Annual Roc Day Celebration Saturday at Cape Coral Library
The Weavers of CHAR-LEE are hosting its 8th annual Roc Day Celebration Saturday at the Cape Coral Library meeting room.
The celebration is a tradition that is held worldwide for weavers and spinners on Jan. 7 in honor of St. Distaff day. On that day the spinners and weavers take their looms and wheels out of storage after the holidays and begin their craft once again.
The Weavers of CHAR-LEE will honor the day by providing hands-on weaving and spinning demonstrations.
Rose Young, a member of Weavers of CHAR-LEE, said the nonprofit group has attracted up to 200 people during its Roc Day Celebrations. She explained that since they hold the event the same weekend as the Festival of the Arts, they tend to get more people at the library if it is raining outside.
Young said the members of the group will pull out their spinning wheels, drop spindle and looms, so they can spin on different things to let the public take a turn and participate. She explained that they hold the event because they want to try and pass on the information and heritage of weaving to others.
Those who have spinners or looms and are not sure how to use them are also encouraged to bring them by the library Saturday. Young said the group members will be more than happy to help set them up and connect them with other weavers in the area.
She encourages those who have come in the past to the Roc Day Celebration, to come again this year because the event is different every time.
Young said the group is open to anybody who wants to join, whether they have experience with weaving or not. The meetings are free and open to the public. They are held on the third Tuesday of every month at the Rob & Stucky meeting room in Fort Myers from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.
There is a commodore that comes along with the fiber people and weavers, Young said because the “fiber folks” really like sharing their techniques.
The Weavers of CHAR-LEE will also be holding a workshop at the Cape Coral Library on Jan. 18, 19 and 20, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Young said the workshop requires registration, but is open to the public. Those who participate need to bring their own loom to the workshop. The shadow weave, a weave structure, will be taught during the workshop.
For more information, contact Young at 239-540-5836.