Rag Rugs Wrap Up “Zero Waste”

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with Mary Mandarino

In person only at the Congregational Church of Harvard
Tuesday 27 May 2025, starting at 7pm

Rag Rug woven by Mary Mandarino

Our presenter is Mary Mandarino, a weaver and teacher of Rag rug weaving with over 35 years of weaving experience. She has been the treasurer for the New England Weavers Seminar and is a member of the Weavers Guild of Boston, where she served as Special Workshop and Morning Workshop Program Chair and is currently the Publicity and Social Media Chair. Mary has taught at Spinning and Weaving Week for HGA, Springfield Weavers and Cranberry Weavers, and offers private instruction for weavers on hand painting yarns. She is currently an active member of the South End Woven Collaborative at 450 Harrison Ave in Boston.

Keeping with the theme of Zero Waste, Mary’s program will review various techniques for making rag rugs. Techniques include cutting rags for rugs on the bias, stitching technique for rag strips versus inlay, T-Shirt cutting, and making chenille for pile rugs. Rugs, Samplers and various materials will be brought for show and tell.

Library time, socializing and snacks will begin at 7. Mary’s program will begin at 7:30.

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April Book Discussion

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VANISHING FLEECE: ADVENTURES IN AMERICAN WOOL

Tuesday 22 April 2025, starting at 7pm at the Congregational Church of Harvard, 5 Still River Rd

For something different, the Guild will take the role of “book group” for just this month and discuss Clara Parkes’ 2021 book Vanishing Fleece. Clara leads a fast-paced, cross-country adventure to transform a 676-pound bale of wool into four different kinds of yarn—and discover a vanishing domestic wool industry. Along the way, you meet a cast of characters that includes the shepherds, dyers, and countless workers without whom our knitting needles would be empty, our mills idle, and our feet woefully cold.

All are welcome! Even if you haven’t read the book, come to enjoy the discussion. (It’s a quick read, only 192 pages.) Clara herself reads the audio book – a great way to multi-task while you’re threading your loom!

Socializing, snacking and Library Time start at 7pm, and the meeting will get underway at 7:30 with announcements and show & tell.

March Meeting in Person

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Diana Vaughn on the NEWS Fashion and Gallery Show Submissions Process

March 25, 2025 at the Congregational Church of Harvard, 5 Still River Rd, beginning at 7 pm

NEWS webpage https://www.newenglandweavers.org/gallery-fashion-shows

Diana Vaughn is a NEWS Trustee and representative for the Weavers’ Guild of Boston. WGB is responsible for the Gallery Show intake and jurying, so Diana will be able to walk through the process of submitting articles. She’ll also talk in general about submissions to the Fashion Show.

  • Who can submit articles?
  • What types of articles can be submitted? What cannot be submitted?
  • What is the process?
  • How does the weaver need to prepare their article for display? Should hangers, rods, or other holders be supplied by the weaver?

All members are encouraged to attend, regardless of experience level or intent to submit something. Before the meeting, members are encouraged to look at the NEWS Gallery & Fashion Show webpage.

Agenda for the evening:

  • 6:00pm Board meeting
  • 7:00pm Socializing, snacks & library time.
  • 7:15pm Show & Tell
  • 7:30pm Formal meeting starts

What are you thinking of submitting?

Sari Silk Ribbon Squares

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Tuesday 25 February 2025
Meeting at 7pm, program at 7:30pm
On Zoom only

Liz Keefe with Sari Silk handwovens

Liz Keefe will join us in February via Zoom to talk about a journey that started with weaving traditional overshot patterns, and that led to a discovery of sari silk ribbons. She will also touch on ideas of how to work with color choices, and how to keep creativity alive.

Liz Keefe is a weaver and fiber artist. She uses fabric to explore the emotional intensity of color. Liz is a member of City Art Cooperative Gallery in San Francisco. Examples of the sari silk ribbon squares can be found on her portfolio page.

Members will receive a link via email. Visitors may contact the Program Committee to request the link.

Natalie Drummond on Zoom to start 2025

Nashoba Valley Weavers' Guild Posted on by

Tuesday 28 January 2025, starting at 7 pm on Zoom

Deflected Doubleweave Meets Sustainability and Zero Waste

Deflected Doubleweave by Natalie Drummond

Natalie Drummond is an educator and fiber artisan living in Fremont, Indiana. Born and raised in Virginia, she developed a love of science, teaching, and fiber. Her early work focused on sewing and needlefelting. She later learned to weave from a Fort Wayne Weaver’s Guild instructor. Fine Arts instruction in Craftmanship and Design from Purdue (Fort Wayne) University followed in 2015. In 2019, she was awarded a MAFA fellowship focusing on Deflected Doubleweave. Natalie has pursued weaving and color with a passion ever since. Her program will focus on her journey with deflected doubleweave as well as discussion on sustainability and zero waste.

7:00 – social time, announcements and show & tell
7;30 – program with Natalie Drummond begins

Deflected Doubleweave

Visitors are welcome. Please contact the Program Director for the link.

Woven Pendants in December

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Pendant Front, about 2″x2.25″

The Nov/Dec meeting of the NVWG will be on 3 December, starting at 1pm at the Congregational Church of Harvard, 5 Still River Rd, Harvard MA. (There is no meeting in November.) Note that this is an afternoon hands-on meeting!

Guild member Arlette Stawasz will be leading us in creating woven pendants to be used as an ornament or for a necklace. In keeping with our “Zero Waste” theme, we’ll be using thrums, so grab some pretty ones from your scrap bag! (There will plenty to share, so come even if you don’t have any thrums.)

Arlette will supply the tiny Lucite frames on which we’ll weave. The photo has a wooden frame, but we’ll be using clear Lucite.

Materials to bring:

  • Scissors
  • Thin thrums – small amounts are fine
  • Tapestry needle
  • Beads (optional)
  • Needle and thread if you bring beads

Arlette has been weaving about 20 years and is the Resource Manager in the Textiles Area at the MakeIt Labs in Nashua. She likes exploring different kinds of weaving.

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