Traditionally, there are no guild meetings during the months of July and August, instead, we take a break for the Summer.
However, due to an increasingly busy schedule, we’d already delayed our annual dyeing day by a month to July and it was then that the possibility of an August meeting came up. Whilst chatting at the dyeing day, a few of us decided we would benefit from spending a little more time working on our Explorations in Colour pieces and we agreed to try and get together.
Originally, we had planned to meet at one of the member’s homes, but when we discovered Bishopstown Library, our usual meeting place, was free, we booked it immediately 😀
Our impromptu gathering gave us the ideal opportunity to catch up with some weaving and or work on finishing our pieces once they were off the loom.
At a previous meeting, it had been decided that a Half Damascus edge would be the easiest finish to execute. It also provides a clean, sharp edge that allows the warp strands to be folded neatly behind the piece.
(For reference, the instructions can be found in The Techniques of Rug Weaving by Peter Collingwood).
As industrious as we were, we still managed to find some time to have a cuppa and catch up on guild news and hold a little Show ‘n’ Tell session.
Liz wowed us with the sampler rug she’d created whilst on a weaving course at Grennan Mill Craft School in Kilkenny. Full of techniques, the rug itself is gorgeous and after hearing Liz talk, I think at least a couple of members are hoping to attend the course in 2020.
Everyone spoke about how much they had enjoyed the dyeing day and we all agreed it had been a success. (phew!) So much so, one of our members, Patricia, has been experimenting with colours and techniques since.
Several of us brought our ice dyed creations with us (see featured image) and we’re looking forward to seeing everyone else’s at our meeting on October 19th.
Our next meeting will take place on Saturday 19th October 2019.
Handweavers Guild of Cork 