Woodfest Wales, 2010

We spent all three days here, and had a good time.  The weather was mostly fine - in fact, it was very hot indeed on Friday - and the show was packed with people.  Our pitch was in a good position, right by the show ring, and between Anglesey Angora Rabbits & a lady selling chunky woollen jumpers.  The rabbits attracted a lot of attention, particularly from the visiting dogs.
We had lots of visitors, and particularly enjoyed the attention of some very interested children who were keen to find out as much as possible about hand-made yarn.  In between demonstrating (and talking!) we were able to sneak off, wander round the showground and investigate the other stands.  Where to start? there was basket-making & timber-framed building construction; Nature Organisations including the Clwyd Bat Group; low-tech woodworking with pole lathes, cooperage, and woodcarving; working Shire horses and birds of prey; children's theatre and a funfair; a dog show; pole climbing; agricultural trade stands; local choice foods; other crafts........too much to list.

Thanks to all who came to make it such a memorable weekend.

Fancy Spinning Workshop with Alison Daykin

Very many thanks to Alison, who travelled all the way from South Derbyshire to teach us how to spin a great range of fancy yarns.  We were blessed with fine weather, and the countryside was looking particularly picturesque.  We had a good turnout, and were pleased to welcome visitors from several other guilds (and intrigued to see what a variety of spinning wheels they brought!).
Alison proved to be a warm and generous teacher, with infinite patience.  She taught us to spin slub yarn; spiral, knarl and knot yarn; bouclé, tuft, nep and wrapped yarn.  She also demonstrated the making of coloured, mixed rovings using a hackle - a fearsome row of spikes usually employed in the production of flax.  And if that wasn't enough, she also brought a delicious & tempting selection of dyed fibres, and copies of her book "Creative Spinning" (co-authored with Jane Deane) http://spinningandweaving.weebly.com/creative-spinning.html
We were well supplied with tea, coffee and cake, and had a most enjoyable and productive day.  Thank you very much to Bryn for all her hard work in organising the Workshop.

Natural Dye Day Sat June 5th

Hello everybody,

We are holding a natural dye day here at Trefriw Woollen Mills on Saturday June 5th. Helen Melvin will be demonstrating natural dyeing with indigo and coreopsis 10.30 a.m. - 12.30, and there will be an opportunity to experiment painting with her natural dyes in the afternoon. Textile Techniques will also have a stand and will give a talk at 12.00, Enys Davies will be selling natural dye plants and Anne Campbell will demonstrate core spinning and Wendy Docksey will be demonstrating felting. For programme, e-mail info@t-w-m.co.uk

Glorious chocolate

Here are some photos of what you can do with ivy berries.  Many of us have only managed to dye a pinky grey with ivy, but Rosie has obtained a wonderful milk chocolate colour.  The picture really doesn't do it justice.  The secret, apparently, is to leave the ivy berries to soak for several days, and then mash and strain - and leave the vat again - before dyeing the yarn.  The lighter colour was obtained without a mordant; the darker colour with alum and then iron as a modifier.  The yarn is "coloured" Corriedale, but, take it from me, the fleece is barely off-white - certainly not this brown!
So, now we are all rushing off to have a go ourselves.  I have posted some preliminary photos on the Web Album 
AC

More about Ty Hafan

Well, more about the blankets really.  At the All Wales meeting in Llanidloes last year I (foolishly?) agreed, on behalf of the Guild, to take on making some more squares - and got talked into doing a whole blanket.  That's forty-eight 10" squares, mostly white this time.  But we're cracking on with it, and so far we are about a quarter of the way through.  I have a nasty feeling it's me that's going to have to stitch them all together......
Photos of progress so far to follow, once I've recharged the battery for my camera.

As promised:

AC

Carding before you spin

A lot of carding going on at our afternoon meeting this week!