September 17, 2022
10 a.m.–noon, Annette Cade’s home
Organizational meeting and Guild sale
Sign up for classes and workshops, pay dues, elect officers, approve the program schedule and budget. Bring your Show and Tell projects.
Noon–1 p.m.: Bring a sack lunch and your beverage.
1:00: Sale begins—yarns, equipment, raffle tickets, etc.
October 15 and 16, 2022
9 a.m.–4 p.m., Montana City School
Tapestry weaving: Joanne Hall
Learn techniques which you can use to weave a design or follow a cartoon. Beginners are welcome. Looms, accessories, and yarns provided.
Supply fee $12.00
Participant limit: 14
Spinning
Someone will be available to help with your project
Knitting/crochet: Jenny George
“Oh no, What Now”
Bring an unfinished project that has been hanging out in a project bag for a while but not sure if or how to finish it. As a group we will discuss whether to finish it for its original design, change it into something else, pass it on, or rip it out and make something different.
November 19, 2022
9 a.m.–4 p.m., Montana City School
Santa’s Workshop
Christmas star ornament: Kathy Grant
Kumihimo braid wreaths: Hadassah Moffett
Dorset buttons and pins: Trudy Moffett
Santa decoration: Annette Cade
Knitted ornaments: TBD
December 10, 2022 (Saturday)
Annette Cade’s home
Guild Christmas Party and Gift Exchange
12:00 Potluck
1:00 Gift exchange
January 7, 2023
9 a.m.–4 p.m., Montana City School
Rock Day
Spinning and getting looms ready for the overshot workshop
January 20, 21, and 22, 2023
9 a.m.–4 p.m., Montana City School
Mournin’ Max Overshot Challenge Workshop: Elizabeth Tritthart
For all levels, Beginner to Expert
In celebration of 100 years of distance learning in weaving, the overshot challenge has been based on a lesson from Mary Meigs Shuttle Craft Guild Lessons in which she requests her students to weave a sampler in overshot for her to review. To facilitate this challenge, I have developed a card game that will make the process of designing and weaving the project fun for all levels of weavers from novice to expert. No two projects will turn out the same if you follow the instructions. Limited to 20 weavers
Beginner
Learn to read and follow a draft to create an overshot pattern and create samplers the size of a wall hanging or small scarf.
Intermediate to Expert
Develop visual textile analysis skills from samples and a deck of cards. Make drafts and treadling sequences to recreate patterns. Practice sampling to verify analysis/theory. Opportunity to design on the loom, work with a Munson Color palette and develop/enhance color theory skills.
Create a sampler scarf for a dresser or table.
Setup for Workshop
Friday evening
The looms will be prepared with the necessary threading and tie-ups to complete the chosen project. Looms are being provided by the Helena Weavers’ and Spinners’ Guild. Information regarding loom setup will be provided to the guild prior to Rock Day. Rock day can be used for new weavers to get instruction on how to warp their loom and get help for this workshop.
Saturday Morning
9:00 a.m.: Introduction to project (A story from weaving history and an overview of the Overshot structure)
10:15 a.m.: The selected project is presented and instructions are given to participants.
Beginning weavers are provided a draft solution as it is not expected that they will be able to generate a lift plan treadling sequence on their own.
Intermediate and expert weavers will be working without the draft as it is expected they can generate the needed draft/lift plan – draft solution can be provided for support if needed.
Weavers work throughout the morning on the selected project.
noon–1 p.m.: Guild meeting
1 p.m.: Weavers can continue to work on their projects, while the instructor presents a lecture on how Overshot developed as a mainstream weaving structure in the United States.
Rental Looms:
If you do not have a loom, the instructor has four Ashford Katie 8-shaft-looms (12-inch weaving width) that she can bring. To have them warped and ready to use, there will be a rental fee of $25 per loom. She will need advance notice for loom rentals by the beginning of January. These looms will need to be returned to Elizabeth at the end of the workshop.
Yarns:
Elizabeth will supply the colored cotton yarns for the pattern wefts. There will be a $25 materials fee per weaver for these yarns. Each weaver will supply their own 10/2 mercerized or unmercerized cotton in white, gray, or black for the warp and tabby weft. Annette Cade has some 10/2 cotton if you need it.
Spinning: TBD
Knitting/Crochet: TBD
February 18 and 19, 2023
9 a.m.–4 p.m., Montana City School
Rigid Heddle (single) loom workshop: Joanne Hall
Weave colorful weft-faced and texture techniques on a rigid heddle loom. For those who want to use their own loom, Joanne will schedule a session in her studio in Montana City to help you prepare your loom and put the warp on for the class.
Beginners are welcome.
Looms, accessories, and yarns provided
Materials fee $12.00
Limited to 18 participants, if at least 4 students bring their own looms
Spinning: someone will be available to help with your project
Knitting/Crochet: TBD
March 18, 2023
9 a.m.–4 p.m., Montana City School
Egg Basket: Milly Dover
Limited to 15 participants
Materials fee: $20 per person
Spinning: someone will be available to help with your project
Knitting—Brioche Scarf: Jenny George
April 15, 2023
9 a.m.–4 p.m., Montana City School
Flax Spinning: Karen Griffing
Morning
Learning about flax growing and processing. Practice spinning commercial flax dry and wet.
Afternoon
Taking retted flax through the processing steps.
Materials fee:
—Morning only: $7 per person
—Afternoon only: $8
—Full day $15
Limited to 18 participants
Knitting: Jenny George
Follow-up to Brioche scarf project
Weaving: TBD
May 19, 20, and 21, 2023
9 a.m.–4 p.m., Montana City School
Color and Weave Workshop: Annette Schipf
Friday evening, Annette will be available to assist you with loom setup.
Saturday and Sunday: 2-day round-robin workshop so people can weave a wide variety of samples. In a round-robin workshop, each person threads their own loom to a “type” of color and weave structure, such as twill, point twill, huck, log cabin, shadow weave, etc. Then everyone weaves a sample on each loom. There is a wealth of exciting possibilities for 4- and 8-shaft looms. Annette recently had a color and weave jacket published in Handwoven magazine, and she will bring a variety of samples and projects to inspire.
Annette will recommend the yarns to use, since it is important for success to have the right kind. Sometimes people use what they have on hand, and it doesn’t quite work for the weave structure.
Limited to 20 participants
Fee: Each weaver pays $25 and supplies their own yarn
Spinning: TBD
Knitting/Crochet: TBD