Weavers of Orlando
2025 Programs & Workshops
Programs on something fiber related are held after our monthly business meeting and show and tell.
We sponsor 3 workshops a year, 2 of the workshops are usually with nationally known instructors, and members get first chance to take these workshops for a fee that covers cost of workshop.
Beyond the Ordinary: Creative Explorations in Rags
Dena Moses
Saturday, January 11 - 1:00 to 3:00 pm
Sunday, January 12 - 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Monday, January 13 - 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
In this workshop, we will use recycled fabric to play, explore, and break open our creativity. Using tapestry techniques, surface embellishments, non-rectangular forms, cutting and sculpting warp threads, and permission to try anything and everything, we will explore color, texture, movement, and form.
This workshop is for weavers of all levels who are looking to have some fun by pushing the boundaries of ordinary weaving. All you need is a warped loom, some old clothes, a pair of scissors, and a sense of adventure. Contact Donna Pratt to sign -up
2024 Programs & Workshops
The World of Sprang
Berna Lowenstein
Saturday, January 20, 2024
Our own Berna will introduce us to the world of Sprang. What is Sprang? Sprang is an ancient method of constructing fabric that has a natural elasticity. Its appearance is similar to netting, but unlike netting sprang is constructed entirely from warp threads. Archaeological evidence indicates that sprang predates knitting; the two needlework forms bear a visible resemblance and serve similar functions but require different production techniques.
Sewing Your Handmade Fabrics
Liz Spear
February 3 - 5, 2024
Gather up those gorgeous lengths of your handwoven or felted fabrics and learn to cut and successfully sew a jacket, shirt or vest. Adding fit and stylistic flare to our incredibly beautiful handmade cloth requires some extra care for results you won’t get with commercial fabrics. Using pre-workshop suggestions/guidelines, you’ll select a pattern appropriate to your fabric. Cutting, marking, seam finishes, pressing, closures and even linings will be demonstrated as you sew through the steps to construct your handmade fabrics into a garment, you’ll be proud to wear.
Saturday, February 3 – 1pm to 5pm
Sunday, February 4 – 9am to 4pm
Monday, February 5 – 9am to 4pm
Annual Auction
Saturday, April 20, 2024
If you’re as excited as I am about good deals, you will not want to miss our annual auction. Not only can you find some real bargains, but you can feel good about spending the money, since it all goes to support Weavers of Orlando.
Squam Retreat
Karen Greene
Saturday, May 18, 2024
As a winner of the guild’s Marilyn Frew Legacy Scholarship, Karen Greene chose to go on a Squam Retreat, where she focused on learning embroidery and engaging her creativity. She will share her experience at the retreat with us. . .and maybe make us wish we’d been there, too.
Weavers of Orlando Demos
Bev Tavel
Saturday, June 15, 2024
Demos are one way we attract new members to our guild and new weavers into the hobby. Have you ever wondered what goes on at our demos? Have you thought about volunteering to help at a demo, but want more information before you dive in? Bev Tavel, our Demo Chair, will explain everything for you at this meeting, where she will cover What We Do at Demos.
Kumihimo
Carol Zito
Saturday, July 20, 2024
Kumihimo is a beautiful Japanese braiding technique. While many are familiar with braiding disks, and some may have seen or even worked on a marudai, a takadai is bit less common. Our co-president Carol Zito will discuss kumihimo and demonstrate how to braid on a takadai.
Spinning for Special Situations
Ginger Clark
Saturday, August 17, 2023
At the March 2023 FTWG conference, Ginger Clark conducted a multi-day workshop on spinning a variety of different fibers, and for different purposes. Let’s face it, in the Florida heat, you may want to branch out from spinning wool! You may also want to spin yarn that’s perfect for a particular craft; yarn you’d use for weaving won’t have the same properties as yarn you’d use for knitting. Ginger will present to us on spinning for special situations.
Ava Craft Center
Sherri Killian and Lorrie Yount
Saturday, September 21, 2024
Sherri Killian and Lorrie Yount own and run Ava Craft Center 2.0 in Burfordville, MO, where they weave beautiful rag rugs on antique Union 36 looms—a discontinued type of loom that has been used in the shop since 1962. These third and fourth generation weavers sit at the center of a vibrant crafting community, where they teach spinning and weaving. While what they’ll share with us hasn’t been set in stone yet, some possible topics include their antique looms, the history of their business, rag rug weaving, and growing and nurturing a crafting community.
Weavers of Orlando
Teaching Panel Discussion
Saturday, October 19, 2024
Have you ever thought about teaching the craft you love to others? Teaching is its own separate skill, with its own challenges. Several of the guild’s best teachers will participate in a group interview/panel discussion to answer your questions about teaching a fiber art.
Natural Dyeing
Marie Gile
Saturday, November 16, 2024
Member Marie Gile will give a talk on dyeing for weaving and for silk scarves and fabric, with special focus on natural (eco) dyeing
2023 Programs & Workshops
Weaving TnT -- Dynamite Tips 'n Techniques for Every Weaver
Robyn Spady
Extreme Warp Makeover
Robyn Spady
Saturday, February 18,2023
Would you like to learn a great method for repairing a broken warp end, tracking your treadling while you weave, making your own repair heddles, or just make weaving easier and more pleasurable? This gizmo-and-gadget centric presentation looks and feels like an interactive show-and-tell and will introduce over 24 offbeat tools, techniques, or tricks to assist weavers in all phases of weaving.
February 18-20, 2023
Hate to warp, but love to weave? Want more versatility from a single warp? Then this is a workshop for you! In this workshop, participants will warp their loom with their choice of one of three four-shaft threadings and perform an extreme makeover and weave it many different ways . . . from twill, lace, and overshot to swivel, corduroy, deflected weft, and double-faced. At the same time, participants are presented with the basics of different structures and how to adapt a single threading to weave a number of different weaves, including concepts such as star vs. rose fashion, weaving on opposites, and echo treadling. Four-shaft loom.
Leesburg Center for the Arts, 429 West Magnolia Street: - Saturday, February 18 – 1 to 5 pm - Sunday, February 19 – 9 am to 4 pm - Monday, February 20 – 9 am to 4 pm
Annual Auction
Saturday, April 15, 2023
In April we will conduct our annual Auction. Please start now to put things aside that you would like to donate. The proceeds from the auction always go to help support our programs and activities for the year.
Historic Weaving Techniques
Sharon Kersten
Saturday, June 17, 2023
For our June program, Sharon Kersten will present a program on various ways and looms that can be used to create plain weave.
Navajo Weaving
Gary Sligh
Saturday, August 19, 2023
Rigid Heddle Weaving
Susan Cossette, Susan Simone,
Lorraine Wolak.
Saturday, May 20, 2023
Our program for May will be “Rigid Heddle Weaving”
The History and Use of Tatting
Anita Barry
Saturday, July 15, 2023
In July we will hear about “The History and Use of Tatting” by Anita Barry, another local fiber artist. Anita and her husband owned a lavender farm in Virginia and she is also a certified master tatter, so I’m sure this will be a lively and interesting session.
The Therapeutic Value of Art
Semeion Richardson
September 16, 2023
Gary Sligh will present a program about his class in “Navajo Weaving” which was taught by renowned weaver and author Lynda Teller Pete. Gary will share some of his own insight and study of Native American culture and will also give some idea of the basics involved in the Navajo tradition. Hopefully we can have Ms. Pete and her family here to central Florida someday for the full, authentic version.
Semeion Richardson is a local artist who uses her creativity and counseling skills to educate and inspire the community. She is the first African American woman in Lake County to have her own gallery. Semeion’s presentation will discuss the therapeutic value of art, including our beloved weaving.
Green Heart Foundation
October 21, 2023
October’s presentation will be from the Green Heart Foundation. Our Co-President, Carol Zito, has become interested in this group, and we want to share the mission of the group with our members. Hidden in the heart of Asia lie communities of exceptionally talented women artists, weaving intricate, mesmerizing works of art. These true masterpieces, brimming with cultural significance, have been overlooked and undervalued for far too long. But we are here to change that, and with your support, we can unlock the full potential of these incredible weavers.
Tips and Tricks
November 18, 2023
For our final regular meeting of the year, we will bring back an old favorite, Tips and Tricks. Members will conduct short demonstrations of various techniques and tasks which will be of interest to everyone. Come and learn something new!
These are the demonstrations that I am anticipating:
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Winding paper cones instead of bobbins
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Floating selvedges
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Tying string heddles for backstrap looms
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Using a warping board
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Spinning
We will divide into groups and each group will move around and have a chance to see all the demos.