Making fiber art in 3 dimensions

Does your fiber art need to stand up to be noticed? At the June meeting of the Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild, the program was on making Bases and Armatures for Fiber Art and included many ideas for adding structure and backbone to fiber pieces.

Pat Keran discusses options for creating bases to support 3D fiber art.

The materials that can be used for creating an underlying framework or armature for three dimensional fiber art—wood, wire, masking tape—can easily be found at the local hardware store. Other items such as paper clay, foam, tacky glue and paper maché boxes can be obtained at craft and fabric stores.

The tips and ideas from this program are applicable to this year's Guild Challenge, "Animal, Vegetable or Mineral." 

Paper clay can be molded around a paper maché base
or sculpted to create any shape.

Guild members showed off their latest creations at the meeting during Show and Tell.

Left: a woven jacket made from yarn stash left-overs.
The collar and trim was woven on an inkle loom.
Right: hand made jewelry.

An ethereal SAORI woven wrap.

Hannah explains how to knit with a knitting loom.

Hand knit baby sweater in bright primary and secondary colors.

Left: A thrift store find--woven kimono fabric.
Right: A crocheted hedge hog made with eyelash yarn.

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.

Fiber Art inspired by Coffee Mugs

On Saturday, November 12, the Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild will present its 2011 Guild Challenge exhibit. The exhibit, called "Fiber and Caffeine get me going...", will feature a collection of fiber art tote bags created by guild members, that were inspired by a favorite coffee mug. The exhibit and awards presentation is held in conjunction with the monthly guild meeting which starts at 11 a.m. at Senior Neighbors, downtown Chattanooga.

Angora bunnies are great balls of fur

The Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild got up close and personal with two furry, four-legged visitors at the February guild meeting with a program on Angora rabbits and their fiber.

Angora rabbits, a variety of domestic rabbits, are bred for their long, soft, silky fur. The "fluffiness" of the Angora fiber creates a "halo" effect that can be seen on garments knit or crocheted from the fiber. Guild member, Martha Ooten, who presented the program, indicated that the fur of the Angora rabbit grows quickly. She harvests the fibers from her bunnies by plucking, combing and shearing every 3-4 months.

Upper left: fiber comparison display. Lower left: items made from angora and alpaca yarns. Right: collecting the Angora fibers.

Ms. Ooten, who is raising eight rabbits, talked about the care, feeding, grooming and breeding of Angora rabbits. Various characteristics of the Angora fibers were explained and a chart compared these fibers with alpaca, merino and bluefaced Leicester wool fibers. A hand-knit baby cap and booties illustrated the halo effect created by angora yarn in contrast with the smooth, but equally soft, alpaca yarn.

Guild members had an opportunity to hold and pet the bunnies, who were quite well-behaved (the bunnies, that is).

Batts made from Angora fibers can be dyed and spun into yarn. Ms. Ooten shared her experiences with spinning and dying the fiber and indicated that the fiber or yarn can also be felted. Examples of hand-dyed batts, hand-spun yarn from Angora fibers and blends with other fibers, and knit and crocheted items rounded out the presentation.

Show and Tell

Show and Tell by guild members consisted of hand-knit hats from alpaca yarn, a beaded scarf, a woven shawl, and hand spun yarns.

Coffee mugs inspire 2011 Guild Challenge

Veronica Hofman-Ortega (left) presents the 2011 Challenge.
Pat Keran (seated right) cheers.

Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild members and friends raised a glass—or rather a favorite coffee mug—to the New Year and to the 2011 Guild Challenge at the January guild meeting.

The "Top 10 Reasons" (David Letterman style) why everyone should participate in a Guild Challenge were presented, along with details and requirements for the 2011 Challenge—the creation of a tote bag inspired by a favorite coffee mug. Coinciding with the mug theme of the Challenge, which is entitled "Fiber and Caffeine get me going...", were door prizes that included mug rugs, a coffee cup coozie and a ceramic mug.

A new program, called the Fiber Arts Buddy (FAB) program, was also introduced at the meeting. This two-fold program is designed to welcome new members by pairing them with an established guild member; and, guild members with expertise in a particular fiber art discipline will serve as a FAB to assist or mentor another member who wishes to learn a new technique or to more fully develop skills in that particular area.

Meeting "Mug" Shots

Guild members salute a New Year of fiber art activities.

Show and Tell consisted of knitted baby sweaters and mittens made from recycled sweaters.

Knitted lap blankets for the guild's Community Service project were collected for distribution.

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.