Events

Throughout 2005, Burr House weavers were busy preparing fabric samples for seasonal jackets for The Bulletin of The Canadian Guild of Weavers. We had to plan and weave fabric, which was then cut into small samples, one of which was attached to a page of each quarterly issue. Our spring jacket sample was done in M’s and O’s Monks Belt in cotton warp and rayon chenille weft. The lightweight summer sample was woven in plain weave with cotton strips, a la rag rugs. The warp for the fall jacket was wool singles in various colours, woven in a rose path pattern using doubled singles for weft. Our final sample, for a winter jacket, was woven in a wool plaid and then felted. The whole experience was fun, interesting, and at times slightly stressful as deadlines approached. We were fortunate to have experienced weavers Joan Colnett and Jo-ann Rootham directing the project.

For the past four years, Burr House Weavers and Spinners have joined other teams from guilds in southern Ontario in the Sheep to Shawl competition at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in November. It is held annually on the last day of the Fair, a Sunday. Each team of six makes its way to the CNE grounds with spinning wheels, carders, loom and items for a required display. Prize-winning unwashed fleece is provided and the teams have 3 ½ hours to card, spin, ply and weave the fleece into a finished shawl of a required length. The shawls are then judged for quality of spinning and weaving and are later auctioned off. Each team shows a lot of enthusiasm, skill, speed and cooperation in producing some lovely and varied shawls. Burr House Spinners and Weavers had their best showing with a 2nd place finish in 2005.