CNCH » Treadles To Threads

Celebrate Spinning Locally

Vilija — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 02:49:41 +0000

Treadles to Threads Spinners invite you to a Spinning Day on the Farm

October 8, 10 am to 2 pm

Forest Home Farms Historic Park, 19953 San Ramon Valley Blvd. San Ramon

[just north of the Alcosta Blvd. exit off HWY 680]

Forest Home Farms is holding a special event on Saturday, Oct. 8th. There will be free admission to tours and free tractor rides. Treadles will be there demonstrating spinning to the general public, and invites you bring your wheel and spin along for a few hours. Hopefully the weather will be great for this relaxing out-door event. Bring a lunch and spend the day celebrating Spinning & Weaving Week. Don’t come if its raining! The poster above is courtesy of the Handweavers Guild of America. You can get a copy on their website.

Fourteenth Annual “Spinning at the Winery”

Vilija — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 00:33:50 +0000

presented by Treadles to Threads Spinners Guild

In Spring, our spinner’s Guild’s fancy turns to “Spinning at the Winery” This June 4th will be the 14th annual gathering of spinners and fiber growers at Retzlaff Winery in Livermore. The lovely winery grounds and the estate produced, organic wine at the winery are enough of a draw to bring people to the Livermore wine country. Add in some very enthusiastic fiber lovers, a few vendors who bring their very best and what is usually a gorgeous day, and you have an event that you should not miss.

Friends gather in circles on the Winery’s grassy yard to sit and spin, chat and dine. New comers and those who have never before seen hand spinning, are invited to join in and give it a “whorl”. Knitters and weavers are encouraged to come and learn to make their own yarn. Those who do, find out what a relaxing activity spinning can be.

There are great fleeces to be bought here. Vendors are by invitation only, and Treadles tries to feature California Growers and producers. Two of our original shepherdesses from fourteen years ago are still coming with their prize winning fleeces from their pampered sheep. Other growers bring alpaca, mohair and cashmere. Carolina Homespun with lots of fiber related items and Morro Fleece Works, a fleece processing mill, also join the list. All you need do is pick out a top quality fleece, carry it over to Morro Fleece Works, and you later get a beautiful, clean and carded fleece back. What could be more ideal?

Come and join us, everyone is invited. Bring a wheel or your knitting and a potluck dish to share for lunch.

June 4, 2011
Retzlaff Winery, 1356 Livermore Ave, Livermore
10 AM – 4 PM
$5 entry per person

Treadles to Threads Spinners Guild

Vilija — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 04:26:49 +0000

Monthly Meetings: Aug. – Nov ,and Jan. – May, Generally on the last Wednesday of the month at 7:30 PM. Check our blog: www.treadles2threads.blogspot.com

Location: Thurman Casey Library [Contra Costa Library, Ygnacio Valley Branch], 2661 Oak Grove Rd. Walnut Creek. To the left as you enter the parking lot, around the side and to the back.

This is an active Guild that welcomes new spinners or those still wanting to learn to spin. In addition to the monthly meetings, we meet EVERY Monday afternoon at members homes for spinning and tea. This is a great time to ask questions and learn to spin. Please contact pemurdock for Monday Spinners information.

June Activity: Spinning At The Winery at the Retzlaff Winery, Livermore CA. 10 AM to 4 PM. An open to the public event featuring vendors who sell everything from freshly shorn fleeces to yarns, and everything else spinning related. Bring your wheel, or your knitting and a lunch dish to share for a big potluck. Spend the day. Generally the first Saturday in June, but check our newsletter for updated info: www.treadles2threads.blogspot.com

July. Dye Day. Check the newsletter for info.

Newsletter posted at: www.treadles2threads.blogspot.com

Treadles to Threads Honors Will and Kate Taylor

Vilija — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 01:13:21 +0000

Will and Kate Taylor have been in the “driver’s seat” of Treadles to Threads Spinners Guild for so many years, no one can remember the exact date they began! Under their guidance, the already active guild has explored quite a few new avenues of growth. Will and Kate helped establish a “yearly focus” in which we pick a topic and gear our meetings for the whole year towards that year’s focus. All members are eventually involved and we will continue this inspirational approach until we run out of ideas–never!

They have helped guide us toward being more of an outreach guild. Treadles participates in several community and school activities during the year. Will is always reminding us, “Where will tomorrow’s spinners and weavers come from if the young people are not exposed to it?”

Kate, who began with us as an amazing spinner and knitter, has [under duress] taken up weaving and has become an equally amazing weaver. There is nothing these two gracious people can’t do if they put their mind to it. They decided to take a break and retire from leading the group this year, but of course, continue to be active and give lots of support to Treadles.

Members Linnie Altman and Janet Russell came up with a grand plan to honor Will and Kate. Handspun, natural colored and hand dyed yarns were collected from every single member of the guild. Yarn was even donated from three past member’s families, members who had passed away in the last few years. Linnie and Janet wove up a beautiful afghan, which you can see below, to show our appreciation of all their hard work. After months of keeping it all a secret, we were finally able to present it to Will and Kate at Threadles’ annual Christmas party.

Will and Kate with their new handspun afghan