Category: other reports

Around 20 of us turned up to see how much or how little we know about our crafts! Once again Serena had set a challenging and fun quiz which extended our knowledge as well as testing it. The first section was about archaeology, with pictures and questions about ancient textiles. Next, 10 anagrams of the names of people associated with our crafts, some of whom we have had as tutors. See how you get on with these:

1. Find in Tail
2. Roses Balm
3. Hank R Fringer
4. Chiesa Silk
5. Bat Oxen Jar
6. Lipd Gin
7. A Plura Job E Funny
8. Yo Real Block
9. Greet Pod Oil Clown
10. And a Farm on a Hand

A section on silk was followed by a section on sea silk, obtained from a shellfish with fringes – an endangered creature, so not something we’re likely to be trying, though it sounds fascinating. This was followed by questions relating to the longest thread competition held at Bothwell in Tasmania. We were impressed and astonished at the length of plied thread produced by winners. Next, more anagrams – this time of the processes of turning wool into cloth, and a little easier than the names:

1. Serhagin
2. Sorcunig
3. Vinegaw
4. Dagcirn
5. Gishifinn
6. Torsign
7. Ceningla
8. Draggin
9. Nipsning

A literary section was followed by dyeing, then assorted general knowledge questions, and finally quotations. Many thanks, Serena, it was a great morning!

Tania Jane “The Button Lady” of T J Frog tutored our November workshop. We had the opportunity to buy a kit from her beforehand which had all the materials needed to make 2 decorations which could be hung on a Christmas tree. I almost didn’t buy one as I thought I could probably assemble enough bits and pieces, but I was glad I did. It was nice to have everything to hand, and meant I could focus on the process without having to worry about having appropriate materials. We had a choice of three colourways – I chose blue and white.

Tania started off by saying there are four basic techniques to making Dorset Buttons, and that these can be used at any scale:
1. Casting
2. Slicking
3. Laying threads and beads
4. Rounding
She worked through each stage with us, showing us what to do, and with great patience undoing and re-doing till we got it! She also talked about the history of Dorset button making while we completed each stage.

Casting, the first stage, is covering the ring, which forms the basis of the button, with blanket stitch. A rule of thumb for calculating the amount of yarn needed for this is to convert centimetres to metres (e.g. a 3cm diameter ring needs approximately 3m yarn). The blanket stitching needs to be evenly tensioned and close together. Once the ring is covered the blanket stitch is rotated so that to ridge is turned to the back (slicking). The yarn is not cut – it is needed for the next stage.

The next step for us was to add beads to the yarn. In the kit, Tania had provided an ordinary sewing needle threaded with a short piece of yarn, knotted into a loop. This was for threading the beads onto the yarn used for casting, as a darning needle wouldn’t go through the beads. With the end of the yarn looped through the thread on the needle it was easy to get the beads onto the yarn – 24 in all.

Tania then made laying the threads and beads look easy as she worked round the ring as if it were a clock face, neatly distributing two beads at each side as she went! We were slower and needed some repetition! The point where the yarn finished after casting is 12 o’clock. The first wrap goes from 12 down the back to 6 and back again, with two beads left at the front by 6 and two by 12. The wraps then go 7-1, 8-2, 9-3, 10-4, 11-5, leaving two beads at the front by each number on the imaginary clock face. The needle is then taken up the back and in between 11 and 12 and across and down between 5 and 6, then up between 2 and 3 and across and down between 8 and 9. This makes a cross which holds the spokes in place, and is secured by taking the needle through the threads at the back. The cross might need a bit of a tug to centre it properly. The spokes can be manipulated into a better configuration too if they are not evenly spaced.

The final stage is rounding. First, we worked two rounds of backstitch (over 3 threads, behind 2) at the centre, then we slipped one bead down each spoke to the centre and worked another row of backstitch around them. With the rest of the beads, we alternately pushed them to the centre and to the outside, working backstitch around again, then a final round of backstitch round the outside. The curtain rings in the kit had an eye at the top, so we blanket stitched around that for completeness. The we just had to attach the ribbon, and the decoration was ready for hanging.

A very popular event, with an attendance of 37. Most people were spinning, but there were a few weavers, and a couple of knitters as well. We had a very interesting talk from Christina Chisholm, a former Highland Guild member, who is Chair of the Editorial Committee for the Journal of the Association of Guilds of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers. We were all very impressed to learn that the vast majority of the work done by the Association is done by volunteers, including the commissioning, selection and editing of material for the Journal, and the organisation of the Conference, Summer School and Exhibition. We were also very impressed with Christina’s folders of samples for her Certificate of Achievement in Weaving, for which she got a well deserved Distinction.

Some photos of the event (more to come):

At this event we had all of our Guild equipment on display, so that members could see what is available, try things out, and find out how to use equipment they’ve never tried before. A lot of people also came along to spin, weave and be social. So many people attended that we had to transfer to the big hall as we were too cramped in the usual room.

I didn’t get to the corners workshop on 8th December, but from Alison Roddham’s photos it looks as though it was a really good day, with people learning to use alarming looking hackles and combs, making dainty Dorset buttons, and exploring the potential of pin looms / quilt looms.
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