Author: BUTLERSWG
JANUARY 2023
After the November meeting, Jen and Karen set up a display at the Butler library. The display will be up until right before the January meeting (at the extension office) Please check it out before Wednesday if you haven’t yet!
Here’s the library flyer and press release:

YEAR-END EXHIBIT TO INSPIRE WARM AND COZY FEELING
Butler Area Public Library presents “From Fluff to Fabric: 40 Years of Fiber Arts” exhibited by the Butler Spinners and Weavers Guild.
The display features a variety of textiles and fibers with descriptions, images and props illustrating the cloth-making process. From cotton and linen to cashmere and angora, swatches of fabric are mingled with samples of woven, knitted, felted and crocheted textiles.
Exhibit visitors will discover an assortment of looms and spinning tools as well as a range of fiber art creations, such as clothing, bowls, handbags, bracelets, and decorative art pieces.
Included is some history of the Guild started in 1982 by four weavers and spinners interested in sharing, teaching and promoting fiber arts. In those days, the Guild met at the Butler Area Public Library.
Today, the Guild meets monthly at the county extension office and includes about 50 members from Butler, Armstrong, Allegheny, Westmoreland, Mercer, Clarion, Indiana and Washington counties.
For information on the Butler Spinners and Weavers Guild, visit www.ButlerGuild.org.
The work of artists and artisans is featured in the second-floor showcases at the Butler Area Public Library, 218 North McKean St., Butler. For information, contact 724-287-1715 or visit http://www.facebook.com/ButlerAreaPublicLibrary.
And a few photos of the set-up:
The photos do not do justice to the photos, items, and tools so many of you lent. Please stop by the library sometime before January 2 to check it out!
September 2022

Optimist Pavilion
For the September meeting we will be returning to Butler Memorial Park.
For the program, we will be celebrating the guild’s 40th anniversary with cake and a pot luck lunch.
August meeting
The August meeting will be a field trip. Sign up sheets have been passed around and there was information in the July minutes.
Members and guests not going on the trip are planning to get together at Butler Memorial Park around 10am.
July 2022
We will be meeting in the arts and crafts building at the fair. Bring something to work on and be prepared to demonstrate your craft for the public if anyone walks thru with questions.
June 2022

Optimist Pavilion
For the June meeting we will be returning to Butler Memorial Park.
For the program, we will be joined by a local shepherd who will teach us about fleece characteristics and how to select a fleece. She will have Dorset Horn fleece available for purchase.
PA Farm Show Sheep to Shawl 2022
Butler County Pedalers was one of 4 teams to compete in the 42nd PA Farm Show Sheep to Shawl Competition. Unfortunately, due to a series of equipment failures (a broken drive band and loom jam that cost us critical time) we were not able to make length. We were also seconds past the deadline to turn in our shawl.
We won the coveted spinner’s award and received much positive feedback from the judges and the media.
Thank you to all of my teammates, to everyone in the guild who helped us get here, and to the farm show staff for all the help and support they offered during the competition.




New virtual event
We were recently contacted about a virtual conference that will be taking place later this month. Check out the link for a list of classes/lectures.
https://tiartscenter.org/weaving-history-conference/
Registration ends on October 20, suggested donation of $50/class and recordings will be available to registrants for two weeks!
October 2021
We are finally able to return to the extension office! Masks will be required, but there is currently no occupancy restriction.
Michelle has offered to do a program on rigid heddle weaving so Jen can finally see how pick-up sticks actually work 😉
Penn State Extension
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Dj8wce1ZWfes47ya6
September meeting
This September we met in Butler Memorial Park at Optimus pavilion.
Our program this month was about mordants, natural dyes, making dye stocks, and modifiers for a variety of fiber types.



