ANWG Newsletter October 2026
ANWG President’s Letter
These beautiful fall days are just hanging on it seems. Cool nights and warm sunny days, enjoy them while we can. You know that the weather will change before we are ready for it. The time for staying indoors to complete all those projects instead of working outside or traveling is very close. I do hope you have some things lined up for exploration, in bright colors. Those kinds of projects always make my winter season a bit shorter.
If you haven’t had a chance to look at the Instructors and classes that will be available for the conference in June please check the ANWG website. There is something that will spark your interest, I am sure. then sign up and join other fiber enthusiasts June 14 – 19, 2027 in Portland for Rivers and Bridges: Connecting Fiber Communities our ANWG Conference.
Have a fabulous holiday season, where family and friends are gathered close for celebrations.
– Patty Huffer, ANWG President
Note from the Editor
I am so happy to send this newsletter out to our many members across North America. One of our member guilds from Eugene, Oregon, had such a unique project I decided to include it as a separate article. I hope you enjoy all the news as much as I do. You will notice that there are not so any guild reports this go-round. If your guild doesn’t appear here, send your local rep a photo of your latest work in progress, or of a finished project you would like to share. We love to hear from you.
I apologize for wonky formatting. I have been wrestling with it for days. I think I have everything set right, but when I look at the draft it is all re-arranged. I decided to post the newsletter with all its inconsistencies because there is so much good news in it. Thank you for your tolerance.
- Nancy Skakel, editor
2027 Conference News
Planning continues for the 2027 conference. We’ve announced the instructor lineup and the session schedule for all workshops and seminars. And, this year we’ll be hosting some sessions via Zoom to allow those who can’t travel to participate, both attendees and instructors. And, we’ve announced events for Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening, too!
Thursday night will be the fashion show. It should be lots of fun, with a no-host bar, nibbles and bites, and some amazing garments featuring handwoven fabric. Linda Stryker will be back as commentator for the show, and fashion show chairs Leigh Wheeler and Diane McKinnon will be assisted by last year’s chair Mimi Anderson, who will serve as this year’s judge.
Friday night is going to be extra special this year. Yes, the shopping extravaganza will return, but we’ve added a pre-shopping talk with Caroline Browne and Alexandria McKean titled, “The Big Weave: Honoring the Legacy of Marguerite Porter Davison.” They’ll be telling their story of bringing out a new version of the classic “A Handweaver’s Pattern Book”, and you won’t want to miss it.
Saturday night is our usual dinner and keynote address with the extraordinary Madelyn van der Hoogt! What a way to end the conference. We’re thrilled that Madelyn has agreed to deliver this year’s keynote, and we can’t wait to hear what she has to share from her many years as a weaver.
News about guild booths has also been announced, with applications being accepted beginning November 1, and vendor invites and applications will be available starting October 26.
For more on that and all the latest news about the conference you should subscribe to the conference blog at https://anwgconference.org/blog/.
Dan Steves & Edith Gummer, Conference Co-Chairs
Eugene Symphony Project
EWG/Eugene Symphony Project Has Liftoff! By Ellen Herman and Joey Barnes
Over the summer, the Eugene Weavers’ Guild has pursued an exciting collaboration with the Eugene Symphony. EWG member Joey Barnes, a fan of the Eugene Symphony, pitched the idea of a collaboration to the Symphony’s Executive Director Dave Moss who knew that the opening concert of the 2026-27 season would feature a piece titled “Color Field” by British-American composer Anna Clyne. He jumped on the idea of how our think tank of designers, dyers, weavers, and sewists could collaborate and create a Music Director’s jacket inspired by the music. Mark Rothko’s 1961 abstract painting, “Orange, Red, Yellow,” inspired the composer, Anna Clyne to create “Color Fields”, a selection of music that explores synesthesia, or the blending of sound and color. Clyne uses brush and pigment as a first step in her compositional process, so “Color Field” translates visual art directly into musical textures. Knowing music conductor Alex Prior loves beautiful clothes, the team recognized a great opportunity for EWG to showcase its talent. Why not create a beautiful piece of clothing for Prior to wear during the October 15 performance?
Orange! Red! Yellow!
Floating the idea at our May meeting surfaced a group of enthusiastic adventurers who signed up. After a first meeting with Dave, our team was fired up, and so was Dave! Next came a meeting with Dave Moss, Jen Bell, the marketing director for the
Symphony, and Alex Prior where everyone was “overwhelmed” (in a good way) by the excitement of the EWG members and the vision of how reality comes from whole cloth. Lots of people came up with ideas for the project, and while they may not have had hands-on, they sure had brains-in-gear! John Morse, Judy Sprague, Pam Stout, Ruth MacGregor, Leslie Conery, Debbie Daniels, Tracy Livernois, and Jenny West also contributed to this project.
With a timeline in place, Krista Richey took the lead on design, sampling, and weaving; Beki Ries-Montgomery did yeoman’s work on winding the silk into dyeable skeins and then onto bobbins; Susan Hirata envisioned the colorful silk, then Emily Guilland-Larson, Cathy Barnes, and Cheryl Richardson with help from Susannah Day began dyeing. Karen Sieradski and Linda Borntrager led on fitting Alex to a pattern based on his custom-designed jackets. Eugene Textile Center and Suzie Liles’s unwavering support and space were essential to the project. Rob’s knowledge of silk and how to get it ordered in time for the beginning of the actual work to begin were invaluable. Much thanks to Treenway Silk and Susan DuBoise for working with Rob to get the silk shipped quickly. On Tuesday, September 8th, Krista delivered 10 yards of simply stunning silk fabric. The drapiness of the fabric is perfect; the colors provide a stunning reflection of artist Rothko’s paintings, and how Krista ever came up with the draft and then wove it defies comprehension. Longer and wider than anything she’s ever attempted meant she stood to weave most of it. To see the yardage exhibited in one big long piece is a true thing of beauty, showcasing what weavers can do. And on September 14th, that beautiful cloth was cut apart! Karen and Linda took the inaugural steps of laying out the pattern pieces, matching design elements with hem and shoulder seams, and then, as if they were slicing the ribbon on a multi-million dollar project, the first cut was made! The project is right on time!
EWG worked with the Eugene Symphony to publicize this project in connection with the concert on October 15. Mina Ossiander coordinated works for display by members of EWG as a way to promote our guild, the upcoming holiday sale, and the show at West Furniture. The Eugene Modern Quilt Guild will also display samples of their work in the Hult Center’s exhibit hall. The Eugene Symphony opened its season on October 15. Grab a ticket and be a part of this special event! The project is wholly funded by donations from kind-hearted individuals and a generous in-kind donation by Eugene Textile Center. If you’d like to donate, please see Joey Barnes.
Guild News
Arachne Weavers
As Arachne moves into the fall of 2026, members have been finishing up herding its
CAMEL (Creative Approach to Mobile Education Loom). The CAMEL is an opportunity for members to study structures through small samples, and the guild has
been happily herding it around for years. As each CAMEL finishes, a new structure is warped on, and members pass the CAMEL around (every week or so).
The current weave structure is Deflected Double Weave- submitted by Kathy Miner
Columbia Fibres Guild
We are so fortunate to have our excellent Board members agree to serve another term administrating the business of our growing guild. Thank goodness for these wonderful volunteers keeping the wheels spinning. Thank you! They have completed writing a policy and procedure document which we unanimously approved. Now we are all treadling on the same draft.
We had another successful event at the Hood River Harvest Festival. The educational display boards explaining many aspects of fiber and the fiber arts always draws the public in to learn just what our demonstrations are about.
Several of our members won numerous awards at the various county fairs and the Oregon State Fair. Our NWSFA fiber judges had opportunities to utilize their training in several of those fairs. Way to go team!
Many of our members contributed to the wonderful lace making project, Lacing Communities Together Exhibit at the Columbia Gorge Museum in Stevenson, Washington. It will be open until the end of January 2027. With lace artist, Maggie Hensel-Brown, this is an initiative to engage curiosity and educate about the heritage artform of lacemaking. the museum has instructional videos on its website: https://www.columbiagorgemuseum.org/lace-project
Member Jillian McIntosh is developing her own hybrid breed of sheep. She calls them Cascadia Longwools. This composite breed of Wensleydale & Shetland has been in development on her farm for the last 9 years. They are ready to release breeding stock this fall. The fleeces are truly luscious. Good luck Jillian!
We are making plans for activities in the coming year. We always look forward to hearing the report from last year’s scholarship winner about what they learned, And our gala event of the year, the Holiday Luncheon and gift exchange.
- Nancy Skakel, ANWG rep
Desert Fiber Arts Guild
Desert Fiber Arts is preparing for its Annual Fall Market, November 6th and 7th. We are
looking forward to providing beautiful fiber art, workshops, textile talks and
demonstrations to the TriCities public.
Eugene Weavers Guild
See their wonderful Symphony Coat article above. Hooray for the collaboration of fiber arts and music!!
Gorge Handweavers Guild
The Gorge Handweavers took our usual summer break in July and August. At our September meeting we discussed plans for the coming year. During the summer,
members of the guild continued to weave on the upholstery fabric we are weaving for use at The Timberline Lodge. We are close to having woven our third 20 yard warp of upholstery material. This fabric is being used to reupholster sofa cushions. We have enough yarn to weave one more warp but need to determine how long that warp can be.
Many guild members are preparing their looms for a three day in person workshop with Rosalie Neilson. The tittle of the workshop is “ITS IN THE WARP: COLOR AND
DESIGN IN REP”. Guild members are looking forward to this workshop and the other activities we plan for the coming year as well as the ANWG Conference in June.
– Mary Davis, Gorge Handweavers Guild ANWG Rep
Salem Fiberarts Guild
In August, SFG was busy with the annual Oregon State Fair, held in Salem. Being the local guild, members of SFG play key roles in the organization and the Fiber Arts Department.
SFG member Pam Sullivan served as the Department Chair and she organized the competition. Of note this year was changing all four divisions (Weaving, Spinning, Felting, Dyeing) to the Danish method of judging. The transition was smooth and very popular. We saw an increase of 73% in the Fiber Art entries – primarily in the Handweaving Division.
Another popular activity at Oregon State Fair is the WeGO (Weaving Guilds of Oregon) Fiber Art Demonstration area. 2026 was WeGO’s 47th year of organizing the area. Pam Sullivan (also a WeGO board member) reported that 69 individuals demonstrated for 1027 hours during the 11 days of the fair. They provided demonstrations on weaving (floor looms, table looms, rigid heddle looms, band looms, inkle looms, pin looms), spinning (wheel, drop spindle and distaff), needle felting, carding and more.
The best part? The demonstrators came from seven Oregon-based guilds: a record number! Guild members came from as far south as Riddle (Umpqua Spinners and Weavers) and as far north as Portland (Portland Handweavers). It was great to meet everyone!
SFG’s September meeting featured California-based weaver and vocalist Nadine Sanders, who first shared her art weavings based on the Theo Moorman weaving technique. Nadine is also known as the “Singing Weaver” and she delighted our guild with two traditional songs.
SFG’s Annual Sale will be Friday, November 6 and Saturday, November 7, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, at the Willamette Heritage Center. Come find that special woven item – all are welcome!
- Renay McLeish, Salem Fiberarts Guild
Salt Springs Guild
This guild reminds us of the many offerings of the Handweavers Guild of America. https://www.handweavers.org/
Shuswap Spinners and Weavers Guild
Shuswap Spinners and Weavers had a productive summer. Members from the guild participated in “Mapping our World through fibre arts”presented by Runaway Moon Theatre. There were many sessions creating the wet felted backdrop to which framed miniature art pieces created by members were attached.The completed project can be viewed at the Salmon Arm Art Gallery
Our booth at the Salmon Arm fair at the end of August was well attended. Visitors were treated to the Sheep to Shawl competition which had three teams vying for first place. Our team which had of a number of new spinners and spinners who had never participated in this event before came in first. Way to go team!!
Visitors helped with waulking the friendship blankets which will be given to families who lost their homes this year through another devastating fire season. Many fair goers took the opportunity to explore spinning and weaving for the first time at the “Try Me” station.
We hosted our Spin Out on September 25. The event saw new and returning spinners from the region having a delightful day spinning and visiting. As always the luncheon was excellent.
Now that it is fall we are preparing to host the Robin Spady Extreme Warp Makeover Oct 16-17.
Finally we will end the year with our annual Christmas Market. Satuday November 21 from 10 am to 3:30 pm. It will be held at the 5th Avenue Seniors Centre 170 5Th Ave SE Salmon Arm. Stop by – see our newest creations – do some shopping – sit awhile and have a cup of tea.
Cheers for now.
Eva Riguedell Rep Shuswap Spinners and Weavers
Spokane Weavers Guild
Greetings from the Spokane Handweavers’ Guild!
With the horrible fires of August behind us, cooler weather, and the autumn leaves coming into their glory, we anticipate cozy fall days at our looms. But this is also the season of some great events. September brought the Spokane County Interstate Fair and its popular “Sheep-to-Shawl” competition that brings local spinners and weavers together in the sheep barn to create a finished shawl within six hours. Beginning with raw fleece, two competing teams carded, spun, and wove the fiber into something beautiful. Several SHG members participated, but the two who did the actual weaving were Lori Remz and Lillian Nehring. They made us proud!
Our annual show and sale takes place on October 30 and 31 at a new venue: Spokane Art Supply, 1303 N. Monroe, Spokane, WA 99201. This building has a large, well-lit place for our display and plenty of free parking. You’re all invited to this FREE event. Come see the work of our members and shop for holiday gifts from a great selection of items priced to fit every budget. Again this year, we had beautiful, sturdy bookmarks printed on glossy stock as a tool for promotion. This is something other ANWG member guild’s might like to try. The handy bookmarks contain all the information in a compact and useful form. Libraries, bookstores, and many other locations, as well as individuals, are happy to have them. (A front and back are shown in the photo.) In addition, our October meeting will include members bringing their items to sell at the show and making blank note cards with scraps of woven material inserted in the card’s “window,” also to be sold at the event.
Although our meetings are usually on the second Sunday of the month, this November it will be on Sunday, the 8th, with a program by Ginger Metcalf from the Columbia Basin Basketry Guild. Mid November brings another great FREE happening. Spokane’s delightful Fall Folk Festival (https://www.spokanefolkfestival.org/) will be held Nov. 14 and 15 at Spokane Community College, The Lair, 1810 N. Greene Street, Spokane WA 99217. This is a great opportunity for our guild to connect with community member who stop at our table display, stocked with gorgeous samples of weaving, at least one small table loom, and information on SHG. Come enjoy the festival’s more than 100 live performances and stop by to say hello and introduce yourself. We’d love to meet other ANWG members.
The program at our December meeting will feature member Doug Nehring teaching us how to make needle felted Christmas tree ornaments to take home that day. He showed some at the October meeting and now we’re all looking forward to trying this.
Bet wishes to all ANWG members for a beautiful autumn!
Candace Brown, ANWG rep Spokane Weavers Guild
Victoria Handweavers and Spinners Guild
In spring of 2026, Hanahlie Beise of Hinterland Yarns on Pender Island, BC, provided the Beehive Wool Shop in Victoria with a large amount of her alpaca roving, with the request that the fibre go to a good home. The Beehive Wool Shop very generously offered the fibre to the Victoria Handweavers’ and Spinners’ Guild and the executive cooked up a Fall challenge! All participants were provided with a portion of the alpaca roving from Hanahlie. The fibre could be used in any way, but needed to be incorporated into a project. Participants brought their finished projects to the September Guild meeting for show and tell. For more information about Hinterland Yarns:
https://www.hinterlandyarn.com/about
Bronwyn with a sweater to be, Joan with a tapestry, Michele wearing a sweater,
Jill, Linda wearing a wrap, Anne wearing a cowl, William wearing a sweater or
shawl, Caroline wearing a shawl, new member wearing a vest, new member
wearing a sweater and Glenda holding a shawl and a blanket.
Whonock Weavers and Spinners Guild
Summer is a slower season for the Whonnock Weavers and Spinners. Our regular meetings are put on hold for July and August, but we still had plenty of activity! The biggest event of the summer is Country Fest! It’s a long running fair in our community, and we’ve had a booth there for the last several years where we help people card and spin wool into yarn that we tied into bracelets. It was pouring rain for one of the days, but lots of people of all ages showed up to give spinning a try! It was such a delight to see the joy when people realized they had made their own yarn! It’s certainly one of the highlights of the year.
A small group of our members also participated in Tour de Fleece, which, in a nutshell, is a global event where spinners spin every day of the Tour de France. Our group got together on one of the days to spin under the bandstand at our local farmers market, and we had a lovely time spinning and chatting with folks!
We also had a cellulose dye day in August that was run by our own Irene Weisner. Some people painted warps, Others dyed rayon top, silk scarves, and an assortment of non-protein fibre yarns. It was an absolute blast and everything turned out quite beautifully.
Looking forward, we are currently ramping up for our annual juried exhibit and sale on November 29th. It’s the biggest event of our year, and it’s a really wonderful showcase of the many skills and talents of our members. This year also happens to be the 45th anniversary of this annual sale, which is incredible and humbling to think about.
Looking into the New Year, the guild also has an exhibit coming up in the ACT Gallery. The theme is “Form Function and Fantasy – Narrative threads from the Whonnock Weavers and Spinners.” It should be a really great showcase of all the work we do: traditional, non traditional, functional and decorative, and will include all the disciplines that fall under our guild’s scope: Woven items, wearables, felting, tapestry, basketry, etc.
Fiber Events
Oct 30-Nov 1 Oregon Flock and Fibers Festival Linn County Expo Center 3700 Knox Butte Road E. Albany, OR 97322
https://www.oregonflockandfiberfestival.com/
Oct 30-Nov 1 NWSFA Hallowe’en Retreat in Vernonia Cedar Ridge Conference and Retreat Center Fri, Oct 30, 2026 at 11:00 AM
Nov 6 The Sacred Sheep Redd Center 831 SE Salmon Street Portland, OR 97214
https://reddonsalmon.com
Dec 5-6 Wool & Holly Winter Market Seattle Design Center Sat, Dec 5, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Jan 9, 2027 St Distaff Day Burlington, WA Lucille Umbarger Elemantary School Sat, Jan 9, 2027 at 10:00 AM