Our monthly guild meeting, by Zoom.

Jack Paltanen of Blue Trillium Textiles

Out My Back Gate: Trees woven with the Colours of Milne Dam Conservation Park, Markham, Ontario is Jack’s most ambitious project to date. The installation currently consists of nine, hand woven trees, three each of Staghorn Sumac, Birch, and Black Walnut. The majority of the natural yarns used were dyed with locally grown, and foraged traditional dye plants, including Weld, Oak leaves, Birch leaves & bark, Black Walnut leaves & nut husks, among others. Madder, and Woad which can be grown here were also used. The weaving patterns created for the trees were inspired by historic domestic textiles from Canada and Finland, and the bark of the trees they represent.