While most crafters simply buy their chosen yarn, for a small group of local fibre artists, the art of spinning it and weaving it into a finished product is still a part of the creative process.
And now members of the Chilliwack Spinners and Weavers Guild will be sharing their unique talents, knowledge and history through an interactive exhibition called Woven Together. It marks the guild’s 50th anniversary and runs Feb. 29 to June 8 at the Chilliwack Museum.
The museum has pulled out some items from their own archives to accompany handmade items by guild members such as tea towels, blankets and vests. It will showcase several hand-spun and hand-woven projects, plus some bobbin lace and hand-knitted items.
The museum even purchased a few new mannequins on which to display the lovingly hand-woven items, said guild member Carolyn Troughton.
“They’re really making an enormous effort to make this an amazing display for the Chilliwack Spinners and Weavers Guild.”
Also on display will be spinning and weaving equipment like a loom, spinning wheel, and a warping board which measures the length (known as the warp) of yarn needed for a project woven on a loom.
People can even try their hand at weaving at Woven Together. And at the opening reception on Thursday, Feb. 29, there will be a live-weaving demo.
Fellow member Louise Hamilton has been with the guild since its inception. It was started by her sister-in-law Mildred Renz.
Although some things have changed over the decades, one thing has stayed the same, and that’s the amount of work that goes into weaving each item.
“It’s labour intensive. Everything is labour intensive,” Hamilton said.
Countless hours can go into even the simplest or smallest item. When the guild first started, members would often begin with raw wool.
“That’s how we started was you’d buy a fleece from the farmer and then you’d wash it and go through the whole process.”
That process includes brushing (known as carding) the wool to remove clumps and to prepare it for spinning. Once it’s spun by hand, the yarn would be measured, threaded through the loom and then woven, one row at a time.
Some looms are so big, it takes two people to use them.
They often work on projects together. For example, four weavers may load enough yarn onto a loom to make four scarves. They also have days where they’ll dye yarn together at Hamilton’s country house.
Even though nowadays it’s much more common for members to use store-bought yarn, Hamilton still loves spinning wool into yarn herself.
“I still like to get in the dirt and clean things by hand. It’s a lot cheaper than buying already processed (wool), it’s very time consuming but for me I’ve got lots of time. I’ve got more time than money so I’d rather work from basics, right from the beginning.”
Over the years, guild members have done demonstrations at schools, Canada Day celebrations, and other community events like the Chilliwack Fair.
Woven Together also features a brief history of Salish weaving, which is deeply rooted in the fabric of S’ólh Téméxw (“our world” or “our land”) since time immemorial, and how intersections in textile production emerged following the arrival of Xwelitem settlers, said museum curator Kate Feltren, in an email to The Chilliwack Progress.
Hamilton recalled how they used to invite Salish weavers to come and do demonstrations for the guild. They’re known for weaving items without using equipment and manipulating the weaving with their fingers.
But even before the Salish weavers were guests at guild meetings, Hamilton was learning all about fibre from them.
“They were always so hospitable.”
One of the Salish weavers taught her how to spin yarn on an Indian head spinning wheel. Hamilton’s father then took measurements of that wheel and made one for her.
It’s imperative they include Salish weaving in Woven Together, because that’s where it all started, she added.
Woven Together, an exhibition marking the 50th anniversary of the Chilliwack Spinners and Weavers Guild runs Thursday, Feb. 29 to Saturday, June 8 at the Chilliwack Museum (45820 Spadina Ave.). The opening reception is Feb. 29 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and will include light refreshments, coffee, tea, and wine service. Admission is by donation.
The guild is also having an open house at their headquarters (9400 College St.) on Saturday, June 1 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
For more info including membership, go to chilliwackspinnersandweavers.com or send them an email at chilliwackspinnersandweavers@gmail.com.
Looking for more events taking place in and around Chilliwack? Check out What’s happening Chilliwack in our community section.