The Weavers Guild of Springfield

2026-2027 PROGRAM

All are welcome to attend the meetings and events described below.

Location: Unless otherwise noted, meetings are held at the Springfield Elks Lodge, 440 Tiffany Street, Springfield, MA 01108.

Meeting time: Meetings start at 10:00 am, with morning programs from 10:00-noon, lunch and business meeting noon-1:00, and afternoon programs 1:00-3:00. 

SEPTEMBER 12, 2026

AM: Summer Wrap-Up

Review of Guild activities over the summer including the Massachusetts Sheep and Woolcraft Fair, the Scottish Festival, Shelburne Grange Fair, and other venues and demonstrations.

PM: 2026-27 Guild Study Group: Diamonds—Members

As part of the celebration of the guild's 75th Anniversary, it was decided to use the diamond shape for our study group topic. Many different weave structures can be used to produce a diamond shape. Threading and treadling information will be provided along with some samples to assist members.

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OCTOBER 3, 2026

AM: Solving the Mystery of Threads—Lois Matson

Do you have yarn that’s never been used because it’s not labeled? …maybe a fabulous cone from “weftovers”, a luscious skein from a yarn shop, or your own hand spun that you spent precious time creating? Is the “M” word holding you back from using it? (ugh,math!) Using a scale, sett charts, and other resources you will be able to determine the weight, sett, yardage of your mystery yarn, and get started on with your next project! Bring your own mystery yarn, a calculator (one on your cell phone is fine), a notebook, pencil, and a food scale if you have one.

PM: Open Discussion

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NOVEMBER 7, 2026

AM: Treasures of the Guild Library—Jan Denis, Loris Epps

Jan Denis and Loris Epps, Guild members, will speak about the history of the library treasures located within and highlight some special volumes.  The library has many books, magazines, and journals that are out of print. Special interest will be the discussion of sample notebooks: Study Groups, purchased ones (such as Tidball series), and past class samples collected from previous Guild members, many from the 60's - late 70's. The library contains more than 1000 items and has considerable value. Mostly we want to reveal these treasures and encourage members to enjoy them.

PM: Interpreting Old Drafts—Loris Epps

DECEMBER 5, 2026

All day: Holiday Party & Craft

We will be decorating hats for our 75th Anniversary Luncheon. There will be a special potluck by members preparing food items that were popular in the early 1950's.

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JANUARY 2, 2027

AM: Discovering Textiles and Fiber Arts through Travel—Sharon Kipetz

PM: Stories of 20th Century Weaving Pioneers—Jamie Hulburt (Zoom)

We often know the names of handweaving legends like Mary Meigs Atwater and Marguerite Porter Davison, but we don't always know the stories of how these weavers' perseverance, creativity, and joy in weaving made them into the figures we remember today. This talk will tell stories of both well-known and lesser-known figures from the handweaving revival of the 1920s-40s, and explore what we can learn from the weavers who came before us. Knowing the story of handweaving unlocks structural knowledge and historical weaving wisdom, as well as encouraging us to see ourselves as part of a chain of weavers, past and present, carrying the craft forward.

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FEBRUARY 6, 2027

AM: Mechanics of the Weaving Loom—Sarah Von Tresckow (Zoom)

Weaving is a broad subject. There are many fabrics, many loom types just to begin. Add to that that we all have "constraints"—space, budget, physical limitations just to name a few.

There is NO "perfect loom" that is universally capable of weaving "ANY" desired fabric.

There are many looms available. Every loom involves some compromises. This presentation analyzes and compares looms’ mechanics and features - and their relation to the expected fabric type and quality. It also covers how the mechanics of a loom mesh with body size/type. It is entirely possible for a weaver to purchase a loom—well designed and functional—that is a total disappointment in terms of the range of fabrics it weaves well or presents physical discomfort when weaving.

The presentation is intended to help a weaver to make an informed decision prior to purchase so that the loom provides the weaver with the desired fabric/project in a comfortable and efficient manner

PM: Weaving Canvas for Art—Norma Smayda (Zoom)

Helena Loermans’ 2021 presentation at Weaving History Conference on historic artists’ canvases piqued Norma's interest. Where did artists get their canvas before the Industrial Revolution? Why did some artists use fancy twill weave linen canvases? Why do contemporary painters use plain weave canvases? Norma wove a small length of linen canvas which she shared with a few painter friends and she recorded their comments as they painted on the canvas and will share.

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MARCH 6, 2027

All day: Rug Hooking with Yarn—Cam Leon

Cam Leon, rug hooking instructor, will lead us in an all-day activity to learn rug hooking with yarn. We will be making coasters using a backing fabric, yarn, crochet hooks and small embroidery hoops. This will be a fun small project that gives weavers another way to use up their stash.

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APRIL 3, 2027

AM: Wrapping Wood with Yarn—Bev Komisaruk

Bev, a guild member, will demonstrate how to take a simple wood block, leftover yarn, and a needle to make a piece of art.

PM: Study Group Wrap-Up and Preparation for NEWS 2027 Display

A presentation of members' creations as a result of the study group chosen in the fall. Members will show their variations on the theme.

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MAY 1, 2027

All day: Annual Meeting and Year Wrap-Up

This is a luncheon and will be at Storrowton Tavern in West Springfield, with a special presentation on the past 75 years of the Guild.

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At the events below, guild members offer weaving demonstrations and guided hands-on introduction to weaving for all ages, and/or display handwoven items created by guild members.

Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival
Look Park, Northampton, MA
July 17, 2027
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
http://www.glasgowlands.org/

New England Weavers' Seminar (NEWS)
Westfield State University, Westfield, MA
July 28-August 1, 2027
https://www.newenglandweavers.org/conference-2027

Shelburne Grange Fair
Little Mohawk Road, Shelburne, MA
August 2027
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
http://www.shelburnegrange.org/shelburne-grange-fair.html

Big E Fiber Festival
Eastern States Exposition, West Springfield, MA
September 2027
https://www.thebige.com/p/competitions/creative-arts/


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