Brainstorming for future programs

The October guild meeting of the Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild was filled with textile examples that stimulated and inspired ideas and suggestions for the upcoming year.

About three years ago, the guild began scheduling time during one of the guild meetings—usually a meeting near the end of the year— to hold an open brainstorming session for all guild members to share their "wish list" or "bucket list" of topics for future programs and workshops.

"This is your guild and we need [everyone's] input," said Guild President, Pat Keran, about generating ideas for programs and workshops for the upcoming 2013 year. "There are no right or wrong ideas in a brainstorming session," said Veronica Hofman-Ortega, who facilitated the session. "Oftentimes, someone else's suggestion will prompt an idea in your mind—something you might not have thought of on your own," she added. "It's all about generating ideas." A whiteboard, set up for capturing suggestions on-the-fly, was filled with over 25 topics by the end of the session. A few more topics were even added after Show and Tell.

Show and Tell provided additional inspiration.

Left: Vicki's woven paper basket with embellishment.
Right: Holly shows her mug wrap, knit in moss stitch. She used a pattern from
the book she won as a door prize at the 2011 Challenge presentation.

This shawl, woven on a triangle loom, will be over dyed in a walnut dye bath.

Triangle loom shawl (left) with edging detail.

A study in weaving huck lace patterns.

A first-time weaver relays her experience with a practice sampler.

Left: A woven scarf using spacers.
Right: A mola sewn to a plain T-shirt makes it quite unique.

Left: Faux batik with crayons. Right: Lace knitting a "Pi" shawl.

Woven scarves: what a difference a technique makes!

Crocheted scarves using interesting trims.

The outcome of this meeting's productive brainstorming session will provide a basis for future guild programs. Summaries and photos of previous year's programs can be found in the Archives: See what we've been doing! section of this web site. You might also enjoy recaps of our Wearable Art Challenge and Fiber Art Tote Bag Challenge. Items that appear at the guild Show and Tell are often the result of a guild program that inspired someone to further study or experiment with a technique or concept. 

Take a look at what the Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild has been up to and let us know what's on your fiber art bucket list. Come out and join us at a meeting. New members are always welcome and bring along your Show and Tell.

Sewing for the love of animals

Five sewing machines + one serger + a passionate group of fiber art enthusiasts from the Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild = 31 dog and cat blankets and 9 pillows for animal care facilities in the Chattanooga area.

Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild members sewed fleece, flannel and terry towel
blankets and bed liners to provide warmth and comfort to animals and pets.

The February guild meeting began with a presentation and videos about rehabilitation services for animals that was given by Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practictioner, Cassy Englert. Many pets and service dogs have benefited from the underwater treadmill, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, athletic conditioning and other theraputic services available at RIVER and similar facilities.

Carbon, a flat coated retriever, uses the underwater treadmill.

After the presentation, guild members got to work cutting fleece, flannel and terry towels for the animal blankets.

Cutting terry towels for a dog blanket.

Measuring and trimming fleece fabric to size.

Flannel pillow cases were stuffed with knit and fleece trimmings to make dog beds and crate liners.

Stuffing pillow cases with trimmings and fabric scraps.

Sewing machines and servers were humming. Pillow cases that were stuffed with scraps were sewn closed.

Sewing the pillow cases closed to create dog beds.

Pieces of fleece, flannel and terry towels were sewn together to make cat and dog blankets. Old flannel shirts can also be cut and repurposed for these blankets. Step-by-step instructions for making dog blankets with flannel shirts can be found here.

Serging and sewing per blankets.

At this meeting, guild members completed 31 blankets of various sizes and 9 dog beds for their annual community service project. It all went to the dogs... and cats.

Show and Tell

Left: A year-long "Sky Scarf" knitting project inspired by
the changing colors of the sky.  Right: A quilted batik table topper.

Left: Neckwear woven on the triangle loom with bead embellishments.
Right: Knitted items with alpaca yarns.

Woven cotton dish towel.

Animal, vegetable or mineral: a 3D Challenge

Pat Keran presents
triangle loom weaving.

Do you remember the game, "20 Questions"? Initial inquiries into a mystery object's discovery usually determined whether it was an animal, vegetable or mineral. These three attributes are the basis for the 2012 "Animal, Vegetable or Mineral" Guild Challenge, announced at today's Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild meeting.

This fiber art Challenge takes on a dimensional approach with the creation of a 3D fiber art piece inspired by something in nature. Upcoming guild programs are being planned to support participation in the Challenge by presenting topics related to Challenge requirements and creating fiber art that is three dimensional.

And speaking of trios, the January guild program featured weaving with triangle frame looms.

Guild members and guest attendees had the opportunity to weave on small wooden looms using yarn to create single-strand triangular weavings.

This interesting warp-and-weave-as-you-go technique can produce solid, striped or multi-color plaid triangular pieces. The process is quite magical—weaving from both ends simultaneously to finish in the middle.

Show and Tell
Members also showed various projects that included lace knitting, felting, crochet, rug hooking and quilting.

 

Several guild members offer their fiber and fiber art creations for sale at the Chattanooga Market, Alpaca Melissa on Etsy, My Little Darlings Alpacas, and at regional fiber art events throughout the year. Classes in knitting and quilting are offered through FiberAntics by Veronica, and weaving classes for beginners and on more advanced techniques are also available.

Weaving and Pythagoras?

What does weaving and Pythagoras have in common? The triangle, of course!

At the Janurary 7, 2012 meeting of the Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild, the program will be on Weaving with Triangle Looms. Join us and find out what makes weaving on triangle looms unique, what can be made using a tri loom, and the tools and supplies you'll need to get started.

Try a Triangle! Weaving with a triangle loom.

Tired of squares and rectangles? Here's your opportunity to try a triangle! Small tri looms will be available to use and can be purchased for a nominal fee. Also bring along: scissors, a crochet hook, and an assortment of smooth, worsted weight yarn. Yarns may be combined to get color variation and a larger piece.

You won't need to bring your high school geometry book—just come and have some fun weaving triangles. (Minimal math skills could be helpful.)