The Whatcom Weavers Guild is bringing back art to the historic Roeder Home in the Cornwall Park neighborhood.
Spinners and weavers are offering free art sessions at the historic Roeder Home in the Cornwall Park neighborhood to rebuild the cultural and art activities, according to the free art session committee.
The Whatcom Weavers Guild began the Northwest Fiber Arts free drop-in sessions in March, said Sheri Ward, the free art session director.
Spinning is taking fiber from a sheep or cotton and turning it into yarn, according to Ward. Weaving is the interaction of threads on a loom, she said.
The free art sessions allow people to “wet their feet in new interests,” said Meg Jobe, an avid weaver and instructor at the sessions.
The sessions have history
According to Ward, in 1971, the Whatcom County Parks Department funded cultural and arts activities at the Roeder Home. The parks department bought five looms for the spinning and weaving art classes, she said.
But in 2008, the budget cuts cut funding for the cultural and art activities, Ward said. Some people thought the Roeder Home closed because there weren’t any classes or activities offered, she said.
Whatcom Weavers Guild members wanted to bring back spinning and weaving classes at the Roeder Home because they knew the looms were available but not in use, Ward said.
The free art sessions were created to bring art back to the community, Ward said.
Ward said the first drop-in session only had three to four people attend. She said she
is still trying to get the word out about the sessions.
The number of people who attend the sessions has now improved to five to six people, she said.
“It was a slow start,” Ward said.
Volunteers help at the sessions
Whatcom Weavers Guild members volunteer at the sessions to teach the spinning and weaving, Ward said. Usually five to six volunteers will attend the sessions to teach she said.
There are five committee members and they helped formulate the program and they help organize and run the event, Ward said. Ward has taught at every free session since they began in March.
“I like making things with my hands,” Ward said. “It’s very satisfying.”
Meg Jobe, a weaving instructor, said she likes to share weaving with other people.
“It’s a nice opportunity for people to come because it has low commitment,” Jobe said.
If people aren’t in an economical position to start up this expensive hobby, they can come to the free sessions, Jobe said.
“I find the history of weaving fascinating,” Jobe said. “If people didn’t weave, we wouldn’t have clothes.”
The sessions help connect and calm people
Vice President of the Whatcom Weavers Guild Juliet Barnes, said the sessions build community and fellowship. The sessions and instructors are very welcoming, she said.
“I think the sessions are a wonderful idea to get spinning and weaving back out into the public’s hands,” Barnes said.
Barnes said spinning and weaving are an enjoyable hobby and the sessions are an enjoyable experience.
“It’s a social opportunity for people with similar interests to get together,” Barnes said.
Ward said weaving is rhythmic and repetitious. She said it allows the mind to drift off to other places.
“If you have a lot of mind chatter, weaving can make it fade away,” Ward said.
The sessions welcome all
All ages are welcome to attend the free sessions but children are asked to be accompanied by an adult, Ward said.
Ward said the sessions are informal and anyone can walk in at any time during the session. According to Ward, the Roeder Home is wheelchair accessible so virtually anyone can attend the sessions.
People with all varieties of knowledge can come to the sessions, Sheri Ward said.
“I hope the sessions continue possibly indefinitely,” Ward said.
The sessions are available for people to attend on the second and fourth Wednesdays of every month at 2600 Sunset Drive from 1p.m. to 3 p.m. #
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Photo courtesy of Sheri Ward
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