A BUSY MORNINGS AT THE WOOLSHED May 2024

Skeins spun by members from the batts we saw last time.

Lynette held her handspun hank and the bag Lil had spun and knitted from her batt.

Margaret is holding the slippers she had spun and knitted, she had added sheepskin soles, which wear well.

Helen Is holding the yarn she spun from her batt.

Margaret had woven a set of table mats, inspired by an Italian painter and sculptor Amedeo Modigliani -1884-1920. The Warp is cotton and the weft is linen.

A painting by Modigliani, an Italian painter and sculptor known for portraits characterized by surreal elongation of faces.

A huge range of donated goodies, fiber, yarn, dyed, and natural fleece were displayed at the Wednesday meeting, available to the Guild members to purchase. The morning was spent with members, checking times on the roster. The coordinator Trish has a big job arranging the roster, for the “Pop-up shop” where guild members will assist customers with their purchases. The shop is at 147 Queen Street Masterton and will be open from 27th May to 15th June.

WAIRARAPA SPINNERS AND WEAVERS GUILD CELEBRATE THEIR FIFTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY

WAIRARAPA FIBRECRAFT is our new name as voted in by the members as a shortened version of the name to represent our guild.

Our President Lib Coubrough Welcomed everyone and read her introduction speech…

All guild members had a personal invitation to attend morning tea to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the guild. The committee provided a wonderful morning tea.

A table with scones, gluten-free morcels, sandwiches, cheese crackers, cakes, and slices.

The guild’s first president April Bamford and the latest president Lib Coubrough share a moment together.

After her speech, Phyllis French, a foundation member, cuts the cake.

Margaret and Bev discuss scrapbook newspaper articles from years past. Later that morning Margaret spoke about a large bedspread that had been felted, as a “challenge”, many members worked on the project in 1992 in Greytown. The final result was added to many others and was displayed at the 1993 Wellington Creative Fibre Festival in Wellington. Margaret also showed her many “Favours” collected from spin-ins she had attended.

Josie is sitting with Ian Trass who represents the Shear History Trust, he thanked the guild for all their support in assisting visitors and tour groups at the museum. Adrienne and Carol unwound wool while Marthe checked over the library books.

Three gnomes… Janice, Eileen, and Lorna sit on old spinning stools, knitting.

Wairarapa spinners and weavers’ guild

THE COMMITTEE ORGANISED AN EDUCATIONAL MORNING to create a ” batt” which was then shared with the members and challenged to return to the guild with their final result.

Our vice president Lynette seemed very happy laying out small pieces of carded wool on the table, she added many layers including white blue, red, yellow, and orange which will eventually be spun together, and who knows what the end result will be, it’s yet to seen.

Everyone gathered colorful dyed wool, silk, and feathers and spread them across the table in layers of colour, then the batt was divided among the members.

Wendy spun her piece of the batt, then plyed it with some boucle. an interesting result.

More April show-and-tell photos

Caroline lets everyone know she is moving north with her husband to be closer to family. Farewell Caroline, the members will miss you and are thankful for all you have done and your commitment to the Guild.

Lynette had handspun and then knitted this fine scarf.

Lib held up a blanket she had woven using different yarns which work well together.

Norma spoke about her old needlework book and the handmade samples made a few generations ago.

Norma showed the guild members her treasured collection of handcrafted lace work. and two exquisite handmade handkerchiefs.

Marty demonstrated a different way of preparing wool for spinning.

Marion made a footstool, using golden syrup tins, covered in felted wool.

Margaret had woven a scarf.

March/April show and tell

The Monarch hand-felted artwork created by Norma was on display at the Easter farmers’ market.

Norma creates the most wonderful pieces of art. This monarch butterfly piece is hand-felted and took many hours of work.

Norma has handspun and then woven this wrap.

Lynette is demonstrating the use of Lill’s new felting board.

Our guild secretary, Norma is modeling her handwoven shawl.