Introduction to Weaving with the Des Moines Weavers Guild

Established in 1947, the Des Moines Weavers and Spinners Guild has been teaching and demonstrating weaving, spinning and dyeing for over 75 years. The purpose of the Guild is to stimulate an interest in the art and craft of handweaving, spinning, and dyeing. Membership is open to anyone interested in the fiber arts. Our members are skilled in many types of weaving and spinning, with decades of experience producing textiles, teaching and demonstrating these techniques. Weaving and spinning are skills that can be taught to all ages and provide an accessible medium for personal creative expression. Join us to learn more about different types of weaving and hand spinning on February 13 at 6:30 pm. We will talk about the Guild and have a slide show of our members’ work. Some of our members will demonstrate weaving on different types of looms as well as spinning on a wheel and a drop spindle. There will be an opportunity to try some of the different equipment.

Cherie Maxon has been spinning for 10 years and weaving for 9.  She started out on a Rigid Heddle loom, and after working with it for 2 years, she found and joined the Guild and learned to weave on a 4-harness loom. She has tried Card Weaving and is currently learning Tapestry weaving through an online course and with the help of another Guild member. She has taught beginning spinning and fiber prep, drop spindle spinning, and Rigid Heddle weaving.