YEA!
The beginning of our official fiscal year with a new round of programs and activities.
August is the month to renew your dues: $25 per person, of which $5 goes directly to CNCH to help, among other things, to fund conferences, CNCH Net, and the insurance that covers us at meetings. [CNCH is the head organization that oversees all its member guilds in Northern Ca.]
Speaking of programs, we have had some great ideas and follow-throughs, but always welcome more ideas for the rest of the year. Let it be known what you come up with or what you would like to see. Some of our programs this year will feature using our carders and combs, not just the nitty-gritty, but also how to come up with great fiber batts and roving ready for spinning.
SOMETHING TO WORK ON RIGHT NOW:
For the August Meeting
LITTLE WOOLLY SHEEP
A charity project in Britain at "Yarndale 2016" a sheep and all things fiber festival.
Following is from their site:
We are really excited to tell you about our idea for Yarndale 2016, which as you’ve probably gathered by now has something to do with little Woolly Sheep! The auction mart in Skipton where Yarndale is held each year is a very busy place indeed and for most of the year it is inhabited by farmers and their animals. In fact, just three days before our exhibitors arrive with all their beautiful yarny stuff, the pens are chockablock full of real live woolly sheep. It was this truly woolly connection that inspired our project this year – we decided that we would like to create our very own flock of sheep! Baaaaaaaaa!!!
We have both a crochet and a knitting pattern to share with you this year – both versions feature little woolly animals made from natural coloured yarn, with colourful woolly jumpers that can be removed. The sheep are made from small amounts of Double Knit yarn and stand just 8cm tall, making them quick and easy to make (and just a teensy bit addictive, you’ve been warned).
As in previous years, this creative project means a huge amount to us here at Yarndale. It’s a way for us all to celebrate our shared love of yarn and the wonderful creative community we belong to. We feel it is a unique way for us to bring people together via crochet and knitting, to celebrate yarn and colour and to enable each one of us to be a part of something really big and beautiful and visually inspirational. It is our hope that we will be herding together hundreds of sheep from all over the world this summer, we are more than a little bit excited at the prospect!
In addition to the visual impact we are hoping to create with our giant yarny flock at Yarndale, we are thrilled to be working in collaboration with our chosen charity Martin House Hospice. We have supported the work of Martin House for the past two years by donating a percentage of sales from our lovely Yarndale calendars, so we have seen what a difference it makes to this local charity to have our support. The wonderful ladies from Martin House will be helping us keep our woolly sheep in order during the Yarndale weekend and will be running the Grand Sheep Sale which will take place from 12 – 4pm on Sunday 25th September. More details about the sheep sale will be available nearer the time, and it goes without saying we would truly appreciate all the support you can give us.
Q :: What will happen to the sheep?
A :: All donated sheep will be lovingly numbered, catalogued and photographed before being herded up ready for their big outing at Yarndale. The woolly flock will be displayed during the Yarndale weekend, culminating in a Grand Sheep Sale which will take place from 12pm to 4pm on Sunday 25th September 2016. Proceeds from the sheep sale will go to Martin House Hospice, a very deserving Yorkshire based charity which supports and cares for terminally ill children and their families. A donation will also be made to the Children’s Liver Disease Foundation as requested by Frankie Brown, with gratitude for her support of this project. After Yarndale, the remaining sheep will be rounded up and divided between ten high street charity shops in Yorkshire. These shops are run by Martin House who are very excited about having some sheep in residence, although we do hope they will soon find loving homes whilst raising money for a very good cause.
This is VERY IMPORTANT >>> please can we ask that each person makes just ONE WOOLLY SHEEP to enter into the Grand Sheep Sale. Only ONE per person please.
Q :: What type of yarn would you like me to use?
A :: Any yarn you like! We’ve found that wool or wool blend yarn gives great results for this project, but any oddments of DK yarn will be fine. [DK weight is "light worsted" between a worsted and sport weight. 21 - 24 stitches per 4 inches]
Q :: Where can I find patterns for the crochet and knitted sheep?
A :: We have two patterns to share…..
“Sheep in Sheep’s Clothing” is a knitting pattern designed by Frankie Brown. You can find it as a free download on Frankie’s Ravelry page: HERE The pattern contains plenty of photos to help you knit and make up your little sheep.
“Little Woolly Sheep” is a crochet pattern designed by Lucy of Attic24. You can find a full picture tutorial as well as a PDF pattern to download on Lucy’s blog http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/woolly-sheep.html [the pattern to download is at the very bottom of the tutorial - scroll down]
Q :: What needle/hook size shall I use?
A :: Details of all materials needed are contained within the patterns. You will need some oddments of DK weight yarn (preferably wool or wool blend). Hook size is 3.5 mm. Needle size is 3 mm.
Q :: What size should my finished sheep measure?
A :: The woolly sheep stand approximately 8 cm tall, but really the size doesn’t matter too much and we are expecting lots of unique and individual animals! The important thing is to aim for a reasonably tight tension so that the knit/crochet fabric will contain the stuffing and your sheep will hold it’s shape well.
Q :: What colours should I use, and can I add decorative touches to my sheep?
A :: Please be creative and use whichever colours float your boat! We’ve made our sheep in natural sheep colours but colourful sheep will also be welcome. The woolly jumpers can be decorated if you wish too – crochet/knit stripes, add decorative embroidery, buttons or little motifs – have fun with it!
CNCH ASILOMAR 2017
If you haven't already heard: CNCH 2017 "Sapphire Sea, Golden Threads" will take place at Asilomar Conference Center in Pacific Grove, California May 4 - 7, 2017. This is a workshop format conference: all teachers will be teaching 2 1/2 day workshops. Conference attendees will stay at the Asilomar conference center and all meals will be included. Check CNCH.org and the Conference Facebook Page www.facebook.com/CNCH2017/ for updates.
Many of the instructors are new to the West Coast and are teaching very exciting workshops.
CNCH 2017 Teacher List – Workshop Titles - Teacher Websites
Deanna Deeds http://www.fiberartisan.com
The Unwoven Warp: Layering Sprang on a Woven Cloth (twill)
Donna Sakamoto Crispin http://donnacrispin.blogspot.com/
Shifu Journey: Spinning and Weaving Mulberry Paper and More
Elisabeth Hill http://plainweave.net
Shifting Threads – Structures That Defy the Parallel and Perpendicular
Giovanna Imperia http://giovannaimperia.com
Weaving with Non-Traditional Materials
-- An Exploration of unusual, innovative and just simply funky yarns
Karen Huntoon http://www.whatabraid.com
Kumihimo – Japanese Braiding, Beading and Beyond
Annetta Kraayvelt http://www.prairiewoodbasketry.com
Basketry: Chase Twills
Kate Larson https://katelarsontextiles.com
Spinning Spectacular Knitting yarns
Barbara Setsu Pickett
Colorhue Instant Silk Dyeing and Printing
Lois Russell http://loisrussell.com
New Uses of an Ancient Basketry Technique – Twining
Beth Smith http://bethsmithspinning.com
Spinning: Princess Breeds – Turbo-Charged [you get to wear a TIARA! if you like]
Robyn Spady http://www.spadystudios.com
Tied up in a Magical Box – Tied Weaves and Tied Weave Threadings
Betty Vera http://bettyvera.com
More Than Just Black and White: Weaving Beautifully with Neutrals
Mary Zicafoose http://maryzicafoose.com
Color, Content & Creativity: New Strategies for New Work in Cloth
DATES FOR YOUR CALENDAR
2016
2016
- August 24, Treadles Meeting [date change-one week early]
- Sept. 18, Berkeley Horticultural Nursery Show - Info below
- Sept. 29, Treadles Meeting [date change- Thursday]
- Oct. 27, Treadles Meeting [date change- Thursday]
- Nov. 29, Treadles Meeting [date change - Tuesday]
Berkeley Horticultural Nursery will be hosting the 3rd Annual Nevada County Fiber Arts Trunk Show on Sunday, September 18 from 10AM until 3PM. Artists from Nevada County will be displaying their beautiful homegrown and handmade items, with a presentation at 10:30 by Sierra Mohr, who will talk about and demonstrate the art of wet felting. New to the show will be additional artists including a rug weaver and an alpaca breeder who will be sharing fiber, roving and other alpaca items. To add to the fun, there will also be a couple of food vendors and live music by the Buffalo Gals, who will be playing their brand of old-time country and swing beginning at 12:00.
More information will be available at our Facebook event page soon:
END NOTE: Maybe we'll see this rare nine-legged bird on the beach at Asilomar?!