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We would like to thank you all for such a wonderful year. There has been much weaving and merriment within our studio walls this past year. It is our priviledge to teach such wonderful students and to be able to carry on the age old tradition of making cloth. Thank you to all our customers from near and far. We wish you all a peaceful, kind and generous holiday season. We are so blessed for all we have in our lives.
Holiday Hours
JST will be closed from December 22nd- Jan 3rd. Our last shipping day is Monday, December 21st. We must receive your order by noon on the 21st in order to guarentee that it will be shipped that day. We will re-open and resume shipping on January 4th.
Rosemary’s Corner
Every year we like to share with you a recipe that Rosemary has served at retreats through out the year. This Christmas we decided to share 2 – one sweet and one savoury – that you can use this holiday season.
We’re sitting around here stunned that it is December already. We finished our last retreat with a stunning group of ladies in Units, Blocks, and Profiles. Retreats start again in February, so we have a little break from warping looms and keeping the house and studio clean! Phew!
It has been a while since the last JST newsletter, so we thought that we would give you a peek at some of the new additions to 3 of our cotton yarns lines. Hopefully these new colours will re-invigorate your weaving design (and be a good excuse to weave more and stay indoors!).
For those of you starting to panic about Christmas gifts, never fear, we have a whole bunch of new kits in new colour ways – a great gift for any weaver.
Read on for more information….
New Cottolin Colours
JST has brought in new colours for Organic Cotton, Organic Cottolin, and Mercerized Cotton! Time to try some new colours in your weaving or else to branch out into sustainable fibres. Our Organic Cotton line has grown the most, with 11 new additions there are now 45 colours to choose from. Organic Cottolin has 6 new colours and Mercerized Cotton 4. Both the Organic Cotton and Cottolin are certified by GOTS, which not only requires stringent environmental standards at all points on the textile supply chain, but sets social standards as well
This simple classic scarf in 12 gauge bambu is fun and fast and easy to weave. The scarf was designed by Eben (Jane’s son!) and has long been a studio favourite – now finally available as a kit in three beautiful colour ways!
We have two new sets of tea towels from Arlene Kohut and Kathy Ready.
Huck Lace Tea Towels
The first is a brand-new colour way of the popular Huck Lace Tea Towels. The rich browns, reds, and oranges remind of fall and are a beautiful warm accent to add to your kitchen (or your hoard of tea towels!). We have named the new colour way “Falling Leaves”.
Bronson Lace Tea Towels
The second is a brand-new design that includes beautiful Bronson Lace patterning down the edges. This Organic Cottolin tea towel was inspired by a traditional design. The kit is available in two colours, the traditional “Antique” and the richer “Burgundy”. Arlene’s Tea Towels are another stunning example of lace in the kitchen!
New Swift from Schacht
The Schacht Ultra Umbrella Swift is such a brilliant new swift from Schacht that we just have to bring your attention to its many new and novel features. It does everything you ever wanted and more, making skein-making or ball-winding effortless. Especially worthy of note is the one-handed loading by pushing down on the swift (yes, it works just like the video, we tested it!).
Hatbox Spinning Wheel
Louet’s classic Hatbox Spinning Wheel is arriving at JST next week! These are a limited edition, so a one-time offer! We have just four left ready to go under someone’s tree. You can order your Hatbox today at our online store.
Last Shipping Day Before Christmas
December 21st, 2015 is the last shipping day before Christmas! All orders must be placed by noon on the 21st to guarantee that they will go out that day. The JST studio will be closed from December 22nd- January 3rd, and will resume shipping on January 4th.
Last but not least
Don’t forget that we offer FREE SHIPPING on in stock yarn over $200.
Thinking about placing a large order? Ask about our discounts.
We want to expand our mailing list. If you like getting the Old Ladies with String Digest, even if you’re a young lady or a gentleman, please spread the word.
We have had a busy summer here at JST, as many of you who participated in the myriad of workshops will know. In this newsletter, we want to share with you the stunning results of those workshops and some of the projects that have kept us busy. With summer winding down, no doubt many of you already have a list of fall weaving projects running through your head. Here is some inspiration, new patterns for fall, and very important information if you have been considering the purchase of a loom….
Considering a Louet Loom Purchase?
We have been holding our prices steady despite the decline in the Canadian dollar, but we can’t do it for much longer and I doubt our suppliers can either. If you are thinking about purchasing a new Louet Loom, I would recommend that you do it before September 15, 2015. I can guarantee the present Canadian prices until then, but I am not sure if they will hold after that. All loom orders will need to be prepaid. Shipping by the end of October, in time for Christmas. To discuss a loom purchase call us at (250) 537-9468 or email or order online.
New Tea Towel Kits!
We are introducing two new tea towel kits just in time for fall! Tea towels are a great way to play with colour and design. These kits offer you a basis to begin experimenting and creating your own unique towels. The towel to the left was designed by Kathy Ready and Arlene Kohut from Victoria. They designed this wonderful Huck towel after their Lacy Places workshop here this spring. Thanks for sharing your pattern ladies!
The second is plain weave in organic and regular cotton, a beautiful zinger for your kitchen. Mixing organic cotton with regular cotton is a great way to begin supporting yarns that are respectful of the earth and the farmers that grow them, while still maintaining a wider range of colours and reducing the cost. To purchase these patterns & material, please visit our store.
10 New Colours for the JST Hotline of Hand-Dyed Yarns!
We are adding 10 new colours to our Hotline this fall. Cheryl, who does all the hand-dying for JST, has been hard at work getting the new colours ready. They will be officially unveiled at Knit City … Stop by and visit our booth!
Summer Retreats … Pushing the Boundaries of Plain Weave Even Further, Maiwa’s Natural Dyeing, & Deluxe Weavers
There has been so much happening at the JST studio, its hard to keep track of it all. So many amazing creative students have been through our doors. Here is a peek at some of the workshops…
We began the summer with two retreats, Pushing the Boundaries of Plain Weave Even Further. For those of you who have taken the first Pushing the Boundaries of Plain Weave, this workshop took it to a whole new level, beginning the exploration of double weaves and collapsible fabrics. It is phenomenal what can be done! Forget complexity, plain weave is stunning. 4 shafts can inspire a lifetime of weaving.
At the end of August, we hosted Charllotte Kwon of Maiwa, her daughter Sophena, and Linda Spence for a 4-day workshop on Natural Dying. We had a full house, with 16 students at the JST studio from far and wide!
Finally, we are finishing the summer with our popular Deluxe Weavers’ Retreat. Students spend 6 days creating stunning mohair blankets, silk and zephyr scarves, cashmere scarves, linen tea towels, and soft Monte Cristo baby blankets.
It’s Almost Time to Register for 2016 Retreats
On October 13th, we will be announcing the retreats for 2016 and opening registration. Watch you inbox for our next email with all the details or keep an eye on the schedule on our website.
Don’t forget that we offer FREE SHIPPING on yarn orders over $200.
We want to expand our mailing list. If you like getting the Old Ladies with String Digest, even if you’re a young lady or a gentleman, please spread the word.
The JST studio has undergone a major re-design, highlighting our Hot Line of Hand Dyed Yarns and expanding collection of Maiwa products! If you are in the area, come by and see the new look. For those of you farther away, here are a few pictures:
News from Louët
For those of you with Jane Looms, Louët now offers Jane bags for protecting your loom and easy transport. We sell these bags through our online store.
The Hatbox is almost here!!!
A Reminder to all that the classic spinning wheel will be here this summer. Contact us today to reserve your Hatbox by Sending us an email or give us a call at (250) 537-9468.
New Line of Super Fine Alpaca
We have expanded our selection of Alpaca to include a line of 5 natural super-fine baby alpaca colours: Cream, Camel, Charcoal, Smoke, and Black. You can purchase any of these colours at our online store.
We have a couple weaving projects that have been shared with us in recent months and we now pass onto you.
Barbara Mitchell wove this amazing quadruple weave scarf from 12 gauge bambu. Barbara took my workshop Inspiration from the Sari at a Maiwa symposium a few years back. In that workshop we did a double weave version of this and Barbara blew the top off the box with her four layer scarf. To top it all off she wove this on her 8-shaft Jane Loom.
Kathy Ready recently took Jane’s Lacey Places workshop and was inspired to weave this beautiful scarf out of humble 2/16 cotton. We studied colour and weave effects on Huck Lace. Simply stunning!
Don’t forget that we offer FREE SHIPPING on yarn orders over $200.
We want to expand our mailing list. If you like getting the Old Ladies with String Digest, even if you’re a young lady or a gentleman, please spread the word.
JST is offering a discount coupon to all our loyal customers! Visit our online store to see available colours and fibres. Enter your coupon code on the checkout page in the lefthand bottom corner. Coupon only valid on in stock fibre.
*Coupon Code: woolies (valid until April 30, 2015)
Louët’s 40th Anniversary is Celebrating with a Limited Edition of the Hatbox Spinning Wheel (S40)
\Louët is bringing back the classic portable hatbox spinning wheel this summer! The wheel feature some small improvements, but is essentially the same as the original (see original description below). The price will be $895.
Send us an email or give us a call at (250) 537-9468 to reserve your hatbox today for delivery in August.
Original description: For people who like to spin outside (on holidays, with friends or just out there) Louët has developed a spinning wheel that can easily be carried around. The small size (30x40x17 cm) and hat box design makes it very portable. It is a right foot, single treadle wheel with a delta orifice and Scotch tension flyer. The wheel is comes with three bobbins and a built-in lazy kate.
Cheryl Huseby hand dyes all of JST’s Hot Line of Hand Dyed Yarns which includes 32 gorgeous colours of four weights of Silk, Mohair Bolero, Orlando Boucle, Alpaca, and Cuddles, a wool/alpaca blend. Here are some pictures of her studio where she creates her magic. Cheryl is truly a talented dyer and we are so happy she works for us.
Ethiopian Weavers
We’re always on the look out for weavers around the world doing great things. There is an organization called Sabahar in Addis, Ethiopia run by fellow Canadian Kathy Marshall of Beaver Lodge, Alberta. We love the philosophy that drives Sabahar:
“We are proud to use our hands for every step of the process, from the spinning of the thread to weaving the cloth and even finishing the details on each of the products.
Based on a philosophy of indigenous simplicity and purity, we only use silk and cotton to create our richly textured fabrics. All of the cotton is sourced in Ethiopia and we may be the only company in the world making products with Ethiopian silk.
We love to experiment with natural dyes we find around us to create our luxurious colors. Most of our silks are dyed using local plants and herbs and some tried and true natural products from around the world.
Our celebration of ancient Ethiopian craftsmanship combined with our mission to have a positive impact on the lives of artisans, results in the creation of beautiful handmade products for the global market.”
Please visit their website to see what they are doing and to find a place to purchase their fair trade products.
Weaver’s Corner
Another gorgeous piece of weaving has made its way into our inbox and we thought we’d share it with you. If you have beautiful pieces that you would like to share, please send them along and we’ll include them in our newsletter when we can.
Judy Mould of North Vancouver sent us this photo of her recently finished deflected double weave scarf. Judy adapted the pattern from Handwoven. It was woven from our 2/20 silk on her 8 shaft loom.
Don’t forget that we offer FREE SHIPPING on yarn orders over $200.
We want to expand our mailing list. If you like getting the Old Ladies with String Digest, even if you’re a young lady or a gentleman, please spread the word.
A last minute spot in Jane’s Lacey Places workshop has come available! If you want to explore the world of lace weaves, now is your chance! Visit our website to read the course description. Farm stay is available at JST. Contact us by email or phone (250) 537-9468 to register.
Fibreswest
March 13 and 14, 2015
Cloverdale Exhibition Hall
9am-5pm
Come and visit us at this year’s Fibreswest, now just over a week away! We will be bringing a large selection of fibres, including our own hand-dyed hotline of Alpaca, Silk, and Mohair, but we cannot bring everything… So if you have your heart set on a particular product, please let us know so that we can pack it for you!
For those of you looking for an inspirational boost, on Saturday afternoon Jane will be giving a mini-lecture on colour selection.
March 27-19, 2015
Florence Filberg Center
Comox, BC
If you’re from Vancouver Island, you may want to consider heading to the Celebrating Textile conference in Comox. Explore the relationships between local history, cloth making, natural materials, stitch narratives, global textiles and what is in your closet. Mingle with and celebrate the vast talents of makers and artisans from Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. The gala opening on Friday night features the acclaimed Charllotte Kwon of the Maiwa Foundation, Vancouver, speaking on “Slow Clothes.” .
Project Planning 101
May 28
JST, Salt Spring Island
9am-4pm
Workshop at JST, Salt Spring, BC — Does weaving math drive you to drink? Come detox with Jane. We will look at warp and weft calculations, planning yardage requirements, configuring warp ends for a given draft and basic draft reading. Don’t be scared … we’ll simplify the process.
Honing your Basic Weaving Skills
May 29
JST, Salt Spring Island
9am-4pm
Just two spaces left in this workshop! Visit our website for more information.
The Natural Dye Workshop with Charllotte Kwon Approaches….
July 27-30, 2015
JST, Salt Spring Island
And we still have a few more spaces… Don’t miss this opportunity to learn the secrets of natural dying!
Don’t forget that we offer FREE SHIPPING on orders over $200.
If you buy $500 or more of yarn we’ll pay for your shipping costs and take off 10%. So why not band together with all your guild members or weaver friends and do group orders. You’ll save, save, save.
Mailing List
We want to expand our mailing list. If you like getting the Old Ladies with String Digest, even if you’re a young lady or a gentleman, please spread the word.
The New Year has brought a flurry of change and activity to JST. As we begin to prepare for the first Colour and Design workshop, we want to pause and update you on some of the upcoming events and recent changes.
Now is a Great Time to Shop in Canada!
The exchange rate is currently at 20% in favour of our friends from the US! All the prices on JST’s online store are shown in Canadian $, so imagine taking 20% off with no tax!
Price Changes at JST
This is something that we have avoided doing at JST the last couple years, but our frequent shoppers will notice that we have made a few adjustments this January, not too many but they were definitely necessary.
Honing Your Basic Weaving Skills, May 29th 9am-4:30pm, JST on Salt Spring, $110 inc. lunch
Do you dread dressing your loom? Do you have trouble with tension and selvedges? Then come spend a day and learn to take control! Become a dominatrix in your own studio! Warping back-to-front, selvedges, bobbin-winding techniques, shuttle-throwing, proper posture and other tidbits are just some of the things we will cover.
Fibreswest
It’s almost that time of year again! On March 13 and 14, 2015, from 9:30 am to 5pm, Fibreswest will be in full swing at the Cloverdale Exhibition Hall. JST will be hosting a fabulous booth, overflowing with magnificent colours (see the picture below from last year!). Among other items, our own hand-dyed hotline of Alpaca, Silk, and Mohair will be for sale, so please come have a look. We are looking forward to meeting friends, old and new! On Saturday afternoon, Jane will be giving a mini-lecture on her source of inspiration guides her colour selection.
Pinterest and Instagram: Join the Fun!
JST has joined both the Pinterest and Instagram online communities! Do swing by our new pages and see the gorgeous new photos uploaded weekly. We appreciate the time you take to send us comments and feedback as the sites are developed.
The site that just keeps on growing as weavers ask questions … is now an extensive database available for free to weavers everywhere! Without yarn sales at JST the site could not exist, so please consider supporting us the way we support you. The helpline gets more than 200 visitors each day!
The topics below receive the greatest number of hits:
This is a fascinating story that was passed onto JST by a fellow weavers in Powell River. We now share it with you! To see the full article visit Weavers Turn Silk into Diabetes Test Strips.
Don’t forget that we offer FREE SHIPPING on orders over $200.
If you buy $500 or more of yarn we’ll pay for your shipping costs and take off 10%. So why not band together with all your guild members or weaver friends and do group orders. You’ll save, save, save.
Mailing List
We want to expand our mailing list. If you like getting the Old Ladies with String Digest, even if you’re a young lady or a gentleman, please spread the word.
Hope this finds you well. Keep your chin up, Spring is just around the corner!
