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    What's New at Thistle Hill Weavers

    Come to Our Holiday Open House!

    Saturday, December 1st & Sunday, December 2nd

    With a special event on Saturday, December 1, from 4:30-5pm: Meet fashion designer Gary Graham .

    Our Show Room will be open from 9am to 5:30pm both Saturday and Sunday, and then weekdays through the holiday season.

    See our antique looms run, enjoy special gifts made from our fabric and learn about the trade of weaving.

    Come join us for mill tours, gift shopping and refreshments!

    Save the Date – Our Annual Open House

    We are looking to hire a mill worker/textile support staff

    Job Description: Mill worker/textile support staff.

    Hours: Monday thru Thursday 9am to 5pm (or 8:30 to 4:30), Friday until 12:30 or 1pm. 35-hour work week Entry level position must have sewing skills.

    Starting pay is $12.00 Two-month probation period.

    Benefits:

    Thistle Hill offers a greater amount of flexibility with personal time and daily schedule than most businesses. Family is important, sick children or family members need care. We understand short, unexpected occurrences. However, we are looking for a person who can make a commitment to a weekly schedule year-round.

    • Full time employees receive one personal or sick day per month after the probation period.
    • After 6 months, eligible for health benefits (negotiable)
    • Vacation: 5 days per year with an additional day for every additional year. Six paid holidays.
    • Year end bonus based on the mill’s production.
    • Simple IRA contribution of 3% . Employee can put in whatever they choose.

    Individual should have the following skills: Sewing by machine and hand

    We will teach:

    • Cloth inspection and finishing
    • Quill winding
    • Cone winding
    • Creel set up and take down
    • Tying in warps
    • Weaving on the power and hand looms

    Individual must be able:

    • Lift warp beam with one or two other people
    • Must be able to stand on concrete floor
    • Must be able to drive in winter weather
    • Must have good hand skills
    • Must be able to be flexible changing from tasks during the day
    • Long-term commitment to Thistle Hill Weavers
    • Must work well with everyone on the team. Good natured, sense of humor helps, doesn’t mind chaos.

    Please review our web site www.thistlehillweavers.com. Email resume to rabbitgoodythw@gmail.com. Call 518 284 2729.

    Notes on This Year’s Textile History Forum

    The Textile History Forum was an amazing event.

    This year’s Forum surpassed our greatest expectations. I know that that sounds very cliche but there are no better ways to express how grateful we feel for the time well spent. Seventy five people, all with an interest in textiles came together to network with each other; sharing knowledge, good food and a waulking of woolen cloth in a joyously beautiful Vermont setting.

    And from this we have forged ahead with plans for the future.

    When I began the Textile History Forum in 1998, I did it with the hope that we could present academic papers in a relaxed and sharing way. It has always been the goal to have the Proceedings published and available the day of the Forum and that each Textile History Forum would include diverse current research in all aspects of Textile History.

    Now it’s time to expand on the Forum’s mission to include academic papers one year, and hands-on textile technology sessions on alternate years.

    2019 July 26th, 27th and 28th Textile Technology: Coverlets. Carpets and Weavers’ Drafts

    The evaluation forms indicated that folks would love a truly hands-on set of sessions next July and to that end we are planning on a Forum of activity without formal papers. Textile technology is a very broad field and we are planning to have sessions that involve demonstrations and hands-on workshops on several aspects of weaving and spinning technology.

    We are putting out a call for presenters who are involved with any aspect of textile technology and who want to share their knowledge in a hands-on session.

    One of the sessions will be on figuring technology for coverlets. I have an ingrain carpet head and Kate has a hand Grosse Jacquard head that we can use to explore the development of figuring technology side by side with our extensive collections of coverlets.

    19th century spinning technology, especially the development of patent heads and multiple spindle equipment will also be a part of the Forum’s technology sessions next July.

    Proceedings of the Textile History Forum For Sale

    The Proceedings are available for those who didn’t attend or for anyone who would like additional copies. $35.00 includes mailing fees.

    Lastly, the Forum has a domain of its own now. TextileHIstoryForum.com. It still gets you to the Thistle Hill Weavers website, but more directly I hope.

    Please plan on joining the fun next July and pass it on. We look forward to seeing you then.

    Schedule for the 2018 Textile History Forum

    Here is the schedule of events for the 2018 Textile History Forum on Friday, July 27, Saturday, July 28 and Sunday, July 29, 2018, Please note that some of the events have limited sizes and the overall Forum attendance is capped at 75 people.

    If you wish to register and pay through our online store, you may do so here.

    If you wish to register online and then pay via check, credit card or Paypal, you may do so here.

    Over Run and Remnant Sale Rescheduled for March 10

    Winter Newsletter

    Join us December 2nd and 3rd to celebrate the trade of Woven History.

    The Workshop of Rabbit Goody welcomes you to our Annual Open House and Mill Tours on December 2nd and 3rd, from 9am to 5pm.

    Watch our antique looms run!

    We have been working on some interesting projects this year. Join us and we will lead you through our process and let you experience a rare custom weaving mill still using looms made over 100 years ago.

    Our showroom will have fabrics, scarves, shawls, hand towels and carpet just right for the holiday season.

    Drink a toast with us, spread some cheer and learn about our traditional trade.

    Our showroom will be open through out the holiday season, weekdays from 9am to 5pm. Our luxurious over-run fabric can be made into custom gifts and we have special items ready for your gift giving needs.

    Meet the folks who can still make historic textiles! Laura, John, Vicky, Lisa, Frank, Holly and Rabbit Goody love sharing what we do, so please join us for the Open House or anytime during the Holiday Season.

    The staff at Thistle Hill Weavers wishes you the most peaceful and joyous season.

    The staff at Thistle Hill Weavers wishes you the most peaceful and joyous season.

    Undercurtains (Shears) at Hyde Hall

    These shears have just been installed at Hyde Hall in Cooperstown, NY.

    Wool Herringbone in Silver and Brown for Gum Tree Farms

    Our client Franny Kansteiner of Gum Tree Farm has given us permission to show her jacket on our web site as an example of a from-farm-to-finished-project. Do check out their gorgeous website for a look at their luxury wool apparel and home products!