The Anchorage Weavers and Spinners Guild is a non-profit organization dedicated to the encouragement of the fiber arts in Alaska. The guild seeks to promote the exhibition of fiber arts and to inform its members and the public through lectures, workshops and craft demonstrations.

We hold monthly meetings from September through May, often featuring a guest speaker. at 10:00 a.m. the second Saturday of the month at the First Congregational Christian Church, 2610 E Northern Lights Blvd, Anchorage, AK 99508. Entrance and parking on the lower, east side parking area only. Other Guild activities include beginning weaving and spinning classes, workshops led by professional instructors, demonstration of weaving and spinning at local events, participation in the Alaska State Fair, and fiber retreats.

If there is a Twill, there is a way! Workshop with Ellen Halseth - September 23-24, 2023 There are still some spaces available. Sign up today. Mark your calendar!! Our own Ellen Halseth will be giving us a workshop, September 23 and 24, 2023. Ellen is a production weaver and knows many tips and tricks to make your weaving efficient and fun! Are you ready to get more out of one threading of your loom? Do you crave variety in patterns? Do you want more bang for your buck after you’ve spent all that time threading the loom? Well, if any of these are true, this is the class for you. This class will allow you to create several different patterns with one threading and one tie up. Depending on the size of the thread you use you will be able to create dishtowels, washcloths, mug mats or something of your own choosing. There will also be a mini-lesson of winding a warp with multiple threads and counting at the same time, and one on hemming dish towels. Sign up for this fabulous workshop using this Sign Up Genius link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0E44AEAC2BA1FC1-where

Beginning Spinning Classes - September 16th, 2023 Instructors: Sarah Robicheaux and Friends Dates: Spindle Spinning from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, Wheel spinning from 1 pm to 3 p.m. 12-1 p.m. Lunch on your own, bring a bagged lunch Cost: $25.00 for members, $40.00 for non-members Materials and equipment: all materials included, but please bring a spinning wheel/drop spindle if you have access to one! Location: Mount Vernon Commons, 3322 Commons Circle, Anchorage, AK 99503 (Midtown) Minimum age: 12 years old The beginning spinning class is designed to get the brand-new spinner started. If you have had some practice and are looking to hone your skills feel free to come. In the morning we will learn to prepare our fiber and spin on a spindle. Small and portable, spindle spinning is a great method of spinning to take with you wherever you go. The afternoon will be devoted to spinning on a spinning wheel. Several different types of wheels will be on hand to try. Get the exact yarn that you want to for a project, by making it yourself! Do you want to join the Anchorage Weavers and Spinners Guild? Go to: https://anchorageweavespin.org/join.html Beginning Spinning Sign–up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0E44AEAC2BA1FC1-2023

Beginning Weaving Class Series This Fall Barbara Keller of Barbara Unlimited will teach the beginning weaving class series this fall. The class series will cover the basics of weaving a project and assumes students have no prior knowledge of weaving. It will include calculating the quantity of yarn needed, how to warp the loom, how to weave, and finishing techniques. At the end of the class, students will have completed a sampler and will have gained an understanding of how to plan and weave a project on their own. These classes are suitable for high school students through adults. Students will bring a 4-shaft loom, Warping Board, and weaving equipment to the class. For students who are members of the AWSG, looms and warping boards are available for rental if arranged in advance of the class. Return of Rental Looms to be coordinated with the rental coordinator. Yarn and instructions will be supplied by the instructor and are included in the class fee. The class series will consist of 3 days of instruction, taking place on Sunday from 1:00 – 5:00 pm. Dates:      2023 Series 1 – Sept 24, Oct 1, Oct 8      2023 Series 2 – Oct 22, Oct 29, Nov 5 Time: 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm each Sunday Location: Mt. Vernon Commons House, 3301 Commons Circle, Anchorage, AK 99503 (This is on the north side of West 34th between C Street and Arctic.) Class Fee (per series): $295 will be required at registration which can be paid on-line through PayPal to awsgworkshop@gmail.com (see steps below): 1. Login to your PayPal account 2. Click the "Paid and Get Paid" tab in the ribbon near the top 3. Select "Send Money" under the Make Payments column 4. Type "awsgworkshop@gmail.com" in the field 5. Click Next and continue to follow the instructions or checks may be sent to: Anchorage Weavers & Spinners Guild PO Box 244055 Anchorage, AK 99524-4055 Sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0e44aeac2ba1fc1-beginning4#/ Cancellations shall result in the forfeiture of the class fee, unless a replacement can be found, whether from the waiting list or arranged by the person cancelling the registration in the workshop. If the minimum number of registrants is not received by one week before the class begins, this class will be cancelled, and all money paid will be refunded. If you have questions, please contact Barbara Keller, (541) 400-0081, barbarakeller2016@gmail.com or Lorri Wright, (907) 360-0276, lorrihome@live.com

Solar Dyeing your own Handspun with Deborah Gray Deborah Gray is a textile artist based in Oban, on the West Coast of Scotland. Her recent work examines the links between land(scape), the natural materials (fibre, plants) which grow there, and the work created from those materials which reflects elements of the land(scape). Completed projects can be seen at www.deborahgraytextiles.co.uk/projects. She is currently working on a community artwork using wool fabrics and yarns which she has dyed with the 18 trees associated with the Gaelic alphabet. Deborah works mainly with wool, and has taught hand spinning, natural dyeing and knitting techniques for over 40 years, including workshops in Scotland, Italy, Iceland and Greenland and 10 consecutive years as guest tutor at Shetland Wool Week. She has been Artist-in-Residence at The Icelandic Textile Centre, Blönduós, NorthWest Iceland in 2018, 2019 and 2021. She was Lead Practitioner for the Eco Creative Cluster dye garden project at The Rockfield Centre, Oban, developing a dye garden and programme of natural dyeing workshops while building a network of local and international practitioners focusing on the use of natural dyes and related practices. She is a collaborator in Wool in the North, a project seeking to address the waste of wool around the North Atlantic by developing sustainable wool-based tourism and other initiatives. Solar Dyeing Workshop Notes

 

 

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