Celebrate!

The crafts of spinning, weaving, dyeing, and basket weaving are as ancient as our history; they are the threads that bind us to our ancestors and to each other. Our crafts know no national boundary. They are a part of the heritage of the world. The Spinning and Weaving Week celebration reflects the truly international membership of the Handweavers Guild of America, Inc., and the international traditions of our crafts. We invite fiber artists around the world to join together in celebration of our common heritage.

 

Celebrating... Share the joy of creativity. Plan group activities, contests and competitions to bring spinners and weavers together to enjoy the common interest and the company of fellow artisans. Share the joy of creativity with all those around you.

The timeless crafts of weaving and spinning... When humans began to make tools and develop skills for survival, making garments and useful objects became increasingly important. Each of our cultures have developed techniques and special textiles that have influenced each succeeding generation. When we demonstrate our crafts, we are sharing our creative history.

Honoring craftspeople, past and present... This is a time to honor teachers who have introduced new generations to spinning, weaving, dyeing and basket weaving. Exhibit the work of those you are honoring; recognize their contributions to the crafts. If you are in a guild that does not have a collection of biographies of members, start one so future generations will come to know their legacy; if you have no guild, pass on to those around you your craft history. Teach our children that these are noble skills.

A legacy of fine handmade textiles... Spinners and weavers cherish finely spun yarn, exquisitely dyed and woven cloth and beautifully woven baskets. Not everyone appreciates that quality or the work involved in the process. We will succeed when we teach the non-weaver and the non-spinner to cherish this legacy. Through exhibits and demonstrations, we can give the public the opportunity to learn, understand, and treasure our rich textile heritage.

 

Join hands with fellow weavers, spinners, dyers and basket weavers around the world, enjoy the pleasure and the opportunity to learn, as well as to teach. Enjoy the thrill of seeing someone spinning or weaving for the first time. Teach them the pleasure of using their hands to create yarn from fiber, to create fabric from yarn, and to make dyes and baskets from the nature around them. Teach them the cultural heritage of all nations!