Highland Guild of Weavers Spinners & Dyers

Category: Reports

  • Braiding Workshop Oct 2024

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    Karen Buchanan
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    Saturday 12th October saw the Guild meeting at Strathpeffer Community Centre during which an intrepid group of seven braved the mind-swirling, eye-boggling, number-crunching world of braid weaving under the masterful guiding hand and brain of Alison Roddam. Alison began by demonstrating on a number of pre-warped looms with works in progress, to take us steadily…

  • WIG Weaving Project

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    Karen Buchanan
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    Weavers Interest Group Project Any guild interest group weavers are invited to make a small woven piece of a chosen weave structure. This is also open to all Guild members who may be interested in contributing, as not all have chosen to join in the Weaving Interest Group. The pieces will be used as a…

  • Strathnairn Community Woodland Gala 1 Sept 2024

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    Karen Buchanan
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    A most enjoyable day.  The sun shone, though it was bit chilly in the woods, and there was a nice friendly atmosphere with families out to enjoy the woodland and the activities that had been laid on.  We were first asked to participate in this event last year when it was held at the end…

  • Guild Open Day 14 Sept 2024

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    Karen Buchanan
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    This was held at Glachbeg Croft Centre as Strathpeffer Community Centre was unavailable, and it proved a lovely venue for an Open Day.  The building is full of natural light and with the tables moved to the side there was ample room for us to sit and spin.  We were very well looked after.  Tea,…

  • Tapestry Weaving Workshop 22 September

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    Karen Buchanan
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    Our tutor was tapestry weaver Alastair Duncan (https://alastair-duncan.com/tapestry-weaving), and our theme, reflecting the date, was the autumn equinox.  Alastair started off with a power point and talk about his journey as a tapestry weaver, and his approach to design.  In tapestry weaving light, texture and yarns all work together, so choice of materials is crucial…

  • Louët Drop In

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    Karen Buchanan
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    On 20th May Pam and Dave dropped in to see us at Strathpeffer on their current UK and Ireland tour. Hailing from Canada they had worked for Louët North American distribution arm but are currently based in Holland knocking the European end into shape. A dozen members looked in with assorted wheels and looms, all…

  • Open Day at Dundreggan Rewilding Centre

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    Karen Buchanan
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    Though I always enjoy our regular meetings at Strathpeffer, I found I was really looking forward to going somewhere new for our May Guild day.  I was not disappointed!  We were allocated a large room with ample space for twenty plus of us with our wheels and looms, and for members of the public visiting the centre…

  • April Open Day at Strathpeffer

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    Karen Buchanan
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    April Open Day at Strathpeffer About 20 people enjoyed the April Open Day, most spinning either with wheels or spindles. One newish member was being taught to spin by Sue R. Another, taught by Sue V at Dornoch, was doing impressively well with a spindle. Sadie had offered to help anyone with queries about tapestry,…

  • Anna Champeney Talk

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    Karen Buchanan
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    Anna’s talk to guild members on Saturday told the story of her weaving life from the year 2000, when aged 30, she and her partner moved to rural Ribiera Sacra in NW Spain, until the present day. “Madness” is how she described this decision, and bold it certainly was… without any weaving skills she set…

  • Dornoch Show 2023

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    Stephanie Hoyle
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    I was a complete newbie both to the beautiful town of Dornoch and to its annual allthings-fibre get together. At just a stretch too far for an easy day trip I stayed overnight not least to see Joan Baxter’s extraordinary tapestry weaving exhibition and to chat with her while she worked. A weaver of international…

  • Black Isle Show 2023

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    Stephanie Hoyle
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    The Black Isle Show is on the Wednesday and Thursday after the Nairn Show, and opens to the public at 4pm on Wednesday, so we got there about 1.00 to start setting up.  A good thing we were early – no tables or chairs and slightly less space than last year!  A phone call solved…

  • Nairn Show 2023

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    Stephanie Hoyle
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    This year we were provided with a new tent, more spacious than the gazebo we had before, and sited near the horticulture tent.  We were facing the show jumping arena, so had something to watch in quiet moments!  We also had a view of a little group of alpacas, which were at a stand next…

  • Spinning Challenge January 2024

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    Stephanie Hoyle
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    A set of challenges to ward off the gloom of dark cold days. Extra Zoom meetings have been scheduled so that we can be social, and share ideas, questions, inspiration. Each week one of the numbered challenges will be drawn to give us a challenge of the week, and Guild members are encouraged to share…

  • Open Day December 2023

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    Stephanie Hoyle
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    Around 20 people attended our December meeting at Strathpeffer Community Centre, most with spinning wheels. There was a lot of chat as usual, also mince pies and chocolates! Some took advantage of the opportunity to browse the library books and the equipment, now stored in a cupboard in the room we use, and securely locked…

  • Open Day and Warping Demo October 2023

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    Stephanie Hoyle
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    After an unexpected change of venue, the day got off to a start with Stephanie demonstrating how to wind a warp using a warping mill. The principal is the same as using a warping frame. She explained “the cross” – you wind so that in one direction the thread goes over the second last post,…