NEXT MEETING: May 6th, 2026

**Apologies, everyone, from the person in charge of updating this blog - sorry that I have missed uploading announcements for the past few meetings!**

The next meeting is Wednesday, May 6th, from 6:30 - 9:00 P.M., in the Arts Room / basement of the Tippe Arts Federation Building.  Doors will be open between 6:15 - 6:30 p.m.  (Doors are locked after this time; please call me (don't text; it may not be heard) if you arrive late to gain entry.) 

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Business Agenda

Item # 1.  Upcoming Fiber Events

• June 5 & 6, Hoosier Hills Fiber Festival, Franklin, IN: hoosierhillsfiberfestival.com 
• Just a quick mention of the Duneland Fiber Fest: Animal 2 Art.  We “missed” the listing of a brand new show in Indiana that was already held on Saturday, May 2^nd in Chesterton, IN.  (Maybe next year!). Duneland Fiber Fest - Animal2Art – Three Moons Fiberworks
• Any follow-up comments from either the Greencastle Wool Show or the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival ?

Item #2.  Requests for Spinning Demonstrators

• How did the spinning demonstrating go last Saturday, May 2, at the Veedersburg “250 Year Celebration Day”?
• Saturdays, May 23 through Sat, Sep 12 - Saturdays 1 pm - 4 pm Canal Days, Wabash & Erie Canal, Delphi, IN. Spinners are invited to come spin any Saturday afternoon during "Canal Days" season.  See Linda C. or Vilija D. for more information. 
• Coming up early next month:  Sat, June 6, 11am - 3pm The Farm at Prophetstown State Park, Family Day .

Item #3.  Feast Sewing Circle / Feast Updates

• The Feast Sewing Circle Sessions are on-going.  Has anyone attended?
• The Feast Sewing Circle Sessions that support volunteers making their own Feast costumes are on-going.  Future sessions include Wednesdays on  May 6 and May 20 from 5:30 - 7:30 pm.  Sessions will be held at 1001 South Street (the TCHA Genealogy Center).  (And, amazingly, only ONE overlaps with our meeting day/time.): Facebook
• 2026 Participant Application for the Feast has arrived: who’s volunteering in the booth this year?

Item #4.  Meeting Notices

• Help Needed!  To rearrange the room at the beginning and end of each meeting.  In order to fit members + wheels, please move &/or stack tables and place chairs to make a large round circle of spinners in the opened room.  Please keep at least one (or two) table(s) near the back wall outlets for use by those with e-spinners.

Item #5.  Show & Tells

• Please share your show and tells -- (purchased or prepared) fibers, yarns you've spun, finished items you've made, etc.

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Meeting Program –  Dyed Braids Three Ways

If you plan to participate, please bring:

• Your dyed braid
• Your wheel (or drop spindle)
• Four empty bobbins, ready to go!
• Handcards
• Balance (optional) 

See you all on Wednesday!!!

 

NEXT MEETING: February 4th, 2026

Our Guild meets in the Art Studio room on the first floor as you enter from the parking lot.  Please remember to arrive between 6:15 and 6:30 p.m., as AF building doors will be watched to open for you during this time, and after that time, the doors are locked. Call Elise if you arrive after that time (phone number available in the guild-wide email Elise sent out on 01/30).

Business Agenda

• Item # 1.  Upcoming and Recent Fiber Events
• “Fibruary” is a yarn crawl + festival going on now.  Did anyone go to the Festival part itself?
• The yarn crawl goes on from Friday, January 30, 2026 through Monday, February 16, 2026, and has shops with fiber at them as well
• Item #2.  Requests for Spinning Demonstrators
• No local spinning demonstration requests that I’m aware of (Bueller?  Bueller?)
• Item #3. Feast News
• Save the Date: Good news: The Feast announced its dates this year, and it will be held on October 25 and 26. Mark your calendars.
• The Feast Sewing Circle Sessions support volunteers making their own Feast costumes have 6 sessions scheduled on Wednesdays in March through May (Mar 11, Mar 25, Apr 8, Apr 22, May 6, May 20) from 5:30 - 7:30 pm.  Sessions will be held at 1001 South Street (the TCHA Genealogy Center).
• Item #4.  Show and Tell
• Bring us any finished items, finished spins, or just something that seemed interesting.
• Item #5.  Future Meeting Notices
• As a reminder, like today, in Mar & Apr, there will be an after school arts program in our room until 6:30.  Therefore, no early entry into the room, and likely parents taking up space outside the room where we would also be waiting with our wheels.  

Meeting Program –  Open Spin AND 51 Yarn Surprise

Elise mentioned a couple of meetings ago that she had bought a copy of 51 Yarns to Spin Before You Cast Off. She may bring a copy of one of the “spins” that we haven’t done recently in class and we’ll give it a try.

If you plan to participate, please bring:

• Your wheel or drop spindle
• Some wool

 

NEXT MEETING: December 3rd, 2025

Our Guild meets in the Art Studio room on the first floor as you enter from the parking lot.  Please remember to arrive between 6:15 and 6:30 p.m., as AF building doors will be watched to open for you during this time, and after that time, the doors are locked. Call Diana if you arrive after that time. 

Business Agenda

Item # 1.  Upcoming Fiber Events in December

• No "local" festivals to report.

Item #2.  Requests for Spinning Demonstrators in December

• "Thank Yous" for Feast volunteers have not ended.  If you volunteered at the Feast, the TCHA is inviting you to a potluck get together "thank you" on December 4th (the day after our Dec 3rd meeting!!) at 6:00 PM at the TCHA History Center (522 Columbia St.).
• Feast Volunteer Appreciation Evening | Facebook
  
• No local spinning demonstration requests to report.  

Item #3.  Beginning Spinners Group  

• Off to a start and meeting Monday evenings, 6:30 - 9:00, my house.  This group is FULL with 6 attendees.

Item #4.  Dues are Due  

• Dues to be collected for 2026!  (Still $10.)   (If you recently paid, you've already paid for 2026.)

Item #5.  Idea Sharing for 2026

• Come prepared to share lots of ideas for 2026, and let's "vote" on those topics!

Item #6.  THIS Meeting !!!

• Bring snacks to share!  Sweet or savory, please bring something to share.  (Who's bringing the lobster & cracked crab?!! )  (Anyone want to bring item to drink (e.g., apple cider, soda) OR everyone bring own drinks?  Let me know if you volunteer item to drink.) 
• If you want to participate in the gift exchange, bring 4 oz of ready-to spin fiber for the exchange.  (NO YARN: this is a spinning group!  NO raw wool: it's NOT 4 oz after it's washed, and not everyone wants to give a pretty, ready-to-spin gift, & have to prep wool in return!)  Notes: Place item to exchange into a store bag (Meijer, Payless, Wal-Mart, whatever) along with a description of what the gift is (e.g., fiber color name and fiber content) if the description is not already on the item's tag, and who it is from.  When you enter the meeting room, there will be a bunch of gray Wal-mart bags.  Place your already-bagged item into a second gray Wal-Mart bag to make them all "look alike."  Then you are ready for the fun later ... !

Item #7. Show & Tells

What have you learned this year?  What do you hope to learn next year?  Please share your show and tells (purchased or prepared) fibers, yarns you've spun, finished items you've made, etc.

 

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Meeting Program 

Holiday Get Together -- Food! and Gift Exchange (The "Right Family's Christmas")! 

Self-explanatory on the food; you'll find out about the gift exchange when there!

 

NEXT MEETING: October 1st, 2025

Our Guild meets in the Art Studio room on the first floor as you enter from the parking lot.  Please remember to arrive between 6:15 and 6:30 p.m., as AF building doors will be watched to open for you during this time, and after that time, the doors are locked. Call Diana if you arrive after that time. 

Business Agenda 

Item # 1.  Upcoming Fiber Events in October

• Bloomington Wool & Fiber Festival, Oct 3 & 4, 9am - 4pm, Bloomington, IN
  Bloomington Wool & Fiber Festival – October 3 and 4, 2025

• Southern Indiana Fiber & Arts Festival, Oct. 17 & 18, 10am - 5pm, Corydon, IN
  soinfiberfestival.com

Item #2.  Requests for Spinning Demonstrators in October

• First: Thank you to Linda C., Ella S., Becky P., and Olivia O.for demonstrating spinning at The Farm at Prophetstown State Park for their Country Fair. Always appreciated!
• The Feast!!  (A separate topic that follows)   

Item #3.  Feast Topics

• Updates on shades for Feast Booth (Barb C., Glynis B.) 
• Finalize Feast schedule
• Dressing those who need help with costumes this year
• Pass out Feast buttons -- maybe, maybe not ...

Item #4.  Nov Meeting

• Open spin or lichen dyes?  (See also Item #6)

Item #5.  New Group for beginning spinners (mid-November-ish)

• Interest level? 
• Any topic repeats?

Item #6.  Topics for November Meeting --> Open Spin or Lichen Dyeing

• Pass out lichen (?)
• Give instructions for making the dye (?)

Item #7.  Show & Tells

Please share your show and tells -- pine needle baskets!!, (purchased or prepared) fibers, yarns you've spun, finished items you've made, etc.

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Meeting Program – Angora Fiber (Revisited)

• If you plan to participate, please bring the following:
• Handcards
• Scissors
• Very soft wool for blending
• Spinning wheel with empty bobbin or drop spindle(s)

See you at the meeting!

NEXT MEETING: September 3rd, 2025

Our Guild meets in the Art Studio room on the first floor as you enter from the parking lot.  Please remember to arrive between 6:15 and 6:30 p.m., as AF building doors will be watched to open for you during this time, and after that time, the doors are locked. Call Diana if you arrive after that time. 

Business Agenda 

Item # 1.  Upcoming Fiber Events in September / October

• Wisconsin Sheep and Wool, Sept. 5 - 7, 8 am - 4 pm, Jefferson, WI
  wisconsinsheepandwoolfestival.com

• Bloomington Wool & Fiber Festival, Oct 3 & 4, 9am - 4pm, Bloomington, IN
  Bloomington Wool & Fiber Festival – October 3 and 4, 2025
  

• Southern Indiana Fiber & Arts Festival, Oct. 17 & 18, 10am - 5pm, Corydon, IN
  soinfiberfestival.com

Item #2.  Requests for Spinning Demonstrators in September

• First:  Thank you to Elise T., Glynis B., & Olivia O. for demonstrating spinning at The Farm at Prophetstown State Park for their Purdue Homesteaders Day!  Always appreciated!
• Country Fair, The Farm at Prophetstown State Park, September 20 (11am - 3pm), Battleground, IN.
  
• Not a specifically requested event, however if spinners would like to publicly demonstrate their skills, they may attend Canal Days, Wabash & Erie Canal, any Saturday between May 24 through Sep 13 (1 pm - 4 pm), Delphi, IN.  See Linda C. or Vilija D. for more information.    

Item #3.  Brief Summary of Ideas Discussed by Members at the August Meeting

• Dye sessions
• Members voted "yes!" on another meeting for lichen dyeing (entire group, single meeting) (will require members to have handspun yarn ready to dye; details shared prior to dye meeting)
• Members voted "yes" on 12-color acid dye workshop (entire group, single meeting) (will require members to have 12 6-yard skeins of handspun yarn ready to dye; details shared prior to dye meeting)
• Members voted "yes" on low-immersion acid dye workshop using Superwash Merino fiber (multiple meetings, 2 people per meeting across several months, these members will need to arrive EARLY to their designated meeting, fiber provided) (Will need to ensure access to TAF kitchen for each dye workshop.)
• Members suggested speakers: can we afford one?  get one?
• Jillian Michaels 
• Kate Larson (Spinning for Socks, other topics)
• Esther Peregrine (all things Silk)
• Bev Larson (Basket Weaving)
• Breed Study possibilities
• Westfield Woolies (Cormo, others?)
• Christine Voorheis (Leicester Longwool, Teeswater, CVM, angora goats)
• Fiber source request possibilities
• Wolf Park (Wolf, Bison) (Contact question sent on 8/7/25; zero responses received)
• Wooly Yak & Winery (Yak (also paw paws & wine!)) --> field trip?!
• Set aside month of May annually for Member fleece growers to sell within group
• Set aside month of Oct or Nov as a "destash" month between group members 
• A year-long project next year+ that creates an item using a patchwork of samples spun or dyed at meetings (e,g, a market bag, a lap blanket, other ...) 

Item #4.  Update on Shades for Feast Booth (?)

• Any updates (Glynis B., Barb C.)?

Item #5.  Llama Fiber Dispersal (White)

Item #6.  Topic for October Meeting --> Angora Fiber

Item #7.  Show & Tells

Please share your show and tells -- pine needle baskets!!, (purchased or prepared) fibers, yarns you've spun, finished items you've made, etc.

Meeting Program – 3-Braid Mash-Up

• If you plan to participate, please bring the following:
• Spinning wheel or drop spindle(s)
• Lazy kate
• At least 3 empty bobbins

 

NEXT MEETING: July 2nd, 2025

Our Guild meets in the Art Studio room on the first floor as you enter from the parking lot.  Please remember to arrive between 6:15 and 6:30 p.m., as AF building doors will be watched to open for you during this time, and after that time, the doors are locked. Call Diana if you arrive after that time. 

Business Agenda

Item # 1.  Upcoming Fiber Events in July / August

• Michigan Fiber Festival, Aug 13 - 17, Allegan MI

  michiganfiberfestival.info

Item #2.  Requests for Spinning Demonstrators in July / August

• Not a specifically requested event, however if spinners would like to publicly demonstrate their skills, they may attend Canal Days, Wabash & Erie Canal, any Saturday between May 24 through Sep 13 (1 pm - 4 pm), Delphi, IN.  See Linda or Vilija for more information.
• Still under discussion for later in July:  Mon. Jul 21 through Thurs, Jul 24 Tippecanoe County Fair, under discussion with county fair contact; set schedules to be set at this upcoming meeting if we are to attend.  
• Coming up in August:  Purdue Homesteaders Day, The Farm at Prophetstown State Park, August 16 (11am - 3pm), Battleground, IN. 
  The Farm REALLY wants us to volunteer at this event, so please put this on your calendars!!  (You've got time to plan!) 

Item # 3.  Random Updates

• Anything else?

Item #4.  Topic for August Meeting --> Continue with Pine Needle Weaving?  Or -- Three-Braid Mash-Up ?

Item #5.  Show & Tells

Please share your show and tells -- (purchased or prepared) fibers, yarns you've spun, finished items you've made, etc.

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Meeting Program – Pine Needle Baskets

• If you plan to participate, please bring the following:
• String (18 yds or more).  Reminder: last month we learned to spin hemp & flax: this is PERFECT use of a very thin 2-ply hemp or flax thread that you have spun yourself!!!
• Tapestry Needle with eye large enough for your string
• Small tub (5" x 7" x 2") to soak pine needles in.  (Note: No need to bring; I have enough small tubs to bring & share!)
• Small pair scissors
• Large, 4-hole button, or drilled dowel (holes large enough for needle & tread to go through) (Linda C may have several drilled dowels to share.)
• 2 old dish towels (you'll be working with wet/ damp pine needles)
• Provided at the meeting:
• 2 oz White Pine needles / person, washed & ready to use
• 1/4" x 1" clear carrier tube
• Instruction sheet for project
• Water to soak pine needles
• It might help if you pre-watch the following (or other related) YouTube(s) to have an idea of what we'll be doing:
• Pine Needle Basketry Basic Stitching and Working with A Wood Center / Textile Indie:
  Pine Needle Basketry Basic Stitching and Working with a Wood Center: Tutorial 

 

NEXT MEETING: June 4th, 2025

Our Guild meets in the Art Studio room on the first floor as you enter from the parking lot.  Please remember to arrive between 6:15 and 6:30 p.m., as AF building doors will be watched to open for you during this time, and after that time, the doors are locked. Call Diana if you arrive after that time. 

Business Agenda

Item # 1.  Upcoming Fiber Events in June

• Hoosier Hills Fiber Festival, June 6 (10:30 am – 5:30 pm) & June 7 (9 am – 4 pm), Franklin, IN
  hoosierhillsfiberfestival.com

Item #2.  Requests for Spinning Demonstrators in June, upcoming in July

• Not a specifically requested event, however if spinners would like to publicly demonstrate their skills, they may attend Canal Days, Wabash & Erie Canal, any Saturday between May 24 through Sep 13 (1 pm - 4 pm), Delphi, IN.  See Linda C. or Vilija D. for more information.
• Family Day, The Farm at Prophetstown State Park, June 7 (11am - 3pm), Battleground, IN. 
  Volunteers needed THE WEEKEND after this meeting!!!
• For discussion this month:  Mon. Jul 21 through Thurs, Jul 24 Tippecanoe County Fair, These demo days are tentative: more discussion and commitment is needed by members so I know whether to coordinate with our county fair contact. 
  

Item # 3.  Random Updates

• Pine Needle Baskets / Trivets:  Brief discussion on next month's topic.  
• Anything else?

Item #4.  Topic for July Meeting --> Pine Needle Weaving 

Item #5.  Show & Tells

Please share your show and tells -- (purchased or prepared) fibers, yarns you've spun, finished items you've made, etc.

Meeting Program – Spinning Hemp; Spinning Flax

If you plan to participate, be sure to bring your wheel and at least one empty bobbin.  Fiber, water cups, and sponges will be provided.  Also: there is a special way to set the twist / finish your hemp or linen yarn.  It requires washing soda.  If you'd like a small amount of washing soda to finish your yarn (without having to go buy a big box yourself), be sure to bring a small ziplock bag.  

A few references (I'm sure there's a ton more, but here's a start) on this topic:

• 0313_SO_Guide_to-Spinning_Flax.pdf
  
• Bast Basics: Get to Know Flax and Hemp Fibers | Spin Off
  
• Trampled by Geese: Why spin flax counterclockwise?
  
• Introduction To Hemp Spinning By Joan Ruane