Interest Group Project!

Greeting unto the FIG from your new Group Head,
I have taken on the role of Group Head from Lady Melisende, who did an admiral job of getting us started! We gave already done much to make our populace and rulers proud!
As we all know February will make our elevation to Principality status and our first Prince and Princess will be chosen! I would ask that all interest group members join me in commemorating this ilkustrius event by making a contribution to a largesse basket. I would like all Group Members attending Corinet to take part in giving this largesse to Thwur Royal Highnesses, whomever that might be! please consider making something, even something very small, to help commemorate this momentous event! you can gift something that could be used personally by THes or something that could be passed on to other deserving individuals during their reign. I only ask that if you intend to add to the permanent regalia that you let me know first!
Namaste,
Jahanara

Scottish wool brokers now selling online

Greetings cousins from Genevieve,
The Shetland Wool Brokers Jamieson & Smith have upgraded their website to incorporate online shopping! Until recently, you had to phone or send them a cheque.

This is a great step forward for them, but potentially dangerous for your credit cards.

From their website: http://www.shetlandwoolbrokers.co.uk/

"Located in Lerwick, the capital town of the Shetland Islands, Jamieson & Smith, are long established as the islands primary purchaser of the Shetland Wool clip. We annually purchase the raw fleece from over 700 local crofters and farmers.
"A 2009 trading standards investigation into all of the major raw wool purchasers of Shetland revealed that we do, in fact, purchase over 80% of the wool produced in Shetland."

and...

"THE SHETLAND is the smallest of the British breeds, found mostly in the Shetland Islands. It is believed to be of Scandinavian origin, most probably brought to these shores by the Vikings, who settled here over a thousand years ago. They may have inter-bred with primitive sheep already in the islands. This cannot be proved, but they retain many characteristics of the wild sheep. "

If you want Shetland wool for knitting projects, or shetland tops for spinning or dyeing, these are the folk to contact.

They sell a sample card for £5, very useful for identifying their colour range, and the ply of different ranges.

Most of their spun yarn is intended for knitting; I don't know how well it would serve for weaving.

A Warping Good Time-Weaving Weekend

You are invited to the "A Warping Good Time" for a 2-day intensive LoomWarping Workshop! We will begin, Friday evening, with a basic discussion of weaving including the different weaving methods and when and whereeach was used. I would like everyone to share the history behind theirfavorite weaving technique, or ask questions about techniques thatinterest them. Followed by a hands-on sessions on Saturday during whichyou will focus on the basic warping techniques. Attendees are welcometo bring looms that need warping. I also have several table looms(18-24" weaving width) that can be warped for a variety of weaves.These are student looms are available for those without looms. We willalso hold evening discussions regarding weaving/warping techniques andyou'll have the opportunity to ask your fellow weavers questions. Forthose who are brand new to weaving a Weaving Basics document will beprovided in advance to help you learn basic weaving vocabulary (pleaserequest this in your RSVP if you need it). This will allow us to getright to thehands on sessions!
When will this workshop take place you ask? 2-4 October
Proposed Schedule:
Friday Dinner and Weaving Discussion
Saturday
Project Planning
Project Implementation throughout the day.
Sunday- departures as necessary
Where? Hockwold, contact Jahanara for directions.
What should I bring? Yourself and any looms you need warped, or forwhich you need help and advice.
How many people can attend? Due to the nature of this workshop, there will be a 7 student limit. We have beds for 6, if people don't mind sharing the two double beds. We also have plenty of other crash space on couches. So please RSVP early to guarantee a bed!
Please RSVP by 20 Sept. 2009RSVP's should include the following informationApproximate Arrival TimePreferred Train Station (If traveling by train)/ Pick up arrangements.

A Warping Good Time 9-11 Oct

Hello fellow fibre junkies!
I'm gearing up for another weaving weekend, well this time warping. I'd like to host those who need help warping their looms. I'm wondering at this point, how many interested folks have the weekend of 9-11 October open?
Just let me know through a comment and I'll send out more details once the date is set!
Jahanara

Tapestry update

I've managed to get some time to work on weaving on my tapestry.
Here is the bottom half completed:















And here is my wyvern. I was not brave enough starting out to add any of the outlining, which is why the chevrons are not outlined. As I got further into the wyvern, I became more brave about outlines and added one and then another, and then most of hte ones that were somewhat horizontal. I still need to go back and add all the outlines that I skipped while weaving. I also need to weave another couple inches of yellow across the top to finish it off. Then it will be fixing some of the color joins where there is a slit in the tapestry at the moment (I really need to talk to Jahanara about that), and hemming the piece.
















I think I would choose a different kind of design for my next piece. These large chunks of solid color are boring and also meant that my edges pull in and the entire tapestry will be slightly hour glass shaped which I hope to fix by hemming the sides (which I shouldn't have to do) as well as the top and bottom.

From the Office of the ID MoAS

Greetings exhaulted artisans,

I apologize for the late nature of this notice and hope it reaches you all in time. This year at Raglan Fair we will again have a tent dedicated to the Arts and Sciences. We will not have a formally judged competition, but there will be a populace choice. I would like to ask all artisans to bring items to display. I also ask that you bring items to work on with your bretheren! The tent will be available for crafting and socialising Thursday through Sunday. Please plan to display any items and to join your fellow artisans in companionship and productivity!
Please feel free to contact me to let me know you will be participating and with any questions!
YIS,
Jahanara, ID MOAS

Recent embroidery

Well I've got the axe and pile complete, now I just have to go round and round and round! I'm really pleased with how this one is turning out so far! The stitches are pretty even. I just hope I can keep my patience and keep them as even and small throughout the rest. I've decided to embroider the roundels on smaller bits and then sew them on seperately. This means that I can go ahead and put tthe hood together. This was the main impetus for this decision. The cashmere hood I embroidered for Odo is rarely worn, because it's too warm 90% of the time. The linen counterpart should not have this issue!

What is everyone else up to?

Newsletter - Insulae Draconis Fibre Arts Interest Group - April 2009

Greetings to Everyone,

It was wonderful to see the high quality and variety of work on show during A&S Protectors and the Fibre Arts were very well represented by Lady Alyse’s hand-spun, hand-woven wool, THL Jahanara’s embroidered Hood, Baroness Mary’s embroidered sweet bag and of course the winner, Thamesreach’s very own Lord Peregrine Flamstead and his beautifully beaded and embroidered 14th century hat.

Vivat to Lord Peregrine and his great work!

IDFAIG Matters
In the previous newsletter, I asked for input regarding a possible shortening/changing of the IDFAIG’s name. It has been commented that the Insulae Draconis Fibre Arts interest group is a bit of a mouthful as far as names go. Whilst we still have to retain the ID portion of the name, how would members feel about changing the name to something a little less unwieldy? The ID MoAS has suggested “Academy” as in “ID Fibre Academy”. Do others have any suggestions? Are you happy with it as it is? All proposals happily received and the outcome will be decided by vote on the blog.

Please do have a think and let me know any ideas you may have on the matter.

Challenges:
Can I please ask people to contact me with ideas and offers to make prizes for the IDFAIG-sponsored A&S competition to be held at Raglan. There is still plenty of time at this stage and it would be nice to have items as prizes made by members of the group.

What are you making that will enhance our Crown Principality? The challenge to create Regalia for the Crown Principality is still out there!

Pennsic Basket:
Please don’t forget to contribute towards the Queen’s Pennic Basket.


Things to Look forward to in the coming months.
-MEDATS have published the details of their Spring Meeting scheduled for the 2nd May. The theme will be Henry VIII: The clothing and textiles of a European Renaissance Monarch. For more information, please visit their website: http://www.medats.org.uk/events.php


Yours in Service,

Melisende Fitzwalter
IDFAIG Group Leader

Newsletter - Insulae Draconis Fibre Arts Interest Group - March 2009

Greetings to Everyone,

I hope that by now everyone is hard at work on their entries for A&S protectors!

I have not had any comments on the wording for the announcement of the A&S competition at Raglan, sponsored by IDFAIG, so I will go ahead and send that to the Baelfyr. It would be nice to announce this at A&S Protectors too.

IDFAIG Matters
In the previous newsletter, I asked for input regarding a possible shortening/changing of the IDFAIG’s name. It has been commented that the Insulae Draconis Fibre Arts interest group is a bit of a mouthful as far as names go. Whilst we still have to retain the ID portion of the name, how would members feel about changing the name to something a little less unwieldy? The ID MoAS has suggested “Academy” as in “ID Fibre Academy”. Do others have any suggestions? Are you happy with it as it is? All proposals happily received and the outcome will be decided by vote on the blog.

Please do have a think and let me know any ideas you may have on the matter.

Member’s progress:
MoAS Jahanarabanu has reported fantastic progress on the new Viceregal cloaks. I was privileged to see the Kumihimo braids being made, and it was hypnotic to watch. The effect on the cloaks really enhances them and this is more fine regalia for ID. So I would ask everyone – what are you making that will enhance our Crown Principality? The challenge is still out there!

Lady Julian ferch Luned has provided some very useful resources on her webpage (www.bluedormouse.co.uk) regarding drop-spinning and her experiments with natural dyes. We look forward to seeing any more updates she may make in the future.

Baroness Siobhan’s Heraldic tapestry is also moving apace and is wonderful to see in the flesh. We look forward to seeing the finished product on display.

I have also heard through the grapevine that many others are also busy at work crafting skillful goodies. I encourage you to report your progress on the IDFAIG blog, so that others might admire and inspired to learn from your work.


Things to Look forward to in the coming months.

- The first ID University will be held at Protectors in the Spring. Don’t miss your chance to teach a class at this historic event. You all have a skill that you can teach others, so that by our combined effort, ID can retain its reputation for fine artisanship in the Fibre Arts.
- MEDATS have published the details of their Spring Meeting scheduled for the 2nd May. The theme will be Henry VIII: The clothing and textiles of a European Renaissance Monarch. For more information, please visit their website: http://www.medats.org.uk/events.php
- For those not already aware of this, The Costume Society aims to encourage access to costume history (not exclusive to the SCA period). They publish an annual Journal and a biannual newsletter for members. They also organize several symposiums and meetings on different topics. For information, their website is: http://www.costumesociety.org.uk/


Yours in Service,

Melisende Fitzwalter
IDFAIG Group Leader

Thank you Siubhan!

I really feel like I was weaving magic this weekend. I made time to do 4 hours of weaving and every moment was magic. Saturday I put on some Jack Johnson, made a cup of tea and went downstairs to get back to this long-term weaving project. I wove for about an hour before Rugy started! I sat at my new bench sang along to the tunes and mindlessly wove along, well partially there was a threading fix, but I hardly even remember that now!

Saturday Siubhan and company met us for Sunday Brunch at our favorite little sleepy cafe, then we came to my house to do a bit more weaving. Three more hours of pleasant much and conversation later I had 4 more inches than I had two days before, which is about 2 diamonds. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but I have a huge sense of accomplishment from this. I am now weaving about an inch an hour, which is lightening speed in my mind! I’m sure this will improve once, I’m done weaving about 90 inches! I was glad that I was self motivated on Saturday, but I spent a lot more time weaving with someone else to keep me company. It's always better to weave, or craft with friends.

I’ve started looking ahead to the final product, so I have plenty of time to make all the finishing decisions. As this will be a rectangular Anglo-Saxon cloak, which needs to be pined to stay held together, I’m thinking of putting leather tabs, with holes punched in them, to put the cloak pin through. The thought of a pin piercing this precious work just makes me cringe!

Namaste,

J:)

I've been able to make more progress on my weaving. I'm thrilled with how quickly this is going.

Tapestry weaving again

I've discovered the cause of the problem if not the way to solve it. The problem with the cartoon not matching happened when I advanced the warp. When I moved the warp back to the original position, the problem disappeared and all looked well. I just need to figure out how to advance the warp without that happening by either drawing the design on the warp or cutting and removing the paper after re-pinning that would get caught in the warp wrapped around the end of the loom. I think I may try that first as at this point I cannot draw the whole design on the warp as suggested by someone on my LJ. Drawing only the part I need right now may leave me with a problem later on. I've gone back to doing more weaving with the warp in its original position and will try re-pinning the cartoon to the weaving.

Tapestry weaving update

I've made more progress:
The problem I ran into today is that, since the pattern on the paper behind the weaving is not held close to the weaving, I must lift it near the weaving to decide where to fill with each colour. I discovered today that I must have been holding it weird for much of the left half as now some of the lines don't line up to what I've woven. This isn't really an issue with what I've done so far as I think it looks ok (I'm trying to ignore the not-straight lines), but I'm not sure how to continue. I can't just shift the lines over to the pattern as that would make the lines be crooked. I will have to try to either adjust the lines on the paper pattern or just try to keep the weaving a certain distance from the existing lines.
I think the difference was caused by lifting the paper from the side as I did on the left. I think on the right that I put my hand in under the front of the loom which made the paper lay flatter against the weaving. Since I had a bit of a rough day today, I felt it best to not mess with it tonight.

Completed Challenge!

I finished the second cloak! I put all the finishing touches on the second cloak this evening at A&S Night! I'm so pleased to have them done. Now I'm on to the other projects on my to do list! I can finally take something from the queue and put it on the actual to do list!

Cheers,
Jahanara

My IDFIG Challenge is almost complete!

by Jahanarabanu

I'm so excited, I have one completely finished ID Cloak! I've got the other one completely appliqued and pinned. I just have to complete the handsewing on the other one and my challenge items will be complete!
I'll be presenting them to TE Clancy and Ursula this weekend at Viceroy Tourney. I hope that everyone will take part in our first challenge. I look forward to seeing other completed challenge items.

Namste,
Jahanara

A new project

Following Jahanarabanu's excellent tapestry weaving workshop, I've decided to do my device in tapestry. This is a picture of my device painted just to show what it's supposed to look like.























This is what I had as of last night:


















It's not taking nearly as long to weave as I had feared. I now hope to get this finished by summer. I do go back to work in a couple months, so that may slow down my progress.

Newsletter - Insulae Draconis Fibre Arts Interest Group - February 2009

Greetings to Everyone,

Here’s hoping that everyone has been making snowmen rather than shivering in the cold!

Following the very interesting discussion on the matter of the Group sponsoring an entry-level A&S competition at Raglan, the event co-ordinators were very obliging as to allow us to organize this. Members of the group seemed to be largely in favour of this, so I will go ahead and have an announcement made at the coming Viceroy tournament and also put into the Baelfyr, text as follows:

“Are you a budding artisan? nervous of entering competitions? Feel in need of advice on how to improve your skill and knowledge?

At Raglan Fair this year, The Insulae Draconis Fibre Arts Interest Group will be sponsoring an A&S Competition. This will be an entry-level competition aimed at easing the new artisan into competing in the SCA, and to encourage talented people to show off their work thereby inspiring others to try it themselves. All categories of craft are acceptable and are not limited to the Fibre Arts, you may enter anything from Armour to a medieval Zodiac and anything in between.

The requirements are:
- Simple documentation illustrating details about the original, the methods/materials you used to make your piece and why you like it.
- A short email to the Group’s Leader on melisende1380@yahoo.co.uk to advise your intent to enter and what work you will be entering (to make sure that we have someone knowledgeable in that field to talk to you about it!
- A smile on the day!

More information will be published closer to the time.”

If you would like to suggest any changes to the above text, please email me by the 16th February at the very latest.


IDFAIG Matters
It has been commented that the Insulae Draconis Fibre Arts interest group is a bit of a mouthful as far as names go. Whilst we still have to retain the ID portion of the name, how would members feel about changing the name to something a little less unwieldy? The ID MoAS has suggested “Academy” as in “ID Fibre Academy”. Do others have any suggestions? Are you happy with it as it is? All proposals happily received and the outcome will be decided by vote on the blog.


Embroidery Challenge
As posted on the Drachenwald mailing list, the Dragon’s Needle Embroidery Guild have announced the start of their annual Embroidery Challenge. Anyone interested should go to the Guild’s blog for more details: http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com/
I would encouraged everyone to contribute towards this and make a good showing from members of Insulae Draconis


Queen’s Basket
Please remember to contribute to this year’s Queen’s Basket, if you can. Some more words from the co-ordinator Meisterinne Katheryn Hebenstreitz:

So you have made this wonderful thing that will be part of the Pennsic giftbasket.
But who will ever see the beautiful thing you made and will the recipient know who the artist was?
It is important that you include a note stating at least your SCA name and perhaps an e-mail address so that the Drachenwald Crown can thank you properly for your contribution and if you can – add some details about the materials and techniques used – some documentation is always very appreciated! Your e-mail address will also make it possible for the recieving Crown to send you a thank you note after they have gotten the fabulous Drachenwald giftbasket.

Also, if you make it to Double Wars or if you can send your contribution to the giftbasket with someone attending the event – your item will be put on the giftbasket display!
This is done so that we all will know what great things are being sent off to Pennsic and what skilled artisans this Kingdom has!

Thank you once again for answering this call for aid. Your work is very appreciated!

Meisterine Katheryn Hebenstreitz
Gift basket coordinator
amadejska @ gmail . com


Things to Look forward to in the coming months.

- The first ID University will be held at Protectors in the Spring. Don’t miss your chance to teach a class at this historic event. You all have a skill that you can teach others, so that by our combined effort, ID can retain its reputation for fine artisanship in the Fibre Arts.
- MEDATS have published the details of their Spring Meeting scheduled for the 2nd May. The theme will be Henry VIII: The clothing and textiles of a European Renaissance Monarch. For more information, please visit their website: http://www.medats.org.uk/events.php
- For those not already aware of this, The Costume Society aims to encourage access to costume history (not exclusive to the SCA period). They publish an annual Journal and a biannual newsletter for members. They also organize several symposiums and meetings on different topics. For information, their website is: http://www.costumesociety.org.uk/


Yours in Service,

Melisende Fitzwalter
IDFAIG Group Leader

My Challenge Progress

As you may remember, I have taken up our fearless leader's challenge. I decided to make some winter cloaks for Insulae Draconis. Several Viceregal couples had expressed a need for warmer cloaks, thus I saw this challenge as a way to meet that need.
I seem to have found some new steam on this project. I've been working on the ID Cloaks almost to the exclusion of everything else. I've actually got all the applique work done on one cloak. I still need to embroider the stem in on that one. I have the leaves pinned on the second cloak and hope to have the applique done on that tomorrow night. Then it's just a matter of the stems, lining and hemming! It feels nice to essential be down to just three more steps to go on one and four to go on the other!

Embroidery Question

Some of you will remember the hood project that I began several months ago. I have completed one roundel (of 8). I have the second roundel outlined on the hood itself.
I have finally gotten back to this project. I am finding the large frame that it is on to be very unweildly. I can work with it, as I have a very nice stand. However it is very cumbersome to move the stand in place and out of place when I want to get up. I also recently entered my 7th C Persian sleeves in the Kingdom A&S Competition. One of the comments I received recommended embroidering onto a separate piece of fabric and applying that fabric to the end product to help in placement of the embroidery. I know there is a lot of debate as to whether or not this was a medieval practice or is embroidery was taken off aging garments and then placed on new garments. I think either practice is reasonable. I am concerned about the placement of the roundels if I embroidery directly onto the hood now. As I will be spending literally hundreds of hours on this project, I think I would be absolutely heartbroken if the roundels did not look right on the final project. Then again I'm worried about how applying them as well. I worry how applied roundels might effect the way the hood lies and getting the edges finished well and sewing them on without showing the other fabric.

So I'm looking for advice and other's experience. What have you done in the past, for any kind of garment, what would you recommend?

Thanks for "listening",
Jahanara

Greetings to Everyone,

And a Happy to New Year to one and all. I hope that the holidays left you relaxed, content and excited to face a new year of events and crafting.

Many many Vivats to our new King and Queen Marcus and Cecilia who were crowned this past weekend and also to the newest Counties ThorvaldR and Fiona who gave wonderful service to our Kingdom during their reign.

I hope that many of you have taken the opportunity to work on those pesky projects that always lurk in the back of the craft cupboard for ages and ages. Do let us know what wonderful works you have on going. The blog is always a good place to give and get feedback.

Embroidery Challenge
As posted on the Drachenwald mailing list, the Dragon’s Needle Embroidery Guild have announced the start of their annual Embroidery Challenge. Anyone interested should go to the Guild’s blog for more details: http://dragonsembroiderers.blogspot.com/
I would encouraged everyone to contribute towards this and make a good showing from members of Insulae Draconis

Queen’s Basket
Please remember to contribute to this year’s Queen’s Basket, if you can. It need not be anything big, here follows the words of the co-ordinator Meisterinne Katheryn Hebenstreitz:
Pennsic is soon upon us! Even if you are not going – that is a concern for you.
Each year the Kingdom exchanges gifts with another Kingdom. (Yes, just one Kingdom, they have stopped exchanging with ALL Kingdoms.) And each year our King and Queen have to try to gather items for the giftbasket and each year there has been a struggle to get a respectable basket together.
The basket reflects upon the Kingdom – if we have a good basket our artisans will get a good reputation. And I think you can figure out what happens if we have a bad one...
I have sent out a call for items for baskets on several occasions and people have answered my call. But there is not only one gift basket – there is one coming up every single year – so the Kingdom is always in need of items!
And a lot of people think: Nah, someone else will answer this call. The result of that is that we get one or two small items – because everyone had the same thought....
So please – be the first one to say: I will do something!

So what can you do?
The items have the rule that they should be small, light and easy to transport since people have to take them in their weight limited luggage.
Here is a list of suggested items:
*needle books
*napkins/handkerchives
*belts
*blackwork ribbons to put on a shirt
*Book marks
*pouches
*coifs

So what motifs could be used?
We don't know what Kingdom we are exchanging gifts with and most likely we won't know until mid June.
The gifts need to be done by mid July.
So if you want to do something now here are a few suggestions:

Rose – the Queen will become or perhaps already is a member of the Order of the Rose.
Pelicans and Laurels – the King and Queen might be members of the orders or they might need things for elevations coming up.
Other than that – use your imagination and try to stay away from things that are obviously made for a certain Kingdom.
If you wish to wait and make something for them with the kingdom arms on – remember that everything with the Kingdom arms becomes part of the regalia! If you want them to be able to keep what you make, stick to populace badges.
I will announce what Kingdom we are exchanging gifts with on the Drachenwald mailing list as soon as I know.
If you have further questions please feel free to contact me at:
amadejska @ gmail . com


Things to Look forward to in the coming months.

-Tapestry-weaving weekend at the Newmarket home of the ID MoAS Jahanarabanu Vivana, on the 30th Jan – 1st February. This has a 7-student limit, so please contact her as early as possible to book your slot.
-The first ID University will be held at Protectors in the Spring. Don’t miss your chance to teach a class at this historic event. You all have a skill that you can teach others, so that by our combined effort, ID can retain its reputation for fine artisanship in the Fibre Arts.

I hope to see everyone soon.

Yours in Service,

Melisende Fitzwalter
IDFAIG Group Leader