Inside the studio recently, the focus was on Summer & Winter (weaving), but outside, it’s all about a different season. First things first…weaving. Summer & Winter has reversible areas of pattern and background on both sides with the “summer” side predominately showing the lighter colors and the “winter” side, the darker ones. Lynn Schuster’s handwoven samples, some using fine 10/2 cotton, some using Brown Sheep’s Lamb’s Pride Worsted, gave a real variety of choices for students in planning their own projects. The last morning of class, strong winds knocked power out to the studios. Finishing up, looms were moved a little closer to the windows and cellphones were taped to the task lights to use the flashlight feature so that the […]
Handmade Treasures
We probably could’ve included the words “handmade treasure” in each of this year’s class descriptions or titles, but it officially appeared in only one: Handmade Treasure Boxes. We’re taking the liberty of applying those words to the two previous classes, as well, Creative Knitting Retreat with Sandy De Master and Mary Germain and the Open Knitting Studio session held in the Walter Studio, where eleven knitters worked independently on a variety of projects. The Creative Knitting Retreat class saw a number of knitters working on Latvian or Estonian-patterned mittens, Fair Isle, sweaters of all kinds, baby blankets and more. Help in solving fit issues as it applies to hand knits, substituting yarns and deciphering patterns are just some of the talents Sandy and Mary bring to class […]
Fall views from the roadsides
It is still uncharacteristically green here on Washington Island and it sounds like this is true in many places across Wisconsin. We keep looking for trees in full fall foliage, but so far, there are only branches here and there that have begun to show color. So, we’re finding fall views from the ground up, starting with wildflowers and wildlife from the roadsides. We’ll share again as more golds, oranges and reds appear. We can’t wait!
Weaving and willow
We continued our fall weaving and willow classes this past week with Rita Hagenbruch’s Loom-Structured Lace and over the weekend, the Bent Willow Chair class with Ken and Michelle Workowski. The chair-makers were in awe over the finely woven shawls, blankets, scarves and runners still on the looms or on display and the weavers were equally struck by the progress that the willow chair students had made in just a few short hours, along with the woodshop atmosphere of drilling and hammering. The weaving class had been in session for four days prior, so each student had made great progress on their projects. Lacy wool plaid blankets and scarves, tencel shawls or scarves with beautiful drape and linen or cottolin lace runners were the projects of choice for this class. […]
Two, four, eight
Last week meant weaving on two, four or eight-shafts in either Daryl Lancaster’s Advanced Inkle Weaving Techniques (two) or Nancy Adams’ Honeycomb and Waffle Weave (four and eight). In the inkle class, intricate designs included name drafts, pick-ups and turned Krokbragd. The inkle weavers are proudly showing their looms with all the special techniques they learned in class with instructor, Daryl Lancaster. You can read more about Daryl, her travels and the classes she teaches on her own blog, www.weaversew.com. To create honeycomb or waffle weave, a four- or eight-harness loom is in order and students in Nancy Adams’ class made one, two or six (!) pieces including scarves, pillow covers, towels and table runners in this wonderful textural weave. […]
Beautiful, inside and out
Whether students were gathering willow from outside the Walter Studio to incorporate in their baskets or perfecting seam finishes inside their handmade garments, the finished pieces in both Jo Campbell-Amsler’s and Daryl Lancaster’s classes were beautiful, inside and out. As you can see, the willow in the Sievers patch has grown tall this year. Here, Ann and Stef are pictured in front of the tallest portion, approaching 9 feet. Some of this willow, along with the materials Jo brought for class was used to make a variety of rib-style baskets, trays, a creel and more, inspired by Jo’s own work. Willow basketry is just one beautiful way to bring the outside in! If the inside of your handmade garments are as beautiful as […]
September at Sievers
September at Sievers features classes in four different types of weaving and one each in jewelry-making, garment construction, willow basketry and willow furniture. The month began with the study of color as it applies to weaving in Judie Yamamoto’s Weaving The Rainbow class. From color theory exercises and examples to the opportunity to weave samples for reference along with a project of their choice, Judie shared her excellent understanding and sense of color with the class. In Kay Rashka’s Metalwork Jewelry Boot Camp, although the sheets of copper, silver and brass shine, it’s really the faces of the students showing and wearing the jewelry they’ve made that shine brightest. Whether hand-etched, drilled, stamped, layered or textured (or all of the above), these one-of-a-kind pendants, earrings, bracelets and rings are as riveting as they […]
Straw into gold
Well, maybe not technically spinning straw into gold, but the students in Deb Jones’ Beginning Spinning and Rainbow Dyeing class took simple wool fibers and turned them into something equally precious to a beginning spinner, their own handspun and hand-dyed yarns. By the end of the first afternoon, these beginners were spinners! You can see more photos from the class as Deb has posted them on The Fiber Garden Facebook page. Her next stop, along with other Sievers teachers (Nancy Frantz and Mary Germain), students and friends is the Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival from September 7-10. Spinning is one of the classes that’s been offered at Sievers each year since the start. One of those first classes in 1979 is shown in the black and white photo. Dyeing was added later, using […]
