Toronto Guild of Spinners and Weavers

04/09/2026

Photos from the April 8 Guild meeting with guest speaker Khadija Aziz who after talk about her research-creation on the history of Kashmiri shawls and her public art project using South Asian mirror embroidery techniques, she gave a hands on Mirror Embroidery workshop

04/07/2026

Our speaker on April 8 is Khadija Aziz, She is an artist and educator born in Pakistan and based in Tkaronto. Her practice is rooted in textiles, a medium that carries histories of labour and migration of cultural knowledge. Using embroidery and photo scanner, she makes textile glitch art to investigate transformation and memory with a growing focus on how personal and cultural narratives migrate and shift across generations and geographies.

Khadija has been teaching embroidery in Toronto for nearly seven years, and other visual arts for over twelve years. She has received awards and grants from the Ontario Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts, Craft Ontario, the Ontario Museum Association, and the Surface Design Association, and her art has been exhibited and published in Canada, the US, Australia, Austria, and Prague. Khadija is currently a full-time artist-in-residence at Harbourfront Centre’s Textile Studio.

Khadija will talk about my Kashmiri shawl project after which she will lead a hands-on mirror embroidery workshop. Participants will explore the origins of this craft and learn to decorate cloth with shimmering glass mirrors, skills that can be applied to future projects like hoop art and garment embellishment.

03/27/2026

I have just been speaking with the president of Thunder Bay Weavers & Spinners Guild and she has given me an amazing breakdown of the Fibre scene in Thunder Bay including their relationship with Fort William Historical Park - Parc historique du Fort William were they raise Southdown, Dorset and more recently Rambouillet sheep. The relationship with the historic fort is similar to what we have with Riverdale Farm Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation in that they have access to their fleeces. We volunteer demonstrating wool processing for the city during the Farms public events; Family Day, Spring Festival when the sheep are sheard, which is coming up in May during Doors Open Toronto though it is not part of it and the Cabbagetown Art & Craft Show Textile Tourism in Canada is something that needs to be promoted more. I wrote an article about it for Selvedge Magazine Issue 44 Jan/ Feb 2012. It might be time for another one. Do you travel for textile events outside of Toronto? Have you gone on Textile Tours outside of Canada

03/22/2026

The Spring Textile Drop In at Riverdale Farm Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation will begin again on March 31, Bring a project to work on or some fleece to card and spin using the Farm's equipment. Hang out with other fibre people Tuesdays and Thursdays 1- 3 pm. ( bring a Tea Bag there is a kettle)

03/18/2026

Here’s an interesting opportunity if you make items to sell…

Attention Makers! There is just one week left to submit your application to be considered for our 2026 Gift Shop collection.

Applications can be submitted at https://forms.gle/yvoBRK7CWiV2migN6, but only until March 22.

Peterborough County

03/10/2026

This months Guild meeting is coming up on zoom on Wednesday March 11. Leo Atkinson of Brentwood Meadows is our speaker. Leo is a fourth-generation sheep farmer who resides in New Lowell, Ontario.

In 2024, Leo was given the opportunity to start a flock of his own. He grew up with North Country Cheviots and Suffolks but decided to go a different route and chose Border Leicesters, a heritage wool breed that originated in England.

At the Royal Winter Fair in 2025 he had the Champion Long Wool Flock, the Champion Long Wool Get of Sire, and Reserve Supreme Champion Ram with his Border Leicester Ram, Apollo.

Leo is passionate about teaching others about sheep husbandry, and the importance of wool sheep in the purebred sheep industry. He is currently a Leader with the 4H South Simcoe Sheep Club.

03/10/2026

On Friday at LandMade Deborah Livingston- Lowe of Upper Canada Weaving in her talk spoke of the Egtved Girl's wardrobe from 3,500 years ago. Three days ago the Textile Workshop in Sagnlandet Lejre, Denmark, posted this video of the reconstruction of the blanket that was part of the finds with the Egtved Girl's wardrobe was posted

At the Textile Workshop in Sagnlandet Lejre, Denmark, a copy of the blanket from the famous Egtved Girl's grave is being made. The Egtved Girl is exhibited a...

02/21/2026

In another response to Premier Ford's "basket weaving" comment, our Chair Miriam Kaufman spoke with Jermaine Wilson at CP24. Her comments and photos are included in this article:

For members of the Toronto Guild of Spinners and Weavers, Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s unprompted jab at “basket-weaving courses” while he urged students to pursue “jobs of the future,” landed close to home.

02/20/2026

Toronto Guild webmaster Meg Olson was interviewed about Premier Doug Ford's comments denigrating "basket weaving courses". Meg's response addresses the importance of learning hands-on crafts. She also provided a list of links inviting listeners to learn more about spinning and weaving. Well done, Meg!

To learn more, check out these links: Toronto Guild of Spinners and Weavers Website: https://toronto-guild-of-spinners-and-weavers.com/ Craft Ontario Article: https://craftontario.com/blogs/participate/campaign-to-save-ontarios-post-secondary-craft-education Southwestern Ontario Basketry Guild: http...

02/16/2026

Family Day at Riverdale Farm was busy. The Guild Display , tapestry loom, carding, spinning on wheels and a hands on drop spindle lesson and bookmark looms to take home. This year the Fancy Barn has been staged to exhibit their collection of farming equipment with a display of a 1906 farm house interior. It was a fun day. Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation

02/16/2026

Drop by Riverdale Farm for Family Day February 16 10 am - 3 pm you will find Toronto Guild of Spinners and Weavers members demonstrating wool processing and weaving. a Demonstration of the Walking Wheel will be featured

01/04/2026

The Winter Textile Drop In at Riverdale Farm starts next week September 13th Tuesdays and Thursdays 1- 3 pm Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation