Helena Spinners’ and Weavers’ Guild, Inc. is dedicated to promoting interest and skills in hand weaving and hand spinning among the guild members and community.
- Transparency weaving
Joanne Hall, instructor (March 16–17, 2024) Märta Måås Fjetterström created hangings in the technique we now call “transparencies.” She developed the technique more than 100 years ago to make colorful wall hangings more quickly than when woven in tapestry. Similar techniques for upholstery and pillows were developed by the textile… - HSWG 2023 Holiday Party HighlightsGreat friends, delicious food, and remarkable gifts made for a wonderful celebration. Trading was brisk for everything—hat-and-scarf sets, mittens, wood-burned kitchen tools, shawls, towels, aprons, hand-spun and hand-knitted scarves, a needle-felted necklace, and a bag of fluffy fleece!
- Weft pile techniques
Dawn Ahlert, instructor (January 20–21, 2024) Weavers were introduced to a variety of weft pile techniques such as knotted cut pile; looped pile, including pull-up loops and knotted loops; and combinations of textures and pile heights. Stay tuned: warp pile weaves will be another class. - Beginning Weavers Study Group
HSWG is sponsoring a comprehensive study for beginning weavers this year. The objective of the program is to gain comfort with planning and design, reading drafts, warping the loom, weaving, and finishing projects. There will be 2 easy towel designs that are quick to warp and weave, giving you experience… - Making Decorative Dryer Balls
Good times were had by all at Elaine Beagley’s dryer ball workshop on October 21. Participants learned how to needle-felt dryer balls and add decorative designs. - Color and Weave
A 2-day class with Annette Schipf, May 20–21, 2023. In this round-robin workshop, each person threaded their own loom to a “type” of color and weave structure, such as twill, point twill, huck, log cabin, shadow weave, etc. Then everyone wove a sample on each loom. There is a wealth…