The Journal for Weavers, Spinners and Dyers - Issue 293 Spring 2025
As the days lengthen and the sun gets higher, colours seem to look brighter and it’s time to think about sowing seeds for dye plants. Even a bucket-sized pot can yield madder for dyeing (p.21) and the illustrations in The Dye Plant Garden on p.12 show what can be achieved when a comprehensive dye garden is maintained. On the subject of natural dyeing, the cochineal article in the spring issue was the second in a series, but unlike the first article, it omitted to mention that insects are killed in the dyeing process and therefore this may not be a technique that is to everyone’s taste.
For those who prefer the growing to be done for them, the next crop of fleeces and other animal fibres should now be getting underway and maybe it’s time to take a good look at your spinning wheel and, using Cath Snape’s articles (see p.24 of this issue and p.6 of J292, the winter issue), decide whether yours needs any adjustments or, like me, simply work out what category of wheel your magical device falls into.
If it’s inspiration that you’re after, take a look at the Seven Sisters Handweavers’ exhibition account on p.7 and Fiona Hutchison’s Journeys in Tapestry on p.17. And for those who like precision, on p.10 Christina Chisholm offers advice on how to ensure the correct amount of yarn is spun and/or dyed for a project.
We’re always pleased to receive comments from readers and hear suggestions for areas we could cover or bring to readers’ attention. In each issue we try and include a couple each of weave, spin and dye articles as well as lots of other types of stimulation and offer something for all levels of experience and approach. But are we providing what you would like? Please tell us. Contact details are given below.
Lesley Fidler, acting JEC Chair
The price is for a single print issue of the magazine.
Selected page contains no content. Add content to this page in the page editor.
The Journal for Weavers, Spinners and Dyers - Issue 293 Spring 2025
As the days lengthen and the sun gets higher, colours seem to look brighter and it’s time to think about sowing seeds for dye plants. Even a bucket-sized pot can yield madder for dyeing (p.21) and the illustrations in The Dye Plant Garden on p.12 show what can be achieved when a comprehensive dye garden is maintained. On the subject of natural dyeing, the cochineal article in the spring issue was the second in a series, but unlike the first article, it omitted to mention that insects are killed in the dyeing process and therefore this may not be a technique that is to everyone’s taste.
For those who prefer the growing to be done for them, the next crop of fleeces and other animal fibres should now be getting underway and maybe it’s time to take a good look at your spinning wheel and, using Cath Snape’s articles (see p.24 of this issue and p.6 of J292, the winter issue), decide whether yours needs any adjustments or, like me, simply work out what category of wheel your magical device falls into.
If it’s inspiration that you’re after, take a look at the Seven Sisters Handweavers’ exhibition account on p.7 and Fiona Hutchison’s Journeys in Tapestry on p.17. And for those who like precision, on p.10 Christina Chisholm offers advice on how to ensure the correct amount of yarn is spun and/or dyed for a project.
We’re always pleased to receive comments from readers and hear suggestions for areas we could cover or bring to readers’ attention. In each issue we try and include a couple each of weave, spin and dye articles as well as lots of other types of stimulation and offer something for all levels of experience and approach. But are we providing what you would like? Please tell us. Contact details are given below.
Lesley Fidler, acting JEC Chair
The price is for a single print issue of the magazine.
Selected page contains no content. Add content to this page in the page editor.