A Century of Color - Maya Weaving & Textiles, A documentary film By Kathleen Mosman Vitale

The January meeting was canceled due to the weather forecast of snow and sleet for central Indiana. Please join us for the February meeting.

January, 2012 - The highlands of Guatemala radiate brilliantly colored clothing and artisan products. Gustavus Eisen's 1902 collection of photographs and textiles (housed at the Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology, University of California/Berkeley), provides a starting point to examine Maya weaving during the ensuing decades by presenting stunning examples of blouses, skirts, belts, hair ribbons, ikat1, embroidery, and men's wear.

Cultural changes for the Mayan people have been brought about by many forces, including: the recent 36-year Civil War, the introduction of the Spanish language in rural schools, proliferation of mass media, increased tourism and artisan organizations, changes in the role of women, pressure from a globalized world economy, and the importation of vast quantities of cheap, new and used clothing. Interwoven with textile examples from the past century and stunning footage of the present day, this documentary shows the effects of these shifts in culture.

The new Network Drafting study group will meet after the general meeting. Bring a sack lunch and any information you have about Network Drafting. We will learn what it is and give ourselves projects to try it out. Anyone is welcome (8 or more harnesses needed to actually do the weaving, though weaving software will let you experiment on as many harnesses as you like!)

Cotton Comprehensive

November 19, 2011 - Cotton fiber—what starts out as a short fluff of fiber on a shrubby plant—can be spun into a wide variety of yarns readily available for weaving.  After a brief discussion about spinning and dyeing cotton, various uses of the finished yarns, including appropriate setts for various thicknesses and a discussion of finishing techniques, will be presented.

We invite you to bring some of your own handwoven cotton pieces and share your experiences working with this wonderful fiber!

We will also have our election of officers at the November meeting.

New Weavers Workshop

October 15, 2011- Each year, Linda Adamson works with the new weavers to challenge them in learning something new and present it to the group. The October meeting will show you the results.

This year we tackled 3 shaft Krokbradg (sounds like an illness doesn't it.), Double Corduroy (Oh how life piles on) and a surprise. We will share with you what they learned and show their samples and hopefully give you some new ideas to work with as well.

There will also be lots of show and tell from the Workshop with Rita Hagenbruch.

From Lapland to Dalsland, a Handweaver’s Dreamland

September 15, 2011 - The September meeting will be presented by Rita Hagenbruch, our guest workshop leader. Rita says:

“Travel on a virtual weaving tour to Sweden and be inspired by many beautiful handwovens. I will share images of my travels to Lapland to meet my penpal, Doris Wiklund, a handweaver and author of four wonderful weaving books. See weavings of the Sami people and view a Norrbotten Hemsjold’s display. You will be amazed at bureaus from Lapland to Dalsland filled with a handweaver’s dream.”

Please note the different date, time and location for this special program. This meeting will be held at the Noblesville Library meeting room (enter through the main door) starting promptly at 7 p.m. Please arrive in plenty of time to chat with friends and find your seat BEFORE the 7 p.m. start time.

Due to the fact that we have limited time for the program (we have to be finished by 8:45pm and out of the program room by 9PM), the program will start on time at 7PM!

Click on this link to view via Google maps.

Even though the Noblesville library’s address is 1 Library Plaza, it is actually on Cumberland Rd just north of Conner St. (State Rd. 32/38). If you are coming from the south you can take State Rd. 37 north (be sure to follow the signs for State Rd 37 to Noblesville when it splits from Interstate 69). At the lights where State Rd 37 meets State Rds 32/38 ) turn left (west) onto St Rd 37/38 (which is Conner St. in Noblesville). At the next traffic light (which is almost immediately after turning onto Conner St.) turn right onto Cumberland Rd. The Noblesville library is on the right just a few hundred feet after turning onto Cumberland.

A Field Trip to the Indiana State Museum

August 20, 2011 - The August meeting consists of a tour of the textile collection at the Indiana State Museum, 650 W. Washington Street, Indianapolis, on Saturday, August 20. The tour will leave the Grand Hall (main lobby) at 10 a.m. sharp, so please arrive 15 minutes early so we can purchase tickets at the group price.

We will see several paisley shawls plus coverlets, including Sarah LaTourette who wove strongly patterned textiles, and other textiles by known women weavers.

If you arrive after 10 a.m. we cannot guarantee that you will be able to join the tour, because we are going into the private areas of the museum. Meet in the lobby of the Indiana State Museum at 9:45 a.m.

If you would like to carpool, contact president Mary Alice Donceel at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it no later than August 14 and she will organize the groups and get back to you.

Midwest Weavers Conference review

July 16, 2011 - The 2011 Midwest Weavers Conference was held in the upper peninsula of Michigan this year. Finlandia University in Hancock, Michigan, hosted the conference.

The July meeting will be a review of the conference presented by 4 of our members who attended the conference. You will see photos of the fashion show, the members’ exhibit, the teachers’ exhibit, the guild exhibits (where we won 2nd place!) as well as details about specific classes taken by our members.

Visit our Facebook page to see photos of the other guilds in the Guild Exhibit.

Zapotec Weaving, by Ellen Germann

June 18, 2011 - In the Southwest, Navajo and Zapotec rugs are both very popular. To those who don’t know the difference, the much cheaper price of Zapotec rugs is often an appealing way to get a little Southwest flavor. In reality, the two types of rug weaving are quite different, although incorporating some similar designs. The Zapotecs are Native Mexicans living predominantly in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. Their tradition of rug weaving dates back to the times of the Spanish settlements in Mexico. They weave their rugs on large floor looms and the entire process is typically a family affair - from spinning to dyeing to weaving to selling.

Based on her studies under Zapotec weaver Alex Martinez and her love of these rugs, Ellen Germann will share some of the techniques used in preparing and weaving Zapotec Rugs as well as examples of the rugs.

Swedish Lace with Patti Mink

May 21, 2011 -  Patti Mink will present Swedish Lace. In the book, “Handwoven Laces” by Donna Muller, she states that Harriet Tidball categorizes Swedish lace as an extension of simple huck lace threading and then calls Bronson lace “a mulitple-harness interpretation of Swedish lace.”

Guild Exhibit Scarf Review, round 2

May 21, 2011 - Our May meeting will also take a 2nd look at all the scarves we have woven for the 2011 Midwest Weavers Conference guild exhibit project. We want to see what we have now so we can plan the display.

If you have woven a scarf, please download this PDF (AuroraScarf_recordForm.pdf) of the information needed to create the display book showing all the drawdowns and photos of the scarves. Bring this completed form, along with your inspiration photo and scarf to the meeting.

Online resources for the weaver/artist

April 16, 2011 - Web sites, blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Etsy and more can get your work online, but what is the best way to use these technologies? And what resources for weavers are out there that can help you expand your weaving experience?

Our web weaver, Mindy McCain, will showcase weaving resources found on the internet and also talk about ways to market yourself and your weaving online.

Guild Exhibit Scarf Review

April 16, 2011 - Our April meeting will also take a look at all the scarves we have woven for the 2011 Midwest Weavers Conference guild exhibit project. We want to see what we have now so we can plan the display. Take a look at the sample page in this issue to see a beautiful example.

If you have woven a scarf, please download this PDF (AuroraScarf_recordForm.pdf) of the information needed to create the display book showing all the drawdowns and photos of the scarves. Bring this completed form, along with your inspiration photo and scarf to the meeting.

Weaving a Tartan

March 16, 2011 - Kris Seel and Nancy Berry will provide a brief history of tartan weaving, also showing how to design a tartan, winding the warp, threading, treadling and finishing your piece.  You will learn what constitutes a tartan versus a plaid, how to create your own pattern, should you choose, and how to calculate your yarn and sett.  Nancy has some tips and tricks for winding and threading to share.

Nancy has beautiful yardage she has woven and Kris has taken two workshops, the most recent one with Kati Meeks.  She will have her notebook from that workshop to share.

Kris also has an official tartan map with 136 clan and their tartans.  Come with your family history and find yours, write down the setts and colors and weave a family treasure.

Kris is also weaving a few Super Bowl scarves in blue and white (some liberties taken from a clan).

HGA Convergence Exhibits Review

February 19, 2011 - At the February meeting, we will view the DVD showing the Enchanted Yardage exhibit from Convergence 2010, held in Albuquerque, New Mexico. If time permits, we will also view the Small Expressions exhibit and the Eye Dazzlers exhibit.

We will also discuss the Indiana State Fair and the process for entering your handwoven items in the competitions.

Fashion Show Review

January 15, 2011 - Handwoven fashion is the topic for the January, 2011, meeting. We will watch the video from the fashion show at the 2010 Convergence conference in Albuquerque.

Members are asked to bring all their own handwoven clothing (old AND new) to share for show-and-tell. We will talk about clothing patterns and fibers and all the joys and sorrows of making handwoven clothing.

Weave a Real Peace (WARP) and a Mayan Hands sale

November 20, 2010 - Weave a Real Peace (WARP) is a networking organization of weavers, academics, and interested supporters who value the importance of textiles to communities around the world. The WARP Slide Show includes 103 photographs of Weave A Real Peace member experiences with indigenous artisans, including backstrap weavers of Guatemala; weavers of Chinchero, Peru; weaving apprentices in Ghana; a mohair tapestry cooperative in Lesotho; rug weavers of Morocco; hill tribes of Northern Thailand and much more. Learn more about Weave a Real Peace on its web site: http://www.weavearealpeace.org/.

In addition, Sharon Howell will be bringing authentic Pre-Incan artifacts from her childhood in Peru.

As a complement to the slideshow, we will be hosting a fair trade sale of handwoven Guatemalan textiles from Mayan Hands. You may pay via cash or check, but check is preferable to avoid having to make change. For an idea of the types of weaving offered you can check out the Mayan Hands website http://www.mayanhands.org/

Feel free to browse these fine textiles at the November meeting and remember there is NO pressure to buy!!!!

“Twining” with Sue Parker Bassett

October 16, 2010 - Twining has been known for thousands of years. Weft twining is a method of weaving that creates a strong, decorative fabric. It is often confused with embroidery, because of the type of surface it creates and the wide range of designs that are possible with the technique. It is sometimes called twined tapestry because of the similarity in appearance to tapestry weaving.

Come see how you can apply this technique to your own weaving. There will be samples available so you can try your hand at this age-old technique.

Putting Together a Novelty Act, with Robyn Spady.

September 17, 2010 - Robyn Spady has been weaving for over 40 years and earned the HGA Certificate of Excellence in Handweaving in 2004 with a specialized study in loom-controlled stitched double cloth. She comes to Weaving Indiana this month to give a "Fab Four" workshop about using 4 harnesses.

In this program, Putting Together a Novelty Act, Robyn will discuss a variety of weave structures that can add new dimensions to your weaving and will let you take advantage of fun and exciting yarns.

*Note the different location and time. Park in the lot east of the building, entering from Road 32 on the north side or from Maple Avenue on the south side. Tip: Allisonville Road becomes 10th Street as it enters the town of Noblesville.

Using hand painted warps and skeins in weaving

July 17, 2010 - Hand painted warps and skeins are beautiful to look at, but do you wonder how to use them? Carrie May will talk about weaving with hand painted warps and skeins, and how to use them effectively.

Review of Convergence 2010 and our first yarn swap/sale.

August 21, 2010 - Several of our members have attended the 2010 HGA Convergence conference and the Complex Weavers meeting in Albuquerque this summer. We will see photos and hear reviews of what they saw and heard during the conference.

Yarn and Equipment Sale

Bring your money and your check book! Following the general meeting presentation will be our first yarn and weaving equipment swap sale. If you have yarn you don't want and equipment you don't need, bring them to the meeting marked with a price. Each member will have a table and is responsible for her/his own sales.

This is a great opportunity to find yarn and used equipment at great prices. Come prepared to go home with new treasures.

Designing Stripes

May 15, 2010 - Suppose you have been commissioned to design a stripe for a cushion, or upholstery fabric or curtains or table runners. Maybe you want to do some fine fabric for suits or fabric for jackets. Where do you start and what are the considerations you need to keep in mind for the projects?

Using a combination of techniques, we will explore how to design stripes and talk about maintaining the integrity of the stipes. You are encouraged to design your own following the lecture.

Rag Rug Tote Bags

June 19, 2010 - Learn more about the rag rug tote bags. Tina Hilton will lead a detailed discussion about the weaving and construction of these totes. After a lunch break (please bring a sack lunch!) everyone will have a chance to weave and sew their own tote.

To participate, you will be weaving on your own loom for this workshop. It should be warped when you arrive and the weft prepared and ready for weaving. I will be bringing my loom and weft for anyone who doesn’t have a workshop loom. We will have sewing machines available too so you can complete your bag during the workshop. For information about warping your loom, please download this PDF and follow the instructions.

Equipment and Accessories

April 17, 2010 - Bring any equipment and/or accessories that you would like identified or equipment show and tell that would be of interest to the weavers. Show how you use certain tools to simplify your warping and weaving chores.

A collection of weaving equipment, looms, wheels, and tools will be shown to trace the history of textile making over the last few hundred years. You might use this showing to identify looms or equipment that you own or wish to acquire.

NOTE: The field trip to the Indiana State Museum has been postponed because of the Race for the Cure event happening at our scheduled time. Stay tuned for more information on when this will be rescheduled.

Beads, Bangles and Buttons - Embellish your Handwoven Textiles

March 20, 2010 - Sue Parker Bassett, Mary Alice Donceel and Kris Seel will present a program to help you add a bit of glitz and glamour to your handwoven work.

Come learn about using beads in your weaving or making some special knot work accents and closures, maybe a little silk embroidery for extra interest. Try your hand at creating polymer clay buttons and beads. It will be a fun time to make it and take it with you.