KAWS 2022

Wichita Weavers, Spinners & Dyers Guild Posted on by

The Kansas Alliance of Weavers and Spinners (KAWS) annual conference is now in the books. The Topeka Handweavers and Spinners Guild pulled together a rich and intimate event in Auburn, KS on September 16th & 17th. Several Wichita guild members attended and participated, and a good time was had by all!

There were classes, vendors (one of whom, Benz Rambouillet, provided fleeces for the breed study!), food and activities, and an inspiring keynote speech and slide show on botanical dyeing by Laura Mead.

Our guild table was a display of the combined efforts of multiple spinners who participated in the breed study funded by a grant from the Kansas Sheep Council, and while we were delighted that it was awarded second place, we are most happy about the attention it garnered from attendees and the discussions it started.

The fiber works on display were beautiful and varied, making voting for a favorite a difficult decision. The weaving with the chalice design at far left in the first photo was awarded the prestigious Pete Soeken award, in honor of one of KAWS’ founding members.

The fiber display winners were:

  • 3rd, Laura Mead’s botanical printed jacket
  • 2nd, Janet Hamous’ Partridge in a Pear Tree (left or above)
  • 1st, Sharon Barnes’ spindle case (below)


Our Guild was well represented!

The 2023 KAWS conference will be held in Lawrence on June 9, 10 and 11, so put it on your calendar and watch for more information!

Kansas Sheep Council Partnership

Wichita Weavers, Spinners & Dyers Guild Posted on by

Wichita Weavers, Spinners & Dyers Guild + Kansas Sheep Council = Education & Promotion!

We are proud to announce that the Kansas Sheep Council has selected the Guild as recipient of a grant to fund educational activities to promote wool!

There are two parts to the grant activities:

  1. Equipment purchase of one spinning wheel and two rigid heddle looms to support our long-term goal of teaching spinning and weaving skills, and
  2. Funding a breed study, using fleece from 10 different breeds of sheep raised by Kansas producers.


The breed study will be limited to 10 participants, who will receive wool from each fleece to process, spin and produce a sample. They will meet regularly via Zoom to relate their experiences and observations about each type of wool.

Watch our Facebook group for photos and comments through the duration of the study (July – early September)!

Yarn samples and swatches will be collected to create a display for the Guild and one for the Kansas Sheep Council, so others can see, feel and learn from the work of the participants.

And here are pictures of a few of the actual fleece growers!

Bluefaced Leicester
Miniature Cheviot
Rambouillet
Southdown

Ewe to Yarn 2022

Wichita Weavers, Spinners & Dyers Guild Posted on by

Most people think of yarn as the raw material for a knitting, crochet, weaving or needlework project, but it’s really a finished product!

  • Beginning or end(ish)?
  • Raw fleece
  • Dirty and scoured wool
  • Dyeing
  • Fiber prep tools
  • Wheel spinning

We invite you to consider our 2022 Ewe to Yarn series of classes that starts at the beginning.  Well, actually, the VERY beginning is at lambing time, but we’re going to skip over the critical animal husbandry part of the equation and start with the shorn fleece.

Four experienced instructors will take you through the entire process, starting with skirting and washing a fleece and dyeing the wool, through fiber preparation options to learning to use a spinning wheel and honing your skills with some different spinning techniques.  These sessions will give even total beginners the experience and confidence to continue on their own, with a solid grounding in the basics plus some extra knowledge and hands-on experience!

Attend all classes in the series, or pick and choose whichever ones interest you.  Materials and equipment are provided in most sessions, but check the details on each page for items you might need to bring. No special preparation is necessary, and you may even be able to borrow a spinning wheel if you don’t have one of your own!

Pre-registration is required; see each page for specific information.

What better way to expand your experience than by learning a fulfilling and creative new (and ancient) skill?