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June 13, 2023 newsletter

JST Dye Studio

We are so excited! Finally – our on-site JST Dye Studio is operating in full swing. 😄 It’s so much fun to be able to have our whole Jane Stafford Textile business operating on our property. Our new Dye Studio is able to use larger dye pots than we were able to in the past which means we can dye more skeins a day! Win-win!

Check out the website to see the rainbow of colours just waiting for you to weave into your next project!

Freya with hand-dyed silks ready for our shelves!


JST Hand-dyed Silks

Did you quickly check to see our rainbow of colours after reading the paragraph above? If you did – you will have discovered that we use Bombyx silk in 20/2 & 30/2 weights which produces clear, bright colours as well as 20/2 Bleached Tussah silk which gives a more muted colour. Our silk is dyed in a palate of 34 magnificent colours.

Have we ever told you the story of how we named our silks when we first started thinking of dyeing our own? Picture a few weavers, relaxing over a glass (or 2) of wine in the evening. Some colours are named after the magic that is Salt Spring Island, some are inspired by old songs and some special ones for special people in my life: Margaretta Violetta….my Mom;  Mary’s Blue Cardigan….for Mary Andrews who always wore a blue cardigan; Granitius Green….my darling and my rock; and Princess Pamuk named after our dog who was lying on the floor at our feet 😀 

Jane wanted to create a perfect analogous colour harmony to work with her favourite 8/2 cotton colours and she did!

Naming Party

Cheryl, Charlotte and Klare

Charlotte, master of the names!

Cheryl and Jane making the final decisions on which colours made it.

Bring Salt Spring Island, and JST’s little corner of it, into your studio, and onto your loom through the magic of its colours.

20/2 Bombyx available in 100g skeins with 1,100 yds/skein (5,000 yds/lb)
30/2 Bombyx available in 100g skeins with 1,650 yds/skein (7,500 yds/lb)
20/2 Tussah available in 100g skeins with 1,100 yds/skein (5,000 yds/lb)

Ganges Sunrise Scarf Kit

These lovely scarves are perfect for spring and summer! Woven with silk on linen in alternating bands of 1/3 and 3/1 twill, they have gorgeous sheen and drape with a slightly crisp texture that will only get softer and more shimmery with wear. This pattern requires only 4 harnesses, but there are 8 different tie-ups required for weaving. If you have an 8-shaft loom, you’re stylin’, but if you have a 6-treadle loom, we’ve provided a tie-up system to ensure your success!

Level of Difficulty: Advanced Beginner
Weave structure: 1/3, 3/1 Twill Weave
Material: 30/2 Bombyx Silk 40/2 linen
Each kit makes: 2 Scarves

Ganges Sunrise Scarf


Collapse Weave Pucker Up Scarf Kits

These scarves are a great introduction to simple collapse weave. These kits provide enough silk and merino to create 2 stunning scarves with finished dimensions of  12″ x 75″ plus fringe. All you need is a simple 4 shaft loom a 10 dent reed and a weaving width of 18″.

Level of Difficulty: Advanced Beginner
Weave structure: Plain Weave
Material: 30/2 Bombyx Silk & 18/2 Merino
Each kit makes: 2 Scarves

Each kit includes:
Weaving instructions (including draft)
2 skeins of 30/2 Bombyx
2 cones of 18/2 Merino

Autumn Equinox


Jane’s virtual seminar at ANWG

This Saturday, Jane will virtually present her seminar ‘Weavers of Sabahar’ at the ANWG Conference. There are a few spots left to purchase and join in via ZOOM!

Sabahar is an Ethiopian company that produces uniquely designed, handwoven cotton and silk textiles. Sabahar was founded 20 years ago by Kathy Marshall from Beaver Lodge, Alberta. Her passion for preserving and celebrating the rich weaving tradition of Ethiopia, combined with her desire to create respectful and ethical work opportunities for marginalized people, have laid the foundation for the company. Sabahar’s 3 core values are Sustainability, Innovation, and Caring for each other. They are members of the World Fair Trade Organization. In 2016 Kathy invited Jane Stafford to come to Addis Ababa to trouble shoot production problems the weavers were having. It was a remarkable journey and she returned again in 2019 to set up a design department teaching unfamiliar weave structures to the weavers and exploring the possibilities of the yarns they have available; including all the Eri silk they raise in great abundance. Jane invites you to walk through the studios of Sabahar, to meet the silk rearers, spinners, dyers, weavers and finishers of an amazing organization that now employs over 700 artisans.

For more info on Jane’s seminar and late enrolment, please visit ANWG 2023 Conference.

We offer FREE shipping on all Louet looms within Continental North America. We also offer the option to pay a $1000.00 CAD deposit on your loom with the balance due when the loom ships out to you. This gives you the flexibility to make smaller payments toward your balance, at your convenience.

Here to help

Have a weaving question? Find us on the Jane Stafford School of Weaving Forum and on Weave with Jane Stafford at Ravelry.

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August 23, 2022 newsletter

Comfy, Cosy, Whole Lotta Huggin’ Blankets

Our fabulous Dream Team member, Sharon Broadley designed these beautiful blankets as a way to send some love and coziness to friends and family. Besides being cozy – they are also stunning, bright, cheery and affordable – what else can I say to describe them? As soon as this current heat wave passes and you start feeling that fall is in the air – this kit, with a warp long enough to weave 3 blankets, could be waiting to jump onto your 45″ loom. They are woven with Quebecoise 100% wool yarn which makes each one an affordable gift to have ready and waiting for some special occasion.

Jane


Semi Bleached Tussah Here for Short Time!

We are lucky to have some more of our fabulous Semi Bleached Tussah silk in stock. It’s a lovely soft beige colour that looks stunning woven the way it is or – if you are a fan of dyeing your own colours – it takes dye beautifully. This silk will create a fabulous range of slightly muted, soft colours to make your weaving uniquely yours.

20/2 Tussah Semi Bleached

100% Silk Spun in Switzerland – 20/2 Tussah 5000 yds/lb
Available in 100 gr. skeins with 1100 yds/skein.


Check out our Pucker Up Scarf kits

Each Simple Collapse Weave Pucker Up kit comes with instructions, pattern and all the yarn which includes 18/2 Merino Wool & JST’s hand-dyed 30/2 Bombyx silk you need to weave up 2 scarves. You’ll need a 4 shaft loom with a width of 18 inches.


From Our Inbox!


We were happy to see the photo below from School of Weaving member – France – when it popped into our Inbox! Below, in her words, France describes her very impressive project and shares with us a wee bit about herself.

Here’s my latest work. A rug in Rep Weave and is 160″ long by 26″ wide. I started this project in April after the maple sugar season. I have just finished it. The warp is 8/2 cotton at 48 ends per inch. The weft is 16/8 twice (2 strands of 16/8) cotton with tabby 8/2 cotton. Since I am not a fast weaver, it took me a long time to weave.

I take time to watch all of your videos and I adore what you do and how you teach. I am also a weaving teacher in a town near where I live. I take one student at a time and teach him or her, the basics of making a simple draft and how to put the threads on the loom. Our looms are all sectional.

France


School of Weaving

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We offer FREE shipping on all Louet looms within Continental North America. We also offer the option to pay a $1000.00 CAD deposit on your loom with the balance due when the loom ships out to you. This gives you the flexibility to make smaller payments towards your balance, at your convenience.

Here to help

Have a weaving question? Find us on the Jane Stafford School of Weaving Forum

and on Weave with Jane Stafford on Ravelry.