NOBO Handweavers

Author Linda Heinrich published “The Magic of Linen: Flax Seed to Woven Cloth” in 1992.  This priceless reference on linen has been out of print and if one could even locate a copy offered for sale, it was generally priced in the hundreds.  Now Heinrich has published the long awaited updated version “LINEN: From Flax Seed to Woven Cloth“.

If you have any interest in linen whatsoever, I would highly recommend getting a copy of this in your hands. I have been on a pre-order list since May and just received my copy  (publication dates kept getting deferred).  I have only glimpsed through the over 200 pages of text, charts, photos (old & new), illustrations, drafts, endnotes, bibliography…. It is enough to take your breath away.  I cannot imagine a more complete study of this fiber.

All USA rare sheep breeds are now covered in our table runner exchange.  Aside from the three hair breeds, nine fleece breeds have been “adopted” by weavers (and some spinners) and all fibers have been sourced!

As a review – the agreed upon size for the runner is 18″ x 48″.  Only the natural color(s) of the sheep should be used in the runner.  However, the design and weave structure is entirely up to the weaver.  The deadline has been extended into 2011 and we will discuss an actual deadline date at our next guild meeting.

Relax amongst the alpacas for our annual

Spin/Weave/Knit-In and Fiber Sale

Saturday, September 18, 2010

12:00 – 5:00

(Rain date, Sunday, September 19th)

In addition to your wheel, loom, needles, and fiber, please bring your lunch and a chair.

Parker River Alpaca Farm and Wildest Dreams Alpaca Farm

www.pralpacas.com

114 Orchard Street, Byfield, MA

Directions: The farm is very easy to find and is just a minute off of Rte 95.  From Rte. 95, take exit 55, Central St, Byfield.  Follow the sign to So. Byfield (east on Central St.).  In 6/10 of a mile, take a left onto Orchard St.  The farm is 6/10 mi. on your left, 114 Orchard St.

From Newburyport/Newbury:  From Route 1, take Middle Rd (which is across from Dr. Grillo’s veterinary clinic and Holistic Family Practice).  Stay on Middle Rd. to STOP sign.  Stay to the right after STOP sign, you’ll then be on Orchard St.  Pass Newbury Perennial Garden on your left.  The farm is about 1/2 mile on your right, 114 Orchard St.

August 22, 2010:

Born in 1906, like all good little German girls in the early years of the 20th century, Else Regensteiner was
expected to learn and love needlework. Learn it, she did. Love it, she did not. She disliked it so much that she “invented” eye trouble in the hopes that a doctor would excuse her from classes in sewing, crochet, embroidery and tatting. That didn’t work; and she had to continue with the lessons throughout her public school years. However, as soon as she graduated high school, Else forgot all about needlework and went to work in her father’s law firm. Later on, she went to back to school to obtain a degree in education.

In 1936, Else and her husband immigrated to the United States to escape Nazi rule, settling in the Chicago area to be near family members. While attempting to find work, Else happened upon an apprenticeship program in the Weaving Department of the School of Design, which was founded on the German Bauhaus approach to teaching creative design for industry.

At the time she knew nothing of weaving, but accepted the position and adapted very quickly to the apprenticeship principles of function, design, beauty, and suitability for mass production; i.e. curtain and upholstery fabrics. This, in turn, lead to a lifetime of weaving, teaching, and writing three books on the subject. Among her numerous accomplishments, Else Regensteiner was a founding member of the Handweavers Guild of America and made a significant contribution to the weaving community by helping to promote weaving as a legitimate art.

We are fortunate to have two of Else Regensteiner’s books in our library: The Art of Weaving and Weaver’s Study Course, Ideas and Techniques. Both are well worth looking into.

At our next NOBO meeting on August 26th we are going to have a TRAVEL EXTRAVAGANZA. Everyone please bring your handwovens (fiber/tools/etc) from all corners of the globe to share. Perhaps share with us your travel experience, and pictures if you so choose. There are people assigned to bring snacks, if they are so inclined to bring food inspired from ethnic cuisines that would be wonderful, and if it isn’t your month to bring snacks but have an ethnic treat you’d like to share – please do!

Be prepared for a mini fiber vacation! Woot!