Rose City Fibre Fest, Camrose April 8
Posted March 23, 2023
Rose City Fibre Fest will be held in Camrose on April 8. Please click on the link for more information:
April 2023 Volunteer Opportunities for EWG Members to Demonstrate Fibre Arts Skills
Updated March 23, 2023
Opportunities are available for EWG members to demonstrate their love of fibre arts in the community.
- April 10, 2023 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. John Walter Museum, Easter egg hunt.
- April 20, 2023 6:15 p.m. Dr Gerald Zetter Care Centre, coffee get-together.
- April 22, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Duggan Community League at the Northern Alberta Woodcarvers Association Annual Show.
For more details please check the Demonstrations webpage.
EWG Members Brassard Yarn Order
Posted March 14, 2023
EWG members have another opportunity to benefit from a group yarn order to Brassard. The due date to submit your order form and payment is Monday March 27.
Please read the procedures document and complete a Brassard order form available on the Members’ Benefits webpage.
Join or Renew your EWG Membership
Posted March 4, 2023
Now is the time to join or renew your membership in the Edmonton Weavers’ Guild. The membership runs from April 1 to March 31.
The Edmonton Weavers’ Guild is more than just a ‘membership’. It’s about friendship and comradery. It’s about learning, sharing and collectively promoting the work of the Guild.
Whether you are a knitter, spinner, felter, dyer, weaver or simply have an interest in the fibre arts, we need you. Our Members are the reason that the Edmonton Weavers’ Guild can continue to provide the programming and resources available.
Please consider volunteering your time and talent on the Board of Directors to keep the Edmonton Weavers’ Guild vibrant! I know you all know the saying “Many hands make light work.” Mark your calendars for our Annual General Meeting on May 27, when you can put your name forward for the Board and we will be celebrating 70 years of promoting fibre arts in Edmonton.
EWG Loom Donation
Posted January 21, 2023
We had a 24″, 4 shaft table loom donated to EWG. It was requested by the donor that it be given to a beginner weaver. Emails were sent out to all members so that they may enter their names in a draw on Friday, Jan 20.
Thank you to everyone who entered our draw. We had 11 requests, and I am certain all were very deserving. Our very happy winner is Maureen D, Congratulations to her! She is very grateful to the donor, as we all are.
Arlene, EWG Weaving Equipment
EWG Members in Guild of Canadian Weaving Online Exhibition
Posted December 7, 2022
“Shuttles Thrown 75 Years of Weaving in the Guild of Canadian Weavers” online exhibition includes the work of two members of the Edmonton Weavers’ Guild – Evelyn Schwabe and Fern Facette.
Click here to view the online exhibition.
Children “Weave a Gift for Christmas”
Posted December 5, 2022
The EWG “Weave A Gift for Christmas” class was held on Saturday, December 5 with 8 great kids participating.
Participants did 2 projects. One was a tapestry weaving on a 4-harness table loom using yarns and wool roving. The second was Japanese braiding, or “ Kumihimo”, on a small hand-held loom. This braid was fastened to a bell to make a Christmas decoration. Lots of fun!
EWG at Fibre Frolic November 12 and 13
EWG members will be demonstrating their skills at the Edmonton Expo Centre during Fibre Frolic, November 12 and 13. Tickets and information at edmontonfibrefrolic.com
Mark your calendars for May 6 and 7, 2023 for the Spring Fibre Frolic.
Prairie Interlace – An Exhibition of Textile-based Art Includes EWG Member Pirkko Karvonen
Updated September 26, 2022
Prairie Interlace Weaving, Moderisms and the Expanded Frame
University of Calgary Nickle Galleries
September 9 – December 17, 2022
Prairie Interlace is an ambitious travelling exhibition that examines the explosion of innovative textile-based art on the Canadian Prairies between 1960-2000.
The 48 artists featured challenged traditional approaches to weaving, and embraced new techniques, materials, form and scale. Among those innovators is EWG member Pirkko Karnoven, who immigrated from Finland and is inspired by the colours and textures of the prairie landscape.
Information is available on their website at prairieinterlace.ca.
EWG Members Share Love of Craft
Posted September 18, 2022
EWG members demonstrated felting, spinning and weaving at the Strathcona Community League’s Mini Folk Fest in celebration of Community League Day on Sunday, September 18.
General Meeting September 3, 2022
Posted September 3, 2022
Twenty-four in-person and more virtual EWG members participated in the first in-person General Meeting in more than two years.
- Annual Sale – will be held in-person on Saturday, November 5, 2022. Members are asked to prepare items for the Sale.
- Standards – a working group has been working on a revision to update the Standards. Their report will be available soon.
- 70th Anniversary Working Group – 2023 is the 70th Anniversary of the EWG. Volunteers are sought for a Working Group to plan activities to mark our 70 years. Contact president@edmontonweavers.org.
- Guild Floor Looms – Members should contact Arlene at weaverentals@edmontonweavers.org to book the use of a floor loom at the Guild.
- Covid Protocols are still in place. Members are asked to stay home if ill and to continue to mask, social distance and hand sanitize while at the Guild.
- Appreciation to Tara – Allan thanked Tara for all the work she did donning the multiple leadership roles of President and Vice President.
- Pirkko’s Fibre – members can help themselves after this meeting, and the October General Meeting. Cash donations are welcome to reimburse volunteers for fuel costs.
EWG Members and Friends Learn Dyeing at Twisted Sisters August 27 and 28
Posted September 2, 2022
EWG members and friends had a great day visiting with alpacas and dyeing at Twisted Sisters Fiber Mill. Read more.
St Albert Exhibition Features EWG Member
Posted August 15, 2022
Teresa Stieben has an exhibition entitled Hidden Secrets at the Art Gallery of St. Albert running from August 9 to November 5, 2022.
Teresa thanks EWG members who donated thrums and yarn bits, and provided support for her mandala installation.
A Successful Fibre Mart Saturday April 9
Posted April 9, 2022
EWG members, friends and the public took advantage of hundreds of items priced to sell of yarn, fleece, weaving and spinning equipment and books in our first EWG “live” event since early 2020. Thank you everyone for wearing a mask and social distancing while shopping.
Considering Enrolling in a Master Weaver Program?
Posted March 9, 2022
On Saturday morning, March 5, 2022, Linda Wilson provided EWG members with a presentation on the differences between the Master Weaver Program at Olds College (Olds) and the program through the Guild of Canadian Weavers (GCW).
Twisted Sisters Fiber Mill Presentation
Posted February 26, 2022
EWG members had a Zoom opportunity on Saturday, February 26 to learn about the Twisted Sisters Fiber Mill.
Twisted Sisters Fibre Mill is a local family business specializing in alpaca yarn and finished alpaca yarn products. One of the owners, Leanne Sept had a conversation with EWG members about raising alpacas, the two different breeds of alpacas they raise, and the differences in their fleece. She described how the alpaca is processed and their different products. Four lucky EWG members won door prizes.
The farm and mill can be toured during Leduc County’s Rural Routes Tours on July 17 and August 21, or during Alberta Open Farm Days on August 14. Until then, a video tour can be viewed online.
Express Yourself Creatively With E-Textiles
Posted December 18, 2021
Imagine if technology was soft, fuzzy, stretchy, and DIY! encouraged Dr. Lee Jones in her virtual presentation to EWG members titled Express Yourself Creatively with E-textiles on December 18th.
Dr. Jones received her PhD in Digital Media from Carleton University, and her thesis research focused on hybrid crafts and how DIY e-textile techniques can be taught. E-textiles or electronic textiles are interactive textiles with sensing and actuating properties. Imagine textiles that can sense touch, change color, heat up, play music, or shift into different shapes, all while remaining soft and flexible. This can be done with weaving, knitting, felting etc with conductive threads or components, such as zippers, metal snaps or buttons, and attaching these to a micro-controller (a computer as small as a quarter).
One example of an artistic use of e-textiles is her current collaboration with Greta Grip at the Ottawa Art Gallery —The Life of a Building – Can we convert you into a knitted row?
Lee loves running e-textile workshops in makerspaces, art galleries and community organizations under the name Electro-Stitches. To enable textile makers to explore the creative possibilities of e-textiles, Lee has developed a number of proto-type easy-to-use toolkits. These include visible mending where you can create patches with e-textiles – how about patching an old sofa with colourful patches that make sound? Her concern with accessibility, affordability and sustainability in the development of e-textiles was clearly evident.
While acknowledging that there is a significant gap between the cultures of computing technology and textile art and craft, she provided an introduction to the concepts of e-textiles, and to a number of resources that EWG members can use to explore e-textiles further. Check out her web resources at leejones.ca and electrostitches.com.
Thank you Lee for introducing us to the exciting world of e-textiles and giving us tools to facilitate our exploration!
Guild Members Visit Briggs & Little Woolen Mills Virtually
Posted October 28, 2021
On October 28, Leah Little from Briggs and Little Woolen Mills in New Brunswick, graciously provided a virtual presentation to 31 EWG members.
Leah provided an overview of the history of the mill which has survived fires and floods. There has been a woolen mill on the site since the 1860s. The mill processes up to 650 pounds of Suffolk, Dorset and Corriedale fleece daily. Leah described the step-by-step process with the many specialized machines and skilled labour, from washing, drying, carding, spinning, twisting, dyeing to skeining. Their yarn is shipped all over the world, including to Nepal.
Four Guild members won door prizes. Thank you Leah for the tour of Canada’s oldest woolen mill, and for the great door prizes!
This virtual presentation is just one of the many benefits of EWG membership,
EWG Spinners Connect with Others in Online Spin Along
Posted October 23, 2021
On Saturday, October 23rd, EWG hosted an open invitation virtual Spin Along event for 22 participants from EWG, several guilds in Alberta, Vancouver Island and a participant from Ireland.
We met our goals which were to have fun, reconnect and share. Many participants knew each other but had not been in touch (either in person or virtually) in years. There was also sharing and showing of current and past projects, asking questions and advice, and learning from fellow fibre artists. A great way to spend a gloomy, rainy Saturday!
(Thanks to Melanie for this article)
General Meeting Features Persian Carpet Designer
Posted September 25, 2021
The September General Meeting was held as a videoconference. Information and discussion was primarily on how to implement the new public health restrictions, and the November sale.
Mahla Takhti was a guest speaker at the meeting. Originally from Iran, Mahla studied Persian Carpet Design at university, and has her Masters and PhD in Art History with a focus on Persian carpets. Although she described herself as more of a designer than a weaver, Mahla demonstrated on her loom, and shared with us some of her very beautiful work. It is great to know that we have such a talented resource. Thank you Mahla!.
EWG Members Visit Schacht Virtually
Posted June 12, 2021
On Saturday, June 12, 2021, 31 EWG members were treated to a virtual visit to the Schacht Spindle Company in Boulder, Colorado.
The staff at Schacht provided a history of the 50 year old company, gave a tour of the factory floor where we met the people who craft Schacht products. They highlighted their favourite weaving and spinning products and projects. Project ideas are on their website. A number of fabulous door prizes were also won.
Shannon from Gather Textiles, our local Schacht dealer, shared with us some of her hacks of Schacht products and what is available at Gather. Thank you Schacht and Gather for an intimate and engaging presentation!
This online presentation is just one of the benefits of EWG membership!
Kathy Buse Honoured at Annual General Meeting (AGM)
Posted May 31, 2021
33 members participated in the EWG AGM on Saturday, May 29, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. via Zoom.
Kathy Buse was granted an Honorary EWG Membership for her many years of exceptional service. A member since 1980-81, over the past 40 years, Kathy has freely shared her time, knowledge and love of spinning and weaving. She has filled almost every position on the Executive – Vice President, President, Secretary and Newsletter Editor. When the Guild hosted conferences, she was there to coordinate workshops, etc. She has led a number of weaving and spinning study groups, and today leads the More Than Four study group and Weaving at Strathcona Seniors. Over the years she has given our Guild countless hours of her time. A big thank you to Kathy for all that she has done for the Guild!
Members also elected the 2021-22 Board of Directors. Congratulations to the Executive:
- President – Tara Nixon
- Vice President – Allan Shemanko
- Secretary – Carole Dodd
- Treasurer – Mary Lou Hogg
To see earlier posts, please go to the Archives page.