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North Devon Spinners

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Octagon Spiders Web Display We have often taken part in local events putting on displays and demonstrations and encouraging visitors to try their hand at spinning,  Events such as the North Devon Fair at Shirwell in 1984 and the Devon Guild Exhibition at Killerton with Jess’s beautiful lace shawl in 1986.    One of the highlights was the Pilton Easter Fair in 1987 which lasted for 4 days.  It was organised by the Horse and Bamboo theatrical group who allocated one person to each group taking part to help with the design,  obtaining materials and setting up the booth and display.  It was open everyday from 4pm till 10pm and great fun.  Our Octagon was designed as a spider’s web and the weather was kind.
For many years we took part in the Ilfracombe Victorian week, spinning at the Museum on two or three afternoons, suitably dressed. We took part in the ITV Telethon in 1990 to contribute to the longest yarn The Big Sheep were aiming at. A time capsule buried at the new Medical Centre, built in 1991 has a group photo and some details of the North Devon Spinners.    In 1991 we were at the Uffculme Show and also had a display at the Lantern on its opening as a Community Centre.  In 1994 we were asked to take part in the British Coloured Sheep Breeders Show at the Big Sheep.  Our group used Jacob fleeces and we were kept busy preparing and making all sorts of articles for the display.  One of our members, Penny Hall, won her class of Blue Leicester Cross, a very handsome sheep.

Two Victorian Spinners At Ilfracombe Museum

Update June 2005

2005 was a busy year for North Devon Spinners with our usual Rainbow Day in June at Kathy's garden. We spent a really warm sunny day at Arlington Court Spring Fair demonstrating spinning and carding, etc.

This year we had a fibre sampling workshop spinning mohair , acrylic and other similar fibres.

A fun day was had by all when we made clay buttons and beads with Sandra who then took them home and fired them in her kiln, the buttons are perfectly safe to put in the washing machine, she will do another session some time if we so wish.

13 members visited Maggie's workshop at Cullompton where we bought fleece and watched Maggie's husband fire arrows from a longbow high into the air. The coach driver had a few problems getting us up the farm track, and we walked the last 50 yards.

We have been out and about to various shows including a wonderful exhibition by the Peter Tavy Guild. Alison went to the knitting and stitching show in London. Jo and Alison acted as stewards for the day at the Devon Guild Exhibition at Killerton House.

During the year Yvonne and Kathy had cataract operations and Vera had her hip repaired, it's good to see them fit and well.

Annie moved out of the area, but she continues to be a member and returns from time to time. Betty has decided she is not able to drive so far anymore and we will miss her - and not just for her salmon mousse!

We had a shared lunch for our Christmas meeting and Kathy showed us slides of her wonderful trip to Japan.

Monica and Joan demonstrated spinning at the Barnstaple Knitting Club Exhibition. At St Johns hall, in aid of the North Devon Hospice.

Update October 2003

OUTING TO KILLERTON
 Thanks to the enterprise and energy of Monica, who organised the trip, we had another outing this September.  This time we went to see the Devon Guilds’ Exhibition at Killerton; a beautiful setting in parkland with a house full of treasures to look at as well.

We set off in our coach at 10 and after a stop-over at Bickleigh Mill, arrived Killerton at 12noon.  Once again we were lucky, it was still summer!

The display of all things – spun, woven, dyed, knitted, crocheted and needle worked, as well as some examples of lace - was excellent.  Altogether it was so stimulating to see examples of inkle looms and tablet weaving for braids, large tapestry pictures, a Navajo blanket, a very fine woven lampshade with birds flying, amongst the more day to day examples of fine spun and knitted jumpers, woven scarves, braided belts, gloves and hats, as well as skeins of space-dyed wool.  Every item had some notes, and if you wanted more information a Guild member was on hand to tell you more.  There were some very unusual Japanese looms on show, a round one called ‘Marudia’ for round weaving and a small stool like one called ‘Takadai’ also used for braids which looked as though you were platting with many strands and no weft, very intriguing.  Altogether a very rewarding exhibition, which will stimulate new ideas for us to try, perhaps even learn a new craft.

After a light lunch, some of our members walked in the park, others to look at the wedding dress collection and other things in the house, or even have another look at the Guild’s display.  We set off for home around 4, after a very enjoyable day , some clutching boxes of plants from the garden shop.

Yvonne Drinkwater

Update May 2003

In March of this year we went on our long postponed outing to the Coates Willow Wetlands.  We were favoured with a fine sunny day and arrived after an excellent pub lunch at the Visitors Centre. Around 20 of us first saw a short introductory film and had a walk round the little museum.  Then we were shown the various stages of planting, growing, cutting and boiling, so as to retain the willows colour. Depending on the variety the colours used in basketry are described as brown, white and green.

Coates is a long established willow industry near Taunton and the industry has changed very little since the early 1800’s. ‘Stripping the willow’ is a well known dance or song for many of us, but to see how it is done is a revelation – a double pronged hook fixed on a gate or convenient post serves as the stripper and every withie used for basket making has to be stripped of it’s bark. A kind of huge carder machine now does this job, reminding us of our drum carders for fleece.   The withies are then dried and sorted into lengths, some reaching 15’. 

The basket workshops are fascinating too, many different items from nesting boxes for wrens to settees / double beds are made there and they sell all over the world.  One side item is produced ‘charcoal sticks’ for artists. Some withies are kept fresh and damp for sale to make arbours, arches, wind brakes or even chairs, etc.  You can walk along the fields to see the withies growing and see the surrounding countryside. A day well spent giving us ideas to take home.       

Yvonne Drinkwater

Wythe drying

Wythe sorted 

Update June 2002
The Spinners held their annual dyeing day in June at Kathy Arscott's garden in Berrynarbor.  Kathy is one of the founder members of the North Devon Spinners.  This year we decided to hold it on the 21st anniversary of the spinning group and a fabulous cake was made and iced by Jess Fubini.

Every year the members bring different plants, wood chips etc. to boil on calor gas stoves.  Then fleece and spun yarn, pre mordanted with iron, copper and alum are added to see what new colours we can add to our growing collection of natural dyed fibres.

This year Yvonne Drinkwater, another of the founder members, gave a demonstration of felting and Jo Cox gave a demonstration of silk dyeing.

The weather was beautiful and everyone agreed it was a wonderful 21st birthday.