in Nature-dyeing, Spinning, and Weaving, and in related ... · classified columns, please remit $10 by Septmber 15, 2015 for inclusion in the Autumn 2015 issue. Limit ad to 30 words

HILLCREEK FIBER NEWS Page 1 Spring, 2015

Spring 2015, Vol XXXIII, No 1 Event Calendar for 2015 Subscription $8.00/year for two issues

$5.00

Carol Leigh’sCarol Leigh’sCarol Leigh’sCarol Leigh’s

HHHHILLCREEKILLCREEKILLCREEKILLCREEK F F F FIBERIBERIBERIBER S S S STUDIOTUDIOTUDIOTUDIO

HILLCREEK FIBER STUDIO

Established 1986

Specializing in Workshops

in Nature-dyeing, Spinning, and

Weaving, and in related tools,

supplies and books

Bed & Breakfast and Airport Shuttle Service from St Louis & Kansas City available for students

Carol Leigh’s SpecialtiesCarol Leigh’s SpecialtiesCarol Leigh’s SpecialtiesCarol Leigh’s Specialties

Established 1982

Specializing in Custom Handwoven Textiles, Nature-Dyed Fibers,

Handspun Yarns

using natural fibers and dyes

Home of the

Spriggs 7’ Adjustable Triangle

& Rectangle, and 5' Adjustable

Square Frame Looms

Spring Greetings Fiber Friends! Ahhh! Spring refreshes the soul. Bloodroot blossoms, the first to bloom, evoke the purity of starting a new year fresh. Then jonquil, trillium, spring beauty, daffodil, Dutchman’s britches, bird’s foot violet, May apple, purple violet, forsythia, red bud, dogwood, narcissus, jack-in-the-pulpit, Jacob’s ladder, Solomon’s seal — an array of nature’s colors and aromas. Keeping in mind our previous two severe weather February workshops, we scheduled our two Ancient Dye workshops for the end of March this

year. The weather was better, especially for the first weekend, but we succumbed to setting up the marquis, wood stove and warm cider for the second, as the temperature left a little to be de-sired. Photographer daughter Rose came from Florida for nearly three weeks to photograph the two workshops and other dye material for our upcoming book Nature Provides, Dyes for

Rainbows of Color. See more about the workshops and dye book on page 3. Speaking of Rose, Good News! She’s expecting her first child in early September — a boy! My sixth grandson! (You know what this means - she’ll just have to try again for my first grand-daughter! 8>) (That’s a sideward smiley face - the “old” way!)) Rose and baby are fine. We have noticed a trend these past few years back to a growing interest in weaving. Perhaps some credit can be given to the introduction of rigid heddle looms to the knitting community. Perhaps due to the slow economy of a couple years ago, and to the growing interest in caring for and promoting locally-grown foods and handmade products, people have re-discovered the joy of making textiles by hand. Perhaps it is just time for weaving interest to recycle again. Regardless, due to growing interest and to participants of our local Guild-sponsored weaving workshop with Madelyn van der Hoogt needing special yarns, we have been filling our shelves with yarns and dyes for weavers and dyers. And also, surprisingly, for rug hookers, who are falling in love with our Rio Grande rug wool. See pages 4 and 7 for report on yarns we have in stock.

Carol Leigh’s Specialties Carol Leigh’s Specialties Carol Leigh’s Specialties Carol Leigh’s Specialties

andandandand

HILLCREEK FIBER STUDIO for weaving, spinning, and dyeing

Supplies & Workshops 7001 S Hill Creek Road, Columbia, MO 65203

Call 573-874-2233 for inquiries, or toll-free

1-800-TRI-WEAV (874-9328) for placing orders

Web Site: www.HillcreekFiberStudio.com with an on-line Shopping Cart WebStore

HILLCREEK FIBER NEWS Page 2 Spring, 2015 Quick Reference Page

IN THIS ISSUEIN THIS ISSUEIN THIS ISSUEIN THIS ISSUE

Greetings from Carol Leigh Brack-Kaiser ..................Page 1

Index, Subscriptions, Ad Information, Hours.................... 2

Dealerships carried by Carol Leigh's HFS ........................ 2

Hillcreek Fiber Studio Workshops Schedule ..................... 2

Report on Shows and Workshops ..................................... 3

Report on Ancient Dye Workshops and Dye Book .......... 3

Yarns in Stock: Lamb’s Pride and Cotton Fleece,

Dragon Tale, Harrisville Highland and Shetland,

Maysville Carpet Warp, Nature-dyed Riata & Suri....... 4

Hillcreek Fiber Studio & Yarn Shoppe Event Calendar... 5

Workshops and Private Lessons Offered at Hillcreek

Fiber Studio ...................................................................... 6

Yarns in Stock, continued: Nature-dyed Wool

Potholder Loops, Rio Grande Rug Yarn, Churro and

Trading Post Tapestry Yarns .......................................... 7

Spring Cleaning: Mountain Looms, Alpaca Fibers,

Knitting Spools ................................................................ 8

Shoppe Talk with Bex ......................................................... 9

Weaver’s Craft, Video Discounts, Vintage spindles

& spools ...................................................................... 10

Classifieds, Contact Information for Events .................... 11

Map to Hillcreek Fiber Studio ......................................... 12

SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Annual subscription rate for Hillcreek Fiber News is $8.00 for two issues, Spring and Autumn. Single Copy, $5.00. Students and customers with purchases during the year of $20 or more will receive a complimentary issue. CLASSIFIED AD RATES: For a listing under Equipment/Fiber Sources or other classified columns, please remit $10 by Septmber 15, 2015 for inclusion in the Autumn 2015 issue. Limit ad to 30 words in addition to your contact information, $30 for 1/4 page, $50 for 1/2 page. Circulation is now around 8000 fiber-interested people by e-mail and snail mail. WEAVING STUDIO HOURS: Hillcreek Fiber Studio is a working studio & mail order service. Please call 573-874-2233 or 1-800-874-9328 before planning a trip to the Studio. Studio hours are: Tuesday through Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm, by appointment only. At other times, please leave a message and we will return your call ASAP.

DEALERSHIPS

carried by Carol Leigh’s HILLCREEK FIBER STUDIO

AURORA SILKS Dyes

ASHFORD Spinning Wheels, Looms and Tools

EARTHUES Natural Dye Extracts LOUËT Spinning & Weaving Tools & Supplies

HARRISVILLE Friendly Looms INTERWEAVE PRESS Books

SCHACHT SPINDLE CO. Looms, Wheels & Supplies

SNIPES Weaving & Spinning Tools

SPRIGGS CUSTOM WOOD PRODUCTS Adjustable Triangle, Square, and Rectangle Looms; Navajo & Inkle Looms; Drop & Navajo

Spindles; Warping Boards; Maru-dai, knitting spools

UNICORN BOOKS fiber-related books VICTORIAN VIDEO PRODUCTIONS

YARNS and FIBERS:

BROWN SHEEP CO, Carol Leigh’s Nature-dyed Riata,

Suri/wool yarn, suri/wool boucle, Colinton mohair yarns

Carol Leigh’s Nature-dyed wool potholder loops,

DRAGON TALE cotton, FIESTA YARNS, GENOPALETTE

wool, HARRISVILLE wool, GLIMAKRA linen, JAGGERSPUN,

MAYSVILLE CARPET WARP,

PERLE COTTONS, SOUTHWEST TRADING bamboo,

Ashford TEKAPO wool, FROG TREE alpaca & more,

VERSEIS/FOXFIBRE colorganic cotton,

WEAVING SOUTHWEST Rug and Churro wool

AND MUCH MORE

Partial Listing - MISCELLANEOUS Items

Pewter Jewelry by Ram’s Horn

Brass Shawl & Kilt Celtic brooches by Mountain Forge Handmade Bookmarks by Moosetrack Studio

Lucets by Peggy Ledrich


WORKSHOPS and PRIVATE LESSONS Taught by Carol Leigh BrackCarol Leigh BrackCarol Leigh BrackCarol Leigh Brack----KaiserKaiserKaiserKaiser

2015

JUNE 28-JULY 3 FIBER FURLOUGH II: WEAVING OF ALL TYPES

1-800-TRI-WEAV (874-9328) PRIVATE WEAVING AND SPINNING LESSONS

ARRANGED BY APPOINTMENT

$25 per hour, $65 per three hours,

$95 per full day

Tuition: Two days, $150; three days, $210; four days, $280; five and 1/2 days, $355. Deposit of one-half tuition will hold a space for you. Bed & Breakfast available at the Studio: $50/night. Airport shuttle available from St. Louis and Kansas City airports to Studio. Also, some flights arrive at Columbia Regional airport. Call toll free to reserve space in a class or two.


Shows and Workshops Although Denny and I are slowing down and not doing as many large shows or large workshops at the Studio,

that doesn’t mean our “presence” won’t be felt. Now that Bex is back with Hillcreek Yarn Shoppe, we are working closely with her and Eric to bring more weaving, spinning and dyeing supplies to her knitting and yarn shop. They will be taking all supplies with them to shows. It may be a little time before they can get in to all the shows they intend. At some of the larger shows, such as SAFF (Southeast Animal Fiber Festival) in Asheville, NC, one of us may also attend to assist in the booth while Bex is teaching. See Pages 5 and 9 for

Bex’s shows and classes, check out HillcreekYarnShoppe.net, and sign up for Bex’s bi-weekly e-newsletter. Our last week-long workshop here at the Studio is scheduled June 28 through July 3, Fiber Furlough II,

Weaving of All Types. If you would like to explore any number of weaving techniques, this is your opportu-nity. See Page 6 for more information. We will continue to offer Private Lessons on any aspect of weaving, spinning or dyeing. Please call to set up a time for one to four people. See also Page 6 for details. Bed and Breakfast is available to welcome any textile artist traveling through Missouri or taking private les-sons. This is a great opportunity for a quiet retreat immersed in textile study — or just read some of the textile books from over 500 titles. Or, hike some of the trails through Rock Bridge State Park (across the street from the Studio) or on the Katy Trail, which follows the Missouri River from St. Charles to Clinton, Missouri.

Ancient Dye Workshops and Upcoming Natural Dye Book The last two weeks of March were filled with rainbows of color. The Lesser-known Ancient Dyes of Alkanet Roots-lavender and grey, Annatto Seeds-yellow/orange, Kamala-gold/brown, Stick Lac-red/lavender, Mungeet (wild Madder Root)-red/orange, Pomegranate Rinds-tan/charcoal, Quercitron (Black Oak Inner Bark)-clear yellow/greens, Red Sandalwood-russet, Safflower Petals-yellow/pink/salmon, and Woad vat-blue. Then the more Common Ancient Dyes of Brazilwood sawdust-red/purple/plum/burgundy, Cochineal scale insect-scarlet/pink/lavender, Cutch resin-brown, Fustic sawdust-gold/forest green, Indigo vat-blue, Logwood-purple/lavender/navy/grey/black, Madder Root-orange/red, Saxon Blue (Indigo plus sulfuric acid)-turquoise/teal, and Weld-clear yellow/kelly green/lime. Nuances of color were brought out with various mineral salts. Besides rainbows from all the above Ancient Dyes, the Missouri Dyes of Bidens flowers (in coreopsis family)-gold/orange/brown, Elderberries-lavender/teal/green, Goldenrod flowers-yellow/gold/green, Ironweed flowers-greens, Osage Orange wood chips-yellow/gold/khaki, Pokeberries-fushia/purple/rust, Staghorn Sumac berries-tans/black, and Walnut-browns, also provide a rainbow. Is it any wonder I’m so enamored by Natural Dyes? Nature DOES Provide.

Hence the book title: Nature Provides (not just food, medicines, and fibers for textiles, but also) Dyes for Rainbows of Color. The book will cover my approach to offering weekend workshops whereby full rainbows of color may be obtained. Of course, full recipes for each of the above dyes will be covered. Thus, readers may choose to either present full rainbow workshops or choose to explore just one dye at a time. Progress on the book: nearly all the color pictures have been taken. Most of the text and bibliography is written. Still to do: finish text on ancient dyes, glossary, index, editing of words and pictures, assembly of pictures and words, sending manuscript to at least 4 readers. We hope to have the manu-script ready for readers by the end of July. (Any volunteers?) Has to be done before the baby is born! We’ll be accepting pre-orders for the book after July 31, 2015.

Nature Provides Dyes for

Rainbows of Color


Yarns in Stock Let us know if you would like sample cards of any of the following Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride worsted and bulky, Cotton Fleece Fine

Domestic yarns produced in Nebraska. Lamb’s Pride blend of 85% soft wool/15% mohair. Bulky: 125 yards/4 ounces — great for easy shawls and blankets on large Continuous Strand Triangle, Square, and Rec-tangle frame looms. Worsted: 190 yards/4 ounces — great for weaving on all travel size Continuous Strand Triangle, Square, and Rectangle frame looms. Use doubled for lighter-weight shawls on larger looms. Also great for knitting and felting projects.

Cotton Fleece Fine, blend of 80% fine cotton/20% merino wool. 12 ply, equiva-lent to 8/2 cotton. 1000 yards per 8 ounce cone. I’m inspired to weave a baby wrap for Rose, and will be threading the floor loom for it soon. 18 colors in stock. Dragon Tales—new color, rayon, chenille, 8/2 and 4/2 cotton

Domestic yarns produced in North Carolina. Due to the popularity of our new “washcloth loom,” we are now well stocked on all 21 colors of Dragon Tales 4/2

cotton, including the new “Scarlet.” The 4/2 cotton (450 yards per 8-ounce cone) works especially well for washcloths on the 12-inch square loom, using the con-

tinuous strand weaving method. Use two strands at once. We also have Dragon

Tales 8/2 cotton (900 yards per 8 ounce cone), 8/2 Rayon, and Rayon Chenille in all 21 colors.

Harrisville Highland and Shetland weight 2-ply

100 % wool Domestic yarns produced in New Hampshire. Highland weight (500 yards per 8-ounce cone) and Shetland weight (1000 yards per 8-ounce cone). This yarn is perfect for warm, traditional, heirloom textiles. I’ve used it for blan-kets, scarves, and for the voyager’s capote (heavy, densely fulled, water and wind repellant overcoat, woven on all three large adjustable frame looms) in the Continuous Strand Weaving book. Due to the weaving workshop with Madelyn van der Hoogt, we have increased our color selection to 32 colors

in the Harrisville Shetland weight. We’ve always carried a full comple-ment of Harrisville Highland weight 2-ply wool, in 49 colors,

Maysville Carpet Warp

Domestic yarn originally produced in Kentucky. This yarn hardly needs an introduction. Popular for carpet warp, and for weaving placemats and runners. Knitters and crocheters love it for washcloths, vests and more. This 8/4 cotton comes 800 yards per 8-ounce tube, and softens nicely after being washed. We somehow double ordered, so are especially well stocked in over 75 colors. Carol Leigh’s Nature-dyed Riata and Suri/Merino yarns

I’ve bragged on these two yarns before. Uniquely designed by Brooks Farm in Texas, these yarns specialize in putting 2 or 3 fibers, into 2 or 3 plies, spinning each ply in a different fiber. Each fiber takes the natural dyes differently, offering a unique, heather appearance to the yarn. Each of these yarns have been discontin-ued by Brooks Farm, but we like the Riata so well for light-weight shawls on our triangle looms, and Bex loves the Suri for knitting, we have bought out their last

remaining stock—enough to last me several years. Riata: silk, kid mohair, merino wool, 3-ply, 375 yards per 8-ounce skein. Suri Alpaca/Merino Wool: 2-ply, 225 yards per 6-ounce skein. Yarn blooms nicely. Both yarns are silky soft and are dyed in dozens of natural colors. Will dye to customer’s specifications. (More Yarns, continued on Page 7)

Dragon Tale Yarns

Blanket for Baby Vincent

with Highland Weight Yarn

Riata Shawl Dyed with

Saxon Blue


Hillcreek Fiber Studio 2012 - 2013 Workshop and Event Calendar

Date Workshops/Events Location

2 0 1 5 April 25-26...... Indiana Fiber and Music Festival, Bex, Hillcreek Yarn Shoppe, Vendor .......................... Clarksville, IN

April 25 .......... All Missouri Spring Spin-In, Carol Leigh, Vendor, Instructor ....................................... Chillicothe, MO

May 8-10 ........ Kentucky Fiber Festival, Bex, Hillcreek Yarn Shoppe, Vendor ? ................................... Lexington, KY

May 15-16 ...... Beg Knitting, Cont. Strand on Mini Looms, Beyond Knitting Basics, Bex Instructor

The Lake Studio for the Arts ....................................................................................Sunrise Beach, MO

May 16-18 ...... Deflected Weave Structures Workshop, Madelyn van der Hoogt, Columbia Weavers

and Spinners’ Guild sponsor, participant ...................................................................... Columbia, MO

May 22-23 ....... Middle Tennessee Fiber Festival, Bex HillcreekYarn Shop, Vendor ? ................................ Dickson, TN

May 29-31 ...... WARP (Weave A Real Peace) Conference, participant .............................................. San Francisco, CA

June 13-14 ...... Iowa Sheep and Wool Festival, Hillcreeks Fiber and Yarn, Bex & Carol Leigh, Vendors .....Colfax, IA

June 15-20 ....... Midwest Weavers’ Conf., Weavers Guild of Minnesota, U of St Thomas........................... St. Paul, MN

June 27 ........... BLUE PARTY, Bex and Carol Leigh, Hillcreek Fiber Studio, vendor............................ Columbia, MO

June 28-July 3 . FIBER FURLOUGH II: Weaving of all Types, Hillcreek Fiber Studio ...................... Columbia, MO

July 11 - 18 ..... Finish writing Nature Provides with Rose .............................................................................. Jupiter, FL

July 17 - 19 ..... Fiber “U”, Bex & Denny, Hillcreeks Fiber Studio & Yarn Shoppe, Vendor, Instructor .... Lebanon, MO

July 26-31 ....... Christianson Native Crafts Workshop, Carol Leigh, Vendor, Instructor ..................... Shannondale, MO

August 6-9 ...... Stitches Midwest, Bex, Hillcreek Yarn Shoppe ,Vendor ? .............................................. Shaumburg, IL

August 12-16 .. Michigan Fiber Fest, Carol Leigh, Vendor, Instructor ...........................................................Allegan, MI

Aug 27 - Sep ? Assisting Rose preparing for and with her baby ...................................................................... Jupiter, FL

Sept 19-20 ...... Fiber Daze, Southwest Missouri Fiber Folks, Bex, Hillcreek Yarn Shoppe ? ................ Mt Vernon, MO

Sept 22 - Oct 3 Eastern Primitive Rendezvous, suttlery and instructor ? .................................................. Dodridge, WV

October 10....... Lake Area Fiber Arts, Bex, Hillcreek Yarn Shoppe Vendor ......................................... Camdenton, MO

Oct 30-Nov 1... SAFF (Southeast Animal Fiber Fest), Bex & Denny, Hillcreeks Fiber and Yarn ............. Asheville, NC

Nov 6 - 7 ......... Ozark Fiber Fling, Bex, Hillcreek Yarn Shoppe, Vendor ................................................ Steeleville, MO

Nov 13 - 15 .... Col. Weavers and Spinners’ Guild Holiday Exhibition Sale, Boone Co. Museum ............Columbia, MO

Nov 21 - 22 ..... Navajo Weaving workshop on Mini Navajo Loom, Artisan Guild of Southern IL ............. O’ Fallon, IL

Dec 11 - 13...... Hillcreek Fiber Studio 33rd Anniversary Open House and Sale .......................................Columbia, MO

2 0 1 6

Jan 13 - 23 ....... Alafia River Rendezvous, Sutlery & Seminars ............................................................... Homeland, FL Mar 11 - 13 ..... Fiber Retreat, Lincoln U Exten, Hillcreeks Yarn & Fiber Vendors, Bex Instr ........ Jefferson City, MO

Events in BOLD and ALL CAPS are workshops offered at Hillcreek Fiber Studio,

and are taught by Carol Leigh Brack-Kaiser and/or Bex Oliger We are not offering individual Traditional Weaving, Navajo Weaving, Continuous Strand Weaving,

Spinning, nor Missouri Dye Workshops at the Fiber Studio in 2015.

However, Bex offers classes nearly every Saturday a.m. in knitting, weaving, crochet, and other needlework subjects at the Yarn Shoppe.

We are both available for private or small group lessons at the Studio or Yarn Shoppe, and/or for Trunk Shows or classes at your location.

For PRIVATE or small group sessions, please Call 1-800-TRI-WEAV (874-9328) to register and set a time for weaving, spinning, or dyeing with Carol Leigh

Please call 573-449-KNIT (5648) to schedule with Bex. Bed and Breakfast at Hillcreek Fiber Studio is available for students.



PRIVATE LESSONS AND

WORKSHOPS

Nestled in the Little Bonne Femme Creek Valley amidst woods and pastures in view of a major state park, Hillcreek Fiber Studio offers the serenity for a true get-away. Just focus on learning a new skill or on exploring an older one. Cuddle up with a book from over 500 titles on the shelves. Workshops at Hillcreek Fiber Studio allow the student to immerse her or himself in the study and exploration of a number of textile-related subjects. Let us know what subjects interest you!

______________

Join us for our BLUE PARTY

June 27. Bex & Carol Leigh will have 4 different blue pots going: Indigo/thiox for protein fibers, indigo Zinc/Lime for cellulose and silk shibori and ikat dyeing, Saxon Blue for turquoise on protein fibers, and historic Woad blue. Charged by the weight of items you bring to throw in the pots.

________________

Full workshops have been

offered at Hillcreek Fiber Studio

since 1986. One last week-long

weaving workshop will be

offered:

FIBER FURLOUGH TWO, Weaving of All Types. June 28—July 3, 2015. Choose one or more types of weaving to explore:

*Continuous Strand Weaving

on Triangle, Square, or Rectan-

gle Looms: Complete a triangle or rectangle shawl, square blanket or other textile using the simple, unique continuous strand weaving

method. Learn a few intermediate or advanced techniques, such as twill, leno lace,double weave, plus color patterns such as log cabin, tartan plaids and color blending. *Navajo Weaving: (and other

forms of tapestry) Warp a frame loom and learn basic Navajo weaving techniques and color joins. Students should finish a sampler, learning finishing techniques for the tight ending. *Four to Eight Shaft Weaving:

Beginning students will warp a loom, complete a project, learn threading and weaving techniques and how to read and understand pattern drafts and basic weaving theory.

Intermediate students can work on projects with guidance from the

instructor. Choose to weave a Co-

lonial Weave Structure Sam-

pler, learn traditional loom-dressing methods for a Tartan

Dancing Shawl, or explore an-other weave structure and project of your choosing. *Rigid Heddle weaving for two-shaft weaving, scarves, runners and more. Learn various lace and pick-up techniques on the loom. *Inkle and/or Tablet Weaving for narrow belts, straps or ribbons.

PRIVATE LESSONS are offered in a variety of subjects, by ar-rangement with the instructor. One to four consecutive days, or one day per week. Groups of up to four people may be arranged to reduce the cost per person.

Choose from: any of the weaving

styles listed above, or learn to

spin, spin special fibers, or cre-

ate designer yarns, as described following. Or, spend a day or two

exploring dyes with Carol Leigh.

Spinning: Beginning students may learn basics of spinning, choosing and skirting fleece, cleaning, carding & combing techniques, spinning on spindles and on a variety of spinning

wheels. Designer Yarn students will learn color & fiber blending and Navajo 3-ply techniques. They will create novelty yarns such as slubs, knop, marl, core-spun, loop, and feather yarns,

among others. Spinning Special

Fibers students will dress distaffs and spin flax, unwind cocoons & spin silk from several preparations, spin cotton and other fine fibers on charkas & taklis, and will comb wool. Design your own lesson. Natural Dyeing: Spend a day or

two working with Carol Leigh

while mordanting and dyeing

yarns or wool loops. Learn tech-niques for evoking rainbows of col-ors using Ancient or Missouri Dyes, depending upon the time of year. Taylor your lesson to your interests.

Private Lessons $25 per hour.

Spinning Lessons: Two 3-hour sessions are recommended for begininning students, $65 per 3-hour session. Two free hours of lessons with purchase of spinning wheel or loom.

Tuition: One day $95, Two days $150, three days $210, four days $280, five and 1/2 days $355. A deposit of one-half tuition holds a space. Bed & Breakfast at the Studio $50 per night. Airport shuttle from St. Louis, Kansas City, and Columbia Regional airports. Call toll free to reserve a date. 1-800-874-9328 (TRI-WEAV).


Yarns in Stock, continued from Page 4 Nature-dyed Wool Potholder Loops: Regular size, PRO large, and Fat Loops for Rugs

Wool, the sensible fiber for use around heat, especially around flames. Wool is fire-retardant and insulative. In December, I finally received my long-awaited order of more PRO Wool Loops for Harrisville’s new PRO pot-holder loom. I have now nature-dyed all the colors in the same 10 color-sets as for the regular-size wool loops, plus more: Rainbow, Ocean, Sunset, Terra Cotta Sky, Woodland, Denim, Tiger, Pastel, Berry Pie, and Flag. The PRO Loops make full-sized potholder/trivets of 10+ inches square. The Fat Loops resulted from my first re-order of Regular-size Wool Loops. The loop knitter inadvertently used the cotton guage for the wool loops, making the loops too fat for the potholder looms. We are now making rag rugs by chaining the loops together and weaving them on the floor loom— great, thick, wool rugs!

Rio Grande Rug Wool,

Churro (Navajo breed), and

other Trading Post single-ply

tapestry yarns.

Hand-dyed near Taos, New Mexico. We continue to offer all

75 colors in Rio Grande yarn (approximately 425 yards/pound) and all 32 colors in the finer

weight Churro yarn (185 yards per 4 ounces), in addition to many natural-dyed colors of the finest trading post tapestry yarn. We use these yarns for Navajo-style and other types of rug and tapestry weaving. Lately the rug yarn has been popular with rug hookers, who are also enjoying a renewed interest.

Pearl Cotton, 3/2, 5/2, 10/2

A weaving studio is not complete without a selection of colors in pearl cotton of various weights. We also carry linen, bamboo, mohair, handspun, hemp, silk and a variety of other yarns. If you are potentially interested in any of these yarns, and would like a sample card to see all the colors, please call or write, 1-800-TRI-WEAV (874-9328), [email protected].

To see pictures in color: If you are not receiving this newsletter by e-mail, check it out on line at

www.hillcreekfiberstudio.com/newsletter15-1.html for color pictures. Starting in 2015 all newsletters will be sent by e-mail only, unless you pay the subscription of $8 per year for the hard copy. If you currently are re-ceiving the hardcopy by regular mail, and wish to receive it by e-mail, please forward your e-mail address to [email protected], or call Carol Leigh at 573-874-2233. Thank you.

Weaving on Navajo Loom using Churro Tapestry Yarn

Rug Using Rio Grande Rug Yarn

PRO Trivet &

Regular Potholder


Spring Cleaning Thirty-three years in business! Wow, hard to imagine — one-third of a Century! You can image the amount of Stuff accumulated! So, we’re doing a bit of Spring Cleaning — things overstocked, or not being used, need to move.

Mountain Looms. Great table top looms, manufacturer no longer in business. We feel these are the best table looms ever made! We have been saving them back to use as great, portable looms for workshops. The beaters have a swinging reed to allow the beater to hit the fell of the cloth at a perpendicular angle for several inches, af-fording a more evenly placed weft. On their larger, 18-inch 8 shaft loom, they add an extra two levers in the center to which several shafts may be tied. This is particu-

larly handy if you are alternating a plain weave row with a patterned row, for ex-ample when weaving overshot weave structure. And, the castle folds, while dressed, down into the frame for easy transportation.

8-shaft, 18”, 10 levers .……………. $891

8-shaft, 12”, 8 levers .………………. 725

4-shaft, 12”, 4 levers ……………….. 544

Alpaca Fibers When alpaca fibers first became available a couple decades ago, they were rare, sought after, and expensive. We acquired quite a bit over the years from local growers. Now, however, the market has become flooded. I know at least a dozen alpaca growers in central Missouri alone. Our shelves are way over-stocked. We carry a wide variety of colors, in both suri and huacaya breeds, even fibers from “Larry,” “Curly,” and “Moe!” Prices have ranged from $2 to $6 per ounce. Now, in an effort to clear the shelves, all alpaca fibers are 50% off. For purchases over $100, take an additional 10%. I believe alpaca breeders have over 20 official natural colors registered, and we have many of them. Let us know your preference, or we can put together a variety pack for you.

Knitting Spools (“Corkers”) $16 This little knitting spool has many useful applications. I’ve used it to make handles for purses, or ties and decorative effects on garments. Make attrac-tive hair ties. Stitch the resulting I-cord knit tube into a spiral for mats, twist them into animal toys. You get the idea. They are fun and easy to use — even for children. Remem-ber the little “corkers” made from small thread spools with nails on one end? A yarn is wrapped around the wooden pegs. Then the first row is pulled over the second row of yarn creating a knit stitch. The successive knit tube grows down through the hole in the middle of the spool. In-structions included. We are way overstocked on these. Four and six-peg spools are available.

8-shaft, 18-inch Loom

4-peg Knitting Spool

Tabbard Vest detail

Knit I-cord

decorative closures

All Three Mountain Looms


Shoppe Talk with Bex

Hillcreek Yarn Shoppe currently has the privilege of hosting master needlepoint artist George T.

Bacalakis for a series of upcoming trunk shows. George began needle pointing in first grade in Australia. He attended the United Kingdom’s Royal School of Needlework in London, and concen-trated on design. He has done custom work for people from all over the world, including Christmas stockings for Kate Middleton! In addition to designing and painting canvases, George is now in Columbia, MO, working on a restoration of chairs from Louis the XIV. His designs are all hand painted on mono canvas and cover numerous functional uses, from piano bench covers to pillows to eyeglass cases and coasters – the possibilities are endless. Starting Tuesday, April 28th, George Bacalakis will be having bi-monthly trunk shows here at Hillcreek Yarn Shoppe. He will be bringing in a variety of hand-painted canvases from his 8000-piece collection for each show. George will also be available to do custom work, so if you want to have a personalized canvas, bring in your pictures and your ideas and George will come up with a gorgeous custom piece. Free lessons are also being offered, just come to a trunk show and make an appointment! The first trunk show will be Tuesday, April 28th from 5-7pm, and Wednesday, April 29th from 11am-1pm. Subsequent trunk shows will be the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays and Wednesdays of each month. May 12th & 13th, May 26th & 27th, June 9th & 10th, and June 23rd & 24th. Come take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity while you still can!

Fiber Art Class Announcement Bex Oliger, owner of Hillcreek Yarn Shoppe in Columbia, MO, will teach several workshops at Lake Studio for the Arts (16533 N State Hwy 5, Suite 201, Sunrise Beach, MO) on May 15-16, 2015. Bex grew up in her mother’s Hillcreek Fiber Studio, so she has learned and mastered a wide range of knowledge in knitting, crochet, weaving, dyeing, etc.

Beginning Knitting — Friday evening May 15 5:00-8:00 pm This class is for anyone who has considered whether they might like to learn to knit. Bex will give you basic instruction in how to cast on and do the knit and purl stitches You will practice forming stitches and become comfortable with knitting a row and turning your work to knit the next row. Bring any medium-weight yarn and US size 7 or 8 needles, or purchase at HYS. $5 per hr, arrive between 5-7pm.

Continuous Strand Weaving — Saturday, May 16 8:30-11:30 am Learn this magical technique for creating triangles or rectangles of woven fabric that can be joined together to make shawls, pouches, rugs, etc. Bex’s mother wrote THE book on this method! No measuring, warping, or math needed for this class. Bex will loan the weaving frames used for class. Finish a project in 3 hours! This is a great way to learn more about continuous strand weaving with no initial investment in the loom equipment. (3 hours $30, materials $15, can bring your own yarn if you prefer)

Knitting Beyond the Basics (25 Things You Need to Know) — Saturday, May 16 1-4pm This class is for anyone who can knit & purl — beginner to experienced knitters. We will discuss stitch alignment, when/how to check gauge, adapting patterns, pattern and chart reading, tips for measuring and keeping track. (3 hours $30, no materials provided, bring a pen & notebook, some smooth medium- weight yarn, US size 7 or 8 needles, or can purchase at HYS. Bring a current project for Q & A)


Weaver’s Craft Magazine, by Jean Scorgie. In addition to offering individual issues, we continue to carry and maintain full sets of Weaver’s Craft Magazine, now 30 issues. Each issue focuses on a special weave structure or technique. It is filled with projects using that technique and always includes many addi-tional tips and tricks for weavers. Jean assures me Issue 31 will be available on Rep Weaves by the June Mid-west Weaver’s Conference. We offer full sets of these morsels of great weaving tips and techniques at a dis-count, complete with an index I have compiled of the contents of all issues. For example: Canvas Weave, Huck and Swedish Lace, Easy Plaids, Overshot, Sum-mer and Winter, Monks Belt, Complimentary Plain Weave, Mock Satin Damask, Gingham Towels, Turned Drafts, M’s and W’s, Baby Blankets, Barleycorn, Spot Bronson, Log Cabin, Waffle Weave, Bound Weave, Petit Point, and much, much more. Jean was editor of Handwoven magazine for many years. Her instructions are very clear and easy to understand. This is a classic set of issues, basic to every weaver’s library. The full set would regularly cost $205.90 if issues were bought separately. Our full sets, including my complete Index of all issues, is only $175 — a 15 percent discount (the equivalent of FOUR FREE ISSUES!)

Vintage Textile Industry Spindles and Spools — $5 each Speaking of Spring Cleaning, we rediscovered these which we picked up in North Carolina decades ago. The hardwood spindles are 18 inches long and 3/4-inch in diameter. With a little sanding they could be turned into fat knitting needles (making a come-back). The spools are 3x4-inches, the ends of which are made of a hard compound (fore-runner to plastic?). Many of the spools are filled with either a fine white cotton or a red fiber yarn. We have dozens of each. Any creative ideas?

Videos - discounted 40% With the advent of U-tube and other avenues for learning, DVD’s are perceived by many as not as useful. However, many subject matters are much more thoroughly shown by experts in their field on DVDs especially made for a more thorough coverage of the subject. Here are listed just of few of the videos we would like to clear from our shelves. Please check our catalog or web site secure shopping cart for a full listing of all the videos we carry. Regular Sale Tie-Dye 101, Basics of Making Exceptional Tie Dye, Rolofson...................$24.95 ............$14.95 Advanced Tie Dye Techniques, Making Shapes & Mandala, Rolofson ........ 36.95 ............ 22.15 Fabric Painting with Dyes on Silk & Cotton, Crockett .................................. 39.95 ............ 24.00 Fiber Dyeing: Immersion & Painting of Protein Fibers, Menz ...................... 29.95 ............ 17.95 Cotton Spinning Made Easy, Ruane............................................................... 39.95 ............ 24.00 Silk Fusion, Journal covers, Greeting cards, Sculpture and More, Selk ........ 39.95 ............ 24.00 Tapestry Techniques for Fabric for Clothing, Harvey ................................... 39.95 ............ 24.00 Tapestry Techniques for Rug Weaving, Harvey ........................................... 19.95 ............ 11.95 Weave a Neckpiece (Tablet weaving), Hendrickson...................................... 24.00 ............ 14.40

Special Events I plan to attend the annual WARP (Weave A Real Peace) conference in the San Francisco area the end of May. (And to visit my two youngest brothers, whom I haven’t seen since my dad’s memorial nearly three years ago. They weren’t able to make our family canoe/kayak trip down the Missouri River last summer.) WARP is an international organization which works with indigenous communities around the world in learn-ing, developing, and assisting them in marketing their own textile products. I’m very interested in becoming more involved. Will give a further report in our fall newsletter.

Using the HFS WebStore Missing us at shows? We miss you, too. You may still order supplies through our comprehensive on-line web store www.hillcreekfiberstudio.com . If you have questions about any supplies and/or how

to place an order, please call our toll-free number: 1-800-874-9328 (TRI-WEAV). We now accept PayPal.


Spriggs Creations, Custom Woodworking, Specializing in Textile ProductsSpriggs Creations, Custom Woodworking, Specializing in Textile ProductsSpriggs Creations, Custom Woodworking, Specializing in Textile ProductsSpriggs Creations, Custom Woodworking, Specializing in Textile Products 573573573573----447447447447----3563, [email protected]; etsy store: Spriggs Creations3563, [email protected]; etsy store: Spriggs Creations3563, [email protected]; etsy store: Spriggs Creations3563, [email protected]; etsy store: Spriggs Creations

All Missouri Spring Spin-In, April 25, 2015,

Zelma Cleaveland, Chillicothe, MO,

[email protected]

Indiana Fiber and Music Festival, April 25-26, 2015,

Clarksville, IN, www.indianafiberfest.com;

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Indiana-Fiber-and-

Music-Festival/251350213103?fref=ts WARP (Weave a Real Peace) Annual Conference,

May 29-31, 2015, Mercy Center Retreat, Burlin-

game, CA, www.weavearealpeace.org/annual-

meeting. 10th Annual Iowa Sheep and Wool Festival, Colfax,

IA, June 13 - 14, 2015, Margie Meehan, 563-920-

7704, www.iowasheepandwoolfestival.com Midwest Weavers’ Conference, June 15-20, 2015 ,

St. Thomas University, St. Paul, MN,

www.midwestweavers.org Fiber “U” - Fun, Fiber, and You! MOPACA event,

July 17 - 19, 2015, Lebanon, MO. Liz Mitchko, 417-

533-5280, [email protected]

Christianson Native Crafts Workshop, July 26 - 31,

2015, Shannondale, Missouri, Nita Pace, cncwdirec-

[email protected], www.christiansonnativecraft.org,

314-260-9826. Michigan Fiber Fest, August 12 - 16, 2015, Allegan

County Fair Grounds, Allegan, Michigan. www.michiganfiberfestival.org

Fiber Daze, September 19-20, 2015, Marc Center,

Mount Vernon, MO, Fiber Folks of Southwest

Missouri, www.fiberfolksofswmo.com Eastern Primitive Rendezvous, Sept 23 - Oct 3,

2015, Dodridge, WV, www.nmlra.org, www.nrlhf.org Lake Area Festival of Fiber Arts, Oct 10, 2015,

Lake of the Ozarks, Camdenton Christian Church,

Camdenton, MO, [email protected]. SAFF (Southeast Animal Fiber Fest), Oct 30-Nov

1, 2015, www.saffsite.org. Ozark Fiber Fling, November 6 - 7, 2015, Steel-

ville, MO, Rural Missouri Spinners Guild, Lois

Wissmann, 573-245-6851,

[email protected].

We hope to see you at one or more of these events this year or next!!

2016 Alafia River Rendezvous, Jan 13 - 23, 2015,

Homeland, FL, www.floridafrontiersmen.com.

Fiber Retreat, March 11 - 13, 2015, Jefferson City,

MO, Leslie [email protected].

All of our products may be ordered on our toll-free line:

1-800-TRI-WEAV (874-9328)

or on our Website: www.HillcreekFiberStudio.com

with a secure "Shopping Cart” WebStore We accept MC/Visa/Discover

2015 Event Contacts

CLASSIFIEDS: Equipment Handwoven Textiles for Sale Shawls, Jackets, Ponchos, Shrugs, Scarves, Blankets, Pillows, Purses, Pouches, Voyager Sashes, Potholders, Wine bottle carriers, Household Textiles, and more. www.hillcreekfiberstudio.com/HFS-Shop-

v10/contents/en-us/d260.html And www.etsy.com/

carolleighspecialty, or 1-800-874-9328.

Trunk Show items from Continuous Strand

Weaving Method book, and much more.

Alpaca yarn, roving, and webbing FOR

SALE: Various colors from white to black; Some blended with merino wool or bamboo. Excellent Quality. Also alpaca fiber, rugs,

beautiful patterns. Kingdom Alpaca Farm.

Phil & Sylvia Glenn, 3295 County Rd 255,.

Fulton, MO 65251. 573-592-7866. glenn-

[email protected]


Carol Leigh’s Specialties HILLCREEK FIBER STUDIO

7001 Hillcreek Road

Columbia, MO 65203

HILLCREEK FIBER NEWSHILLCREEK FIBER NEWSHILLCREEK FIBER NEWSHILLCREEK FIBER NEWS

Return Service Requested

SPRING, 2015 ISSUE

Directions to visit Carol Leigh’s Hillcreek Fiber Studio

Before coming to the STUDIO, GIVE US A CALL so we won’t miss YOU

CALL 573-874-2233 or

1-800-TRI-WEAV

Last house in the valley, before the creek.

Downtown W. Broadway

E. Broadway

Diagram is not to Scale

Forum

Blvd

Documents

in Nature-dyeing, Spinning, and Weaving, and in related ... · classified columns, please remit $10 by Septmber 15, 2015 for inclusion in the Autumn 2015 issue. Limit ad to 30 words