SWG meets on the fourth Thursday of the month, with exceptions for holidays and the summer break. If you are interested in guild membership or a particular program we invite you to join us. Visitors are always welcome. Meetings are located in Bloedel Hall, behind St. Marks Cathedral: 1245 10th Ave East, Seattle, WA.
The meeting starts at 10:00 am, followed by the morning program. Program speakers typically bring woven samples to accompany their talks, which are displayed on tables in front of the stage. After a lunch break, the afternoon program follows, frequently a hands on project.
2010 Programs
May 27, 2010 - Bobbie Irwin
Bobbie has been associated with Interweave Press since 1987 as a contributing editor, columnist and writer of articles in Handwoven, Spin-Off, and PieceWork. Her articles have appeared in more than a dozen magazines in three countries. Some of you may remember her Handwoven Communique' column that continued for 15 years and through two changes of editors. In addition to the two twining books, she is the author of The Spinner's Companion.
Morning Program: "Weaving a Transparency"
With patterns that appear to float on an open-weave background, transparencies are pictorial fabrics that are easier, faster, and more economical to weave than tapestries. The changing effects of light give added dimension. Although few people employ more than a couple inlay options, the many possibilities can give added texture and dimension to a woven transparency.
Bobbie will start with a discussion of traditional linen transparencies and then go on to less orthodox techniques and materials. Three-dimensional transparencies using fishing line, double weave, and unusual inlays are among the variations she's explored, and more recently she's adapted the same technique to wool for practical shawls and scarves. See her articles about transparencies in the March 1986 and May 1994 issues of Handwoven.
Afternoon Program:
"Twined Rag Rugs: a Northwest Tradition"
Like twining itself, twining with fabric strips developed independently in many parts of the world, including the Pacific Northwest. When trade cloth became available to the Salish and Nuu-chah-nulth people, they adapted their twining expertise to a new material and started producing twined rag rugs in the mid-19th century.
Makah rugs from the Puget Sound are the oldest twined rag rugs mentioned in literature, and the oldest twined rugs in museums (perhaps the oldest such rugs in the world) are also from this region. In what is now British Columbia, the First Nations peoples continued to twine with fabric strips well into the 20th century.
Bobbie will discuss and show photos of these rare rugs along with their history in the Northwest and elsewhere. Learn how Salish people kept their twining traditions alive with rag rugs, even when the Potlatch Law almost brought about the demise of their weaving.
Coming December 2010 - The SWG Fashion Show!
We will be presenting our own SWG Fashion Show during the December 2, 2010 Program and you are all invited to participate. Cyndi White is heading up this event and she wants everyone to create and produce a woven or fabric manipulated wearable garment for the show. You aren't required to wear your creation, as we will have models who will strut your stuff on the runway. But make the garment something that you would wear to an event coming up in 2010; a wedding, holiday event, special party, etc. We want you to have a new outfit for all your efforts and to show it off to all your friends in the Guild!
Please Note: All garments for the Show must be turned in by September 23, 2010, along with a completed Garment Sheet (download PDF).
Garment Requirements: Woven or fabric manipulated wearable garments: Coats, Kimonos, Jackets, Vests, Shawls, Dresses, Skirts, Blouses/Shirts, Pants
For more information Email: Cyndi CyndiCon@AOL.com