled spinners.  Our tutor had done a lot of preparation and didn't seem at all fazed by the sea of eager pupils.

Everybody came away having gained something valuable from the session - its all too easy to get stuck into a rut - so our tutor's idea was to teach us to spin what we want. 

Our tutor showed us several ways to draft, spin and determine the thickness.  We would be shown a new technique, with lots of questions answered, and then sent off to play.

After spinning, came plying,  Again many different techniques to get a different outcome.

Below a before and after from one of our newbies ...



Two ply - thick and thin

Navajo ply - a firm DK/Aran

We only tapped into a little of our tutor's knowledge, so we're hoping for another session in the near future to expand on what we learned.  Hint, hint ......

Lazy August Days

August seemed to be our month for getting out and about.  Firstly, our visit to the alpaca farm, kindly hosted by the farm owners.  For some, this was the first time they'd seen the fibre on the hoof.  For all, I think it was a lovely evening to be spinning in the late sunshine, surrounded by countryside and some rather curious alpacas.  Many thanks to our kind hosts for allowing us to come and play.

 

Our second outing was to our Guild friend's farm, where we got to ply and play in a lovely farmhouse. Anytime our host would like some house sitters, there is a list ....  thank you for having us.  Everybody brought goodies to eat at both outings, so we went home well rested and fed.  Speaking of which, what first appeared to be Tutankhamun's packed lunch turned out to be some natural dyeing in progress.



2015 Fibre East

also known as "a River ran through it"

The Guild was out in force this year for Fibre East.  As we have for the past couple of years, we manned a stand in the Have a Go tent to demonstrate what the Guild does to the public at large.

Our stand was a collection of work by the group, thoughtfully arranged by the stand team.  Each year we have a wide range of beautiful things created by the Guild to display.  Much thought goes into planning attendance at these events, from what we will display and how, to manning the demonstration and have a go area.

Both days were very busy with queues at points with folk waiting patiently to have a turn or to speak to one of our members. 

The centrepiece for our display was our group project, this year a shibori dyed kimono.  Rather like putting the display and demonstrations together, there was a lot of work done behind the scenes to get this ready to roll.

Click here or on the image below to see our photo gallery from the day.

The floor here isn't shiny, that is the small river running through.  The weather was against us, particularly on the Saturday.  At the end of each day, everyone was glad to move about to warm up.  Despite this, the two days were a great success!

Out and about

Bletsoe Village Fete

A small contingent headed off to the village fete this year, not only setting up a very good display but gamely demonstrating for the public all day.  Good weather helped to make a very enjoyable day.

Guild Skillshare - Dyeing Workshop

Natural, Synthetic and Solar Dyeing

In May, we held a Guild skillshare with a focus on dyeing. Drawing on the depth of experience and skill available to us within the Guild, our tutors prepared a full programme for our session. There was lots to play with, looking at dyeing reds, indigo and synthetic dyes, as well as setting up solar dye jars.

Our volunteers had put a lot of work into preparing the day, from creating dyes and samples, to our attendees making mini skeins to dye.  We had three natural red dyes, madder, buckthorne bark and cochineal.  We also had an indigo dyebath to dye the shibori squares for the kimono, but then we were let loose on this as well.

 

2015 Guild Project

The Shibori Kimono

This year we decided to do a collective project to make a kimono using shibori dyeing.  Our first session involved learning the preparation involved and different techniques for creating resist for the dye. We learned how to prepare squares for shibori, folded, tied and sewn, in preparation for indigo dyeing at our May meeting  when we are having a Dyeing Workshop.  There was even homework available for anyone who wanted to do more squares at home, in the end we had about 26 ready for dyeing.

The range of ideas came out in force as you can see from this sneak peek of the end product.  After all our hard work, kind volunteers took our efforts away to create the end product.  

An awful lot of work went into creating the final kimono.  Perhaps a good way to judge the end result was by the number of volunteers who were willing to "look after" it. :)