Victoria Handweavers & Spinners Guild

01/29/2026

UPCOMING WORKSHOP!

Weaving Inlay on a Transparent Background with Rebecca Smith on March 14th and 15th, 2026

Transparency weaving combines a sheer ground cloth with inlay. This workshop will appeal to tapestry weavers who want to use their skills in a new way, and to multi-shaft weavers interested in decorative wall hangings and window coverings. Students will learn how to weave designs in inlay using tapestry-based techniques for creating curved shapes or geometric forms. Advanced techniques will be presented for manipulating the inlay to create layered transparency. Students can create their own designs or choose from a variety of designs provided by the instructor. The workshop will conclude with mounting and display suggestions.
Level of student expertise required: basic weaving knowledge.

Registration is open.
The cost of the workshop is $350 if you are a member of a guild on Vancouver Island or the Lower Mainland. If you are not a guild member, the cost is $385. A materials list will be sent to you on registration.
Location: Studio in rural Saanich.
Exact times and location will be shared with registrants nearer the date.

Please go to https://vhwsg.ca/activities/workshops to register. Follow the directions to register on the webpage.

01/04/2026

Interested in learning about a warp ball? The January 20th presentation by Sandra Gillis on the use of a warp ball will be via zoom at 3:00 pm. The business meeting and show and tell will be in the evening at the regular time (7 pm). Click on the link below for additional information. All guild members will receive a zoom link via email for Sandra's presentation.

The program by Sandra Gillis (The Warp Ball: Its History, How It Is Used, And Whether It Is Still Used in Canada) will be presented at 3 p.m., 20 Jan 2026 on Zoom. All Guild members will receive a Zoom link to attend. For those members not able to attend at that time, the program will be recorded an...

09/29/2025

THE WORKSHOP IS FULL. Registration for the workshop on nettle processing and spinning is now open. Sharon Kallis of EartHand will guide you through processing dried nettle stalks into spun threads. You will also learn about harvesting and retting nettles. Some spinning experience is an asset.

The workshop is scheduled for November 22-23 at a location in Saanich. It is limited to 10 students, so sign up quickly! Click on the link for details on registration.

VHWSG Organized Workshops Upcoming Workshops Nettle Processing and Spinning – November 2025 Instructor: Sharon Kallis of EartHand Gleaners Society In this workshop, Sharon will guide you through processing dried nettle stalks into spun threads. You will also learn about harvesting and retting nett...

09/24/2025

The guild is hosting a presentation and a workshop on working with stinging nettles in fibre arts. Click on the links for details.

The presentation will be October 21 during the regular guild meeting: https://vhwsg.ca/meeting-notice/october-guild-meeting-21-oct-2025-7-p-m-doors-open-at-630/
Sharon Kallis will give an overview of the seasonal calendar of wild fibres that she works with throughout the seasons. Sharon regularly works with stinging nettles, fireweed, milkweed, flax and a variety of dye and basketry plants in her work with the EarthHand Community stewarding two environmental learning gardens in Vancouver. Expect a show and tell of her wardrobe of local fibres woven on a warp-weighted loom, and stories of her journey to a wilded wardrobe.

The workshop will be November 22-23: https://vhwsg.ca/frontpage/workshop-nettle-processing-and-spinning-22-23-nov-2025/

09/13/2025

Only 3 weeks until Texere, the guild's sale. It is being held at the ArtSea Gallery in Tulista Park (Sidney), and will include a variety of fibre artistry by guild members. This is our first group sale in a few years, so you don't want to miss it!
Texere: Exploring Fine Fibre Arts

08/28/2025

Are you interested in learning how to spin? The guild is scheduling a spinning workshop in November that will get you started in the world of spinning. You’ll learn some of the terms used for wheels and fibre as well as several spinning techniques and plying. Click on the link for details and registration information.

An introductory spinning workshop will be held on 3 afternoons in November – Nov 1, 8, 15. Cost is $150 for VHWSG members, $190 for non-members. This workshop will get you started in the world of spinning. You’ll learn some of the terms used for wheels and fibre as well as several spinning techn...

08/09/2025

Are you curious about weaving and spinning? Come visit the guild tent at Fibrations on August 17. We will have a loom, spinning wheels and drop spindles.

Are you ready to take the plunge and learn how to weave? The guild will be holding an introduction to weaving workshop starting in September.