Retired aerospace engineer and designer of remote sensing satellites and image processing systems, and chapter De Anza Chapter member, Beth Jurecki, gave a demonstration to members at the January chapter meeting. She demonstrated the techniques used in the transformation of raw wool into a finished garment.

Beth spun wool for the group using a replica of a five thousand year old bead whorl spindle found in a Troy archeological site. Along with discussing the history of spinning and weaving, she took attendees through the process of washing, carding, spinning, warping, and finally weaving. Knitters and weavers were advised to avoid winding yarn into a tight ball as the fibers could be stretched.

Beth is a certified San Diego Master Gardener and Master Composter and volunteers in those programs.  An active member of the De Anza Chapter, she won first place in the 2012 CSSDAR American Heritage Contest for the weaving entry she showed during her demonstration.

Submitted by: Katharine Dixon