A very lively day, with 40 plus people, most spinning, some managing to weave or wind a warp, everyone chatting! Denise handed out bags of fibre for this year’s challenge. This year we all have the same – it will be interesting to see how different the results are! Sue brought along a display of her work for the Certificate … Read More
Summer shows
Guild members have demonstrated spinning and weaving at farm shows around our area. Here are some photos: Sutherland Show 20th July: Nairn Show 27th July: Black Isle Show 1st August:
3-D Weaving and Open Day
Our tutor for the May 2019 workshop was Louise Martin, a very skilled and experienced tapestry weaver. She had brought looms ready warped for us to use, and had sent instructions for those who wished to bring their own looms. Louise started us off with basic weaving, then moved on to weaving ridges, adding “worms” and fringes, and working with … Read More
Forres Theme Day
Four Guild members from the Nairn Spinning Group demonstrated at the Forres Theme Day on 5th May. This is always a nice friendly event, though the weather can be anything from hot and sunny like last year to really cold like this year! My photos make it look as if the interest in our stand was from one man and … Read More
Ann Artis – Daft Batts
‘Daft Batts’, a workshop tutored by Anne Artis. (pictures below) Anne Artis, an ever popular tutor from Callander, was joined by twenty-one Highland Guild members for her workshop entitled ‘Daft Batts’. We were invited to come prepared with a variety of fibre preparation tools but, in fact, only needed access to a drum carder after an initial session with hand … Read More
Red Cross Day at Dingwall
This was a promotional day for the Red Cross, with a lot of very good quality craft stands. Stallholders had been asked to demonstrate their crafts as well, so there was plenty to interest visitors. We had a display of our work and quite a number of Guild members attended to demonstrate spinning and weaving. Serena brought her amazing little … Read More
Playing with Colour
Stephanie Hoyle’s Dyeing Workshop was preceded with clear notes in March’s Guild Newsletter explaining the uses of Procion MX Dyes and which fibres they were suitable for. Recipes were given so we could prepare our fibres ahead of the day. I found this extremely useful as it enabled me to hank up skeins, weigh out tops and label them beforehand … Read More
Feb 2019 Open Day and Challenge
Another good day, with 30 plus people attending, and a shared lunch. Most people were spinning; Sheila had brought along a book charka to spin cotton. Click on the pictures to see more detail. The focus of the day though was the Guild challenge. This started at the September meeting, when those participating had been asked to bring 100 gms … Read More
January 2019 Guild Open Day and Talk
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. … Read More
Loch Ness Knitfest 2018
The venue for the Knitfest this year was the main hall of the Inverness sports centre. This, to my mind was the best venue yet. The hall is square-ish, so allowed for better layout of the stands. We had a good space with a wall behind us, as many tables as we asked for, and plenty of room for spinners, … Read More
November 2018 Guild open day
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 … Read More
December 2018 workshop
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.
Long Draw Successes
Serena sent in these pics of the Long Draw Spinning workshop. She writes “Great workshop today with Odet Beauvoisin showing us how to do long draw for woollen and worsted yarn. I think most of us got it some of the time. Interesting that Odet is such a proficient spinner that she had to add in neps to make her … Read More
Colour from a different angle – weaving with Cally Booker
Saturday September 10th 2016 Ten eager weavers gathered at Strathpeffer for the HGWSD workshop with Dundee based weaver Cally Booker. Cally works from her studio in a converted jute mill and is passionate about hand weaving, colour and the exploration of multi layered weaves. She specialises in weaving beautiful home textiles, scarves and fabrics. Several participants had brought along their … Read More