May 2016 – Dye day

Wichita Weavers, Spinners & Dyers Guild Posted on by

May 7, 2016

Our final meeting of the year will be May 7th in room 118 of the McKnight building on the WSU campus. We will be dyeing, so bring something that you would like to work on – warps, skeins of yarn, unspun fiber, silk scarves, or other fabric or items. We will provide the dyes, and we will also have pre-soaking buckets set up. As always, bring plastic bags to transport your wet items home.
We will also be voting on our slate of officers for the 2016-2017 year:
  • President   Susan de Wit
  • Vice President   Terry Harrison
  • Treasurer   Janet Hamous
  • Secretary   Sharon Barnes
Final details on the July 14-18 Kathrin Weber workshops will be presented. Please come prepared to make or arrange payment.
Directions to McKnight Hall: Exit off Hillside onto Alumni Drive. The McKnight building is the second building on your right (around the curve of the street).  Due to construction, access through the brown double doors that face Hillside is somewhat obstructed; park in the lot on your left and walk around the cordoned-off area.

 

April 2016 Meeting

Wichita Weavers, Spinners & Dyers Guild Posted on by

The program  for the April 2 meeting will be a non-standard sock knitting technique:

We will be making Flatlander Socks. They are called that because they are knit flat on 2 needles. Please bring your sock yarn, size 2 or 3 knitting needles and scissors to cut your yarn if needed. The pattern, as written, is knit with size 3 needles fit a size 9 woman’s shoe size generously. If you have a smaller foot you will probably want to use the size 2 needles. You should know how to knit and purl.

Remember – if you are not interested in this month’s program, we still want to see you!  Feel free to bring any portable project to work on, or just come for social time and for any business that needs to be addressed. See you there!

Meeting location is at WSU in the McKnight building (see directions below)
Officer Meeting @ 9:00am
Social Time @ 9:30am
Meeting & Program begins @ 10:00am

Directions: Exit off of Hillside onto Alumni Drive. The McKnight building is the second building on your right. Enter the north wing (around the curve of the street) through the brown double doors that face Hillside. Parking is available in the lot across the street from the McKnight Building.

HLA Fiber Mill Tour

Wichita Weavers, Spinners & Dyers Guild Posted on by

Last week, our meeting was a field trip – to HLA Fiber Mill east of Augusta, Kansas!

Owners John and Sara Morris graciously hosted our tour of their small and efficient facility, showing us the many steps of processing fiber from fleece (wool, alpaca, whatever!) to finished product.

 

Sara showing off a prize-winning alpaca fleece.
Sara and guild members with a black alpaca fleece (or blanket); retail opportunity in the foreground!
HLA rugs and rug yarns
A few of the mill products, with bags of fiber on the shelves waiting to be processed.
Guild members drooling over the specialized washing machine – drying cabinet at left.
Explaining how the draw frame works to draft fiber in the final step before spinning.
Sam was particularly intrigued by the spinner, while John demonstrates plying.
More of their gorgeous yarn in a variety of natural colors.