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Clippings
June 2014 Vol. XIV, No 5
Queensland Spinners Weavers and Fibre Artists Ltd
Meetings: Fibrecraft House, 12 Payne Street, Auchenflower QLD
Mail: PO Box 924, Paddington, QLD 4064
Phone (answering machine): (07)3371 0009 Email: office@qldspinners.org.au
General Meeting
10.00 am
10.30am
11.00 am
11.30am to 1.00pm
1.00pm to 3.30pm
General Meeting
10.00 am
10.30 am
11.30 am to 1.00 pm
1.00 pm to 3.30 pm
Tuesday Midweek Spinners
10.00 am to 1.00 pm
Noon to 12.30 pm
Wednesday Midweek Spinners
10.00 am to 1.00 pm
Noon to 12.30 pm
Night Owls (General Craft)
6.30 pm to 9.00 pm
Weavers Group
9.30 am to 1.00 pm
Hand Knitters
10.00 am to 1.00 pm
Felters Group
9.30 am to 2.00 pm
Basket Cases
9.30 am to 4.00 pm
Experimental Dyers
9.30 am to 1.30 pm
Book & Paper Group
9.30 am to 4.00 pm
Rolling Possums (Felting)
6pm to 9.30pm
Saturday 7 June
Morning tea and social time
Talk “talking about bookbinding”(see page 5)
Announcements and Showcase
Shop and Library are open
Craft time
Saturday 21 June
Morning tea and social time
Announcements and Showcase
Shop and Library are open
Craft time
Tuesday 3 & 17 June
Craft and Discussion
Emporium open on request
Wednesday 11 & 25 June
Craft and Discussion
Emporium open on request
Wednesday 4, 11, 18 & 25 June
Craft and Discussion
Wednesday 4 June
Discussion
Wednesday 18 June
Craft and Discussion
Thursday 12 June
Craft and Discussion
Sunday 1 June
Craft and Discussion
Friday 13 June
Craft and Discussion
Monday 9 June
Craft and Discussion
Tuesday 24 June
Craft and Discussion
Office Hours
Welcome to all new members
Thursdays only: 10.00 am to 3.00 pm
Phone/answering machine:
(07)3371 0009
Email: office@qldspinners.org.au
Contributions for Clippings
If you would like to submit an item to
Clippings, please direct these to the Editor
by phone or fax as above. You may also
drop off your submission in the Clippings
tray in the office at Fibrecraft House or contact the Editor directly on the below phone
number or email.
Please be very cognizant of the timeframes
for submission, as we have deadlines for
proof reading and printing.
Kylie Wheatley
Telephone: 0418 660507
Board Meeting: Tuesday 10 June 2014.
Clippings
Folding
Thank you to the wonderful folding team
who have been coming to the folding days.
Please come along and help - many hands
make light work. There is no meeting fee
and we supply the morning tea!
Email: clippings@qldspinners.org.au
Clippings Dates and Deadlines
May copy due: 17th June 2014
May issue Folding: Friday 27th June 2014
Next date:
Friday 27th June 2014
Approximately 9.30am to 11.30am
If you would like to be sent a link to a digital copy of “Clippings”, rather than a print please email me so I can put you on the
email list. - Kylie W.
QSWFA Membership Fees
Joining Fees
$10
Ordinary Membership
$60
Country Membership *
$45
Group Membership
$70
Family Membership
$65
Student Membership
$45
Pensioner Membership
$45
Pensioner Family Membership
$55
Late Renewal Fee (after Aug 31) $5
*Conditions Apply
Kitchen Roster
The June kitchen roster will rely on everyone to wash and dry their own cups and
spoons and put them away in the cupboard.
If you are a city member and your surname
falls between F and J please help with the
set up and clean up of the kitchen, including empty coffee grounds, put the rubbish
in the outside bin and replace bin bag. If
you notice that supplies of any item in the
kitchen are running low, please leave a
message for our office administrator.
Thank you.
When paying membership by Direct Debit,
could members please put paper receipt
with membership form so it is known how
much is paid. It makes it easier to process your membership.
2
From the President’s residence
Hello again!
We have finished with Open Day and I’m sure you will agree with
me it was a great success. It was a delight to have Jenny Woodward at our fundraiser and I thank you all for your participation.
As with all projects of any size, it is the many hands that lighten
the work load.
I’m now preparing for Camp Brookfield, and what a wonderful weekend we will have. There
are washing machines there we can use for felting, so if you have a project in mind that
needs a sturdy washer, bring it along. There’s also our special guest, Biggan Ryd-Dupps,
who was mentioned in knitting daily on May 16th for her useful technique in stranded
colourwork. I’m looking forward to learning lots in July!
Thank you also for your patience as we have finished the renovations to the hall and the
Emporium. The work is now complete and our interior facelift looks marvelous.
Now there are a couple of items I would like you to consider over the next couple of
months, in preparation for the AGM. The first is that it is expected that every group has a
representative on the Board. The person who joins the Board is responsible to report back
to their group about the Board meeting and also to bring their group’s concerns to the
Board’s attention. Please think about who will be nominated to join the Board from your
group. Two groups cannot claim the same person as their Board member.
The second item is that from September, every group will be sharing in the care of our community hall. All group names will go into a hat, with another hat that has monthly tasks to
be completed. We all share the hall and the resources provided there. For the sake of equity, we need to share the care and work involved in maintaining our property.
We are a community group. This means we form a community of like-minded people, united
in our passion for fibre and love of craft. Communities are made strong when we care for
each other and respect other opinions, even if our own opinion is different. A warm smile
and tolerant attitude go a lot further that a sharp reply. What does a smile cost? Nothing.
How about we all try sharing a smile with each other this month?
Until next month, Happy crafting.
Allison
3
BOOK & PAPER GROUP
OUR MAY ACTIVITY
What a great day we had with Kym showing us how to make a gorgeous little fold-out tunnel book.
Kym had anticipated that we would all take far too long (and get very stressed) if we had to
measure and cut out all the required bits ourselves … so she created templates for us to use
… and what gems they were!!! Kym designed a pop-up library for us, complete with piles of
books to attach to the tabs, and she patiently guided us through the sequence of the construction techniques.
Everyone was thoroughly impressed. Many thanks Kym, you’ve set us a very high standard
to emulate.
SHOW & TELL
Tricia showed eleven books from the recent “Birds – Flights of Fancy” exchange. There was
a lovely range of techniques, including concertinas, altered books, rotating sliders, gate
folds, envelopes, single sheet and origami books. It’s amazing how many inventive interpretations people were able to create on this theme. We hope the collection will be selected for
inclusion in an upcoming exhibition at Pine Rivers Gallery later this year.
Kym showed her lovely Tasmanian travel journal.
Joan brought her double concertina book which features flora and fauna from six different
countries.
Lena deconstructed and reassembled three books she purchased at Lifeline Bookfest. She
has added extra pages and removed others, then used traditional techniques to re-bind
them with great skill.
Wendy S used patterned serviettes to decorate bags – one with leopards, and the other
with cows and sunflowers.
Joanna brought the “Museum of Papermaking” book she had created at the Susan King
workshop, made using French Door folds. You can read about it on the State Library blog at
http://blogs.slq.qld.gov.au/ala/
OUR NEXT MEETING on 9 JUNE
Because this meeting falls on a public holiday, we are having a “free day” with no specific
activity. So bring along anything you are currently creating, and we’ll have a relaxing day
with the usual delicious shared lunch.
During the morning, Tricia will repeat the demonstration of the various envelope-making
techniques that she showed earlier in the year, so you’ll have a chance to try them in a
more leisurely fashion in June. This would be a good day to create your envelopes for our
swap, so bring enough paper to make your 25 masterpieces.
Tricia Smout
4
Kym with her book
DEADLINES FOR SUBMISSION TO CLIPPINGS
Each month I am asked for the deadline for submissions and reports for Clippings.
The deadline date for the next months edition of Clippings can always be found on
the inside (or page 2) of each edition for the following month.
I have included the dates for the next 3 months for your information.
June 17th 2014
July 15th 2014
August 19th 2014
Please note these dates are firm and anything received after this date will not be
included.
5
Library News
It has been all go in the library this month and like the rest of the Hall and Emporium its
looking pretty darn schmicko in its new coat of paint. We took the opportunity to replace
the metal shelving unit which held the Spinning and Weaving Magazines with a taller one
(with less sharp edges).
The Returns Box has now been moved to outside the library door so that a second box is no
longer required. The card tray will remain in the library as it is only required when borrowing books.
Due to all the moving there is a backlog in new arrivals so watch this space next month as
we’ve had some generous donations.
Happy Browsing!
Nat
library@qldspinners.org.au
oooooOooooo
What’s Coming up for TAFTA?
The Doily Collecting Cowboy at Gallery 159, August
3-24, 2014
AUGUST is now the month for an extensive showing of Indonesian Textiles
from Lampung, Southern Sumatra, made available from the Pankhurst collection (Greg Pankhurst is the 'Doily Collecting Cowboy'). It's very exciting
to have this opportunity at Gallery 159!
(The opening will be at 3pm on Sunday August 3rd - put it in your
diary). All welcome. www.tafta.org.au
6
Lets put a smile on your dial
Who’s Chatting to us this month?
On the first Saturday meeting of each month, we try to arrange someone, either from the
group or from outside, to come and talk to us about something interesting. Generally to do
with textiles, but not always.
SAVE THE DATE Saturday 7th June
This month we are pleased to welcome Colin Jorgensen talking Bookbinding.
Thankyou Jonna for organizing this every month!
I would like to send positive healing thoughts to those in our community who are
unwell in any way.
The little flowers are rising and blooming; it's the world's way of saying,
“get well soon.”
- Author Unknown
7
Experimental Dyers Group
Vicki arrived at our May meeting well prepared and well equipped to organise us to screen
print. Thanks Vicki. We really appreciated the pages torn from an old telephone directory to
prevent smudging when repeat printing – great tip!
Some of us added prints to our “complex” shirts. Kym produced a beautiful Waratah screen
print and NO, she didn’t spend the entire morning cutting the design but came with it already prepared. Lili’s samples were sophisticated silver geometric designs. There were
only a few pieces for show and tell – results of projects from sun dyeing and eco dyeing.
We also prepared the remaining items from our stash for sale on Open Day.
We missed Dyeanna ‘s happy presence - not to mention her literary skills!
Myrna
A sample of work from
our screen printing day
8
2014 Show Calendar
Show
Date
Entry Forms
entries
Collect
Comments
Alice Springs
Beanie Festival
Redcliffe Show
20-23 June
With entries
26 May
Check website
27-29 June
9 June
15 June
Will post
back
30 June
Ekka
8-17 August
4 June
16-17 July
20 August
Bendigo Sheep &
Wool
18-20 July
13 June
4 July (post)
14-15 July
(by hand)
Australian Alpaca
Association National Show
September
18-21
Bendigo
TBA
Schedule on notice
board
Schedule on notice
board
Schedule on notice
board
Check website
Hi Everyone.
Once again, I am asking for donations of your lovely hand made
beanies for the Alice Springs beanie Festival, 2014. As I will not be
going this time, we can only send 10 beanies, so we should be able
to make this quota. I am also collecting beanies for 2015, as I will
be going to the festival and can send 50 beanies for the group, as
hubby Reg is a member of QSW&FA and will volunteer on our behalf. Beanies, tea cosies, and hanks of yarn are all acceptable.
Please put your name on your article, with what it is made of, and
washing instructions etc. Beanie connoisseurs like to know the
name of the beanie artist.
This is a fundraiser for our group, so all donations gratefully
received.
We still have some beanies in the Road show, which will be going
to Canberra and other cold places.
Many thanks, and happy crafting,
Helen Walters
9
10
11
Felters Interest Group
Our commiserations to Dora, who was on her way to Ireland, after hearing of the death of
her mother.
Vivienne was fibre blending some turquoise, teal and green alpaca in preparation for making prefelts. She also described some of the tangle problems she had been having knitting
Dairing’s stainless steel yarn. We had a graphic description of her “Yoink - yoink” approach
to pulling yarn from two cones of yarn. Robin showed us two iced dyed pink muslin pieces
that she had made and also a red felt hat, with feathers protruding from the apex, which
won 1st prize at the recent Bornhoffen Camp. She then embarked on making a pair of
“Yowie Earrings” in the shape of two large feet to wear to her next running club meeting.
These had a rubber shaped resist inside.
Sandy was one of the serious felters this month as she started making a large cat cubbyhouse. She covered a large oval resist with a big pile of wool – brown on the inside and
shades of red, blue and orange on the outside. At one point she was exasperated and declared that “it was a big project”. Kathy L spent time reading books and magazines from
the library. She also showed us a sample of her reverse applique work with a mottled sheer
fabric peeking through round holes in a black fabric.
Geraldine started off blowing bubbles with her grand-daughter Charlotte but then reverted
to hemming a large paj silk piece of fabric, bought from Nancy at the recent Treetops event,
with thick green silk Alchemy yarn. Lili made a black leather brooch on a bangle loom (like
French knitting). She also brought in 2 new necklaces which had been for sale at the recent
BVAC markets at Mt Coot-tha.
Robert had some show and tell: (1) a sassy black and pink cat with a striped tail; (2) a
brown and white owl with big yellow eyes; and (3) a white hat covered with hand dyed organza. He spent the morning reading India Flint’s most recent book “Stuff, Steep & Store”
which uses fruit preserving principles for ecodyeing in a jar. Natalie worked in the library,
restoring it to some resemblance of order, and moving furniture around the hall. We appreciate all the work that you do.
Lili
Left: Show & Tell
Above: Robins Yowie earrings
Right: Sandy’s cat cubby
12
Hand Knitters
At our April meeting we worked on knitting circular motifs in garter stitch using Short Rows.
Between us we had found several patterns to share. It was only after this mini-workshop
that I found Nicky Epstein's admirable book Knitting in Circles in the Brisbane City Council
library; I'd recommend this to all knitters. Isn't it interesting how we human beings love circles? At our knitting day we tried a few different versions; the illustrated ones show one
made of a space-dyed yarn with long colour repeats, and a small coaster made from variegated cotton. The coaster has a lacy edge, and has 16 points, i.e. 16 segments; the larger
piece was made to a pattern that was supposed to be done in two colours, alternating,
which should have made 8 segments - but it wouldn't have lain flat with only 8 points, so I
gave it 9, though it would have been happy with 10, too. Annette has used her circles as the
crowns of beanies. Small ones make great coasters; you could find lots of other ways to use
them.
In our Show and Tell, Pam Cox had made small 2-colour brioche dilly-bags, suitable for carrying glasses, mobile phones and suchlike. Marlene had been working at learning the anatomy of socks from a Mary Thomas book. Renate had knitted an attractive cotton top but
wasn't happy with the neckline finish and asked for suggestions for improving it. And I'd finished the beanie from the previous month's study, plus another beanie with a diagonalwelted body and triangular top, as well as a pair of cotton-blend socks.
We are hoping to look at knitting scallop-shaped motifs at our June meeting (Wed. 18th);
these were very popular a few years ago thanks to a book by Horst Schultz. I've found the
book in the QSWFA library, which is a good start. Bring knitting-needles and a few different
colours of yarn, and we'll see what we can come up with. Schultz suggests using different
thicknesses of yarn; this could be interesting to experiment with.
Knitting keeps the brain functioning - and now that the weather is cooler we can indulge in
the warmer yarns we prefer to avoid in summer. Happy knitting!
Joan Apthorp.
Short-row circles
13
Showcase
On Sat 3 May there were only a very few items on Showcase.. Helen Walters had spun a
brightly-coloured, textured yarn, using batts she carded out of the scrappy bits of handdyed First Editions sliver, with added silk and mohair. Her spinning included the fluffy bits
cleaned off the licker-in, making for a very individual single. Colours were turquoise, purple,
red, orange and ochre (the dyes used were Landscapes), and this bobbin of thread was
then plied with red Lurex. I'm sure she'll have fun knitting this up!
Allison Hays had made a 100g skein of muted green yarn, quite finely and smoothly spun.
She used fibre from IxchelBunny, 95% merino and 5% angora. Allison hopes to use this
yarn to make herself a pair of socks - they'll be very, very soft and warm.
Allison also a displayed a very lovely crimson lace shawl, with purple bands in it, an unusual
shape (not pointed at the back) that sits very well on the shoulders. It is shaped with increases at two points, as well as at the front edges, which gives it extra wrapability.
Busiest person by far at the meeting of 17th May was Lindy Boshler. She had entered a
"longest thread" competition at the Hervey Bay camp, and had made a skein measuring 348
metres out of 10g of wool. As the skein had to be in singles form, it was very kinky - full of
"active twist". Needless to say she won the competition. She had also used singles - thicker
this time - to knit a small neck scarf in 2-colour brioche. One thread was purple mohair, the
other green/black silk and alpaca blend. Spinning done on a drop spindle - Lindy's favourite
is a Turkish spindle - and knitting was done with 4mm needles.
A very different project was a natural cream-coloured tussah silk jacket (retired from her
husband's wardrobe) that Lindy embellished with needle-felting to create a very elegant garment. The rather coarse silk was very hard on the felting needles - 30 of these were used,
and every one of them broke. The process was made harder because the seams, lining etc.
had to be taken into account while felting the decoration on. This takes the form of a trailing
wisteria vine, made with rolags carded from various fibres on a blending board.
At the meeting, Lindy was wearing another jacket she has made recently; this is made up of
fairly narrow strips woven on a Rigid Heddle loom and assembled using crochet techniques.
Colours are mainly greens and orange.
The rigid heddle loom was also used to produce a bright blue, feather-free "boa", using cotton and ribbon yarns. The built-in fringe down the sides was made by putting strings about
8cm away from the edges of the main warp and taking the weft thread around these supports. The weft was one of those attractive ribbon yarns that are generally rather impractical except as highlights. This is the sort of decorative neckwear that will turn a plain outfit
into party wear.
Cont.
14
Showcase (cont).
Lindy's last piece of weaving was a really warm wrap, also done on a rigid heddle loom. This
consisted of a very long rectangle, about 50cm wide, folded in the middle and with buttons
with loop buttonholes added on one side so it becomes more or less a poncho. This can be
worn in a number of different ways. The warp was at 5d.p.i., made of Ashford Tekapo 8-ply
wool, the weft hand-dyed from various fibres, with the colour shifting gradually from one
end to the other. A stylish addition to any woman's wardrobe!
Paula Cockle showed the shawl she knitted at Karen Alpert's shawl-knitting workshop.
Paula used a very slightly variegated light purple sock yarn, from Fleece Artist, and 4mm
needles; the shawl is 122cm wide and 63cm deep. Because the variation in the dyeing is
only small, the pattern of the dyed yarn doesn't distract from the lace pattern of the knitting. This shawl was started at the neck and knitted downwards and outwards. It is finished
with a knitted-on garter lace border, which provides a very satisfactory edging - it stabilises
the edge, prevents curling, and allows the necessary elasticity.
I used spindle-spun wool blend yarn to knit a simple brioche cowl over 100 stitches, using
4mm needles. This is modelled by Lindy in the photo showing her needle-felted jacket.
By the time you read this Open Day will be over, and those of you who missed seeing these
garments on Showcase will have seen some of them on the Open Day Fashion Parade. I
hope you'll have enjoyed Open Day and be feeling inspired to create more beautiful articles.
Joan Apthorp.
Cont.
Lace shawl by Allison Hayes
Woven, fringed scarf by Lindy B
15
Showcase (cont).
Woven wrap by Lindy B
Lindy B’s handwoven jacket
Lindy wearing needle-felted
jacket
Lace shawl by Paula C
16
Weavers Interest Group
At the May meeting there were 12 members present and 3 apologizes.
Phillip was away so Myrna attached donated scarves to the weaving wheel which is to be
hung over the Weavers corner for Open Day.
Heather’s husband has kindly agreed to hang the wheel in place.
We were reminded Redlands Open day is on the 17th June with a $5 entry fee which
includes lunch.
Entry forms for the Ekka are now available online at www.royalqueenslandshow.com.au.
Heather also mentioned Ursula’s BB yarns will be unable to attend Open Day this year.
Alleyne Learmonth‘s idea to move the large Dobby on the stage to a new home at the
Redlands Museum unfortunately is not to be.
Alleyne is now looking into other avenues which may be available, while hoping to research
and provide some information for the new owner(s).
Meanwhile Alleyne has taken on running the Emporium, which has been freshly painted,
has new shelving, and with many hours of organising should be a worth while place to visit
on Open Day. We wish you well Alleyne!
Open Day
The Weavers workshop area will have a small amount of seating for those working on Inkle
Looms making bookmarks, Cardboard weaving making small bags/ purses and paper weaving for which a small fee will be charged to cover costs. Remaining money could then be
used for library books and possibly towards Christmas in July.
Also on the day Wendy McHugh will be taking a workshop, 11am to 12 noon on Indian Finger Weaving. The cost for this workshop will be $10.
The Weavers stall will be outside under cover this year selling items contributed by members.
Hopefully there will be plenty of items to select from.
Regrettably, no show and tell this month.
So the rest of the morning was spent preparing for weaving on Open Day.
Happy Weaving.
Ronda
17
REDLANDS SPINNERS AND WEAVERS INC
OPEN DAY 17JUNE 2014
The Redlands Spinners and Weavers Inc will be holding
their annual Open Day on Tuesday, 17 June from 10:00
a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Stellar
Maris Centre, Star of the Sea, Passage Street, Cleveland.
Entry of $5 includes morning tea, light lunch and lucky
door prize.
There will be a fashion parade of members’ knitted and
woven garments.
Hand dyed fibres and yarns, and spinning and weaving
supplies will be
available for purchase as well as other items, and
multiple raffles.
Gillian Smith
President – Redlands Spinners and Weavers Inc
Email – pdgsmith@acenet.net.au
Phone – 3206 0718
Mobile – 0411 3311 53
Dates To Remember 2014
17th June 2014
Redlands Spinners and Weavers Inc Open Day
29 June—5 July 2014
Wrapt in Rocky, Central Queensland
11th - 13th July 2014
QSW&FA Annual Camp - Now at Brookfield!
8th - 17th August 2014
“EKKA” ( RNA Show Brisbane.)
22nd - 24th Nov 2014
BVAC Markets, Mt Coot-tha Auditorium
18
CLASSIFIEDS
Clippings advertising rates
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Quarter page $25
Small display ad $3 per column cm
Small non-display ad $0.25 per word
Whole year ad 11 ads for the price of 10
FOR SALE
Spinning Wheel
English Timbertops Leicester
style in good condition.
Valued at $400 in 2003. Accept
$350.
Phone Anne on 3201 0445
19
SAVE THE DATE
Have an absolutely
fabulous time at Central
Queensland’s Premier
Fibre Arts workshops
from Sunday 29 June to
Saturday 5 July 2014,
Rockhampton, Central
Queensland, Australia.
If undelivered return to QSWFA Ltd
PO Box 924
PADDINGTON QLD 4064
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