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The first gathering of the new Fiber Guild was Tuesday, September 14 at the Chisago County History Center in Lindstrom. For those of you who ask; what’s the historical society got to do with weaving, sewing, or knitting, well, it’s all how you look at it.

County Historical Society Director Sherry Stirling; a local sheep rancher with some experience in the fiber industry, said the historical society is a natural organization to encourage and partner in promoting the fiber arts.

The history angle came into sharper focus for Stirling when the society rescued and relocated the historic one-room Clover Blossom Schoolhouse, after its use as the Shafer Town Hall came to an end.

Stirling said the building was looked at as a future place to hold classes in “lost” arts, maybe primitive canoe building, etc-- projects that need a spacious place. People involved in preserving the schoolhouse envisioned instructors passing their skills along while bringing the one-room schoolhouse back to useful life.

The schoolhouse refurbishing isn’t yet to the point where classes might be held there; but in order to at least get the educational outreach aspect of the plan rolling-- Stirling juggled the history center schedule to host small endeavors, like, a-ha-- a fiber guild.

Stirling explained that the center is used pretty heavily three days a week for more academic pursuits, but Tuesdays were open for hosting the fiber guild.

Last week several fiber enthusiasts got together on the lower level of the center, in a restored (donated) Victorian house, on Olinda, two blocks north of the Lindstrom Dairy Queen.

A couple people brought spinning wheels and others toted their handcraft projects. It was a congenial bunch, with the more experienced gals lending advice to those who asked. Two of the fiber guild participants are involved in alpaca ranching and were processing their wool.

Some said they though the guild meetings would help to avoid distractions at-home, and the social aspect of sharing their interest was attractive.

Loretta August arrived with her balky spinning wheel to see if she could get help adjusting it.

While tinkering on the unit, she also mentioned that she teaches loom-knitting at North Branch.

August reports the fiber arts are alive and well there, and even teenage guys are excited about making custom hats and scarves in her classes.

Another guild participant explained that while volunteering at an alpaca exhibit at the State Fair, she was delighted by how many males stopped to admire the colors and variety of alpaca yarn.

Stirling laughs when she’s accused of having a master plan behind all this. But she agrees this fledgling fiber guild definitely gives people who might not normally get involved in a “historical society” an opening to do so.

The society is like any other organization sustaining its vitality by broadening its base. “We can’t be afraid of trying new things,” Stirling notes.

The guild is going to be meeting on Tuesdays and see how it goes.

The next session was set for October 5. The history center will open up about 1 p.m. and welcome all who are interested in the not-yet “lost” fiber arts.

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