News and Updates from the Edmonton Weavers Guild

EWG Members Invited to Presentation on E-Textiles

Posted November 28, 2021

Join us on a magical journey into the near-future with our next guest speaker. Dr. Lee Jones is an e-textile researcher and advocate for bringing this technology to the fibre artist. E-textiles or electronic textiles are interactive textiles with sensing and actuating properties. Imagine textiles that can sense touch, change color, play music, or shift into different shapes, all while remaining soft and flexible. Currently Lee Jones is a postdoctoral researcher at the Interioraction Design Studio at Queen’s University. She received her PhD in Digital Media from Carleton University, and in her thesis research focused on hybrid crafts and how we can teach DIY e-textile techniques. She also loves running e-textile workshops in makerspaces, art galleries and community organizations under the name Electro-Stitches. To find out more about her research visit leejones.ca and then join us on Saturday, December 18th at 10 a.m. EWG members please watch for a Zoom invitation.

This virtual presentation is just one of the many benefits of EWG membership.

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!.

Mahla with her loom and weaving in the background.

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

Kathy sharing with EWG members her experience weaving with the new fan reed (2018)

Kathy spinning at our 2018 Annual Sale and Show

Kathy at EWG's 65th Anniversary Show (2019)

May Update

Updated May 18, 2021

Notice of Annual General Meeting (AGM)

Saturday, May 29, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. via Zoom

Membership Renewal

EWG membership runs from April 1 to March 31 each year. You must be a member to vote at the AGM. Please join or renew your membership.

Membership Benefits

Although our facility is temporarily closed, there are many benefits to membership including participating in Study Groups and our newsletter.

Study Groups continued to meet virtually to provide opportunities to learn and and be inspired. For example,

The Get Sett Study Group challenged each other this winter to make bags, and passed around looms to weave 8 shaft double weave bags.
The Master Wannabees Study Group focuses on the requirements for the Canadian Guild of Weavers Master Weaver Certification. Congratulations to Conchita who passed the Basic Level with flying colours.
You can see more photos of Get Sett’s winter weaving – bread bags, more bags and towels, and Conchita’s submissions to the Canadian Guild of Weavers by clicking here.

Members can read the May 2021 newsletter for many more photos from Study Groups.

Kyla's cottolin bag stores her homemade bread.

Members can check out the Members’ Benefits webpage to read about:

Group yarn orders from Brassard
Member Discount at Gather Textiles.

February News and Events

Posted February 13, 2021

Although Covid-19 Public Health restrictions have prevented EWG from meeting in-person, the Guild and our members are still active.

Guild Members Inspire Each Other

Posted May 7, 2020

Although we are physically distancing, Guild members continue to inspire each other, sharing images of yarn stashes, home studio space and fibre creations.

New Classified Ads Webpage

Equipment for Sale notices are usually posted on the Guild bulletin board. While the Guild is closed a new Classified Ads web page is now available for postings.

See more photos

Ava (from the Junior's Study Group) with her sweater

Guild Closed but Still Active

Posted April 1, 2020

Although we are not meeting in-person, Guild members continue to be active and are connecting with each other while maintaining their physical distance, and are taking advantage of their stashes of fibre, fleece and yarn to be creative and to inspire each other. Read more and see photos.

EWG General Meeting – Saturday, February 15, 2020

Posted February 21, 2020

Remembering Ilya Oratovsky

Jen shared her memories of weaving a blanket with Ilya in his basement workshop. She brought a sample of the hand dyed yarns that she used for the blanket.

EWG General Meeting – Saturday, November 23, 2019

Posted November 24. 2019

Highlights of the November 23, 2019 General Meeting included a summary of the Annual Sale, a display from the Monday Morning Weaving Study Group, and a presentation from Gather Textiles, followed by conversation over coffee and baked goodies. See photos.

Emily Carr's painting "A Rushing Sea of Undergrowth" that inspired Monday Morning Weavers.

EWG Annual Show and Sale – Saturday, November 2, 2019

Posted November 2. 2019

Click here for more photos of our November Show and Sale.

EWG General Meeting – Saturday, September 21, 2019

Posted September 22. 2019

Diane Kozens’ Presentation on Colour and Inspiration

EWG member and Study Group Leader, Diane shared many examples of her weaving and talked about colour and what inspires her weaving. According to Diane, “I like my next project best”.

See photos

Felted Animal Masks with Gladys Paulus – August 2-6, 2019

Posted August 21. 2019

EWG hosted UK textile artist Gladys Paulus for two felting workshops in July and August.

Annual General Meeting and Potluck – May 29, 2019

Posted May 30, 2019

See more photos.

Exploring One Warp, Many Structures with Denise Kovnat

Posted May 26, 2019

EWG hosted Denise Kovnat from Rochester, NY for a fabulous 3-day workshop, May 24-26, 2019, exploring the magic of extended parallel threading or Echo threading. Read more

Burn Baby Burn!

Posted May 5, 2019

On Sunday afternoon, May 5th, EWG members benefited from the knowledge of Kathy Buse on how to identify unknown fibres. In the 4th Master Wannabees session, Burn, Baby Burn!

Art in Ubiquity

Posted April 18, 2019

See photos of the April 27th opening of the Exhibition on the 65th Anniversary page.

To see earlier posts, please go to the Archives page.

Edmonton Weavers’ Guild News