Stratford-upon-Avon Guild of Weavers Spinners and Dyers

  St Blaise, the Patron Saint of Wool Combing* and the Wool trade.   This year we shall be taking a tour through the Patron Saints linked to our skills of Weaving, Spinning and Dyeing.  The first of in this series is St Blaise, the Patron Saint of Wool Combers and Workers. Blaise of Sebaste was a physician, became Bishop of Sebastea, now located in Turkey, in the 3 rd -4 th century and is known as one of the Christian saints. His feast day in the Western world is 3 rd February and became a religious holiday in 1222. He is the patron saint of Wool Combers and is depicted with one or more wool combs (seen in his right hand above) but also, often with crossed candles and sometimes with animals. As a physician, he cured throat diseases and sick, wild animals; he is also the patron saint of the city of Dubrovnik, Croatia. In 316, the Roman Emperor, Licinius began a renewed round of persecution of Christians and Bishop Blaise was captured and thrown into prison. Before be...

Just a quick reminder for our February meeting on Saturday 20th. Plying with Purpose with Chris Pegler  Don't forget to bring Singles which are spun up and taking up space on a bobbin (if a spinner), a ball of tightly plyed yarn if not. Not a full bobbin/ball's worth (could take too long), around 10-30g would be good. Any thickness or material. (This is for practicing Andean/Bracelet plying). Further details in the February Newsletter.

PLYING WITH A PURPOSE with Chris Pegler Plying is the last activity that Chris has excavated from her 'Certificate of Achievement in Spinning' learning journey. It seemed appropriate to leave plying till last as it is almost the last process in spinning yarn. She will try to share what she knows without being an expert tutor and mindful of not all guild members being spinners! (GBA stands for: Getting Better At and recognises that we each have a different starting point). This GBA is a (very deferred) companion to her Taming Twist session in 2019.  Unlike that one we are not together in a room comparing what we do with ease and so she has changed some of her plans from her in-person session due last year. So on our zoom call she wants to get you all (spinners and non-spinners alike) to do some measuring and reflecting on ply before the session. She is asking that you find 1-3 yarn(s) you like to use or spin and do some measuring, so that we can all make comparisons. Further det...