Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild featured on Crochet News Today blog

The Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild was featured in Crochet News Today in its November 13, 2012 blog post. Not a crocheter? Well, don't let the Crochet News Today name fool you as blog editor, Melinda Gorley, offers information and articles about various fiber art disciplines and has included a calendar of events, links to podcasts, guild and club listings, charity organizations, and upcoming fiber and textile art exhibits at museums and galleries on this web site.

Color and texture with knitting.

If you live in the Chattanooga, Tennessee area, and are interested in needle and fiber arts, check out an overview of the activities of the Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild on the About Us page.

Join us in 2013. Enjoy the benefits of annual guild membership for only $15 and treat yourself to a year of fiber art!

The magic and beauty of Shibori

The program on "Shibori. Making marks with shaped resist dyeing," presented by fiber artist, Veronica Hofman-Ortega, held attendees captivated at the July Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild meeting. Ms. Hofman-Ortega's multimedia presentation and trunk show provided numerous examples of pattern, texture and the visual exuberance that can only be achieved with the shaped resist dye techniques of shibori.

Fiber artist, Veronica Hofman-Ortega, shows her arashi shibori sample
and talks about other examples of shibori patterns and techniques
during her presentation and trunk show.

"Shibori is a timeless and very versatile art form with limitless possibilities," said Veronica. "All aspects of the fabrics, technique, dye sequence as well as the serendipity of the dye bath work in concert to achieve the resulting patterns."

Along with her multimedia presentation, Veronica showed pieces from her wearable art collection, including a shibori wool vest she created based on Rachel Clark's "Picture This" vest pattern, and the mokume shibori jacket and silk dupioni "Power of Panthera Leo" vest that was published with her article, "Compliments of the Dye Pot," in Belle Armoire magazine in 2011.

Veronica displays her shibori wool vest using the "Picture This" vest
pattern by indie designer, Rachel Clark.
Veronica's collection of shibori artwear is shown at left.

Left: "Power of Panthera Leo" vest, Best of Show at the 2010 Guild Challenge.
Right: Two shibori techniques with appliqué Angelina fibers on a raw silk vest.

Never disappointed with the results of the shibori process, Ms. Hofman-Ortega encourages her audience to "Embrace the serendipity!" and enjoy the magic and organic beauty of shibori.

Mokume stitch resist technique on a raw silk jacket.

More of Veronica's fiber art adventures can be found on her web site, FiberAnticsbyVeronica.com. Veronica offered her recommendations on shibori resources here:


Also visit the World Shibori Network.

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Show and Tell

Guild members shared their fiber art creations during Show and Tell.

Mary's crochet shawl.

Martha's version of the crochet shawl.

Left: A striped knit shawl. Right: Hannah's crochet necklace.

Knit shawl detail.

Tia shows the loom made by her husband.

Crocheted baby tutu.

Fiber art demonstrations at Ketner's Mill

Spinning demonstrations provided by
members of the Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild.

Come out and visit the Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild tent at the Ketner's Mill Country Fair this weekend, October 15-16.

Guild members will be demonstrating fiber art techniques such as spinning, carding, weaving and hairpin lace throughout the weekend. Fiber art pieces and hand crafted items made by guild members will be for sale at the tent. Hand spun yarns and fibers—made from animals raised and cared for by owners of local farms—will also be available for purchase.

The fiber arts can be enjoyed by people of all ages. These crafts teach coordination, dexterity, flexibility, offer mental stimulus, and are fun and creative. If you're curious, check out our demonstrations.

The fair is a great opportunity to talk with guild members about fiber arts, ask questions, and purchase one-of-a-kind items, kits, yarn and fibers for holiday gifts. And it's never too late to learn something new!

Knit One Below: a stitch for many fabrics

A demonstration of the "Knit One Below" knitting technique was the program at the April Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild meeting. This technique creates a drapey fabric that looks good on both the right and wrong sides. Solid or long striping yarns are good choices for this type of colorwork knitting. A baby hat pattern using the Knit One Below (K1B) stitch can be found here.

As seen in Elise Duvekot's book, Knit One Below: One Stitch, Many Fabrics this technique offers a variety of color, design and pattern options. With the appropriate choice of yarn and needle size, K1B is an option for constructing your tote bag entry for the 2011 "Fiber and Caffeine get me going" Guild Challenge. All members are encouraged to experiment with new fabric and construction techniques for their Guild Challenge entry. Guidelines and deadline information for the annual Guild Challenge are listed here.

In support of the Guild Challenge's decorative design element guideline, the program for the May meeting will be "Bead as you Go." "This is an easy and flexible technique," says Kathy Swift-Lawson, the program's presenter, "and you don't have to pre-plan the design or pre-string the beads." Kathy uses this beading technique on her knitted scarves, but indicated that it could be used on crocheted items as well. So, how easy is that?? Come to the May guild meeting and find out!

Show and Tell

Left: hand woven dish towel   Right: knitted wall hanging from left-over sock yarns

Monogrammed woven baby "blankie"

Beaded knit scarf using "Bead as you Go"

Hand made Sneaters from felted recycled sweaters.

Sneater, Sneater, Sneater

Bring your Mug; warm up with Fiber Arts

Beat the cold weather and warm up the New Year with the Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild!

To kick off 2011, we’ll be serving hot beverages at the January 8 guild meeting. We invite you to bring along your favorite coffee mug and we’ll fill it with something warm and comforting… or maybe something hot and spicy! Either way, bring your mug (and your mug) and join us!

Our guild members enjoy a variety of fiber and needle art disciplines such as knitting, crochet, quilting, weaving, felting, spinning and dyeing.

Guild Membership for a year of creative and interesting fiber art activities includes:
:: monthly meetings and programs
:: inspiring Show and Tell
:: invitations to special guild activities
:: participation in regional fiber art events
:: members-only discounts for workshops, and
:: the camaraderie and support of like-minded fiber arts enthusiasts.

Be inspired... learn a new craft... make cool fiber art... and meet new friends. Our door is always open to new members.

Knitted sampler afghans

Knitting stitch sampler strips was a year-long endeavor for the Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild members. At the October guild meeting, the knitted strips—comprised mostly of reversible stitch patterns—were assembled into lap-size afghans for the guild's community service project.

"This was a great project in which all guild members could participate and contribute to our guild community service project," said Guild President, Veronica Hofman Ortega. "The strips could be knitted or crocheted, and it was great opportunity to learn and practice many of the classic reversible stitch patterns." Regardless of skill level, all guild members could contribute to the guild project by choosing from simple to more complex stitch patterns when creating their strips.

Guild members brought in their completed strips.

The knitted strips were laid out in coordinating color groups.

 

Long tails of yarn were left at the beginning or end of each strip for easy seaming. Teams of members sewed the strips together using a ladder stitch. The various lengths of the strips provided an asymmetrical finished edge to these lovingly-made sampler lap blankets.

Show and Tell

The guild members brought in their latest accomplishments for Show and Tell: hand woven shawls in a plain weave pattern; hand spun and hand dyed alpaca yarn; teddy bears made of hand woven fabric made from thread from Scotland; and a Halloween Baltimore album quilt top using a fusible applique method.

Guild Challenge Artwear Exhibit

Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild President, Veronica Hofman Ortega, emceed the guild's wearable art Challenge exhibit and awards ceremony on Saturday, September 11. This event, called "The Power of the Pocket," was a celebration of the beauty and excellence in fiber arts. The collection of wearable art garments was created by guild members in response to a Guild Challenge.

Ten entries represented a diversity of fiber art techniques, including knitting, crochet, fabric dying, weaving and patchwork and showcased the creativity, craftsmanship and ingenuity of the artists that created them.

Show attendees voted for the Viewers' Choice award and had an opportunity to meet and talk with the artists after the awards presentation. Top awards went to:

Viewers' Choice to Brenda Park
for "Linked Weft Woven Jacket with Purse"

Best of Show to Veronica Hofman Ortega
for "The Power of Panthera Leo"

Best Workmanship to Phyllis Narus
for Chenille Tunic

Best Use of Embellishment to Patricia Keran
for "In Memory of Cookie"

Most Innovative Pocket to Kay Pickrell
for "Plum Happy"

For more photos of the Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild Challenge event, click here.

Many of these garments will be included in the upcoming Tennessee Presents Textiles special exhibit, "The Power of the Pocket." Tennessee Presents Textiles is a wearable art runway show and sale to be held on November 13, 2010. The guest speaker will be contemporary folk artist, Rachel Clark. You won't want to miss this event! It's contemporary fashion entertainment paired with a unique fiber art shopping opportunity for the upcoming holiday season.

Productive Un-Knitting (just for fun)

Next time you have to un-knit, maybe you'll remember this and it will make you smile. "Frogging" and "tinking"... here's one way to make it a "production."



Here's how they did it. C'est bon!

May Day Alpaca Shearing

The thunderstorms passed north of our area and cool, mild weather prevailed for the annual alpaca shearing. Under slightly overcast skies, Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild members were on hand for demonstrations at the event where 55-60 alpacas were scheduled for their "annual clipping" at My Little Darlings Alpaca Farm in Chickamauga, Georgia.

The animals were quite friendly and not "camera shy" in the least.

When spun into yarn or used in other applications, alpaca fibers are soft and durable with a silky quality. Alpaca is naturally water-repellent and resistant to solar radiation. These characteristics offer protection against fluctuations in temperature for both the animals and for humans wearing clothes made from the fiber. Unlike wool from sheep, alpaca has no lanolin which also makes it hypoallergenic.

Throughout the day, visitors enjoyed demonstrations on needle felting...

while Riverbend Fiber Arts guild members took to their spinning wheels, crochet hooks and knitting needles to demonstrate other fiber and needle arts techniques.

It was a fiber-filled afternoon for one and all!

Pick your Pocket

Pockets in Knitwear was the program at the February Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild meeting. Dora Sowell, an accomplished knitter, knitting instructor, and a long-time member of the Chattanooga area TogetherKnits knitting guild, presented various pocket treatments for knitted garments. Guild members were taught the steps for an inset pocket and created a knitted pocket sample using the technique.

In keeping with the topic of "pockets," guest speaker, Diana Ferguson, provided information about the 2010 Tennessee Does Textiles show and event. To be held November 13, 2010, the event will feature contemporary folk artist, Rachel Clark, along with a wearable art runway show, an artists' showcase, lunch and a mercantile of fiber art vendors. Wearables from previous years' shows were on hand at the meeting to illustrate the variety of one-of-a-kind artwear pieces that will be seen at the show.

In conjunction with the theme of Tennessee Presents Textiles, "The Power of the Pocket," the Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild has issued a Guild Challenge to its members. The entries from the guild Challenge are scheduled to be unveiled in September.

How do your pockets empower you? Stay tuned ...






A woven shawl (below), made from Japanese paper, is one of the unique textile pieces from Tennessee Presents Textiles that was on display.

Guild Challenge: a call to Pocket creativity

With the beginning of the new year comes new inspiration, programs and a Guild Challenge for the Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild.

At the January guild meeting, stitch patterns and techniques for knitted lap afghans were presented for the guild's community service project. Members have the option to knit sampler-style strips using several "reversible" stitch patterns or to knit strips with an overall texture.

Guild members were also invited to kindle their creativity with participation in a Guild Challenge. Inspired by the theme for the 2010 Tennessee Presents Textiles wearable art show, the guild's "The Power of the Pocket" Challenge issues a call to action—and originality—with the creation of a wearable art garment.

Who can argue with a few of the Top 10 Reasons for Participating in a Guild Challenge:

• It's an opportunity to try a new technique, material, pattern, etc..
• It's fun! You can be as creative, conventional or unconventional as you want.
• It sharpens your analytical as well as your artistic skills.
• It gives you a reason to do your "fiber thing!"
• It provides "justification" to buy more yarn, thread, fabric ...
• And, it offers one of the greatest motivating factors for making and completing a project—a deadline!

Show and Tell at the January meeting included knit, woven and felted scarfs, garments and wall pieces.

Warping a loom with one peg

Members of the Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild found much interest in the program at the June meeting, "Warping a Rigid Heddle Loom using One Peg." Shown here are Pat K. and Phyllis N. demonstrating the process of dressing a table top loom using a single peg. The process was quick and easy and accomplished in approximately 20 minutes. After the demonstration, members and visitors were given the opportunity to weave using the table top looms.

The Show and Tell portion of the meeting included knitted mitts, felted tote bags, entrelac knitting, hand dyed yarns and woven and knitted items using renewable fibers.