Vancouver Island Fibreshed

Apr 2024 VIF Monthly Meeting
2024-04-08 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Vancouver) | Online on Zoom
Held online via Zoom to enable participation from across our region.
Contact info@vancouverislandfibreshed.ca for the link to participate.

Comox Valley Community Fibre Craft Evening
2024-03-14 18:00 - 19:30 | Courtenay Library, 300 6th St, Courtenay, BC, V9N 9V9, Canada
Drop-In on 2nd Thursdays (Mar 14, Apr 11, May 9, Jun 13) from 6 – 7:30pm at the Courtenay Library Multipurpose Room.

Bring your fibre crafts (knitting, crochet, spinning, etc.) and spend time with community members at the CV Community Fibre Crafts evenings at the Courtenay Library. Drop in, no registration needed.

Do you want to learn how to spin sheep’s wool into yarn? We’ll have spindles and fleece you can try working with! Some supplies and mentorship available.

Mar 2024 Monthly Meeting
2024-03-11 19:00 - 20:30 | BC

Spin-In 2024 Victoria
2024-02-24 10:00 - 15:00 | Esquimalt Gorge Park, 1070 Tillicum Rd, Victoria, BC, Canada
Mark the date on your calendars! The 18th Annual Spin-In is happening on Saturday, February 24th, 2024 from10 am to 3 pm. This event is organized by the Victoria Handweavers’ and Spinners’ Guild to bring together spinners and fibre producers for a day of spinning, conversation, and inspiration. Guild and non-Guild spinners are welcome, and knitters are welcome too.
This year the Spin-In will held at the Esquimalt Gorge Pavilion in Esquimalt Gorge Park at 1070 Tillicum Rd, Victoria. There is ample free parking. There are also 4 EV charging stations and bike racks. If you need a break from spinning, you can take a stroll in the beautiful Japanese Gardens or along the Gorge.
As usual, bring your lunch and a mug as well as your wheel and fibre. There will be coffee, tea, and snacks, Sam Talks, a Show-But-No-Tell table, door prizes and great vendors. We have a few other ideas as well so keep checking our website.
Sam Talks
A Sam Talk is a brief talk about a topic useful to spinners. Past talks have included Spinning Boucle Yarn, trying different spinning wheels, Kim Mckenna’s Helpful Plying Method, and Sheep Breeds and Their Fleeces. If you would like to offer a half-hour talk or demonstration about some aspect of spinning, please contact us at spinin@vhwsg.ca
Show-But-No-Tell Table
Bring your beautiful handmade articles to display to other spinners. From skeins to finished articles, they are all welcome. Please label your articles with your name and guild so others can find you if they have questions or want to congratulate you on a fine job–or in case you forget to collect your work at the end of the day. We want to be sure it gets back to you.
Registration information, the registration fee, and the vendors to be announced. Keep checking the guild website at vhwsg.ca/activities/spin-in for more information.

Feb 2024 Monthly Meeting
2024-02-12 19:00 - 20:30 | BC
Online on Zoom

Second Monday of each month, 7pm. Held via Zoom to enable participation from all across our Fibreshed.
Contact info@vancouverislandfibreshed.ca if you would like to participate.

Fleece & Fibre Book Talk
2024-02-04 14:00 - 15:30 | BC
On Sunday, Feb 4th, join the Vancouver Island Fibreshed and Plants Are Teachers for a book talk featuring “Fleece and Fibre: Textile Producers of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands” by author Francine McCabe. The event starts at 2 p.m. and will include a book reading, Q&A session, and book signing. Tea and cookies will be provided.

The event will be held at the Vancouver Island Regional Library in Courtenay on the same day as the Sunday Sustainable Swap: Crafting Supplies event (1 – 3pm).
Courtenay Branch, VI Regional Library
300 6th St, Courtenay, BC

Francine McCabe is a mixed-blood Anishinaabe author, fibre artist, and Vancouver Island Fibreshed co-director. Her first book, Fleece and Fibre: Textile Producers of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands explores the world of small-scale textile farms along the Salish Sea and their pivotal role in the sustainable, artisanal textile production and slow fashion movement. Her writing has appeared in Portal Magazine, CV Collective, and FOLKLIFE.

Gabriola 2050 with the Gabriola Fibreshed pod
2024-01-26 - 2024-01-28 | BC
Jan 26 – 28: Gabriola 2050 community visioning session. The Gabriola Fibreshed pod will be participating.
Gabriola Arts and Heritage Centre.
Also an exhibit of textiles and art we have made using only Gabriola materials. Off island visitors welcome!
Gabriola Working Group Report (Dec 2023)

Jan 2024 Monthly Meeting
2024-01-08 19:00 - 20:30 | Online on Zoom
Second Monday of each month, 7pm. Held via Zoom to enable participation from all across our Fibreshed.

Distaff Day 2024
2024-01-06 10:00 - 16:00 | St. Peter’s Church Hall, 5800 Church Rd, Duncan, BC, Canada
Tzouhalem Spinners and Weavers Guild Distaff Day – calling all spinners !
Coffee, tea, soup, and goodies provided
