Upcoming Events
September 26: Amy Blair (joining over Zoom)
9/24/2026
Morning (11AM): Amy Blair. “Overview of Drawlooms” (over Zoom)
Afternoon (1PM): Drawloom study group. Demonstration and discussion. (in-person)
AM: Drawlooms are amazing. The unique (and at times mysterious) mechanics of these ancient devices make them adaptable, powerful tools for weavers who love traditional methods and decorative patterns.
PM: TBD
October 22: Janet Dawson
10/22/2026
Morning (11AM): “Halftones in 4B:8S Overshot”
(Afternoon (1PM): Sale Setup)
AM: Standard 4-shaft overshot has design potential in its blocks ; moving overshot's four blocks onto eight shafts opens huge design possibilities for the halftones and was explored by Janet for her recent Master Weavers thesis project supported on part by a SWG Grant. Janet will discuss this project.
PM: Sale Setup
PM: TBD
December 3: Ksm Lx'sg̱a̱n Ruth Hallows
12/3/2026
Morning (11AM): Ruth Hallows. “My experience at Convergence 2026”
Afternoon (1PM): Members Potluck
AM: The 2026 SWG scholarship supported Ksm Lx'sg̱a̱n Ruth Hallows in traveling to HGA Convergence in New Orleans. In our December meeting, Ruth will share her experiences learning in workshops, weaving on the Marketplace Demonstration Stage, and sharing the Ravenstail and Chilkat weaving of Northwest Coastal people in two leader sessions. They will also share details of the inaugural Northwest Coast Textile Symposium, including the largest gathering of woven cedar bark, Ravenstail, Chilkat, and Coast Salish regalia in recorded history coming to Juneau, Alaska in April 2027.
PM: Members Potluck
January 28: Kathleen Waln
1/28/2027
Morning ()10AM): “Plymouth Rock to Kyoto: My Unusual Overshot Journey”
Afternoon (1PM): “Dyeing to Weave —’Faux Ikat’ ”
AM: Kathleen will speak about her personal journey with overshot. The lecture will focus upon her own discoveries with this versatile weaving structure.
PM: Kathleen will discuss the process of faux ikat and look at the similarities and differences between it and true ikat.
January Workshop: Kathleen Waln
January 30-31, 2027 9:00am-4:30pm (2 days)
REGISTRATION:
SWG Members: noon on October 10, 2026.
Non-members: noon on November 7, 2026.
Please email the Workshops Chair with questions.
“Traditional to Faux: Exploring Woven Shibori”
Experience two days of woven shibori on the loom! In this workshop, you will create your one of a kind woven fabric. Shibori roughly translates “to wring, squeeze or press” – an aesthetic tie dye. When you weave with shibori, you end up with fabric with a dye-resist of your woven pattern.
February 25: Robyn Spady
2/25/2027
Morning (11AM): Weaving TnT: Dynamite Tip's 'n Techniques for Every Weaver
Afternoon (1PM): Great Weaves for Color and Texture
AM: Get ready to blast through weaving challenges with an explosive presentation packed with over 36 clever tools, tricks, and unconventional techniques to make your weaving life easier, faster, and more enjoyable.
PM: In this program, Robyn Spady will share a collection of weave structures that let you take advantage of fun and exciting yarns and to add new dimensions to your weaving.
February Workshop: Robyn Spady
February 27-28, 2027 9:00am-4:30pm (2 days)
REGISTRATION:
SWG Members: noon on November 7, 2026.
Non-members: noon on December 5, 2026.
Please email the Workshops Chair with questions.
“Cutting Loose with Tied Weaves”
Tied weaves are whole group of different ways to create patterned fabrics with floats of limited lengths. Plus, one threading can provide a multitude of different treadling options – from singles and pairs to Dukagang and taqueté. In this workshop, participants will learn the fundamentals of tied weaves and explore a wide variety of treadling techniques to create different results.
March Workshop: Karen Donde
March 20-21, 2027 9:00am-4:30pm (2 days)
REGISTRATION:
SWG Members: noon on December 5, 2026.
Non-members: noon on January 2, 2027.
Please email the Workshops Chair with questions.
“Weave a Twill Gamp with Color-and-Weave Effects”
Combining a twill threading and treadling with a specific contrasting color order in warp and weft yields a rich collection of patterns unachievable by color order or interlacement alone. All participants will thread three-twill gamps, either for four or eight shafts. Twill patterns and color orders will vary to provide variety in the classroom. Over two days, we'll experiment with three gamps, making changes in color order, tie-up and/or treadling as we go. Weavers will come away with a collection of twill patterns with varied color-and-weave effects to inspire future work.
March 25: Karen Donde
3/25/2027
Morning (11AM): “10 Ways to Maximize Threading”
Afternoon (1PM): “Go Big with Color-and-Weave effects”.
AM: This lecture explains how to change your design in the middle of a warp, without re-threading. Weaving software is used to demonstrate the step-by-step transformation of one draft into 10 different designs.
PM: Weaving giant color-and-weave effects on handlooms is achievable with a thick-and-thin technique in a structure similar to shadow weave. Color orders and weave structures are applied to blocks of ends vs. individual ends. Participants will learn how to expand popular motifs using graph paper or weaving software.
April 22: Natalie Drummond
4/22/2027
Morning (11AM): “Deflected Doubleweave Journey”
Afternoon (1PM): “Surface design using Deflected Doubleweave in woven shibori”
AM: Learn about her journey and process for mixing color and fiber in deflected doubleweave. Natalie focuses on mixing hand dyed yarn using multiple warps for this weave structure
PM: Natalie discusses a continuation of her journey using Deflected Doubleweave as pattern for Woven Shibori using a variety of dyeing methods most notably her ice dye techniques.
April Workshop: Natalie Drummond
April 24-25, 2027 9:00am-4:30pm (2 days)
REGISTRATION:
SWG Members: noon on January 9, 2027.
Non-members: noon on February 6, 2027.
Please email the Workshops Chair with questions.
“Weaving Deflected Doubleweave – Color and Deflected Doubleweave
Using painted warps and various plant-based fibers (5/2 or 8/2 weight), learn how to optimize pattern distinction in deflected doubleweave by paying attention to value and hue. Participants come with a pre-warped loom for 4 or 8-shaft deflected doubleweave. Value and hue color studies of 5-7 possible weft yarns take place before weaving three samples.
May 27: Deborah Silver
5/27/2027
Morning (11AM): “Split-Shed Weaving Technique”.
Afternoon (1PM): “Deborah Silver’s Journey in Split-Shed Weaving”
AM: Learn about the split-shed weaving process and how the technique can be applied to many different weave structures using only four shafts.
PM: Deborah will share how she became a weaver, the challenges she faced, and the myriad ways that she has applied split-shed weaving to her artwork.
May Workshop: Deborah Silver
May 29-30, 2027 9:00am-4:30pm (2 days)
REGISTRATION:
SWG Members: noon on February 6, 2027.
Non-members: noon on March 6, 2027.
Please email the Workshops Chair with questions.
“Color-Blending in Split-shed Weaving and More!”
This workshop will teach the basics of split-shed weaving using a variation of the tied Beiderwand (extended summer & winter) pattern. This structure uses four shafts, five treadles (on jack looms), and three weft yarns that travel from selvedge to selvedge. Students will learn how to produce shading with yarn in order to create dimensional-looking imagery. Students will also learn how to make and use a cartoon on cloth that will advance with the warp and will not wrinkle when beating.
May Workshop: Ellen Hess
May 29-31, 9:00am-4:30pm (3 days)
Registration is now open to non-Members (and Members) by clicking the link below:
https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/tr-Z1HXIN4_ArzPWfsSsyg
Please email the Workshops Chair with questions.
“A Little Something Extra: Supplementary Warps and Wefts” (three day in-person workshop)
Enhance your handwoven textiles with the addition of supplementary warp or weft yarns (or both!). Supplementary warp and weft fabrics are compound structures, which means they have a foundation weave structure (often plain weave) plus additional pattern threads in the warp or weft. Explore the possibilities for decorative warp stripe motifs, weft pattern embellishments, deflected surface interest, eyelash and other pile weaves, and simple passementerie decorations. Workshop Participants will learn technical tips and tricks for achieving optimal pattern and design effects. The Round Robin workshop offers weavers an opportunity to try a variety of weave structures, and leave with an assortment of weave samples to use for future projects.
May 28: Ellen Hess (in-person)
5/28/2026
Morning (11AM): “Intro to Supplementary Warps and Wefts”
Afternoon (1PM): “Overshot Overview”
AM: Supplementary warp and weft fabrics are compound structures, which means they have a foundation weave structure (often plain weave) plus additional pattern threads in the warp or weft.
PM: Overshot is a compound weave structure that combines a plain weave background cloth with elaborate, almost brocaded weft patterning. With simple 4 shaft block threadings, a remarkable range of beautiful and intricate geometric and curvilinear designs are possible.
April Workshop: Christine Novotny
April 24 - 26, 9:00am-4:30pm (3 days)
Registration is now open to non-Members (and Members) by clicking the link below: https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/qnMOyqroPQa8uRrWSExNxw
Please email the Workshops Chair with questions.
“Rya Weaving” (three day in-person workshop)
Explore the possibilities of pile rugs! In this 3 day class, students will learn to weave rya in the Swedish tradition to create their own contemporary work. Each student will create their own small scale designs and learn to transfer those drawings into knotwork. Three days of focused knotting will be broken up with lessons on color theory and blending, techniques for efficiency in larger pieces, calculating materials, and more. We will also explore the history of Scandinavian pile rugs from their purely utilitarian purpose in the Viking Age to the expressive designs of Mid-Century Modern and more. This method of hand-knotting is slow and meditative, with the opportunity to create eye-catching geometric designs or more nuanced painterly expression. When leaving the class, students will have a solid foundation in rya practice to make their own larger scale rugs or wall hangings in this global knotting technique.
April 23 (pm): Plaid Llama Sale
4/23/2026
“Plaid Llama Sale" Afternoon, 1PM
The Plaid Llama is coming! The Guild’s bi-annual swap meet of all things fiber returns as the afternoon program in April. Your opportunity to clear your stash or add to it. Anyone with anything to sell can reserve space by contacting Judith Warren at drjudith@mac.com
April 23 (am): Christine Novotny (in-person)
4/23/2026
Morning (11AM): “Textural Expression Throughout the Ages”
Afternoon (1PM): “Plaid Llama Sale”
AM: Rya is an ancient technique that has transformed over time from utilitarian warmth to artistic expression. In this presentation, we will follow this evolution, exploring the structural and material makeup of a knotted pile rug in the Swedish tradition and the different types of ryas used.
PM: “Plaid Llama Sale” (click or see below)
March Workshop: Robbie LaFleur
Mar 27 - 29, 9:00am-4:30pm (3 days)
Registration is now open to non-Members (and Members) by clicking the link below:
https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/jMCzqLo0p6qHn6NtWwkbTA
Please email the Workshops Chair with questions.
“Transparent Tapestry” (three day in-person workshop)
In this 3-day workshop, you will learn about open warp tapestry technique through lectures and hands-on practice.
Inspired by Hansen’s work and that of her followers, you will learn how to design optimum cartoons using her technique. By looking at many samples and Robbie’s larger pieces, you will see how various choices affect the look of the surface, including borders and finishing techniques. Each student will weave a sample or small piece, approximately 9″ to 11″ wide, with a cartoon provided by Robbie LaFleur or your own design.
March 26: Robbie LaFleur (in-person)
3/26/2026
Morning (11AM): “From Virgins to Spaceships: A Visual Voyage through Norwegian Tapestry”
Afternoon (1PM): “Frida Hansen: A Norwegian Art Nouveau Artist in Wool”
AM Norwegian billedvev (picture weaving) from 1180 to today.
PM: The life and work of the innovative Norwegian tapestry artist Frida Hansen (1855-1931).
February Workshop: Hannah Watson
February 27 - March 1, 2026, 9:00am-4:30pm (3 days)
Registration is now open to non-Members (and Members) by clicking the link below:
https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/4iSrlN-cYjURj6ruf3TUCQ?t=1762221162
Please email the Workshops Chair with questions.
“Pancakes & Waffles: Exploring Waffle Weave and Summer and Winter” (three day in-person workshop)
Drazzle your loom in maple syrup and butter and watch your woven “pancakes and waffles” come to life! Through this workshop, students will create their own series of circles and squares through the use of two different weave structures — waffle weave and summer & winter — sharing looms in a round-robin approach throughout the duration of the workshop. From creating the warp for these two different weave structures to dressing the loom, students will learn how to set up both 4 and 8-harness multi-shaft floor looms, and will leave with many samples for future playful projects! #
February 26: Hannah Watson (in-person)
2/26/2026
Morning (11am): “Preparing for a weekend of weaving pancakes and waffles, or circles and squares, through the structures of both summer & winter and waffle weave”
Afternoon (1PM): “The Stuff the World is Made Of": the Bauhaus Textiles Movement in North Carolina & Its Influence Today”
AM: Hannah Watson will share a presentation, both digital and felt/seen, of her woven samples to the group and talk about her personal experiences with weaving as an art form.
PM: Beginning at the loom in Germany with Gunta Stölzl and progressing to Anni Albers at the Black Mountain College in western North Carolina, the Bauhaus movement sparked and carried joy and innovation across decades that left a profound impact on western North Carolina and its craftspeople. Hannah will present on the profoundly creative and dedicated women who led the textiles movement, how the school evolved from Germany to North Carolina, and how the weaving school Hannah attended in North Carolina remains heavily influenced today.
January Workshop: Sydney Sogol
Jan 24 - 25, 9:00am-4:30pm (2 days)
Registration is now open to non-Members (and Members) by clicking the link below:
https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/agLLSks4bE-x6dJ_gaCJNA
Please email the Workshops Chair with questions.
“Beyond Rectangles: Shaped Edges in Weaving” (two day in-person workshop)
Unlock the world of creative possibilities in weaving by breaking away from the standard rectangle! In this immersive 2-day workshop, participants will delve into the art of weaving shaped edges. Learn to create geometric and organic shapes that can stand alone or are connected by raw unwoven yarn, creating dynamic movement. From beginners to advanced weavers, everyone is invited to explore techniques that transcend traditional rectangular boundaries of weaving. Discover how to create shaped edges that not only stay secure but also add a charismatic flair to your woven masterpieces.
January 22: Sidney Sogol (in-person)
1/22/2026
Morning (11AM): “Warp and weft color pooling.
Afternoon (1PM): “My Journey to Weaving and Designing”
AM: Dive in and unlock the creative possibilities of color pooling via hand painting and dyeing your warp and weft! Learn about Sydney Sogol's style of warp painting to achieve color interplay through warp pooling.
PM: Let me take you on a little journey through my weaving world. I’ll tell you how I got started with dyeing, how I explore color combinations, and how I draw inspiration from the beautiful nature around us.
December 4: Jennifer Gaudet (in-person)
12/4/2025
Morning (11AM): Jennifer Gaudet, “Threads Through Time: The Rise, Fall, and Revival of Turkish Hand Weaving”.
Afternoon (12PM): Potluck Holiday Party
AM: For centuries, weaving in Türkiye (previously Turkey) was more than cloth — it was culture, memory, and identity. Yet within a single generation, most of that knowledge disappeared. When Jennifer Gaudet stepped into this world in 2009, the craft was literally hanging by a thread. In this talk, she will walk you through its rise, decline, and fragile revival.
PM: Potluck Holiday Party
Oct. 23: Kris Leet (in-person)
10/23/2025
Morning (11AM): Kris Leet - “Procedural and Conceptual Knowledge: An Exploration of the How and Why of Tablet Weaving.”
Afternoon (1PM): Sale Setup
AM. In this presentation we will explore both types of questions, procedural (how) and conceptual (why), as they relate to understanding tablet weaving and the knowledge that each provides. We’ll also touch on how the different conceptional models, modern and historical, influence what is deemed possible
Sept. 25: Elaine Palmer and Round Table Discussion (in-person)
9/25/2025
The focus of the September meeting is study groups and how to further your explorations. Elaine hopes to inspire other weavers to join an existing study group or start a new one.
Morning (11AM): Elaine Palmer - “Study Group Inspiration: Samplers, Gamps and Projects from the Hill Institute, Florence, MA”
Afternoon (1PM): Round Table discussion on the topic of study groups with Patrice Riordan, Sue Willingham, and Marjy Fiddler.
Workshop: Beth Johnson
May 23-25, 9:00am-4:30pm (3 days)
Registration: Feb 8 (noon) members, Mar 1 non-members
Please email the Workshops Chair with questions.
“Sashiko-Ori” (three day in-person workshop)
Sashiko-ori or Woven Sashiko challenges weavers to think about design in a different way as they learn to control the intersections of pattern threads in the warp and weft. In this 3-day workshop, students will learn to design and weave these patterns and learn ways to stitch patterns into the cloth which they can take home to work on. The workbook will give students some additional avenues to explore after the workshop.
May: Beth Johnson (in-person)
5/22/25
AM: Woolens & Waulkings, Tartans & Tweeds
PM: Woven Sashiko
Workshop: Patrice George
Apr 26 - 27, 9:00am-4:30pm (2 days)
Registration: This workshop is open to the public. https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/-5pGMTsCCqN8Xp088Ri1yA
Please email the Workshops Chair with questions.
“Leno Structures: Weaving with Doups on 4-8 Shaft Looms ” (two day in-person workshop)
In this 2-day workshop, students will learn about Leno, which by definition, is a variation of the normal plain-weave structure that requires a modification of the standard handloom harness/heddle arrangement to produce. To weave leno structures, a half-heddle called a doup is added to the front harness (or harnesses) of the loom. This doup crosses under a warp end that is not raised during weaving, called the ground end. The crossing end is entered through the last harness of the loom, and through the eye of the doup (on the first harness of the loom). By alternating lifts of the doup harness and the back harness, the two ends of the leno unit are intertwined as the weft is inserted.
This is not a round robin.
April: Patrice George (in-person)
4/24/25
AM:History of Leno and Gauze Weaves
PM:Weaving with Doups on Handlooms
Workshop: Deb Essen
Mar 29-30, 9:00am-4:30pm (2 days)
Registration: CLASS IS FULL (12/19/24)
Please email the Workshops Chair with questions.
“Color in Weaving” (two day in-person workshop)
You select the yarns for a project – they look so great together on the cones. Then you put them on the loom and well, things don’t look like you had envisioned. This 2-day class is an introduction to color theory for weavers. We will discuss color theory, working with different color combinations and how color value affects your weaving projects so that you can achieve color success in your projects.
This is not a round robin.
March: Deb Essen (in-person)
3/27/25
AM: “Velvet Weaving in Venice”: Take a tour of velvet weaving on the original 18th century looms with how the looms are set up, the fabrics created and the tradition continues in the 21st Century.
PM: “Color Value in Weaving”: This color value presentation is geared toward anyone who weaves, spins, dyes or knits to help unravel color value and make it work FOR you in your projects.
Workshop: Christine Miller
Feb 28 - Mar 2, 9:00am-4:30pm (3 days)
Registration Link: CLASS IS FULL (12/22/24)
Please email the Workshops Chair with questions.
“Weaving with Wire” (three day in-person workshop)
Weaving with wire creates a woven metal fabric that is strong and capable of being used for a wide range of sculptural forms. This three-day workshop will take the participants through all of the steps of creating woven metal fabric and will allow them to fabricate some small sculptures or jewelry during the workshop.
This is not a round robin.
February: Christine Miller (in-person)
2/27/25
Morning (11AM): “Design a Digital Vision Board”
Afternoon (1PM): “Fiber Art: Become the Artist You Want to Be
TWO DOWNLOADS:
Design a Digital Vision Board - DOWNLOAD PDF
Become the Artist you want to be - DOWNLOAD PDF
Learn howto gather creative ideas in a digital vision board to focus on specific topics like: color, weave structure, nature inspiration, or artist inspiration. Christine leads this program using a simple digital tool to organize ideas and inspiration, helping you to put in order the information that will support and grow your creative efforts.
Workshop: Tegan Frisino
Jan 24-Jan 26, 9:00am-4:30pm (3 days)
This workshop is now open to the public (11/3/24).
Registration Link: https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/6TAyAHzxeuD4a03ibVlTpw
Please email the Workshops Chair with questions.
“Deep Dive into Profile Drafts” (three day in-person workshop)
If you understand a weaving draft, you can understand how to make a profile draft work for you. This draft intensive study will guide the class through reading and translating a profile draft into multiple structures. The information we gather from these exercises will then be explored on the loom, and worked round robin so that each resulting structure can be experienced by every student. This intermediate level class will help build confidence in reading weaving drafts and encourage curiosity through structure sampling.
January: Tegan Frisino (in-person)
1/23/25
AM: “From Fleece to Blanket"
PM: "Tips and Tricks"
Take a journey, through the eyes of a production weaver, on what it takes to go from Sheep to Finished Product. Throughout the presentation, Tegan will provide suggestions on how to implement local(ish) wool to a small studio practice, and a honest approach to what it is like working within the fiber supply chain.
December: SWG Members
12/5/24
Morning (11AM): “Member Spotlight” featuring four SWG Weavers
Allyce Wood: "Digital Jacquard Tapestry - Weaving Coded Images in Norway, Iceland, and Ohio"
Gabi Nirino: “Always In Between”
Jennifer Shuster: "TIFF, Text, Textiles and Technology: Loom controlled imagery and words”
Sarah Kaltsounis: "Northwest Coast Weaving"
Afternoon (1PM): SWG Fashion Show
October: Heidi Bennett
Morning (11AM): “SWG Member Tips Tricks & Tools”
(Afternoon (1PM): Sale Setup)
PDF of Heidi’s TIPS from Presentation (added 10/26/2024)
Sept 26: Lynn Smetko (in-person)
Morning (11AM): “Design Deliberations”
Afternoon (1PM): “A Design Journey”
Designing can be hard work! Do you have trouble deciding what or how to design for weaving? Are there too many choices or not enough? Are you stuck in a rut with your designs? Sometimes the best ideas come from considering the work of others. Many different approaches to weave design will be explored while looking at inspiring examples.
Workshop: Sue Lawty
TO REGISTER:
Workshop is now full (7/26/24).
Please email Jenny Heard for additional information.
“Tactile Sensibility in Woven Tapestry,” (three day in-person workshop)
The overriding gain of this course is to hone the eye, hand, and intellect in the intricate interplay of structure, material, and design in woven tapestry. The tutor’s own quiet, minimal, and abstract works are strongly informed by the material of their construction. Whether working in linen, hemp, raffia, or paper, she talks of the ‘integrity of mark-making intrinsic to a particular thread or structure’ and her focus is to ‘make work that speaks its own vocabulary.’ These ideas will form the focus for this workshop. Participants will generate several carefully considered samples, each examining a distinct facet in the creation of woven tapestry cloth
May 23: Cally Booker (Zoom)
AM: “Exploring Double Huck”
Two layers of huck lace: what can they do? One of the happy surprises of this structure is just how appealing a double huck fabric is. From elegant scarves with beautiful drape, to towels and blankets with an irresistible ‘bounce’, it is lovely to wear and to handle. Cally will introduce double huck and take you on a tour through her experimentation with this flexible and attractive structure.
Workshop: Cally Booker
2nd Session: May 28, June 1 & 4 - CLOSED/FULL
Please email the Workshops Chair with questions.
An Exploration of Double Huck” (three day Zoom workshop)
During the 3-session virtual workshop, students will weave a variety of samples in double huck, including layer and block exchange, stitched layers, mixed structures and color-and-weave effects. The program includes three talks to introduce different aspects of the material, as well as supporting video demonstrations which participants can access at any time. In the final session, we consider extending the structure to more than 8 shafts. This is not a round robin. Participants will need to have access to an 8-shaft loom and will receive full instructions enabling them to set up their looms ahead of time. Note that countermarche looms are not suitable for this workshop..