September Meeting

 

The monthly meeting will be held on Saturday the 19th at the normal location (Birchwood Community Center, 5623 TN-60, Birchwood, TN 37308) beginning at 10:00 am with social time; business to begin at 10:30 am.  

The program will be the reveal of the 2026 guild challenge.  Candy will be leading this.  Bring along your finished, semi-finished, never got off the drawing board, or other, projects.

And do not forget to bring your "Show & Share" items for inspiration and motivation!

Shopping at R&M Yarns is not available on this day as Phyllis will be away at the Copper Fox demonstration

August Meeting

The monthly meeting will be held on Saturday the 15th at the normal location (Birchwood Community Center, 5623 TN-60, Birchwood, TN 37308) beginning at 10:00 am with social time; business to begin at 10:30 am.  

The program will be Dorset Buttons, led by Rebecca Heid.  Please contact Paula via email to confirm attendance (cost $15).

And do not forget to bring your "Show & Share" items for inspiration and motivation!

**If you are interested in shopping at R&M before the start of the meeting, email Phyllis or text 423 284 8209 by Friday at the latest**

 

July's Program was Great!

Today's program given by Carla was very informative.  We learned the 3 basic methods of warping a rigid heddle loom but focused on the "Hybrid" method using a small warping board.  Using the warping board eliminates the need to walk back and forth for a long warp as in the "one-peg" method.

Carla is demonstrating the "Hybrid" warping method below using her 16" Ashford RH loom and a 4.5-yard Schacht warping board.  (She found having a 2nd set of hands was very helpful!)

  

  

July Meeting (Ammended)

The July 18th meeting will be held at the normal location (Birchwood Community Center, 5623 TN-60, Birchwood, TN 37308) beginning at 10:00 am with social time; business to begin at 10:30 am.  

Carla will be leading the Program: Hybrid Warping on a Rigid Heddle Loom  

And do not forget to bring your "Show & Share" items for inspiration and motivation!

**If you are interested in shopping at R&M before the start of the meeting, email Phyllis by Friday at the latest**

 

June Meeting

The June 20th meeting will be held at the normal location (Birchwood Community Center, 5623 TN-60, Birchwood, TN 37308) beginning at 10:00 am with social time; business to begin at 10:30 am.  

Phyllis will be leading the Program:  How to Substitute Yarns in a Pattern.  If you have a project that you'd like to have converted, bring that and we'll tackle it during the program!

And do not forget to bring your "Show & Share" items for inspiration and motivation!

**R&M Yarns will be open 9:15 to 9:45 am Saturday morning for your shopping needs!**

No May Meeting

 Just a reminder that there is no meeting in the May month as a lot of us were busy at the Birchwood Fiber Festival.  Thanks to all the volunteers who made it another great success.

April 18 SVH Meeting

 

The April 18th meeting will be held at the normal location (Birchwood Community Center - 5623 TN-60, Birchwood, TN 37308).  As we are having a longer program, the formal meeting will start at 10 and be a short one.

R&M Yarns will be open 9:15 to 9:45 for your shopping pleasure and there just might be some new yarns in (4/2 and 8/2)

The program is Basket Weaving which required pre-registering.  Those participating should bring lunch and drinks.

 After a quick business meeting we transitioned to the workshop.  Candee had everything set up for the seven students and got straight into the beginners class for fiber based yarns.  

Every student had multiple skeins and Candee mixed colors to order once we got to the practical part.

More photo's can be seen on the SVH FB page and SVH work in progress FB page
 

March 2026 Guild Meeting

 

The March 21st meeting will be held at the normal location (Birchwood Community Center - 5623 TN-60, Birchwood, TN 37308).  As we are having a longer program, the formal meeting will start at 10 and be a short one.

R&M will be open from 9.15 to 9.45 for purchases.  

The program is a Dye Workshop by Candee.  It required being signed up and paid by 7 March for participation.

February Wrap

 A great meeting with 10 in attendance. Candy kicked off the 2026 Guild Challenge.  Every participant drew 4 'categories' to guide them in creating something.  They were options for Fiber, Color, Weave Structure, and Finishing Technique.

My own 'picks'

 Please note a couple of changes to upcoming meetings.  Both March and April will have a brief business meeting starting at 10 followed by the program for the month (Dyeing - March and Basket Weaving - April) - read the minutes for more information.

Starting in June we will be changing to 30 minutes of 'crafting'  beginning at 10 then the meeting, etc.  This is to wind up our meetings a little earlier.  Don't forget the crafting section is a) for any form of crafting and b) not compulsory.  

February Meeting

 

The February 21st meeting will be held at the normal location (Birchwood Community Center - 5623 TN-60, Birchwood, TN 37308), beginning at 10 am for individual projects and social time; business meeting and program begins at 11 am.

 R&M will be open from 9.30 to 10 for purchases.  Note there is currently a huge stock of colored 2/65 rug wool that has not yet been posted on the web.

The 2026 Guild Challenge will be announced by the chair, Candy. It’s going to be a fun one!

January Wrap...

 We met at R&M Yarns (there was a date clash at our normal venue) and had a very interesting medical review hour along with crafting before the regular meeting started at 11.00am.  The minutes will be appearing here shortly and the photo's from the show and share are published but as I'm at the mountain house and my notes are at home on the kitchen table the comments will have to wait until the end of the month.

The Guild Challenge (by Candy) will be launched next month and the program for the year is nearly ready for publishing once a couple of programs are confirmed.  Watch the blogspot for updates.

January Meeting

 

The January meeting will be held on the 17th at R & M Yarns in Georgetown (8510 Highway 60, Georgetown, Tennessee 37336). The Birchwood Community Center is hosting their annual Crane Festival so our normal meeting room is unavailable.

 

R&M Yarns will be open a little earlier (9.30) for any 'New Year Yarn purchases'

 

Bring along something you are working on for the 'craft hour' from 10 - 11.  With the formal meeting starting at 11.  Show and Share follows then...

Our program for the month will be discussing programs for upcoming meetings, so please come with ideas for programs you would like to see.  As well, we will have a "swap & sell" so bring fiber and/or equipment you want to give away or sell.

November Wrap

 A small but vocal group assembled at the Birchwood Community Center and enjoyed vigorous debate on the merits of weaving on inkle looms!  The meeting was held and without a program this month the gathering wrapped up early.

This was the last official meeting for the year.  Next month (December) is the annual SVH Christmas party on the 13th at Steve's studio starting around 12pm.  Bring a plate of (preferably) finger food to share and any specialty drinks if you need something other than sodas and water, home brew beer and wine.  There will be a gift exchange.  If you want to participate, bring a wrapped gift (worth up to $20)and give it to Steve to put under the tree.  If you are unsure of the address or have any questions, email Steve

November Meeting

 

The November meeting will be held on Saturday the 15th at the normal (Birchwood Community Center - 5623 TN-60, Birchwood, TN 37308) venue starting at 10 am.   The room is our normal classroom (with the sink, etc.).

R&M Yarns will not be open this month.

The first hour will be a free-form craft period. Bring a project to work on or just come along and observe/question other members on what they are doing. 

The formal meeting will begin at 11.

On completion of the formal meeting and show and share, the program this month is How to Make Dorset Buttons - led by Rebecca Heid of the Chattanooga Fiber Arts Guild (and a regular at the Birchwood Fiber Festival).  In the time allocated, participants should be able to complete, or nearly complete, a button.

October Wrap

 Another great meeting with a new member Mary bringing a whole bag of items for the Show and Share.  Photo's of them and others are now up on the Photos page.  The program was needle felting in a cookie cutter, led by Carla.  Everything was supplied and everyone (seasoned felters and complete newbies) had fun.

Carla Demonstrating

Close up

 

 

 

Some examples

There was almost no blood...

October Meeting

 

The October meeting will be held on Saturday the 18th at the normal (Birchwood Community Center - 5623 TN-60, Birchwood, TN 37308) venue starting at 10 am.   The room is our normal classroom (with the sink, etc.).

R&M Yarns will be open from 9:15 to 9:45 am prior to the meeting, but only if you notify Phyllis 24 hours in advance.

The first hour will be a free-form craft period. Bring a project to work on or just come along and observe/question other members on what they are doing. 

The formal meeting will begin at 11.

Members are reminded that your annual dues are payable at the October meeting.

On completion of the formal meeting and show and share, the program this month is Needle Felting by Carla.  Everything is supplied, but if you have your own foam for felting on, feel free to bring it.

September Meeting Wrap

 Thanks everyone for attending (including an 'unsinkable' friend who we shan't mention in case we fall foul of a Birchwood policy!) and bringing along and discussing some wonderful work.  The prize goes to Nancy's 'wrapped sheep' project.  Photo's are now up from Show and Share (in Pictures) and the 2025 Challenge Reveal (in Guild Challenge) 

October announcement to follow idc.

 

September Meeting

 

The September meeting will be held on Saturday the 20th at the normal (Birchwood Community Center - 5623 TN-60, Birchwood, TN 37308) venue starting at 10 am.   The room is our normal classroom (with the sink, etc.).

R&M Yarns will be open from 9:15 to 9:45 am prior to the meeting.  Note there are a number of new 8/2 cones (not yet on the web) available

The first hour will be a free-form craft period. Bring a project to work on or just come along and observe/question other members on what they are doing. 

The formal meeting will begin at 11.

On completion of the formal meeting and show and share the program this month is the SVH 2025 Challenge reveal.  Everyone who is still participating should bring along their finished, nearly finished, still in planning, whatever - project as taken from the old magazine you picked at the beginning of the year.  Bring the magazine, of course, and be ready to step through your process of adapting the original to your version.  Any pitfalls, snags, successful changes will be of interest to all.

 

August Meeting

 

The August meeting will be held on Saturday the 16th at the normal (Birchwood Community Center - 5623 TN-60, Birchwood, TN 37308) venue starting at 10 am.   The room is our normal classroom (with the sink, etc.).

R&M Yarns will be open from 9:15 to 9:45 am prior to the meeting.

The first hour will be a free-form craft period. Bring a project to work on or just come along and observe/question other members on what they are doing. 

The formal meeting will begin at 11.

On completion of the formal meeting and show and share there will be a demonstration of indigo dyeing by Steve.  If you want to participate in this i.e. try your hand at the actual immersion process you will need to be in old clothes and have long rubber gloves.  There will be a hand-out describing the steps and everybody can take away an indigo-dyed skein (120 yards of Jagger Spun 4/10 next to the skin wool). You will need to bring a large zip lock bag as the skeins will still be damp from the rinse process.