Stepping into Lynn Baritelle’s weaving studio is like stepping into a flood of white light.
With large windows on each side, pale walls and high ceilings, the light bounces around and highlights boldly-colored spools of yarn, thread, and hand-dyed fiber as well as the radiantly-colored and intricately patterned woven cloth that Baritelle is esteemed for within her community and by appreciators of quality handmade fabric, according to members of the North Olympic Shuttle and Spindle Guild.
“The more color I have, the better my design can be,” Baritelle said, in reference to the many spools carefully organized on her shelves and the many bins of acid-dyed fiber.
“I don’t consider myself that wonderful of an artist,” she said, “but for whatever reason, the textiles excite me… I lie awake at night thinking, ‘well, if I combine this and that and throw in a little of the third color, what will that do?’”
“She’s a really amazing dyer and a brilliant weaver,” said Chrysalis Carter, who has been with the guild since the 1980s, “and she does really wonderful work. She doesn’t do it for the fame — she has the skills and people recognize it when they see it.”
Baritelle took her first weaving classes at Chico State in the 1960s and went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Textiles at the University of Idaho. “I had a great deal of fun with it,” she said.
She said that the complicated process of weaving patterns involves a lot of math, and has been very good for her brain.
“I mean, I’m in my 80’s now and I think I’m still functioning right,” she said.
In the more than five decades that Baritelle has been exploring the textile crafts she has been alternately student, teacher and traveler learning from other masters. Her home bears witness to a deep appreciation of the arts by both herself and her late husband, with exquisite artwork and woodcraft at every corner. Three spinning wheels are evident and two large looms.
Guild holiday sale
A member of the guild since the early 2000s, Baritelle was chosen by her fellows to represent a weaver, dyer and spinner at the pinnacle of their craft.
“Weaving is her passion,” Carter said, “and she’s so generous with her skills.”
She said they consider Baritelle to be their “weaving encyclopedia (and) if you have questions about weaving, ask Lynn.”
Carter said that there is “a lot of talent here,” both from the “old weavers and a whole flood of new, young, enthusiastic weavers that are looking at weaving with fresh eyes, very inspiring,” and that Baritelle is a respected mentor.
The 88 member-strong guild is currently preparing for a big holiday sale called “Celebrating Color” on Friday, Dec. 6 from 5-8 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 7 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Megan Cyphers’ Locally Known Cowork, 112 W. Washington St.
The North Olympic Shuttle and Spindle Guild began in 1975 with 35 members, according to Baritelle, and hasn’t had a holiday sale like this in many decades, said Carter.
“We have a balanced group in terms of spinners, dyers, weavers, felters, tatters, knitters and crocheters and all the people who raise animals and produce the raw fleece to do your work in textiles,” said Carter.
Some of the items for sale will be homegoods like towels, washcloths, rugs, finger towels to bath towels, mug rugs, wine bottle holders, wall decorations, pillows, lap rugs, throw blankets, trivets, napkins, place mats, dryer balls, gift bags and pet toys.
Clothing includes small items, accessories, hats, gloves, mittens, socks, slippers, bags, quilted and otherwise, scarves, shawls, shrugs, ponchos, jackets, tops, vests, and baby items.
Fiber and “luxury yarns” like silk and yak wool,mixes of locally grown sheep and llama yarn and “plain simple sheep yarn, both naturally colored and beautifully dyed,” will also be for sale, said Carter.
Carter said that their guild is full of friendly, inclusive people, always happy to have new members and share their craft with the public. “The spirit of generosity is across the board with most of the textile people. There’s a lot of joy to be had in creating with fiber and a lot of self awareness in the process.”
The guild holds meetings on the first Saturday of most months at the Unitarian Universalist Church at 1033 N. Barr Road and there are smaller study groups for the various disciplines, as well as many events listed on their website at https://www.nossg.org/. For more information, email to n.o.shuttleandspindleguild@gmail.com.
Lynn Baritelle demonstrates spinning fiber into thread at her home in Sequim. Baritelle is a well respected fiber artist and a member of the North Olympic Shuttle and Spindle Guild with a master’s degree in textiles.
Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ Master weaver and Sequim resident Lynn Baritelle wove this cloth to match the colors in the irridescent feather to the right.
Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ This is an example of the work of master weaver Lynn Baritelle, who also dyes and spins fiber to produce thread for her weavings. The luminous color, soft texture and intricacy of pattern can only be hinted at in a photograph.
Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ An example of the work of master weaver Lynn Baritelle, who also dyes and spins fiber to produce thread for her weavings. The luminous color, soft texture and intricacy of pattern can only be hinted at in a photograph.
Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ Lynn Baritelle, pictured in her studio, is a weaver and fiber artist with more than 5 decades of experience. Her guild, the North Olympic Shuttle and Spindle Guild, will hold their textile sale, “Celebrating Color,” at Megan Cyphers’ Locally Known Cowork, 112 W. Washington Street in Sequim on Dec. 6 and 7.
Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ Lynn Baritelle, master weaver, demonstrates the weaving of cloth on her loom in her home workshop.
Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ Lynn Baritelle, master weaver, demonstrates the weaving of cloth on her loom in her home workshop.
Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ Lynn Baritelle, master weaver, describes the intricasies of a pattern. The math involved has helped her to stay intellectually acute into her 80’s she said.
Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ Lynn Baritelle of Sequim shares examples of the intricacy of pattern she can produce using her computerized loom.
Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ Lynn Baritelle of Sequim shares examples of the intricacy of pattern she can produce using her computerized loom.
Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ Lynn Baritelle, one of the North Olympic Shuttle and Spindle Guild’s 88 members, sits at the computerized loom which is capable of weaving 16-18 shaft patterns.
Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ Lynn Baritelle, one of the North Olympic Shuttle and Spindle Guild’s 88 members, sits at the computerized loom which is capable of weaving 16-18 shaft patterns.
Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ Lynn Baritelle, pictured in her studio, is a weaver and fiber artist with more than 5 decades of experience. She made this shawl with a traditional loom and she created picture behind her based on a design by her late husband of what he saw in the early morning while farming.
Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen/ This scarf by Lynn Baritelle, master weaver, is one of the many items for sale at the upcoming textile sale, “Celebrating Color,” put on by the North Olympic Shuttle and Spindle Guild on Dec. 6 and 7 at Megan Cyphers’ Locally Known Cowork, 112 W. Washington Street in Sequim on Dec. 6 and 7.
