Recent Guild Activities

Blog, FAFS

FAFS 2023

Fibre Art Festival and Sale (FAFS)

Covent Garden Market (Mezzanine Level)
November 17, 18 & 19
Friday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am – 4:30 pm
Sunday 11:am – 3:00 pm

Sponsored by:
London District Weavers and Spinners
Simply Hooked
Strathroy Pioneer Treadlers


Fibre Art Festival and Sale
November 17, 18 & 19
Covent Garden Market
Blog, Workshops

Inkle Weaving Pick-up Class

Dates: Wednesday, November 22
Location: East Lion’s Community Centre – 1731 Churchill Ave
Instructor: Dan Lajoie
Participant Fee: Members $25, Non-Members $40
Material Fee: $5 (for 2/8 cotton – bring your own if you have some – multiple colours)
Equipment to bring: Inkle loom – if possible (A limited number are available to rent for $10), Scissors, Tape Measure or ruler, Inkle loom shuttle

Inkle or belt weaving offers an opportunity to explore the interesting and colourful patterns available to make your own bands.
Pick-up techniques offer added pattern complexity to simple inkle weaving. This class is suitable for registrants who have completed Beginning Inkle Weaving or have equivalent in experience.

Description: In this one evening, hands-on workshop, you will learn how to:
– read and create pick-up designs
– read and create pick-up alphabets
– weave a band to be finished at home

  • COVID Protocol for classes
  • As of June 1, 2023 – Masks are welcome but not mandatory for the duration of each class
  • Compliance with any other Covid-19 protocols set by the East Lions Community Centre

***Cancellation Policy: Participants who cancel their registration up to 1 month prior to the start of the workshop will receive a full refund.  A participant who finds a replacement for his/her spot within 1 month prior to the start of the workshop will receive a full refund.  Cancellations within 1 month of workshops (with no replacement found) and “no-shows” will not be refunded.  If the Guild cancels a workshop for any reason, all registration fees will be refunded.  

Blog, Workshops

Beginning Spinning Class

This Spinning Wheel course is for the person who would like to learn how to spin on a Spinning wheel, while having fun making your own yarn from wool fibres. 


We will cover:

  • The working of the spinning wheel
  • How to prepare fibres for spinning
  • Spinning the yarn
  • Finishing yarn

Location: East Lion’s Community Centre in the North Art Room – 1731 Churchill Ave, London, ON

Instructor: Diny Warren

Cost: LDWS Member – $175 , Non-Member – $210 for non-members

Material Fee: $30 to be paid on the first day of class.

The class will have a minimum of 4 students and a maximum of 5. Spinning wheels are available for use during the class. If you have your own please indicate in the registration form

Dates: Saturday, October 21, 28 & November 4th

Time: 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

  • COVID Protocol for classes
  • As of June 1, 2023 – Masks are welcome but not mandatory for the duration of each class
  • Compliance with any other Covid-19 protocols set by the East Lions Community Centre

***Cancellation Policy: Participants who cancel their registration up to 1 month prior to the start of the workshop will receive a full refund.  A participant who finds a replacement for his/her spot within 1 month prior to the start of the workshop will receive a full refund.  Cancellations within 1 month of workshops (with no replacement found) and “no-shows” will not be refunded.  If the Guild cancels a workshop for any reason, all registration fees will be refunded.  

Blog, Workshops

Beginning Inkle Weaving Class

Dates: Wednesday, October 18 and 25 – 6:30 – 8:30
Location: East Lion’s Community Centre – 1731 Churchill Ave
Instructor: Dan Lajoie
Participant Fee: Members $50, Non-Members $70
Material Fee: $5 (for 2/8 cotton – bring your own if you have some – multiple colours)
Equipment to bring: Inkle loom – if possible (A limited number are available to rent for $10), Scissors, Tape Measure or ruler, Inkle loom shuttle

This is a two-evening workshop.

Description: In this two evening handson workshop, you will learn how to:
-read and create inkle patterns
-warp an inkle loom
-weave a finished band

  • COVID Protocol for classes
  • As of June 1, 2023 – Masks are welcome but not mandatory for the duration of each class
  • Compliance with any other Covid-19 protocols set by the East Lions Community Centre

***Cancellation Policy: Participants who cancel their registration up to 1 month prior to the start of the workshop will receive a full refund.  A participant who finds a replacement for his/her spot within 1 month prior to the start of the workshop will receive a full refund.  Cancellations within 1 month of workshops (with no replacement found) and “no-shows” will not be refunded.  If the Guild cancels a workshop for any reason, all registration fees will be refunded.  

Blog, Workshops

Beginning Weaving on 4 shaft looms


What will be covered in the Class:

  • Learn how to warp a loom
  • Discover basic weaving techniques & weave structures
  • Select appropriate yarns
  • Plan a project
  • Keep records of your projects
  • Follow instruction for projects
  • Learn weaving terminology and equipment

Dates: Sunday, October 15, 22, 29 and Nov. 5 and 12
Time: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Location: East Lions Community Centre – 1731 Churchill Ave, London, ON
Instructor: Kathy Morgan

Cost: Members – $350, Non-Members $380
All materials are included in the cost of the class. This includes the use of a Dorothy table loom, and all required accessories. Yarn is also included.

***Cancellation Policy: Participants who cancel their registration up to 1 month prior to the start of the workshop will receive a full refund.  A participant who finds a replacement for his/her spot within 1 month prior to the start of the workshop will receive a full refund.  Cancellations within 1 month of workshops (with no replacement found) and “no-shows” will not be refunded.  If the Guild cancels a workshop for any reason, all registration fees will be refunded.  

Covid-19 protocols for in person courses:

  • COVID Protocol for classes
  • As of June 1, 2023 – Masks are welcome but not mandatory for the duration of each class
  • Compliance with any other Covid-19 protocols set by the East Lions Community Centre

Blog, Workshops

Next Step: Spinning Woollen

Now that you can make some thread, have you wanted to learn the techniques to spin super soft, fluffy and warm woollen yarns on your spinning wheel or spindle?
Participants will learn to use hand cards to create light and airy rolags from wool.
The class will include woollen techniques of drafting a roving, longdraw, plying and finishing.


Location: 1731 Churchill Ave, London ON – East Lion’s Community Centre

Instructor: Janice Watterworth

Cost: Members – $25, Non-Members – $40

Date: Wednesday, October 11 

Time: 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Participants Requirements: Able to spin a thread on a spindle and /or spinning wheel.

Equipment to bring:

  • Handcards
  • Working spinning wheel and kit (oil, orifice hook, scissors etc) and/or spindle
  • 3 or more bobbins
  • Niddy Noddy
  • Lazy Kate

Material cost: $15 to Instructor at class

  • COVID Protocol for classes
  • As of June 1, 2023 – Masks are welcome but not mandatory for the duration of each class
  • Compliance with any other Covid-19 protocols set by the East Lions Community Centre

***Cancellation Policy: Participants who cancel their registration up to 1 month prior to the start of the workshop will receive a full refund.  A participant who finds a replacement for his/her spot within 1 month prior to the start of the workshop will receive a full refund.  Cancellations within 1 month of workshops (with no replacement found) and “no-shows” will not be refunded.  If the Guild cancels a workshop for any reason, all registration fees will be refunded.  

Blog, General Meeting

October Guild Meeting – 2023

The speaker for our first meeting of the year will be Kim McBrien Evans – https://kimmcbrienevans.ca/

The topic will be Inclusive Shawls
Your shawls should fit your body, the way you want them to. This can mean adapting a shawl shape to be shallower, deeper, longer or shorter to suit your height and body type.In this class we will look at common shawl shapes and learn how to tweak the shape and size to work better for ourselves. We will also look at YOUR favourite shawl patterns and look at ways to modify them for your needs and desires.

About Kim
Curiosity and exploration is the focus of Canadian knitwear designer and indie hand dyer, Kim McBrien Evans. A lifelong love of colour, texture, pattern, and shape prompted Kim to transition from working artist to textile maven. Her knitwear designs are known for their ability to turn an abstract idea into a wearable reality while simultaneously fitting and complimenting a wide range of bodies. She lives and works in the woods of Central Ontario, Canada.

Her yarn company, Indigodragonfly, is renowned for its vibrant colours, offbeat names, and ever expanding plan for world domination. She is co-author ofCustom Shawls for the Curious and Creative Knitter (with Kate Atherley). Her work has appeared in Vogue Knitting, Knitscene, Knit.Wear, Knitting Magazine (UK), A Stash of One’s Own (ed. Clara Parkes), The Sewcialists, Digits & Threads, and Uppercase.

Patterns available at Indigodragonfly and Ravelry

Blog, Workshops

Dyeing Yarn with food safe dyes

Class Cancelled due to insufficient registration
Registration is now done through Eventbrite. Payment can be done directly through Eventbrite, or by cheque/EFT. Instructions are provided during the registration process
Date: Tuesday, September 26, 6:30 – 8:30
Instructors: Colleen Pavlech and Marsha Davidson
Location: East Lion’s Community Centre, 1731 Churchill Ave


Colleen Pavlech and Marsha Davidson will lead an inspiring workshop on how to create a hand dyed warp or skein with non toxic food safe dyes.
You will go home with a dyed skein/warp and the knowledge to create many more.

What to bring?
Old clothes as we will be working with dyes
Old towel
Plastic bag
Pail
Rubber gloves
Microwaveable Plate
One 100 gram skein or warp of protein yarn (wool, alpaca, silk, mohair are acceptable fibres)


Cost:


Members – $40
Non-Members -$50

Blog, General Meeting

June Guild Meeting – AGM

June 6 General Meeting:
Our Annual General Meeting – AGM !!!
What will you bring for our Potluck dinner???
Judy wants to know!
Please email our President, Judy Farrell, and let her know
1/  …if you plan to attend in-person or on Zoom.
2/ …which meal course you plan to bring (entrée, salad, dessert?)
Thanks!!!  je_farrell@sympatico.ca

Enjoy Door Prizes & Show and Tell Prizes!!!

Lots of time to socialize! 
Enjoy great food! 
Be Inspired!

See you there!!!

Blog

Western Fair Creative Arts Competition

Good afternoon,

My name is Sierra, and I am excited to introduce myself as Western Fair District’s new Community & Customer Engagement Representative, which includes the title of Fair Competitions Assistant for our annual signature event – Western Fair – it’s my favourite part of this role, because I am crafty, and I LOVE a good fair!  

I’m sure you have heard about our Creative Arts Competitions!  They are a great way for people to showcase their artistic talents in several ways.  There are categories for almost everything: pottery, sculpture, needle felting, photography, crochet, woodworking, art, quilting, horticulture, the list goes on and on!  Over $13,000 in prize money to be WON!   

London District Weavers & Spinners has so many creative and talented individuals from our community involved with your location! We hope you would share this amazing opportunity with your staff/members.  Attached is our Prize Book – all fair competition categories are listed inside, as well as a digital poster that we would SO APPRECIATE YOU SHARING with your talented visitors. If you would be interested in receiving a couple of hard-copy posters to display, please let me know, and I will mail them to you.

I really appreciate your support of local artisans and hope you will be able to help us pass this information on to all who would be interested.  

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Thank you!

Sierra

SIERRA DONNELLY​CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE REPRESENTATIVEEmail: sdonnelly@westernfairdistrict.comOffice: 519-438-7203,314Western
​Fair
​District

316 Rectory St
London, On
N5W 3V9

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