Category Archives: Programs

Aug14

September 24, 2019: 3D Weaving – Old Technology and New Inspirations

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September 24, 2019: 3D Weaving – Old Technology and New Inspirations

ruffled neck piece3D Weaving – Old Technology and New Inspirations

Tuesday, September 24, 2019
Light refreshments at 7:00pm, program at 7:30pm
Location:  Fivesparks (7 Fairbank St, Harvard, MA)

Sally Eyring will be the guest speaker on Tuesday 9/24/19, sponsored by the Nashoba Valley Weavers’ Guild. The talk will start at 7:30, following a reception at 7:00. The talk is in conjunction with the NVWG exhibit, which will be on display at Five Sparks for the month of September. The talk is open to the public.

Three dimensional weaving has a long and varied history, starting with arachnids 400 million years ago to the space age fabrics of today. Despite this long history, the terminology is confused and inconsistent. Up to now, hand weaving has been limited to rectangles woven with interesting structures that create surface interest. 

In their book, Ideas in Weaving, Ann Sutton and Diane Sheehan muse on a tension device developed by Janice Lessman-Moss of Kent, Ohio. The device, they say, “broke one of the cardinal rules of even tension maintenance,” and note that “More work like this would bring the handweaving loom (which suffers from innovation deprivation) out of rustic technology and into the twentieth century.”

In trying to remedy the “innovation deprivation” of the hand loom, Sally has developed three different techniques and several loom modifications to allow the hand weaver to create 3D woven forms. She will describe her weaving techniques and tools, and show some of the results.

Sally Eyring has been weaving and building tools since childhood. She earned a BA in Mathematics Education from Arizona State University and a MFA from the Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University. Her MFA graduate project described the immigration experience through woven sculptural headdresses, using unique 3D weaving methods that she invented. Her work has been featured in the Complex Weavers Journal, WeaveZine, Best of America – Glass Artists & Artisans, Handwoven, Shuttle, Spindle & Dyepot, ArtScope magazine, and other publications. Her book on 3D hand loom weaving will be published by Schiffer Publishing in 2020.

In addition to weaving, Sally both renovates and builds looms, and does glass casting. Her work can be seen at: www.sallyeyring.com

Aug14

September is going to be a busy month for NVWG

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September is going to be a busy month for NVWG

NVWG Exhibit at Fivesparks

  • The exhibit will be open from September 10 – October 5
  • Set-up will happen on Sunday, September 8, from noon to 4 PM.
  • The opening reception is on Friday, September 13, from 7pm–9pm.
  • Location: 7 Fairbank St, Harvard, MA 01451
  • For more information, contact one of the chairpersons.

September meeting

Tuesday, September 24, 7pm

“3D Weaving – Old Technology & New Inspirations,” a presentation by Sally Eyring.
More information below.

NVWG Sale at Fivesparks

 NVWG will host a sale of members’ work at Fivesparks on Saturday and Sunday, September 28 and 29.  Saturday 10am-4pm, Sunday Noon-4pm.
More information coming soon! 

 

Feb11

Evelyn Vanderhoop on Friday 2/22 for our next meeting

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Evelyn Vanderhoop on Friday 2/22 for our next meeting

Note the change of day, time and location!

Friday February 22nd at 7 pm at the Memorial Congregational Church at 26 Concord Road in Sudbury. Evelyn Vanderhoop will be arriving at 6:30 to set up and have some chat time before the program starts promptly at 7.

Evelyn Vanderhoop with a handwoven tunic

The Nashoba Valley Weavers’ Guild and the Boston Area Spinners and Dyers are jointly hosting an evening presentation by Evelyn Vanderhoop, Haida weaver.

Evelyn and her family carry on the long textile traditions of the Haida, a Northwest Coast people, with a particular interest in Raven’s Tail Robes. She has spent several years researching this almost lost technique of weaving. The Boston Museum of Fine Arts commissioned Evelyn to weave a traditional Raven’s Tail Blanket for their collections, and she will be presenting the robe to the museum in February. Evelyn is going to dance the robe at the MFA at 11 am Wednesday, February 20 (probably gallery 168). She will give two programs at the Museum that will include materials and demonstrations of technique on Thursday, February 21 (one hour each; one in late morning and one in early afternoon).

We have invited Evelyn to speak to our two Guilds (and other invited guests) about the history of these robes and the processes involved in making them. While the MFA’s Raven’s Tail Robe will not be part of her presentation (it will already be a accessioned into the museum’s collection), she will include some materials in her talk.

This is a very special program and speaker, and we’re very excited about being able to host this event! Note that this is in place of our regular 4th Tuesday meeting. There will be no meeting on 2/26 at the Fiber Loft.

For more information about Evelyn, please visit her website: http://evelynvanderhoopart.blogspot.com

In addition, a video is being made. There may be some filming at our event, and we may get to see some previews of the work in progress!

Oct14

Aspects of Double Weave at October Meeting

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Aspects of Double Weave at October Meeting

Our next Guild meeting is Tuesday, 23 October. Our guest speaker, Susan Rockwell from Braintree Vermont, will share her doubleweave experience.

This presentation will explore the many aspects of double weave on four shafts including: weaving two separate layers simultaneously, weaving double width cloth, tubular weaving and variations, as well as double weave pick-up for creative woven-in designs. We will discuss a brief history, drafting, finishing, setting up the loom and helpful tips. There will be numerous samples to examine. There will be a loom set up for demonstrating and if you would like to try weaving double weave.

This presentation will be valuable to ALL LEVELS of weavers!

Social time begins at 7, and the meeting will begin at 7:30 at The Fiber Loft.

Mar22

Weave on a Bow Loom at the March Meeting

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Weave on a Bow Loom at the March Meeting

Bow loom weaving is an ancient weaving technique. Traditionally, the loom would have been a flexible tree branch with warp thread attached to both ends, flexing the bow to create tension on warp threads. Threads were separated by a piece of hide or a piece of wood.

Today, items from hardware/craft store and household items can produce a bow loom. At our meeting on Tuesday 27 March, NVWG member Carol Vales will lead us through warping a bow loom and weaving a narrow band.

Items created on bow loom are usually 4” or less in width. These include: headbands, hatbands, trim for clothing or bags, and lanyards.

Materials will be provided, but if you have a strong warp yarn you’d like to use, 5/2 or 3/2 cotton is recommended. Generally the same  yarn is used in the warp and weft. Beads may be added for decoration. Participants will be able to take their looms home with them.

Participants should bring scissors, a tapestry needle for weaving and a sharp needle for weaving in the ends. Optional: 3/2 or 5/2 cotton and size 6 beads in your color choice.

This program is made possible through the Guild’s Pauline Duke Education Fund.

Social time, snacks and library browsing start at 7 p.m. The meeting starts at 7:30.

Aug5

Loomapalooza Workshop Sign-up is Open!

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Loomapalooza Workshop Sign-up is Open!

We are planning a guild workshop for the fall. Many of you have expressed an interest. Now is the time to commit. This is open to all NVWG members, regardless of experience level, as long as you can warp your loom on your own.

Location:
The Faulkner House, 5 High Street, Acton

Dates:
Opening session (mandatory for all participants) Saturday 14 October 12-4 p.m.
Various flexible day and evening times during the week of 15-22 Oct (Anticipated time you will need to devote is dependent on the number of participants, but probably about 12 hours total. A typical round robin workshop is 3 full days, or about 18 hours. Think of this as a spread out weekend of weaving!)
Guild meeting Tuesday 24 Oct, 7 p.m.

Who:
This is open to all NVWG members, regardless of skill level or experience. If you do not have a portable loom, but would like to participate, we can help you locate a loom to use for the workshop.

Structure of the workshop:
Round Robin
Each member will be given a weaving draft that is appropriate for their loom and their skill level. Yarn will also be provided. Members will need to wind the appropriate warp (with help if needed) and warp their loom. They will arrive at the workshop with their loom completely threaded and a small sample woven at the beginning of the warp.
On the first day (mandatory for all participants), each person will share information about their warp, the weave structure and their loom operation.
Over the next week, the space will be open at various times during the day and in the evening. A mentor from the guild will be on location during all of the open hours. Participants will come and go as they are able and weave on each of the looms, marking their own weaving with supplied tags.
At the end of the final day (22 Oct), designated people will cut the pieces off the looms and take them home to wash, dry and cut up.
At our regular guild meeting on 24 Oct (which will be held at the Faulkner House), the results will be shared with the whole guild. Notebooks will be given to each participant, including the drafts and the samples they wove during the week.
To sign up:
Send an email to Penny chair@nvwg.org with your name and what loom you intend to use for the workshop. (Also indicate if you have another portable loom you’re willing to lend to a fellow guild member for the workshop.) If you are interested in exploring a particular weave structure, please indicate that in your email.  Send a check for $75 to 96 South St., Berlin MA 01503 to complete your registration. Financial aid is available. Please contact Penny or Laura for information.

So that we can plan and everyone has time to warp their looms, the registration deadline is Wednesday 9 August.

Let us know if you have any questions!

Apr19

Yarn: The Movie coming in May!

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Yarn: The Movie coming in May!

Save the date!  May 23, 2017, 7pm

In place of our regular May meeting, The Nashoba Valley Weavers’ Guild Presents
“Yarn: The Movie”
A screening at the Harvard Public Library, Volunteers Room
4 Pond Road, Harvard MA
The film follows several artists who are redefining the tradition of knit and crochet, bringing yarn out of the house into the world.

Watch a trailer.

The screening is free and open to public. Advance registration is recommended. Email yarn@nvwg.org to reserve your seat.

Feb26

Tuesday 2/28/17 Meeting

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Tuesday 2/28/17 Meeting

For our regular meeting this Tuesday, please bring along a tip to share with others. It may be a tool or a book or an idea. If you can’t think of anything, come anyway and take an idea home! Questions are encouraged. We’ll also have a Show & Tell time.

Gathering time is 7 pm at the Fiber Loft for snacks and library browsing. The meeting will start promptly at 7:30.

Jan10

Happy New Year! Meeting reminder

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Happy New Year! Meeting reminder

2003roving

Tues, 24 Jan 2017 is our first meeting of the new year!  We will meet at The Fiber Loft.  Social/Library time will begin at 7pm, and our meeting and program will start promptly at 7:30.

This month’s program will be a very social one.  We ask everyone to bring a sample of your “other art” projects.  Most weavers dabble in other forms of art, be it knitting, spinning, crochet, quilting…or even some non-fiber artistic expressions.  This is the time to share these crafts!  It’ll be a great way to get to know your fellow guild members.  Don’t have an “other art”?  Come anyway!  We hope that this meeting will be very inspirational.

Oct29

Yarn: The Movie – coming soon!

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Yarn: The Movie – coming soon!

Your board is making plans to host a screening of Yarn: the Movie. The hope is to have it on the night of our regular April 2017 guild meeting at a public venue in Harvard. Details will be forthcoming. In the mean time, here’s a link to the trailer, to get you excited about the screening. Although the movie is knitting-oriented, it addresses fiber arts and women’s expression. Enjoy!

http://www.yarnfilm.com/movietrailer/