Past Programs

2022

January 22, 2022 — Clemes & Clemes on blending boards
February 26, 2022 — Daedalus Spinning Wheels on electric spinners
March 26, 2022 — Patsy Zawistoski on “Downy Fibers and Silk—A Spinning Match Made in Heaven"
April 23, 2022 — Informal spin-in
May 21, 2022 — Deborah Robson on “Rare Sheep and Their Wool: Treasures We Can’t Afford to Lose"
June 25, 2022 — Skirting, washing, and dyeing fleeces
July 2022 — No meeting
August 27, 2022 — Informal outdoor spin-in at Graue Mill and Museum
September 24, 2022 — Spindle program by Straddle Creek Spins
October 22, 2022 — Annual planning meeting and potluck lunch
November 19, 2022 — Show and Tell, with annual prize drawing from skeins and finished items shown at this meeting
December 2022 — No meeting

2021

January 23, 2021 — Dryer balls and felted soap. Program leader: Sue Gibson.
February 27, 2021 — Lincoln sheep and fleece. Program leader: Sarah Taylor.
March 27, 2021 — Project tracking and recordkeeping. Program leader: Jane Plass
April 24, 2021 — Introduction to flax. Program leaders: Tom and Joanne Blodgett.
May 22, 2021 — Dyeing fiber. Program leader: Heavenly Bresser.
June 2021 — No meeting
July 2021 — No meeting
August 28, 2021 — Dyeing from your garden: marigolds and more. Sharing session.
September 25, 2021 — Combing. Program leader: Tom Blodgett.
October 23, 2021 — Annual planning meeting.
November 20, 2021 — Big show and tell, especially focusing on the new ideas, different techniques, and tools we discovered this year.
December 2021 — No meeting

2020

January 25, 2020 — Falkland sheep breed study. Program leader: Sue Gibson. Also sharing results of Sue Gibson’s bird study challenge.
February 22, 2020 — Simple weaving. Program leader: Mickey Anderson.
March 28, 2020 — Meeting canceled due to COVID-19 outbreak.
April 25, 2020 — Show and tell session. Moderator: Jane Plass.
May 16, 2020 — Spinners' chat. Moderator: Jane Plass.
June 27, 2020 — Exotic luxury fibers: qiviut and more. Program leader: Jeanne DeVore.
July 2020 — No meeting
August 21-23, 2020 — Retreat at Camp Emmaus. Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
August 22, 2020 — Cotton spinning. Program leader: Floya Hawkins.
September 26, 2020 — Spindle sharing session: favorite spindles and spindle makers. Tips and spindle sources summary
October 24, 2020 — Annual planning meeting
November 21, 2020 — Kiwicraft and Perendale fleece. Program leaders: Mickey Anderson and Heavenly Bresser.
December 2020 — No meeting

2019

January 26 — What to do with handspun: projects large and small. Program leader: Sue Gibson. Show and Tell with emphasis on results of Mickey Anderson’s mitten challenge.
February 23 — The business of fiber. Program leaders: Heavenly Bresser and Chuck Holtzen.
March 23 — Shepherds’ market and open spin.
April 27 — Simple weaving. Program leaders: Mickey Anderson, Jeanne DeVore, and Bonnie Torres.
May 17–19 — Retreat at Camp Emmaus. The Saturday program was a field trip to Floya Hawkins’ place to see sheep and her walking wheel.
June 22 — Fiber equipment display/discussion and open spin.
July — No meeting
August 17 and 24 — Indigo dye sessions at The Fold in Marengo (rescheduled from 2018).
September 28 — Breed studies with appropriate fiber prep. Valais Blacknose sheep and combing; program leader: Mickey Anderson. Hog Island sheep and carding; program leader: Bonnie Torres.
October 26 — Planning meeting/potluck lunch.
November 23 — Drafting techniques. Program leader: Jane Plass
December — No meeting

2018

January 27 — Processing alpaca. Program leader: Heavenly Bresser. Plus wrap-up for 2017 Show and Tell and the Fiber, Your Way challenge.
February 24 — Fiber swap.
March 24 — Breed study: Gulf Coast Native. Program leader: Sue Gibson.
April 28 — Optical color blending for fiber artists. Program leader: Sherry Johnson. Plus gardeners' exchange of dye and fiber seeds and plants.
May 18–20 — Annual retreat at Camp Emmaus in Mt. Morris, IL. Organizer: Sherry Johnson.
June 23 — Evaluating fleeces. Instructor: Holin Kennen from The Dancing Lamb.
July — No meeting
August 25— Indigo dyeing at The Fold (3316 Millstream Rd, Marengo, IL 60152). Instructor: Toni Neil. (Rescheduled to August 2019)
September 22 — Sari silk spinning. Program leader: Jeanne DeVore.
October 27 — Annual planning meeting and potluck lunch.
November 17— Fractal spinning. Program leader: Heavenly Bresser.
December—No meeting

2017

January 28 — Fiber inspiration. Program leader: Julie Guise.
February 18 — Unusual fibers. Program leader: Sue Gibson.
March 25 — Mixing dye colors. Program leader: Mickey Anderson.
April 28–30 — Annual retreat at Camp Emmaus in Mt. Morris, IL. Organizer: Sherry Johnson.
May 20 — Kool-Aid dyeing. Program leader: Jeanne DeVore.
June 24 — Silk workshop. Instructor: Esther Peregrine. You can see some of Esther's work on her Facebook page and in her Etsy shop.
July — No meeting
August — No meeting
September 30 — Nerve endings: using bits and pieces that get on your nerves. Program leaders: Julie Guise and Jeanne DeVore.
October 28 — Annual planning meeting and potluck lunch.
November 18 — Polymer clay to make buttons, handles for spinning hooks, etc. Program leader: Heavenly Bresser.
December — No meeting

2016

January 23 — Choosing a used wheel, plus a round robin so that we could try various wheels. Program leader: Sue Gibson.
February 27 — How to spin a braid, plus blending with a board. Program leader: Isis Perez.
March 19 — Breed study: Columbia fleece. Program leader: Mickey Anderson.
April 23 — Solving spinning challenges. A sharing session.
May 21 — Field trip to Old World Wisconsin. Organizer: Pat Lamesch.
June 3–5 — Annual retreat at Camp Emmaus in Mt. Morris, IL. Organizer: Sherry Johnson.
June 11 — Spin to weave. Instructor: Heather Winslow.
July — No meeting
August 20 — "A Fleece for Every Project." Instructor: Holin Kennen from The Dancing Lamb.
September 24 — Rug hooking with yarn. Program leader: Viola Manning.
October 29 — Annual planning meeting and potluck lunch.
November 19 — Hairpin lace. Program leader: Mary Wells.
December — No meeting

2015

January 24 — Carding. Program leader: Mickey Anderson.
February 28 — Blending for color. Program leader: Jeanne DeVore.
March 28 — Combing. Program leader: Jane Plass.
April 24–26 — Annual spring retreat at Camp Emmaus in Mt. Morris, IL.
April 25 — Scrap challenge. Program leader: Sherry Johnson. Held at Camp Emmaus in Mt. Morris, IL during our spring retreat.
May 16 — Round robin wheel maintenance. Program leader: Annette Stock.
June 27 — Dye day. Program leaders: Mickey Anderson and Pat Lamesch.
July — No meeting
August — No meeting
September 26 — Drop spindles. Program leader: Vi Manning.
October 24 — Annual planning meeting/potluck lunch/Show & Tell prize drawing.
November 21 — Canceled due to snowstorm.
December — No meeting

2014

January 25 — Millspun vs. handspun yarn. Decoding millspun yarns and spin a matching handspun yarn. Program leader: Patsy Zawistoski.
February 22 — Yak down. Program leader: Mickey Anderson.
March 22 — All-day workshop by Carol Rhoades. Spinning Shetland wool for Fair Isle and lace knitting.
April 11–13 — Annual spring retreat at Camp Emmaus in Mt. Morris, IL.
April 12 — Box loom weaving. Program leader: Mickey Anderson. Held at Camp Emmaus in Mt. Morris, IL during our spring retreat.
May 17 — Shepherd's market. Program leader: Jeanne DeVore.
June 28 — Discussion topic: choosing a fleece. Bring your current spinning or other project.
July — No meeting
August — No meeting
September 27 — Spinning dyed fiber from the June workshop. Program leader: Jeanne DeVore.
October 25 — Annual planning meeting/potluck lunch.
November 15 — Art yarn workshop with Natasha Lehrer of Esther's Place.
December — No meeting

2013

January 26 — Just Spin It! Program leader: Janet Calkins.
February 16 — Needle felting and a 3D project. Program leader: Maggie Wuts.
March 23 — Sit and spin.
April 26 — Annual spring retreat at Camp Emmaus.
April 27 — Plying. Program leader: Jeanne DeVore.
May 18 — Blocking and finishing techniques. Program leader: Cindy Bennish.
June — No meeting
July — No meeting
August 24 — Spinning suri llama. Program leader: Mickey Anderson.
September 28 — Flax. Program leader: Patsy Zawistoski.
October 19 — Using roving and sliver. Program leader: Pat Lamesch.
November 16 — Annual planning meeting/potluck lunch/Show & Tell prize drawing.
December — No meeting

2012

January 28 — Landscape needle felting. Program leader: Julie Guise.
February 25 — Spinning painted rovings. Program leader: Patsy Zawistoski.
March 24 — Inclusion yarns. Program leader: Jeanne DeVore.
April 28 — Jacob breed study. Program leader: Pat Lamesch.
May 18–20 — Annual spring retreat at Camp Emmaus in Mt. Morris, IL.
May 19 — Silk. Program leader: Mickey Anderson.
June 23 — Indigo dyeing. Program leader: Dolores Kettman.
July — No meeting
August — No meeting
September 22 — Spinning history, part three. Program leader: Wendy Shearer.
October 27 — Annual planning meeting/potluck lunch.
November 17 — Spinning cotton. Program leader: Vi Manning.
December — No meeting

2011

January 22 — Using your yarns: a look at the creative process. Program leader: Patsy Zawistoski.
February 26 — Spinning with plastic and more. Program leader: Maggie Kruser.
March 26 — Whole brain spinning/cognitive creativity. Program leader: Sherry Johnson.
April 23 — Full-day wool workshop with Stefania Isaacson.
April 29–May 1 — Annual spring retreat at Camp Emmaus in Mt. Morris, IL.
May 21 — All about socks. Program leader: Mickey Anderson.
June 25 — Heathers and tweeds. Program leader: Janet Calkins.
July — No meeting
August — No meeting
September 24 — From spindle to wheel: more on spinning history. Program leader: Wendy Shearer.
October 22 — Annual planning meeting/potluck lunch/Show & Tell prize drawing.
November 19 — Portuguese knitting. Program leader: Sherry Johnson.
December — No meeting

2010

January 23 — Fiber potpourri: 2009 fiber swap wrap-up; painted wool discussion; additional planning for 2010; open spin. Program leaders: Mary Coen, Julie Guise, Marcie Reid, and Kathy Thomas.
February 27 — Spinning thick yarns. Program leader: Patsy Zawistoski.
March 27 — Blending and carding. Program leader: Sherry Johnson.
April 24 — Bamboo, blends, and beyond. Program leader: Rose Fisk.
May 21-23 — Spring retreat at Reynoldswood Christian Camp and Retreat Center in Dixon, IL.
May 22 — Meeting at the Reynoldswood Christian Camp and Retreat Center in Dixon, IL.
June 26 — Natural dye workshop with Dagmar Klos at the Fine Line Creative Arts Center in St. Charles, IL.
July — No meeting
August — No meeting
September 25 — Spindle spinning and chain plying, with a discussion of the history of spinning. Program leader: Wendy Shearer.
October 23 — Annual planning meeting/potluck lunch/Show & Tell prize drawing.
November 20 — Troubleshooting and fixing mistakes. Program leader: Mary Coen.
December — No meeting

2009

January 31 — Pygora spinning and project kick-off. Program leaders: Rose Fisk, Julie Guise, and Sherry Johnson.
February 28 — Spinner's web. An introduction to spinning and other textile sites on the Internet. Leader: Mickey Anderson.
March 28 — Plying old & new yarns. Program leader: Patsy Zawistoski.
April 25 — Spinning clinic. Coordinator: Jane Plass.
May 1-3 — Retreat at Royer Lodge, Byron Center, Brownsville, Wisconsin.
June 20 — Field trip to Old World Wisconsin, an outdoor museum of rural Wisconsin life in the 19th century. Coordinator: Pat Lamesch.
July — No meeting
August 22 — Spinning and knitting silk hankies. Leader: Mickey Anderson.
September 26 — Spinning your yarn in new directions: playing with the connection between fiber, yarn, and technique. Workshop by Carol H. Rhoades.
October 24 — Project wrap-up.
November 14 — Annual planning meeting/potluck lunch/Show & Tell prize drawing.
December — No meeting

2008

January 26 — Blending long and short fibers. Program leader: Rose Fisk.
February 23 — Spinning for weaving. Program leader: Patsy Zawistoski.
March 29 — Australian locker hooking. Program leaders: Nadia McAndrew and Pat Lamesch.
April 26 — Linen: fiber to fabric. Instructor: Sara von Tresckow.
May 2-4 — Retreat at Royer Lodge, Byron Center, Brownsville, Wisconsin.
May 31 — Spinning to crimp. Program leader: Sherry Johnson.
June 28 — Dye workshop. Program leaders: Cathy Rathke and Mickey Anderson.
July — No meeting
August — No meeting
September 27 — Coiled basket. Program leader: Nadia McAndrew.
October 25 — Spinning off a point: great wheel and charka spinning. Program leader: Pat Lamesch.
November 15 — Annual planning meeting/potluck lunch/Show & Tell prize drawing.
December — No meeting

2007

January 27 — Knit weaving. Program leaders: Julie Guise and Diane Rodenbostel. Carol Cassidy-Fayer also talked to the guild about the Midwest Fiber & Folk Art Fair on July 20-22, 2007.
February 24 — Charcoal bamboo (Black Diamond) and other new fibers. Program leader: Patsy Zawistoski.
March 17 — Silk. Program leader: Nadia McAndrew. Nadia covered historical aspects, types of silk, spinning, dyeing, and blending.
April 14 — "Sit and spin" meeting in Chana, Illinois after Floya Hawkins' annual wool sale.
May 4-6 — Retreat at Royer Lodge, Byron Center, Brownsville, Wisconsin.
June 23 — Dye workshop. Program leader: Cathy Rathke.
July 28 — Stained glass felted sweater vest. Instructor: Mary Sue Fenner.
August 25 — No meeting
September 22 — Combining colors. Program leader: Isis Perez.
October 27 — Fiber blending "sit and spin" meeting.
November 10 — Annual planning meeting, potluck, and Show and Tell prize drawing.
December — No meeting

2006

January 28 — Spinning thick yarns. Program leader: Patsy Zawistoski.
February 25 — Needlefelting an optically blended color wheel flower on a tote bag. Program leader: Sherry Johnson.
March 25 — Felting on silk. Program leader: Laurie Pontarelli.
April 15 — "Sit and spin" meeting in Chana, Illinois after Floya Hawkins' wool sale.
May 5-7 — Retreat at Byron Center in Brownsville, Wisconsin.
June 24 — Dyeing with freeze-dried natural indigo. Program leader: Cathy Rathke.
July — No meeting
August 26 — Beads and bumps (bouclé and knot yarns). Program leader: Jane Plass.
September 23 — Dog down & bunny fluff: basic blending and beyond. Program leader: Rose Fisk.
October 28 — Handspindles. Program leader: Viola Manning.
November 11 — Annual planning meeting, potluck, and Show and Tell prize drawing.
December — No meeting

2005

January 22 — Patsy Zawistoski's video Spinning and Plying Textured Yarns
February 26 — Stephania Isaacson on her HGA Certificate of Excellence in Handspinning
March 26 — New fibers: soy silk, bamboo, Ingeo, Optim
April 23 — Plying novelty yarns
May 13-15 — Retreat at Byron Center in Brownsville, Wisconsin
June 25-26 — Drum carding/combing workshop
July — No meeting
August 27 — Choosing and spinning the right wool for your project
September 24 — Alpaca
October 22 — Fulling
November 12 — Annual planning meeting, potluck, and Show and Tell prize drawing
December — No meeting

2004

January 24 — Soap making and a potluck lunch
February 28 — Cotton spinning
March 27 — Designing for the yarn you've made
April 16-18 — Spinning retreat at Royer Lodge at Byron Center in Wisconsin
May 22 — Flat needle felting
June 26 — Dealing with your "dogs." Weavers talk about "dogs on the loom," meaning projects that just aren't going well. Problem-solving meeting for help from the group
July — No meeting
August 14 — Dyeing variegated mohair roving. A repeat of the 2003 workshop due to its popularity
September 25 — Fiber study with Black Welsh Mountain and Blue-Faced Leicester fleece
October 23 — Rug hooking with handspun yarns
November 14 — Planning meeting, Show and Tell prize drawing, and snacks to share
December — No meeting

2003

January 25 — Spinning to the fiber
February 22 — Handspindle try-out. Instructions and materials for making CD-ROM spindles were also available
March 22 — Spinning and knitting singles
April — No meeting
May 2-4 — Spring spinning retreat at Royer Lodge at Byron Center in Brownsville, Wisconsin
May 31 — Mohair
June — No meeting
July — No meeting
August 23 — Dyeing variegated mohair roving
September 27 — Icelandic wool
October 25 — Program planning and potluck lunch
November 22 — Unusual fibers
December — No meeting