Keep Me Warm Exhibition

This year the Qualicum Weavers and Spinners took on the challenge of an exhibit.  Members were asked to create a piece that represented the theme, "Keep Me Warm".  Items had to have been finished within a year of the exhibition date so that they would be recent work.  Members were also asked to use traditional techniques of weaving, spinning and the hand working of fibre to create their items.
A wide variety of items were submitted to the exhibit committee that then had the task of organizing them into a cohesive exhibit.  The items included articles of clothing, blankets and table linens.

 The lacy shawl is knitted from hand spun alpaca yarn.  It took 200 hours to create not included the time to raise and shear the animals that produced the fibres.  The title, "Baby It's Cold Outside" is very appropriate.


Hand worked fibre is the basis for this felted ensemble, a scarf and a set of ear muffs.  The technique involved felted wool using a barbed needle.

A number of people chose to interpret the theme as a warm blanket.
The blankets are quite different in construction and design.  They included a lovely azure coloured throw that contains ribbon and mohair to give spots to colour that invite closer inspection.  The plaid blanket is a reproduction of an ancient tartan of Chinese origin.  The multicoloured blue blanket was produced by sprinkle dyeing the warp and weft fibres then weaving to give random colour effects.  The stripped blanket is very large as it was woven in twill using a double weave technique.

The fabric for the "Ice Storm Kimono" was woven using a stitched double weave technique to give it an icy blue exterior and a warm orange interior.  The colours are graded from white and silver to represent ice to blue to represent the sky.  The appliqued panels represent ice covered trees.

In this area, winter can bring storms that result in power outages.  It reminds us that we often depend upon those power lines to keep us warm and that inspired Mary's interpretation of the exhibit theme.  Her piece is based on a tied threading weave structure that involved many experiments to get those power lines to drape in just the right fashion.  The warp was painted to represent the earth and the sky.  The reverse of this piece is equally interesting and quite different.

This "Fireside Table Runner" is based on a rep weave technique.  Blocks of colour alternate on the front and back as thick and thin threads weft threads are manipulated.

Maggie used silk fusion to create her stormy scarf.  The photo does not do justice to the subtle colours.  The silk fibre base has embedded yarns and hand embellished motifs that are better seen in the detail view at the side under member's works.


Cosy shawls and  warm ponchos and vests were inspired by thoughts of cooler weather.  The simple poncho design is classic but Myrtle has interpreted it in a sophisticated style with lovely ceramic buttons.  Audrie has chosen a shawl design with a lacy border.  It is knitted of hand spun yarn with a subtle variegation that makes it very versatile.

Pat made a classic shawl using a warp and weft spacing technique to produce a window pane effect.  A reflective yarn was include to give a subtle shine to the stripes depending on how the light falls on the piece.  It drapes beautifully.

The vest is a combination of a woven front and a knitted back.  The fabric was created first then the yarn for the knitted back was matched to it.  The decorative edges of this unlined piece are all hand finished.  The front closes with a zipper to give a fitted effect.

The hat and cowl ensemble that is  pictured with the vest was knitted from a variegated yarn.  Although the two pieces were created by different guild members they both chose a similar colour to work with.

Our four legged friends inspired the dog coat and matching blanket,  The ensemble has the appropriate title, "Keep My Friend Warm".  The lined coat uses  huck floats plus a colour and weave effect to create the pattern while the blanket is a play on the same colour scheme and plaid effect.  The colour scheme was inspired by the colouring of a dog's natural "coat".

Finally we have the poster boy for our exhibit, a bold colourful scarf that is soft and drapes well. 

We hope that you managed to see these pieces in the flesh.  If you missed the exhibit (We take it down on November 17th.) we suggest you plan to see our annual fall show and sale, Elegant Threads.  It takes place at Rotary House (corner of Beach and Fern) in downtown Qualicum Beach.  Elegant Threads starts at 11:00 am on Friday November 21st and ends at 3:00 pm on Sunday, November 23rd.  While you are in town you can take in the Victorian Tea at The Old School House Art Centre.