Jan Friedman will be our special guest
Jan Friedman has been weaving since 1974. She received her M.A. in Textile Design at the University of Iowa in 1980. She has conducted workshops in weaving, color, and dyeing across the United States. Her tapestries and framed collage pieces have been featured in numerous invitational and juried exhibits and have been commissioned for both private homes and corporate collections.
“I want these pieces to entice you to take a closer look — at surfaces that vary in texture — at bold color combinations and slow chromatic gradations. I hope this work evokes a response from you, whether it is spiritual, emotional, or simply curiosity about content and techniques.”
Come and hear from her personally at our February Guild Meeting.
Also at our February meeting Julie Pitts and Susan Gottlieb will teach another chapter of Kumihimo bracelet making. This will begin after the program at approximately 2:30. Extra supplies have been ordered so feel free to join in. If you have a round disc, feel free to bring it along.
Good News from A Good Yarn!
Our local yarn store has stocked up on yarns for weaving! They have a good supply of Brassard 8/2 cotton along with Gist Mallo, Beam and Array. Hopefully if weavers are supportive more supplies will become available. Here’s a peek at what they have.
Do You Want to Learn to Weave?
The new Winter class schedule is available at Suncoast Community College ! Registration is currently open and classes will begin on the January 20th. This time we are offering an expanded curriculum. For those who have taken our Learn to Weave class we are now offering: Next Steps in Multi-Shaft Weaving. This class will teach more pattern reading and techniques for creating your own projects. Also being offered are two more advanced Rigid Heddle classes: Next Steps in Rigid Heddle Weaving 101 & 102. 101 will focus on Color & Weave techniques with pickup sticks to produce a textured table runner. 102 will focus on using multiple heddles and/or pickup sticks to learn different double weave techniques.
Learn to Weave and Weaving Rigid Heddle Style participants are able to weave different patterns and experiment with different threads. They learn how a loom works and get to meet other weavers and see things they’ve made. Click the above link to the school to access their catalogue. These two classes will be offered again in another session, either Spring or Summer 2026.
Students in the Learn to Weave class will learn how to make a warp and warp their looms. By the time they complete this class they will have all of the information needed to do a project independently. The class is very extensive and there is one-on-one help for students.
Weaving Rigid Heddle style is another way to create fantastic, unique, hand-made fabrics. the pictures below are examples of weaving done on such a loom.
Learn to Weave will be offered later in the winter, be sure to watch the ACE catalogue. Weaving Rigid Heddle style will be 6 3 hour sessions. Participants in both classes will be able to take their looms home to work on their projects.
In the fall Intro to Weaving classes participants will have the opportunity to try floor looms, table looms, rigid heddle, inkle and tapestry looms all in a 2 session class. Our students get to try actual weaving and learn about looms and weaving terminology. If you are curious about weaving come check us out!
In addition we will be adding an Advanced Rigid Heddle weaving class! Students in this class will learn to use pick up sticks and explore color & weave, expanding the techniques possible on a Rigid Heddle loom.
Get to know us
We’ve been in existence since 1964 as an organization, holding regular meetings and a variety of other activities. Below are links to many of the upcoming events for the coming year. Please explore our website to see all the interesting activities we offer. Also, visit our Facebook and Instagram pages to learn more. Click on any of the images below to learn more or explore the menu bar above.
Mission
Through monthly meetings, study groups and special workshops, Manasota Weavers Guild offers our members a range of opportunities to increase their knowledge and skills. We welcome new weavers and spinners and provide instruction and mentorship. Our members also promote awareness and appreciation of the fiber arts through a variety of community outreach programs.
Membership in the Guild is open to anyone interested in the arts of loom weaving, tapestry, spinning, knitting, basketry and related fiber arts.