Sunday Wool Combing

We had another excellent meeting on Sunday, August 12th. - lots of attendees and a demonstration, by Bryn, of English wool combs.

The combs themselves, apart from being vicious in appearance and in fact, are beautifully designed for the job.  The accompanying stand is elegant and sturdy - which is obviously important as you don't want the combs shifting unexpectedly when you're using them.
Bryn gave a clear and well organised demonstration of the techniques required to produce a sliver of fine, combed yarn suitable for worsted spinning: starting by separating the locks of clean fleece and spraying with a mixture of olive oil and water; through loading the comb in its' stand, heating the second comb and then transferring the fleece from one comb to another in a series of elegant movements!  The combed fleece is then removed, "planked", returned to the comb and drawn through  the hole of a diz into a long thin strand of fibre.
Fascinating to watch, and - I am sure - very satisfying to do.

Planking the fibre.

Using the diz.

Friendship Day, April 8th. 2018

Our Friendship Day dawned fine and sunny, and grateful thanks are due to all the people who gave up the chance of a day in the garden to come and visit us in Betws yn Rhos.  We were delighted to see so many visitors, and particularly pleased to welcome several new members.
The hall was a hive of activity with spinning wheels whizzing and portable looms.... looming.  Once again, Chris Jukes-Bennett brought her stunning collection of drop spindles and demonstrated her supported spindles.  She also gave some useful tips on chain plying (a.k.a. "Navajo" plying) - I for one had never thought of trying it with a drop spindle.  We are looking forward to a full workshop with Chris in the near future.
Our display of work was bigger and better than ever before, with an emphasis on weaving.  The Guild Challenge on the theme of "triangles" attracted a modest number of entries, but the standard was very high.
A  new feature this year was a table displaying artisans' books, including Bryn's work for her Certificate of Achievement, which was universally admired.
As usual, there were plenty of opportunities for some retail therapy - from our own stash-and-equipment sale to the professional trade stands.  Thanks to Kath and Annie of Mam a Mi, Krithia of Anvil Pottery, Barbara Ennis and Kathryn Parry for providing such lovely things to tempt us.  And of course there was Jenni's now-traditional Tombola, which attracted a lot of business - one very lucky young lady won three prizes!

Many thanks are due to those who worked so hard to make sure the day ran smoothly.  Special thanks to Bryn and Jenni for all their hard work beforehand, during and after the day,  and - on the day itself - to Margaret; to Val and Edith on the sales table; Alan, Betty and Di in the kitchen, and all those who stayed behind to clear the hall and sweep up.

Before the crowds arrive...

Display of work, including Triangles.

.. and the usual Cake Picture.

Plying workshop with Katie Weston (Hilltop Cloud)

On our first Sunday meeting in 2018 we were delighted to see Katie Weston once more, this time for a workshop concentrating on that all-important step in yarn production - plying.  

Katie took us through all the stages of producing a consistently plied yarn, and provided excellent, clear tuition at each point of production.  We learned the difference between freshly spun singles and yarn which has been left to rest on the bobbin, and the usefulness of obtaining a "ply back sample" from the freshly spun yarn - and the importance of keeping it for reference!  We also discovered the miraculous regenerative powers of warm water on tired singles.

Katie touched on the use, or otherwise, of counting treadles while spinning and plying: those who already do it will continue, and those who don't need to won't. 

We plied our own yarn, and Katie's, and other people's (a bit daring); learned or revised "Andean" and chain (Navajo) plying; and finally some of us had a go at making a cable yarn.

This really was a brilliant day and we all - beginners and more experienced - learned a great deal.  Now we have no excuse for producing  underplied fluff, or overplied rope.....

Thanks to all who attended, and those who helped organise the day, and of course especial thanks to Katie for yet another excellent session.

Freshly spun and plied Blue Faced Leicester - the same fibre in each hank, but each hank is unique.

A simple way to demonstrate plying twist.

All agog...

Taking into account the importance of ply when knitting - twist will affect the drape of the finished garment, and the number of plies in the yarn will influence the effectiveness of lace or cable patterns.

Chain plying

Katie in action...

...And the traditional cake - sorry, biscuit - picture

up-to-date now?

I'm sorry for the gap in posting - I just haven't got around to it (if anyone has a round tuit, perhaps they could show me how to make one).
Also, I haven't been taking photographs:  we had a great time at Woodfest Wales at the end of July, lots of interest in our stand and so on, but I was too busy on the Saturday to take any pictures.  I did manage this one just before I went home:

Abergele Guild at Woodfest Wales.  It wasn't anything like this miserable during the day,

Last Sunday we met in Betws yn Rhos to spin and weave - on opposing sides of the room. The spinners commented on the lack of chat from the weavers.  Well, we were concentrating.  Hard.

Weaving in the red corner....

...and in the blue corner: spinning!

Jenny's little loom proved a bit of a challenge to warp for the first time:

but after a team effort, she got going and produced her first piece of weaving (and it was enviably even).

Note the smile!

Jenni and Edith were steaming ahead too, but my four shaft table loom took a bit more time.  (Update, Tuesday:  I am still denting the reed, and am about half way across.  It's linen at 12 ends per inch, so I think I'm excused the slow pace?)

Warp, with matching mug.

Look: in the background, Edith has already got her heddle threaded and is tying the warp on the front beam.  Nothing much happening in the foreground.

A good time was had by all - mostly.  We ought to admit to a certain amount of sighing and silent swearing and re-doing from the weavers, but everyone came away in an optimistic frame of mind.  I think.
Especial thanks are due to Paul for the outstanding Victoria sponge.  It was a real prize-winner, despite the alleged mix-up about the ingredients (I can't believe there was no baking powder in it).

Open Day 2017

The sun shone brightly on our first Open Day in Betws yn Rhos, and we really appreciated the spacious accommodation in the Community Centre.  Thanks to the hard work by Bryn and Jenni (Hilary and Alison being mostly elsewhere) stallholders, Guild members and visitors all had a good time, taking advantage of the free tea and cakes!
As always, we were pleased to welcome friends old and new from other local Guilds - thanks to them for coming.  Following recent (good) publicity we also met several members of the public who came along to see what we do.
We were sorry that our local drop spindle maker was unable to join us, but were able to gaze enviously at Chris Jukes's wonderful collection and marvel at her expertise during her demonstration.  Mandy Coates brought her baskets, Krithia brought wares from the Anvil Pottery and Glenys Snowdonia Wools brought her lovely yarns and knitting sundries.

A quiet moment in the hall

Betty enjoying the sunshine.

On-site advertising - bunting and banner.

Chris....

...and her collection.

Jenni and Shirley brought fibre from their flocks, and most of us contributed to the stash sale - thanks to Val and Edith for taking the money on our behalf.  We had a really good display of work by Guild members - weaving, spinning and dyeing all on view.  Jenni's tombola was a star attraction with Super Prizes, and it generated a staggering amount of money for our coffers.
All in all, an excellent day out.  Thank you to all who helped, and who attended.  Here's to next year!
AC

Katie's Core Spinning Workshop in our new home.

Our first event in our new home in Betws yn Rhos was a great success, with a good turnout and several visitors from other Guilds.
Thanks to Jenni and Gill for the photographs:  no captions required!

AC