Manasota Weavers Guild serves all persons interested in weaving, spinning, dyeing, basket making and related fiber arts in Sarasota County and Manatee County, Florida.
Manasota Weavers Guild
P.O. Box 17876
Sarasota, FL 34276
Mission
Manasota Weavers Guild is dedicated to the preservation and advancement of the fiber arts. Through monthly meetings and special workshops, we offer our members the opportunity to increase their knowledge and skills. We offer community outreach programs which promote awareness and appreciation of the fiber arts. The Guild welcomes and offers instruction to new weavers and spinners. Membership in the Guild is open to anyone interested in the arts of loom weaving, tapestry, spinning, knitting, basketry and related fiber arts.
Meetings
In-person meetings are held on the 2nd Saturday of the month at the Arts & Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County, 1226 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota (located behind The Designing Women Boutique).
- 10:30 AM: Spinners, Show & Tell
- 12:00 noon: Lunch (bring your own) & Business Meeting
- 1:00-2:00: Program
All Fiber Artists and Guests are Welcome.
Come Join Us.
Membership is open to all who are interested in weaving, spinning, dyeing, basketry and other fiber arts. We seek those who want to learn or improve their skills, and who will serve in the promotion of our goals.
A single membership is $35, family membership is $50
Contact our Membership Chair for further information.
Programs 2021-2022
May 14, 2021
Dawne Wimbrow from Lofty Fiber will present Tempoweave, a powerful new weaving design program with a clean modern look. The program currently runs on a Windows PC or under Parallels on a Mac. A fully functional beta version is available for only $1 on the Tempoweave website.. Give it a try!Guild Benefits
Library & Newsletter
We have an extensive collection of current and historical books and periodicals on fiber arts and crafts, which is available to all members.Members receive a newsletter via email each month the Guild meets.
Educational Grants
Manasota Weavers Guild has an education grant program. Anyone who has been a member in good standing may apply for a grant to pay for classes in any location, for instance at FTWG or a local workshop or toward any other workshop or class. Grants are not need based. Application and RulesThe Guild received the Gavel Award from the Sarasota Herald Tribune for its work in public education. Individual members have received awards for their work from state and national associations.
Workshops
Once or twice a year we invite nationally known experts to give two or three day workshops. These workshops involve an extra fee to cover the cost.Mentoring
We have a mentor program in which advanced weavers mentor the continued learning of less experienced weavers and spinners.Tax-Deductible Contributions
The Manasota Weavers Guild, Inc. is a non-profit organization conforming to IRS regulations as a 501(c)3 qualified organization. As such, the Guild may accept donations of fiber-related items. We are happy to learn of weaving and spinning items in very good condition that you are no longer using. We request that you send photos and descriptions of your items with MWG members as well as with members of other area guilds. Due to space limitations, the Guild can consider loom donations of only gently used floor looms up to 36" in width. Please contact Donations Committee if you are interested in donating such items. The Guild is also happy to receive donations of clean yarn and small weaving/spinning accessories. Donations may be sold by the Guild, with a portion of the proceeds earmarked for the MWG Scholarship Fund. Please note that the Donations Committee decisions regarding acceptance of donations on behalf of the Guild are final.Guild Challenge Summer 2021
We are heading back toward the bright lights of "normal" ...so the theme of our next Guild Challenge will be:Manasota Weavers are hereby challenged to create an item from any fiber(s) of their choice, in any two colors of their choice ... PLUS a (sunny) shade of yellow.
The structure one uses will depend on the first letter of the weaver's name (first, last, middle, nickname, maiden name). For example, Jill Biden might choose to do her piece in Basket Weave, Greta Thunberg might use Gothic Cross (pg. 41, A Handweaver's Pattern Book, Marguerite Porter Davison) or any Twill pattern. What structure would Cher choose? Perhaps Crackle!
In addition to Davison, one could also search for a variety of structure ideas in Strickler's A Weaver's Book of 8-Shaft Patterns or Chandler's Learning to Weave. Knitters and other fiber artists are asked to follow the same color guidelines (any two colors PLUS yellow) and to combine at least two different patterns in their work.
Newer members of the guild are encouraged to take on the 2022 Challenge. This is not a competition, there are no prizes, and all entries will be part of theManasota Weavers Guild table on display at the 2022 Florida Tropical Weavers Guild (FTWG) Conference. Challenge items are due at the March 2022 meeting of the MWG.
Join the challenge and the fun! You are guaranteed to learn something new, even if it is how tricky using yellow can be!
Questions? Never hesitate to check in with Priscilla Fort, Challenge Chair (fortmom@gmail.com). Stumped about where to begin? There are lots of MWG members ready to help you get started. Just ask!
And now ....
Demonstrations
Members regularly volunteer to demonstrate weaving and spinning throughout the three communities served. School demonstrations are an important part of our community outreach. Please contact our Outreach Committeeif you would like to schedule a demonstration for your organizationExhibitions and Sales
Our members exhibit fiber art at several sites during the year. Sites have included Selby Gardens, Women's Resource Center, the Manatee Art League, Sarasota Art Center, and the Florida Tropical Weavers annual conference.Merchant Rewards - Please Patronize these Vendors
The Woolery Guild Rewards Program:
Manasota Weavers Guild has been approved to participate in the Woolery Guild Rewards program.Any purchases, using this link, from the Woolery by Guild members will result in an annual cash reward that will be sent to our Guild.