Note from the Editor
Never too old to learn. I am more comfortable with 19th century technology, but I embrace the 21st century and all of its marvels. It is always so interesting to read about the activities of guilds from all over. Such creative people and wonderful resources for ideas and events. Thank you all for participating. Hoping you are cozy and surrounded by friends, family, and fiber.
Nancy Skakel, editor
IMPORTANT NOTICE
With this newsletter we will be transitioning to a new newsletter system. The new system will allow reps, guild members, and anyone else who is interested in ANWG to sign up to receive the newsletter in their email inbox automatically. This means that the newsletter editor will no longer be maintaining a list of subscribers, and newsletters will not automatically go out to reps. All reps and anyone else who wants to receive the newsletter will need to subscribe to the newsletter from the ANWG website: https://northwestweavers.org/newsletter/
How to Subscribe to the Newsletter
To subscribe to the newsletter, go to https://northwestweavers.org/newsletter/ and use the form at the top of the page to sign-up to get the newsletters via email. Please note: this is a 2 step process.
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If you don’t do the second step you will not get the newsletter emails.
How to find the newsletter
With the new system there will be 3 ways to access future newsletters:
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If you have questions or concerns please contact the Website Admin.
ANWG News
News From the Membership Chair and a Reminder
Dues are due! Please pay your guild’s dues before the end of the year. At $1/guild member, it’s a bargain! If your guild has 20 members, you pay $20—that’s all! Such a deal!
And this year, we are adding some information to the website, so please fill out the membership form with current information. There seems to be some confusion with the request for the “Guild Meeting Address”. Please give us the information that could be used by someone who had not contacted the rep or guild via email but wished to come to a meeting. Also, if the location is not close enough to a new member, they may find another guild closer to their location. Just listing something like “guild room” or “Building on Road 29” may not be helpful for those looking to join your guild. So please be as complete as possible when listing the guild meeting address. We added this query to help your guild grow.
Please, if you have questions about your guild’s membership status, contact the membership chair directly using the link the on the ANWG website.
See you in 2027!
Linda York, Membership Chair
ANWG 20207 Conference News
Well, we can finally announce that the Portland Handweavers Guild will be hosting the ANWG 2027 Conference. The Holiday Inn – Columbia Riverfront has been booked for June 14 – 19, 2027. Many more details will be coming soon, including the conference theme, colors, and committee chairs.
Planning for the conference is well underway, and we’re really excited about it. You can help us make this conference a success by telling your favorite instructors that you want to see them in Portland in 2027, and invite them to submit an application to teach at the conference. The Call for Instructors is up and ready to go. Potential instructors can find information at https://anwgconference.org/call-for-instructors/ including links to the forms for submitting applications and session proposals. And, proposals are now being accepted for both workshops and seminars.
If you want to help with the planning you can contact us at co-chair@anwgconference.org. We still have slots open on the committee and will be looking for help. Our first planning meeting is coming up on November 1 at 1:00 PT. If you want to know more you can join us via Zoom. Join the Zoom meeting by clicking this link:
https://zoom.us/j/2290207971?pwd=elJvd2w0L2NsMlJPZXhNM3JlTFphZz09
Keep an eye on the ANWG Conference website – https://anwgconference.org/ – for updates. And subscribe to the ANWG Conference Blog to get all the latest news delivered right to your inbox.
We’re thrilled to be bringing the conference to Portland, and we hope to see you there in 2027.
Dan Steves and Edith Gummer, Conference Co-Chairs
Volunteer Grant Writers Sought
The 2027 Conference Committee is seeking volunteer Grant Writers to support planning and fundraising for the 2027 ANWG Conference in Portland, Oregon, a regional gathering of weavers, spinners, and fiber artists featuring workshops, exhibits, and a fashion show. During 2025–26, the Grant Writers will assist with applications to programs like the City of Portland’s Small Grants Program and other arts funding sources. This role will collaborate with ANWG 2027 organizers and committees to locate and apply for funding, focusing on the event’s education and community impact in grant narratives. The volunteers will play a key role in securing resources that bring the 2027 conference to life while gaining valuable experience in arts-based fundraising. To volunteer or request additional information please contact the conference co-chairs at co-chair@anwgconference.org.
News from Member Guilds
Arachne Weavers Guild Sumner, WA
This fall Arachne participated in home arts at the Washington State Fair in Puyallup, Washington.
Preparations started early as members worked on items for the Home Arts Textile Competitions. Items were entered into various divisions including weaving, spinning, knitting, and crocheting. Members also participated in the fasted fingers in the west contests to see who the fastest knitters, crocheters, and tatters were.
Before the fair, the Arachne Sheep to Shawl Team gathered periodically to choose a draft, prep and dye fiber, and spin and ply their warp.
The team then assembled at the fair to prep fiber, spin and ply weft, and weave to finish their shawl in one day.
On several days at the fair, Arachne demonstrated weaving, spinning, and other fiber arts. This was a very fun community outreach.
This year members won various individual awards for their efforts, and their shawl received a best use of color merit award.
- Kathy Miner, ANWG Rep
Central Oregon Sinners and Weavers
Newsletter link: https://mailchi.mp/c5ddd430bc8c/cosw-october-2023-newsletter-13909776?e=5fe84515b1
Columbia Fibres Guild Columbia River Gorge OR & WA
We had an exceptionally pleasant though dry summer here. A major step forward is the establishment of a guild website thanks to new, younger, IT savvy members. Thank you! www.columbiafibresguild.org
At our first meeting in September we shared awards won at various fairs and Sandra Haynie gave us a program on the history of aprons with her apron collection. In October we had our annual silent auction fund raiser. This year we invited the Gorge Handweavers Guild to join us.
Jennifer Marcus taught an Introduction to Tapestry workshop that included a take home loom for every participant! It was great fun and I think inspired some new tapestry enthusiasts. We had visited Jennifer’s studio last April on our annual field trip.
We sponsored our first and very successful Sheep to Shawl event at the Skamania County Fair. We are inspired to join one of the competitions next year.
Three of our members are completing the requirements to become NwSFA Certified Fiber Judges. It has been a tremendous learning experience with very knowledgeable instructors- and there is so much more to learn!
– Nancy Skakel, ANWG rep
Coquitlam Weavers Guild
The Coquitlam Weavers Guild is a small guild that meets at Place des Arts in Coquitlam. https://placedesarts.ca/ There is a weaving and spinning studio there with classes most of the year as well as access to Zoom and a large TV in the meeting room. We have members who join in the meetings by Zoom.
Coquitlam Weaver focus on a yearly theme. This year the theme will be lace weaves while last year the theme was small looms and the previous year it was Summer and Winter. The Guild owns two small looms which are warped and passed around from weaver to weaver usually involving projects related to the theme. Meetings include a presentation on the theme usually by one of the members and lots of show and tell.
Annually the Guild has a dye day in one member’s back yard. This year the Guild focused on ice dyeing and immersion dyeing.
Eugene Weavers Guild
The Eugene Weavers’ Guild kicked off the fall season with our bi-annual “Fiberama”, where we bring our weftovers and any unwanted fiber goodies to sell to each other, with all proceeds going to the guild. As usual, our members were very generous with their donations! We are looking forward to our annual Fiber Arts Celebration and Holiday Sale in November, and we will return to West Avenue Furniture as their “artist of the month”, also in November.
Winding down the summer, Krista Richey’s bag class was a big success, with several completed bags to show at the September meeting (photo). Our members also had successful showings at the Lane County Fair and the Oregon State Fair, and we followed those exhibits with our member’s Open Show at the ETC gallery in September (photo – For a Splendid Table Runner by Mina Ossiander, Ginkgo Jacket by Karen Sieradski).
We have some fun programs to look forward to, with Steve McGrath/Jam Jar Rugs, Theo Rooden and Jeremy Uden coming up in the next few months.
- Diane Pigg, ANWG Rep
Gorge Handweavers, Columbia River Gorge
The Gorge Handweavers Guild is sponsoring a Krokbragd workshop with Debby Greenlaw on November 15-17, 2025. It is a Zoom Workshop and there are 7 openings for this class. The total cost for each participant will be between $135 and $88. If you are interested in signing up for this workshop please contact Lynda Tarbath at this email address ltarbath@gmail.com. You will be asked to send a $50 deposit to Lynda at the following address. Lynda Tarbath, 23 E Lake Rd, White Salmon, WA. 98672.
Here is a description of the workshop:
In this workshop participants will explore the history, structure and common motifs of Krokbragd. Debby will share tips for color and yarn selection, selgvage management, and finishing techniques. Participants will weave a Krokbragd sampler.
There will be both morning and afternoon Zoom sessions that will be 2 to 2 1/2 hours long. These sessions will be recorded and be available to registered participants for one month.
An equipment and supply list will be sent out before the workshop and a handout will be sent one week in advance.
Mary Davis, ANWG Rep
Greater Vancouver Weavers and Spinners Guild, Vancouver BC
The Greater Vancouver Weavers’ and Spinners’ Guild celebrated its 90th anniversary this year with a tea towel exchange. Emerald and granite colours were the focus because these are the colours for 90 years according to some sources. Nine members participated, sharing 18 towels.
The guild hosts a monthly WeaveSpinDye day where there is always some dye activity. Besides nature and chemical dyeing, we annually do warp painting and indigo dyeing. Our presentations continue to be by Zoom so that we have the opportunity to learn from and be inspired by people from outside our area.
We do not host a sale on our own. We pay for tables at art festivals or other sales opportunities. We have a large library which we are unable to store at the location where we meet so the library is open once a month or by appointment.
We continue to be challenged to fill major volunteer roles: President, Treasurer, Workshops and Programs. We have not hosted workshops for the last 2 years because no one has wanted to do this job. The same person has been doing the Zoom programs since 2020.
Attached are two photos: indigo dyeing and four of the tea towels exchanged
Klamath Spinners and Weavers
Hello from Klamath Spinners and Weavers Guild!
We don’t have meetings in the summer, but one fun thing a couple of us did was to have a display at the new local Yak farm as part of a “farms tour”, with Liz’s beautiful felted pots and panels, her demo creating a felted yak picture, as well as a spinning wheel and some natural dyed yarns and processed yak fibers. We also had spinning demo and solar dyeing natural dyes in front of our new LYS called “Unwind” at Saturday Market, and a series of fibery events planned by Kelly in collaboration with the owner also on Saturday Market day, and a spinning demo in Sprague River in July.
After the summer off from meetings, we resumed in September with a discussion about how to have more Guild participation in events in the community, and appointed one member to gather and alert us of events that we can participate in. Our October meeting was spinning wheel maintenance. We’re still trying to plan the rest of the year with Basket weaving, something in advanced weaving and an interesting rug making technique…
I’m not versed in including photos, but they are on our website on Facebook Klamath Spinners and Weavers…
Kathy Nelson – WeGO and ANWG Rep
Methow Valley, Twisp, WA
Quilt Show Winthrop WA. Quilt made of study group squares.
2025 Annual Show and Sale poster
Midnight Shuttles Spinners and Weavers Campbell River, B.C.
It was a stormy blustery day as members came to the October meeting of the Midnight Shuttles Spinners and Weavers. The business meeting portion covered a lot of topics (as most do at the start of a new guild year) and we had a lovely refreshment break with goodies by Joyce, and show and tell, with more than a few laughs!
(pictures by Donna and Susan)
- Joyce Fauchon, ANWG Rep
Rep weave placemats, raffia edged ceramics, kitchen towels
Table runners, a wreath, and cute little ‘toe socks’ and pressed /
pounded flower cards.
Missoula Handweavers Guild
Missoula Weavers Guild General Meeting September 20, 2025 Phillipsburg, MT
Peggy Schlesinger hosted the inaugural meeting of the “MWG Conference Year” at her home and studio overlooking the Flint Creek Valley. The pot luck luncheon and sunny Fall day on a deck perched in granite made for an excellent opportunity for members to catch up with each other after our summer break.
Group at the September meeting
Guild President, Karen Hoyt began by introducing our newest member, Barbara Bennett. Barb lives on Whidbey Island, Puget Sound. She plans to join us for meetings and for the conference. She’s experienced weaver and avid traveler, and loves Montana.
Karen opened the meeting encouraging us to embrace the challenge of an Action-Packed Guild Season and prepare for the “wee bit of work” which will come with the MAWS26 Conference.
In reviewing summer activities, she gave a shout-out to Sharon and her conference team for their continued MAWS planning efforts.
Karen reported that the outreach day of weaving at the Bitterroot Public Library was a success. The activities included weaving a yarn basket and paper greeting cards. It was agreed that we should do this again!
The weave-in hosted by Barb Daniels was a delightful success. Thank you, Barb!
MWG members had a successful Fair season which was spearheaded by Margie Lubinski. Thank you, Marge
Karen announced that Sharon’s REP WEAVE was featured in the Handweaver’s Guild of America’s Shuttle,Spindle and Dyepot issue 222, Summer ’25!
Sharon’s Rep Weave
Paper Weaving Projects from the Bitterroot Library summer program
Members liked the idea of having short demonstrations or discussions during the social hour of each meeting. Last year Bonnie and Sharon did demos on joining and on Cavandoli knots, for instance. Weaving is such a deep craft that there are many techniques and work-arounds which we may take for granted. Please sign up to share one of your personal favorite skills or favorite resources! . Janet has offered to help members access the Library Thingy during this time and she would also do a pin loom demo. Bonnie offered to explain her discoveries for invisible joins. The sign-up sheet also has a place for you to suggest something you would like to Learn in this part of our meetings.
October 25: From Barb French: Montana Fibershed is sponsoring Farm to Fiber…A Montana Fiber Journey at the Missoula County Fairgrounds. There will be Workshops 10-3pm and a Reception Open to the Public from 4pm-6pm. Information- www.montanafibershed.org
December 6th From Karla Long: We are welcome to show at the Sons of Norway Christmas Bazaar again! Those who participated last year agreed it was very enjoyable and profitable.
Library news: Janet has been sorting books for duplicates and will have some for sale at good prices and some which can be used at the conference. We received 4 tubs of books which belonged to Charlie Kauffman. She hopes to sell books to members and on the internet to raise some $$ for the Guild. Janet encourages everyone to make use of the library! If you need advice about source material, she is the person to call.
The Montana Museum of Art and Culture [fyi: it’s on the University of Montana campus near the Field house], home to ‘one of the oldest, largest and deepest art collections in the Rocky Mountain states’, welcomes our Guild to assist in developing the collection and helping with the preparations for the exhibit they will open during the MAWS26 Conference!
The study group will be able to have some meetings at the museum. This is a rare opportunity to learn about weaving and archiving! The study group will meet monthly.
MONTANA ASSOCIATION OF WEAVERS & SPINNERS CONFERENCE
JUNE 16-21, 2026 @ UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA, MISSOULA, MT
REGISTRATION OPENS FEBRUARY 14, 2026
DETAILS ARE DEVELOPING @ https://www.montanaweavespin.org/
Co-hosted by Missoula Weavers Guild & Big Sky Fiber Arts Guild
- Jennie Meinershagen, ANWG Rep
Ponderosa Fibre Arts Guild, Kelowna, BC
Show Your Stripes is a collaborative project created by Ponderosa fibre artists using multiple textile techniques such as weaving, knitting, embroidery and crochet with fibres as the medium. Colours are used in the series to represent the progressive heating of our planet. This display builds on work by Professor Ed Hawkins of the University of Redding. The woven panels compare yearly weather data for every ten years from 1943 to 2023. The knitted blanket featured Vancouver temperatures over 100 years. The embroidery piece showed Kelowna’s weather for every June in the past 20 years. The crochet display represented the scarcity of water. The colourful pieces engage and promote conversation about the changing climate. The first instalment was showcased at the Lake Country Art Walk September 6 and 7.
Ponderosa Guild participated in the Sheep to Shawl event at the Salmon Arm Fall Fair at the end of August. The dyers created a beautiful colour way, the spinners produced artfully spun yarn and the weaver worked her loom magic.
Portland Handweavers Guild
The Portland Handweavers Guild started the fall with a presentation by Judilee Fitzhugh on indigo dying, followed by a two day workshop. Samples were shown in October, and by all reports everyone had a great time and learned a lot. Then, at our October meeting we heard from Nancy Hoskins and folks from the North American Linen Association about their efforts to restart the flax industry in the US.
October also brings the annual Weftover Sale. Member clear our some of their stash and we clean out the PHG closet from all the donations we’ve received over the last year and it all goes up for sale to raise money for the guild. The challenge, of course, is to leave with less than you brought, which is always easier said than done. Regardless of whether you left empty handed or with a bag or two of goodies you’re certain to have had a good time.
November will see longtime PHG member and past president Rosalie Neilson present a program entitled “Why We Weave”, followed by a workshop on color and design in huck lace towels.
Newsletters, information about programs and workshops, and links to attend meetings via zoom are all available on the PHG website at https://portlandhandweaversguild.org.
- Dan Steves, ANWG Rep
Qualicum Spinners and Weavers Guild, Parksville, BC
The Qualicum Weavers and Spinners have had a busy summer and fall so far. In June there was a potluck lunch and stash swap.
During July and August ten guild members had woven, felted, or basketry items included in a gallery exhibit entitled “Ten Amazing Places”. Ten locations within the UNESCO Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere reserve were chosen and artists in metal, painting, fibre, and basketry were asked to participate in an exhibition of their works inspired by the ten places. Guild members Pat Collins, Linda Daniels, Sylvia Dwyer, Carol Hunter, Darrell Giraldeau, Debbie McCellelland, Jetty Niet, Linda Raven, Susan Richardson and Sharon Young took part. The exhibition took place in the Parksville MacMillan Arts Centre during July and August.
In August several guild members took part in demonstrations and a display at the Light House Country Fair.
In September the guild took part in Qualicum Beach Cultural Days by sponsoring a community weaving together project at the library, called “Oceans of Opportunity Tapestry” where guild members assisted members of the public in weaving portions of a tapestry. In early October the Guild studio was open for visitors and demonstrations during Active Aging Week in Qualicum Beach.
The knitters and spinners have twice monthly drop-ins at the studio, and the Exploring More weavers meet monthly via Zoom.
There have been workshops in Beginning Weaving, Making a Ribbed Melon Basket, Texture in Hand Weaving, and Level 2 weaving – Dish cloths, Tea Towels and More. Coming soon – Mad Weave Basket, Spinning Blends, Spinning Beyond the Basics, Introduction to Drop Spindling, Introduction to Spinning, Wet Felting a Garden Scene, Wet Felting a Bowl, and How to Read a Weaving Recipe. All of these are taught by guild members.
See photos of some of the items from the Ten Amazing Places Exhibit, and the workshops.
- Sheila Carey, ANWG Rep
Salem Fiberarts Guild
The Oregon State Fair, located in Salem, Oregon, is a significant community event for the Salem Fiberarts Guild, and 2025 was no different. SFG members were at the Fiber Arts area of the Fair each day during the two-week event, demonstrating weaving, spinning, and other fiber activities. This year, we were excited to be joined by members of five other area guilds. Thanks to Weaving Guilds of Oregon (WeGO) for organizing the Fiber Arts, from judging to displays to exhibitions to Make-and-Takes. SFG is excited for the 2026 Fair!
We’re turning our focus this fall to pine needle basket weaving. Members of Salem’s Center 50+ brought many of their creations to our September meeting and several SFG members will learn to make baskets in an October workshop.
Now we are turning our attention to our annual sale, to be held November 7 and 8 at the Willamette Heritage Center. It’s another popular community event. If you’re in the area, stop in – admission is free!
- Renay McLeish, ANWG Rep
Shuswap Spinners and Weavers, Salmon Arm, BC
We are keeping the Love for Wool & Weaving Alive
Sharon taught a Lace making workshop.
Karol introduced Rigid Heddle Weaving
Michele & Caroline will teach needle felting and then embellish with embroidery.
The Gals are preparing for the Fall Fair. Getting display’s ready for education and possibly recruitment.
We will have our Annual Sheep Shawl.
We’ve invited our neighbour towns to our fall Spin Out. We’ll have food and fun & vendors with luscious wools!
The Quilters invited us to spin at Haney Heritage Park.
The Quilts will be the main attraction. So nice to step back in “Time ” at the Haney Village with amazing gardens and old buildings.
We’ve joined the Saturday Farmers Market. Great way to showcase our beautiful produce.
– Michele Forsythe, ANWG Rep
Spokane
Summer 2025 was busy for everyone, as usual, but our members still found time to weave and to share their love of this art through our community outreach efforts. Several volunteers spent August 2 at the Scottish Highland Games at the Spokane County Fair & Expo Center, where they demonstrated weaving and invited visitors to try it themselves. Our roomy tent also displayed woven items and small looms as examples. Other public weaving demonstrations took place on August 17 at the Spokane Valley Arts Council’s Fall Arts Preview and at the Spokane Interstate Fair held September 5-14, at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center. The six or so guild members who entered their work all received blue ribbons, plus a special award for Lori Remz, who also did the weaving for a Sheep-to-Shawl competition. Our next community outreach event will be the Fall Folk Festival on the weekend of November 8-9 in the Spokane Community College Lair Student Center.
September brought our first regular monthly meeting led by our new president, Vicki Egesdal. The program featured ice dyeing and was presented by our resident expert, Rochelle Fairfield, who inspired an enthusiastic audience who had a chance to try this technique with her guidance. Member Kristie Sherrodd used the fiber she ice dyed as a warp to create the gorgeous shawls in this photo.
At the October 12 meeting, Lacey Bacon Abrahamson, a direct descendant of Sacajawea, will offer a program titled “Textiles in Native American Heritage.” Meanwhile, members planning to sell their woven items at our annual show and sale have been busy adding to the inventory. The 2025 sale will once again take place at the Barrister Winery in downtown Spokane, this year on November 28-29.
Another fun activity offered to members is our tartan study group, described here by participant Teresa Van Haalen:
The Spokane Handweavers Guild started a tartan study group this past summer, inspired by member Teresa Van Haalen’s 2024 trip to Scotland. Members Judy Olsen and Viki Lueba guided the group of 4-6 participants in understanding and practicing this weave and color structure. The group also relied on resources from the guild library and the Scottish Registry of Tartans. Thus far, the group has analyzed and created half a dozen tartan items and will be working on more into the future.
Happy autumn everyone, and happy weaving too,
Candace Brown, Spokane Handweavers Guild
Sunshine Coast Guild, Gibsons, BC
The Sunshine Coast Spinners and Weavers Guild hosted another successful Fibre Camp in early September- our 10th Anniversary! We offered spinning, weaving and dying classes. In August we held the first of our two annual juried shows as part of the Hackett Park Festival in Sechelt. We offer demonstrations and a wide variety of the best handmade items our craftspeople create. Our next sale is in October, part of the Sunshine Coast Art Crawl. We are hosted by the Sunshine Coast GM dealership so come see us! We will be in their beautiful showroom. We are always happy to have visitors at our guild meetings, held the first Monday of every month at the Arts Centre in Sechelt.
- Kim Fenton, ANWG Rep
Tacoma Weavers Guild
Many of our members were very active in planning the June ANWG conference in Yakima, so we needed to take a beat before a deep breath starting our new Guild Year.
A long tradition of choosing an annual Guild Challenge was resurrected, and this year our theme is optical hues. To start us off, at the September meeting a member passed around a paper gift bag full of paint chips, and we were instructed to reach in and grab one – no peaking! Then we have all Guild year to make something that utilizes that color, and share at a spring meeting. One year it was pockets. Once the theme was yellow. This will be fun. Several members are exploring Echo and Iris, or double weave to really get some popping color.
In addition, our Guild has participated in several outreach opportunities to have the public try their hand at weaving. On September 27th, a local history museum hosted Fiber Fling, that was a series of both vendors and volunteer booths to expose children to fiber usage, including knitting, weaving, spinning, quilting, mending, and yarn crafts. The coordinator things we saw 500 visitors. I am guessing about half of participants at the looms were adults.
Our second event just happened a few days ago, where our Guild became a Studio Art Tour site, inviting the public to come see a room full of woven items, felted things, garments, etc. We did not sell at this event, but on a rainy day when you had to do the tour by car, we were very pleased 75 participants hunted us down.
Back in June at our annual picnic, Mimi Anderson taught us about ice dying, and boy did we have fun, both with single color dyes and with “Made to ice dye” dyes that really broke into many colors. I think that much color fun lead us to our theme of Optical Hues.
- Linda Stryker, ANWG Rep
Threadbenders Guild, Baker City, OR
In mid-August, 16 members of our guild gathered at the Pleasant Grove Grange in Summerville – a truly pleasant spot on the edge of Mt Emily – for a full day workshop entitled “Painting for an Artisan Scarf”, led by Liz Moncrief. This workshop was highly anticipated and did not disappoint. Liz brought several beautiful woven pieces that she created from her own dyed warps which were a great inspiration to us and she provided thorough instruction on the use of fiber reactive dyes, including color choices, the best yarns for achieving full color saturation, and safety concerns. We each brought four warp chains with which we practiced four different methods of applying the dye. The workshop was fun and informative – and now the exciting process of weaving with our own dyed warps has begun! We are grateful to Liz for coming all the way to Eastern Oregon to provide this workshop and we thank WeGO (Weaving Guilds of Oregon) for their financial support, which made it possible.
Liz preparing the solutions.
Anita applying dye to one of her warps
Kirsten, Mickey, and Lisa tending to their warps that are soaking in soda ash
Christie and Heather applying dye to their warps.
Tzouhalem Spinners and Weavers Guild Duncan, BC
The Tzouhalem Spinners and Weavers Guild is pleased to announce the return of the WEAVERS & MORE SHOW & SALE.
3 full days of shopping pleasure!
Oct 16 to Oct 18, 2025.
This fabulous event will be held at The CVAC STUDIO (Cowichan Valley Arts Council), in the Cowichan Community Centre, 2687 James Street, Duncan. Times are: 11 am – 4 pm October 16 & 17 AND noon – 4 pm Oct 18. The Community Centre offers plenty of parking and there are no stairs to climb for a visit!
This is the perfect opportunity to purchase directly from amazing local artisans, quality crafted gifts for someone special including yourself! Be sure to pick up some handwoven, handspun, and knit treasures such as our always popular 100% cotton woven tea towels, table linens, woven rugs, hats, scarves, baby blankets, handspun yarn and much, much more.
Come out and meet some of our talented guild members and watch a weaving or spinning demonstration while you shop; you won’t want to miss it!
Please visit our guild website at https://www.tzouhalemspinnersweaversguild.com or contact Janine at (250) 929-2700 for more information.
- Bonnie Williamson, ANWG Rep
Victoria Handweavers and Spinners
The Victoria Handweavers’ and Spinners’ Guild had a busy summer, organizing and/or participating in A Spin-Out at the Gorge Park, Fibrations, the Saanich Fair including the Sheep to Shawl and spinning demonstrations, the Vancouver Island Rug Challenge, and the Summer Fibonacci Weaving Challenge.
Then it was all hands-on deck for the return of our guild sale, Texere, in the first week of October. In addition to the sale of many beautiful handmade articles, we demonstrated weaving with an 11 yd warp for tea towels. Visitors could see the tea towels being woven and purchase a towel to be delivered after the sale.
Now we are looking forward to our October meeting with a program by Sharon Kallis of EartHand Gleaners Society (https://earthand.com/) on processing and spinning fibres from nettles.
- Christine Purse, ANWG Rep
Weavers and Spinners of Walla Walla
Here in Walla Walla, we have had some great activities lately. In June, we had a gourd art workshop, where members created lovely vessels with weaving, beading, and cordage. In August, we received the fabulous donation of a hand-crafted walking wheel, constructed by local woodworker and craftsman John Knapp. The wheel is a replica of one used by Narcissa Whitman of the historic Whitman Mission here in Walla Walla. We will use this wheel for demonstrations and display at the WW County Fair and other events. Our fair entries were a huge success, and our display and craft items for kids were really popular. Members entered weavings, scarves, basketry, spinning samples, pine needle baskets, knitting, tatting, lacework, and art gourds. We recently had a guest at our general meeting who gave wonderful instruction on mushroom dyeing, so that’s going to be a goal for 2026!
Sue Hardin, ANWG Rep
Whidbey Weavers Guild, Whidbey Island
We had a busy summer with a very well done display at the county fair in July, including some awards and demonstrations. That was followed by a very positive experience as Working Artists at the Anacortes Art Festival at the beginning of August. We had lots of exposure, gained new and enthusiastic members, and recently some looms were sold as a result of introducing weaving to folks who were eager to learn.
The beginning of the program year saw interesting programs as well as a workshop on tablet weaving and one on basket weaving. September was somber as we mourned the passing of well known fiber artist and member Verena (Fine) Gelfand.
We are now busily preparing for our annual UnCommon Threads sale. This year’s sale will be November 7 & 8 at the Nordic Center in Coupeville. Full details are on our website.
While it is still early, preparations are already underway for our annual Spin-In. Our 2026 event will feature Jacey Boggs Faulkner and will be held in Oak Harbor on April 18 & 19.
- Donna Johnson, ANWG Rep
Fiber Events
October
November
7-8 Annual UnCommon Threads Sale Coupville, WA
7-8 Salem Fiberarts Sale Willamette Heritage Center Salem,OR
8-9 Columbia Pacific Fiber Arts Festival https://columbiapacificfiberarts.com/
28-29 Spokane Weavers Show and Sale
2026
June 16-21 MAWS Missoula, MT
August 11-17 HGA Convergence New Orleans, LA