Preschoolers learn about Fiber Arts

Children at the Little Miss Mag Child Care Center in Chattanooga were photographed with members of the Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild at a spinning and weaving demonstration in February. More than thirty-five preschool children got "up close and personal" with a loom and spinning wheel to see how cloth is made.

Photographer, Danielle Moore, of the Chattanooga Times Free Press, was on site to cover the story. The article appeared in the March 13, 2010 issue in the Life [Home] section.

Pin Weaving Fiber Jewelry

What's more appealing than a beaded tapestry necklace that can be made with a few simple tools and threads and yarns from your stash?

At the March meeting of the Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild, members and guests were treated to a program that showed how the simplest of weave structures, the plain weave (over one, under one), could be used to elevate coordinating yarns into an opulent piece of jewelry when combined with a few select beads.

The process started with a design drawn on gridded paper which was then attached to a foam core board. The placement of beads, pins and any color changes were mapped out on the design.

Pins held the warp threads in place and beads were added on the warp as prescribed by the design diagram. The weft yarns were threaded through tapestry or long yarn needles to facilitate the weaving process. Joining and changing colors of weft threads, and options for adding beaded fringe were discussed.Pin weaving requires minimal equipment and is very portable. Supplies are both economical and readily available. For this necklace, the design, shape, size and color possibilities are wide open. Small amounts of yarn left from other projects can be used to create a coordinating piece of jewelry. Beads, a unique pin, bauble or other embellishments can be attached during or after the weaving to create a striking piece of wearable art.

Finished tapestry woven necklace.