Founded 1938
Casey Galloway - Metz
Music for Otis
Opening Reception
September 8 & 9
6:00 - 10:00
112R Blue Star Comples
2025-2026 Membership Dues - $40
Partial payment of $20 is only from January to May.
San Antonio Handweavers Guild
Founded in 1938
The San Antonio Handweavers Guild consists of individuals who exhibit a wide range of interest and expertise in the fiber arts, weaving, spinners, basket makers, dyers, and other artists. With minor exceptions, we meet the second Thursday September - May at the Colonial Hills United Methodist Church in the Life Building (entrance is behind the building). We try to have equal day and night meetings. Mornings meetings start at 9:30 and evenings at 6:30. We have a social time 30 minutes prior to live meetings.
The Guild publishes a monthly newsletter between September and May via e-mail which contains a calendar of events classifieds, meeting minutes and other information of importance to our members.
Meetings are open and visitors are welcome. Upon your second visit, membership is encouraged. Dues are $40 per year. Please contact us for more information.
Programs
September 11, 2025
9:30 Social
10:00 Meeting
Deb Harrison will pressent on her
trip to Guatamala
Mayan Hands Trunk Show
Our program this month is featuring our very own Deborah Harrison who will be sharing details of her “bucket list” trip to Guatemala last year. We will get to hear her firsthand accounts of the people and places she visited while on her trip. She has also brought back a number of textiles she purchased while there for us to see and enjoy. It sounds like she had a fascinating trip!
In addition, Deb has very graciously agreed to host a trunk show benefitting Mayan Hands, a 501(c)(3) organization that is dedicated to promoting the work and improving the lives of the Maya women that produce the items that will be for sale. These items are handmade in the tradition of their Mayan culture and wonderful expressions of their artistic talent. The quality and beauty of the pieces I have purchased from them have been marvelous.
Deborah Harrison has been a member of SAHG since 1988 when she began working for Romayne Mertens at Village Weavers. It was there that she first saw Mayan weaving, and the wonderful examples of the remarkable work done there resonated with her. She rarely travels, but decided in 2024 to realize a long-held dream of visiting Guatemala to see firsthand the weaving done there. It was a truly magical trip and she is eager to share some of that experience with our guild.
-- Julie Crownover, Program Chair 2025 - 2026
2025-2026
Meeting Information
September 11, 2025
9:30 Social
10:00 Meeting
Deborah Harrison will present on her trip to Guatamala Mayan Hands Truk Show
October 9, 2025
6:00 Social
6:30 Meeting
Brenda Osborn will speak on her work an dcollaboratio with the world renown tapestry weaver Archie Brennan.
November 13, 2025
6:00 Social
6:30 Meeting
Panel discussion on estate planning consideration for weavers. Topics to be discuss incllude legal considerations, the sale of weaving equipment and supplies and related income and estate tax implications.
December 11, 2025
10:00
Join us for our annual December Luncheon. We will have Cava cater us again. If you would like to join us for a gift exchange, please bring a fiber related item. Rules will be explained!
March 12, 2026
9:30 Social
10:00 Meeting
Liz Bucheit - Exploring NOrweigian Sámi Silver
Meeting Information
Each meeting includes our “Hands Are the Exit of the Spirit” (Show-and-Tell) time. Bring and share your projects and interests. Seeing work that others have done sparks or renews inspiration. Hearing and seeing other members provide wonderful learning experiences for all.
Janaury 8, 2026
9:30 Social
10:00 Meeting
Meribeth Peller wil ldiscuss her trips to Indonesia and the batik dyeing technique.
April 9, 2026
6:00 Social
6:30 Meeting
Chelsea Clarke - Weaving Technique
Time & Format
AM / LIVE: Social begins at 9:30 am, Meeting begins at 10; Speaker is present at CHUMC.
AM / ZOOM: ZOOM Room opens at 9:50; Meeting begins at 10:00; Speaker joins us by ZOOM Meeting
PM / LIVE: Doors open 6 pm; Meeting begins at 6:30 pm; Speaker is present at CHUMC
PM / ZOOM: ZOOM Room opens at 6:20 pm; Meeting begins at 6:30 pm; Speaker joins us by ZOOM Meeting
February 12, 2026
6:00 Social
6:30 Meeting
Robyn Spady
"Weaving TnT: Dynamite Tips 'n Tehniques for Every Weaver!"
May 14, 2026
9:30 Social
10:00 Meeting
Year end garage sale, potluck and installation of officers.
Important Information
IN PERSON meeting attendance does not require registration.
To attend by ZOOM, you must register IN ADVANCE using the info provided in the monthly newsletter.
Guests are always welcome but should contact SAHG prior to the event date for current meeting info.
General Information & Location
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Live Meetings - Light refreshments served during the gathering time. Meeting is called to order (10:00 am or 6:30 pm) by the President. The Guest Speaker’s presentation begins at shortly thereafter (10:00 am or 6:30 pm), followed by SAHG business meeting and our “Hands are the Exit of the Spirit” sharing time. ZOOM option info is published in the newsletter at the beginning of the month.
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Zoom Meetings -ZOOM rooms open 10 minutes prior to start. Meeting is called to order (9:50 am or 6:30 pm) by the President. The Guest Speaker’s presentation at begins at shortly thereafter (9:50 am or 6:30 pm), followed by SAHG business meeting and our “Hands are the Exit of the Spirit” sharing time.
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ZOOM Meeting info is provided in the monthly newsletter prior to the meeting.
Can I join a LIVE meeting by ZOOM? Will ZOOM presentations be broadcast into the CHUMC meeting room?
This is a work in progress. We are entering the third year of COVID-19 disruptions and adjustments. This year we return to meeting “Live” more often versus the last 2 years of “ZOOM Only”.
Our current best advice - Check your email and newsletter for updates regarding the most current info regarding virtual access to meetings. Each meeting will have its own requirements and we are learning about this technology as we encounter new situations.
SAHG will strive to make content available to its members while crossing our fingers that we have minimal Technical Difficulties. Your patience is appreciated.
Workshops
2025-2026
Ice Dyeing for Garments
Margret Bamford
Saturday, September 27, 2025
Ice dyeing is a variation on the traditional tie-dyeing technique. It creates stunning watercolor-type designs on fabric or clothing. By using powdered dyes sprinkled over a pile of ice cubes on heavily scrunched up fabric, you can create magical patterns where colors organically flow into each other. It’s easy and a lot of fun. No previous dyeing experience required.
This class will teach you how to prepare fabric for dyeing with fiber reactive dyes, various ways to scrunch or tie up your fabric and apply the ice and dye, as well as how to wash out the dyes and care for your dyed pieces. Each participant will dye two items: an 8 inch x 72 inch silk scarf and a second item of your choice, which you will bring to the class. The fabric must be 100% natural (cotton, linen, rayon, Tencel, bamboo, or silk). The silk scarf and all supplies (except your second item) are included in the fee of $25. Your item of choice can be a white T-shirt or any light-colored item that is made with 100% natural fabric: a top, fabric tote bag, pillowcase (bring two if you’d like), cotton dish towel, etc. Secondhand stores are a great place to find that perfect item to ice dye!
Kiss-Lock Frame Purse
Rasa Silenas
Thursday, October 9, 2025
Follow-up Sessions
Saturday and Sunday
October 11 and 12
Supply fee includes the purse frame
Learn how to make a small purse with a kiss-lock frame. The frame will be attached to fabric by sewing, but alternative attachment with glue will be discussed.
There will be a one hour presentation before the SAHG meeting on October 9, followed by Zoom discussions on Saturday and Sunday, October 11 and 12, with a live final session, time and place TBD. Sewing will be done at home so there is no need to haul a sewing machine to class.
Fabric guidelines and a supply list will be provided to participants prior to the class.
Honeycomb Weaves
Trish Ashton
Thursday, January 8, 2026
After the morning meeting
Weaving is usually a rectilinear system with the warp at right angles to the weft. Honeycomb is an interesting weave effect because it transcends this typical grid, creating wavy lines and circular cells with three-dimensional depth. As you will learn in this class, a range of threadings and fibers can be used to create this honeycomb effect. You will first learn how honeycomb works and how to weave it as a possible decorative effect for clothing, a sturdy fabric for bags and upholstery, and even as a border treatment for table runners and placemats. Honeycomb lends itself to a lot of experimentation, and after class you will want to play with tie-up and treadling variations and yarns of different fiber content, weights, and colors. Your yarn stash can be a great resource as you try out thick yarns to outline honeycomb cells and thinner weights for adding color and depth to these same cells. Trish will provide printed drafts and handouts and will have one or two looms threaded for you to try. She will also show us her great collection of honeycomb samples.
Cutting Loose with Tied Weaves
Robyn Spady
Thursday – Saturday
February 12 – 14, 2026
$275 (includes $15 supply fee)
Includes the $15 supply fee.
Tied weaves are a whole group of different ways to create patterned fabrics with floats of limited lengths. Just one threading can provide a multitude of different treadling options – from singles and pairs to Dukagang and taqueté. In this workshop, participants will learn the fundamentals of tied weaves and explore a wide variety of treadling techniques to create different results. For weavers interested in understanding terms like summer and winter, single two-tie, taqueté, samitum, and exploring Quigley or Bergman tied weaves, then this workshop is for them! Four-shaft loom minimum; eight shafts recommended. (Note: This is not a round-robin workshop.)
Inkle Weaving
Jean Lewis and Deborah Harrison
Thursday – Friday,
March 12 – 13, 2026
Cost TBD
The term "inkle" means "ribbon" or "tape" and refers to any warp-faced, plain weave, highly patterned woven band that could have been made on a variety of looms. The production of beautiful, decorative bands has become a popular form of weaving today. Inkle weaving was brought to the United States in the 1930s but predates this by many centuries in other countries. These bands are used for trims, straps, and belts, or they can be sewn together to form wider fabrics. In this course, students will learn the basics of designing, threading, and weaving these bands on a simple and portable inkle loom. Looms will be available to borrow or buy at a discount, or students may bring their own.
The inkle loom is a charming little loom. It's a wooden frame with no moving parts, yet because of its ingenious design, it makes clear weaving sheds using nothing but the human hand! All manner of narrow bands can be made on the inkle loom, from camera straps to bookmarks, dog leases to lanyards.
Meeting Location
Our live meetings are held at the Colonial Hills United Methodist Church in their Life Building at 5247 Vance Jackson outside Loop 410. The entrance is located on the opposite side of the entrance. We have greeters at the doors until business meeting begins.
Spinning Group
Spinners meet the third Saturday. They meet at Yarnivore which is located at 2357 NW Military Highway, San Antonio. The group does not teach spinning, but if you are having difficulty, they will be glad to help problem solve. If you want to just come and visit or knit or work on projects, all are welcome.
Not available on a smart phone.