Congratulations to Caitlin ffrench and Nine Ten Publications (both local) for the release of the book cover for their forthcoming book Gathering Colour!

I'd excited to share my newest retailer Sarah Elizabeth Fibreworks in Rossland, BC! Sarah Elizabeth and I met on the fibre market networks of BC around 2017 where she and I were both dyers and artists selling our handmade wares.

Since then we have enjoyed seeing each other each year at marketplaces like Fibres West and Knit City. In 2019 Sarah opened storefront in Rossland British Columbia where sells beautiful fibre art supplies as well as holds regular classes for her community.

I'm beyond excited to have both my Everlea Mini Loom Kits and Everlea Tapestry Loom Kits for sale at Sarah Elizabeth Fibreworks' shop.

Rossland folk, go snag one for yourself!

Sarah Elizabeth Fibreworks is located at
2002 Washington St, Rossland, BC
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Interested in being a retailer? Email me at janna@everleayarn.ca

​There are 11 days left to opt in to support Caitlin's book, Gathering Colour and they are so close to meeting the goal which will get this book made. This Kickstarter is an all-or-nothing fundraiser, so if Gathering Colour is to be made they must reach their goal.  Supporting Gathering Colour in this way is essentially pre-ordering the book. I ordered two! And there are many other reward options for supporting.  Check them out!

Above is a clip of Caitlin meeting with current supports of the fundraiser. I am excited to see that she is weaving on my Everlea Mini Loom, which might even make an appearance in the book itself as one of the projects offered in it.

​Vanessa T Cunningham has been spinning yarn and weaving shawls as a small business for over 15 years. In fact, my very first blog post here on VancouverYarn.com in 2008 featured Vanessa's shawl, and my experience taking spinning lessons from her at Birkeland Bros when it was located on Main Street.

Sadly, her beloved Ashford Kiwi spinning wheel has been stolen. She is seeking funds to replace her wheel. Donations can be made at the link above.

As a new knitter in 2002 I wasn't aware of the many different approaches to knitting knit stitches and purl stitches. But when I did eventually learn about continental knitting and saw how much faster it is than throwing I tried to switch several times over many years, to no avail. The learning curve was too steep for my already well established muscle memory.

But in 2011 Melissa at Miso Crafty Knits mentioned she was using Portuguese Knitting and I gave it a shot. A quick Andrea Wong Youtube video later and I was purling Portuguese style flawlessly. My purling hasn't changed since, and it's even faster than my throwing knit stitch. So, I'll knit stockinette stitch items which are knit in the round inside out so I can purl all stitches.

I've just published a demonstration of my two colourwork purling methods. The first method uses a combination of throwing and Portuguese-style purling to knit two colours, and the second method abandons throwing and introduces a paper clip pin to purl two colours in Portuguese-style.

When I knit the right side of colourwork I usually don't employ Portuguese knitting techniques, I throw as per this video: https://youtu.be/Lt_Fcx2KOGk

Would you try this method of purling?

Find the Everlea Fingering yarns which appear in this video here: www.everleayarn.ca/collections/everlea-yarn

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Janna Maria

Canada's online textile magazine Digits & Threads has launched their first mini-course today! This mini-course written by yours truly, How to Weave a Tiny Tapestry, is a thorough photo tutorial powered by online course software.

How to Weave a Tiny Tapestry is a part of a series of articles and tutorials that I am offering at Digits and Threads which began with my article, An Introduction to Tapestry: Vocabulary and Best Practices. In the coming weeks you will see two more additions to this series including Tapestry Weaving: Magic Techniques for Smooth Lines and Finishing Techniques for Tapestry.

Sign up as a Studio Member at Digits & Threads to access all of their articles and tutorials. Use the coupon code EVERLEA for 10% off.

Digits & Threads is an independent, member-supported online magazine about Canadian fibre and textile arts, crafts and industry, published by Nine Ten Publications.

Tapestry weaving is the slow, methodical and intimate art of weaving pictures. The weaver’s woven pictures can be representational or abstract, with varying degrees of detail depending on their setup.

My foray into tapestry weaving began in 2008 when I first entered Capilano University’s Textile Art diploma program (sadly, no longer offered). It was the first kind of weaving that was introduced to students, most likely because it is the perfect hands-on way to conceptualize the idea of, and the relationship between, warp and weft.

​I'm very excited to share that my series of tapestry weaving articles has begun to roll out online at Digits & Threads, beginning with An Intro to Tapestry Weaving: Vocabulary and Best Practices

Digits & Threads is an independent, member-supported online magazine about Canadian fibre and textile arts, crafts and industry, published by Nine Ten Publications, and I'm very proud and excited to be a contributor there

On Instagram stories local author and knit designer Andrea Rangel shares outfits that she has made by hand. She recently shared this beauty and since she did it in collaboration with local artists I wanted to share it here. Andrea self drafted the dress in fabric which was handwoven at Wovenwares, a weaving studio in Victoria, and then had it eco printed by local artist Caitlin ffrench. She knit the Docklight pullover in Brooklyn Tweed Shelter. Isn't this the perfect early spring outfit?

Join Andrea's newsletter HERE

Janna

PS. Want to knit this sweater? Use our search engine to find out which local yarn shops carry Brooklyn Tweed yarn.
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​The ACT Art Gallery is delighted to welcome back the Whonnock Weavers and Spinners Guild for their first exhibition in the gallery in nearly 10 years. The intriguing title of the exhibition, Out of the Woods, draws on the larger theme of the September conference in Vancouver of the Textile Society of America. Both events demonstrate the deep and enduring connections between traditional textiles, and their reinvention for today’s needs and markets.

The diversity of the Guild, and the range in ages, amply qualifies them to take on the broad scope of this theme. As is often the case with the more successful guilds, the constant introduction of new members and ideas ensures a healthy exchange and awareness of new trends while the older, more experienced members ensure that high standards are upheld.

Unusually, for this exhibition, manmade textiles will be accepted (generally, only natural fibres are considered exhibition worthy). The exception is justified on this occasion because of the group’s challenge to demonstrate how synthetic materials can be transformed into both functional and purely artistic objects to great effect. It is this kind of outside-the-box thinking that has spawned materials such as tyvak, kevlar and goretex, synthetics that have been adapted with remarkable success in the building, safety, medical, sporting and transportation industries.

This exhibition is dedicated to the memory of Ellen Hamilton, a long-time member of the Whonnock Guild, and one who contributed at many levels, including the envisioning of the upcoming exhibition.

The Whonnock Weavers and Spinners Guild was formed in 1974, and welcomes the participation of felters, knitters, basket makers, dyers, rug hookers and anyone interested in these art forms. Members benefit from exciting programs including demonstrations, visual presentations, slideshows, workshops, sales and community activities. For more information, visit the Guild’s website at www.wwsg.ca 

The ACT Arts Council operates the ACT Art Gallery, located inside The ACT Art Centre. In fulfilling its mission to broaden and enrich the public’s appreciation and understanding of visual culture, it presents stimulating and diverse displays of artwork by local, regional and national artists and artisans.

Visitors are welcome to visit the gallery at no charge from Tuesdays through Saturdays, from 11am to 4pm, as well as on selected evenings to coincide with theatre performances.

Please visit us at www.theactmapleridge.org/gallery

Location: The ACT Art Gallery (at The ACT Arts Centre) 11944 Haney Place, Maple Ridge, BC, V2X 6G1
Exhibition Dates: Saturday, September 8 – Saturday, October 27, 2018
Opening Reception: Saturday, September 8 from 2-4pm (free)
Hand spinning demos: 12:30-3pm on Fri, Sept. 14; Sat, Sept. 22; Fri, Oct 12 and Sat, Oct. 13
Regular Gallery hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 11am-4pm and selected evenings