Guild Calendar
Thursday, September 10, 2026 – Monthly Meeting
Multnomah Arts Center + Zoom, 7688 SW Capitol Hwy. (503) 823-2787
All meetings are free and open to the public
10:00 am Day Meeting – Auditorium
9:30 am – 10:00 am: Set up, social time and library browsing time
10:00 am – 12:00: Meeting
7:00 pm Evening Meeting – Gymnasium
6:30 pm – 7:00 pm: set up, social and library browsing time. Library will be available in the hallway outside the closet.
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm: Meeting
Thursday, September 24, 2026 – Board Meeting
7:00pm – Zoom
See the website for full calendar including study group meetings.
President’s Message
In September we start our new year of programs and workshops. As always, the Education committee has planned a year of interesting and informative speakers and learning opportunities. Our website is the most up to date source of information on all things Guild related.
It was mentioned that we were considering looking at finding permanent space at MAC. The Board determined that it really isn’t feasible and our funds would be better served by offering classes, scholarships and offsetting the cost of workshops. We truly are the best deal in town when it comes to classes!
Speaking of MAC, please note that all the evening programs, the WeftOver Sale and the Fall sale will be in the gym at MAC. We do not have access to Room 30 or any of the rooms in the old senior center. The morning meetings are still in the auditorium. The move to the gym will mean that the library will be outside our storage closet and the shelves are too heavy to move across MAC and down a ramp – visualize a runaway library cart!
As it gets cooler and rainier, my favorite weather, please plan to attend the WeftOver Sale Saturday October 10th, 10-3pm and pick up some new fiber, books and equipment. It is our only fundraiser of the year and a lot of fun. Everyone swears they don’t need anymore yarn and then walk out with a bag full.
Nora Gessert
Upcoming Programs
September 10, 2026 Meeting — Hannah Watson
Morning meeting: Felt Sensory Experiences, Connecting Across Time & Space, Walking & Weaving: An Artist Talk by Hannah Watson
Hannah Watson will share a presentation, both digital and felt/seen, of her woven works to the group and talk about her personal experiences with weaving as an art form. She will share how drawing with yarn through combining tapestry techniques with these weave structures has, in the past, offered an immensely therapeutic path through sticky emotional depths, aka weaving her way through her “dark night of the soul.”
Evening Meeting: “The Stuff the World is Made Of”: the Bauhaus Textiles Movement in North Carolina & Its Influence Today with Hannah Watson
The creative freedom offered and encouraged through the Bauhaus movement has inspired generations of weavers and designers. Beginning at the loom in Germany with Gunta Stölzl and progressing to Anni Albers at the Black Mountain College in western North Carolina, the Bauhaus movement sparked and carried joy and innovation across decades that
About the Speaker
Hannah Watson (b. 1991, South Carolina) is a weaver, dyer, & mixed media artist whose work is driven by deep diving into the psychology of human development and her connection to place, rhythm, color, and pattern. As her grandmothers were both textile artists and her parents jointly ran an architectural firm, her childhood was heavily influenced by cloth, architecture, and drawing. After earning her B.S. in cultural anthropology and costume design from the College of Charleston, she worked with a women’s weaving cooperative in the Sacred Valley, Peru in 2014 and then returned to South Carolina to work with an indigo grower & dyer. Hannah pursued natural dyeing, weaving, and collage education at Penland School of Craft and John C. Campbell Folk School in western North Carolina and completed a Professional Craft degree in Textiles at Haywood Community College in 2019. In 2018, she won a design award through the Handweavers Guild of America and has shown her work at galleries across the Carolinas, including Cloth Fiber Gallery, the Fine Arts Center, the Folk Art Center, and the Asheville Area Arts Council. She currently lives and works in Portland, OR as a textile artist and as an instructor at both WildCraft Studio School in Portland and Wool Friends in Seattle.
October 8, 2026 Meeting — Mystery Fiber Presentation by Diane McKinnon
Mystery Fiber? Let’s Identify It!
It happens to all of us.
– Some simply irresistible fiber, yarn, or fabric, follows you home.
– A well-meaning, enabling friend found some yarn at a garage sale and naturally “thought of you”.
– You were searching through your very own stash and discovered a gorgeous hank of yarn, its label long gone.
The first question many of us ask ourselves is, “I wonder what kind of fiber this is?
And, why would we want to know?
Some examples of the benefits of this knowledge are:
– Understanding how to process the fiber
– Determine how to use the fiber in a project
– How should you wash/clean/care for the final product
– Determining what types of dyes to use
– Safety: Will it burn? Will it dissolve when washed or exposed to chemicals?
– Is it suitable as a gift?
– Allergies
– And, probably most important of all, to answer the very first question almost all your fiber friends ask is ”What kind of fiber is that?”
In this combination lecture and hands on presentation, you will learn some tried and true methods of determining what kind of fiber you are now the proud owner of.
First, you’ll see an example of a fiber testing set up, including equipment suggestions and safety considerations. Then, you’ll watch several demonstrations of fiber testing and learn at home methods you can use to test various fibers and yarn for content. Finally, using your samples, you’ll be able to do your own fiber testing.
Bring any fiber or yarn you have – even if you know what it is – to play along!
Upcoming Workshops
If you’d like some creative inspiration, to learn new skills, and connect with the PHG weaving community, please join one of our future workshops. If the workshop you are interested in is full, please join the waitlist. Here’s what we have coming up:
November 13, 2026: Introduction to Japanese Book Binding
This workshop is full. Learn how to build and hand-stitch your own books using the four classic Japanese book binding techniques.
We are happy to announce that Barbara Setsu Pickett will teach a one-day Introduction to Japanese Book Binding workshop at Ruthie’s Weaving Studio. Barbara is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Art at the University of Oregon. The focuses of her research and creative practice are velvet weaving, shibori, natural dyeing, and the book arts.
For information or to join the waitlist visit:
Workshop: Introduction to Japanese Book Binding with Barbara Setsu Pickett – Portland Handweavers Guild
February 13 and 20, 2027: Passementerie with Elizabeth Ashdown (online)
Elizabeth Ashdown will join us virtually from her studio in London to lead an online workshop in Passementerie. In this bespoke two-day workshop, you will learn five woven passementerie designs. If you’d like to learn more about Elizabeth, check the Winter 2025 issue of Handwoven magazine. Elizabeth is featured twice: she has an article and fringe pattern, and there is a brief segment about her book, Passementerie: Handcrafting Contemporary Trimmings, Fringes, Tassels, and More. This workshop is for weavers on all loom types.Registration opens September 3. To learn about the workshop and register visit: Workshop: Passementerie with Elizabeth Ashdown (online in 2027) – Portland Handweavers Guild.
March 12-14, 2027: Rug Weaving Basics with Mary Zicafoose
We are excited to bring renowned artist Mary Zicafoose to PHG. Mary joins us for a program and workshop in March 2027. Learn, add to, or refresh your knowledge of a well constructed rug in Rug Weaving Basics. This is an in person workshop at the Multnomah Arts Center. Registration is not yet open. Look out for workshop registration to open in October. Learn more about Mary at: Mary Zicafoose Tapestries and Prints | Home Page
Happy weaving and learning! Any question should be directed to workshops@portlandhandweaversguild.org
Guild News
WeftOver Sale October 10 – Help Needed and Donations Too!
The WeftOver Sale is a great way to pass on fiber and equipment you know you will not use but someone else would love to have! Look around and destash your closet or studio and plan to bring it to either the September or October meeting. If you plan on donating something large or a whole lot of stuff, please plan to bring it either Friday night Oct. 9th between 5 and 7pm when we will be setting up the sale or Saturday Oct. 10 between 9 and 10am. If you have any questions about what you can donate, reach out to me at noragessert@yahoo.com and I will get with the library team and get an answer.
Of course, the sale needs volunteers. We need a few people Friday evening for setting up and Saturday to help with the sale. The sale will be held in the gym at MAC. If you can spare a few hours, please sign up on our website using this LINK.
Hope to see you there.
ANWG 2027 Conference Update
Conference planning continues, and big announcements are just around the corner. We’re dotting our i-s and crossing our t-s to make sure everything is ready to go. Look for the instructor and session lists and news about tours and evening events to come out in September.
We’re still looking for help in a couple areas:
• Fashion show committee and co-chair
• Learn to Weave needs looms (you can signup to lend a loom here)
• Publicity and social media
If you can help with any of these areas please contact Dan or Edith.
Lastly, the board has voted to sponsor an award at the conference in memory of Ladella Williams. Ladella was a long time PHG rep for ANWG and a huge supporter of the group. If you have thoughts about what award would best honor her memory please let Dan or Edith know.
Our next committee meeting is Monday, September 14, and is open to anyone who is interested in learning more and lending a hand. Just look for the link in the PHG calendar.
Dan Steves & Edith Gummer
ANWG 2027 Conference Co-Chairs
Learn to Weave on a Rigid Heddle Classes To Be Offered
After some discussion the board has agreed that the guild should try offering a Learn To Weave On A Rigid Heddle class. This is seen as an easier way to get folks started weaving than the 3 day Legacy class, and should help offer another outlet for folks who want to learn how to weave. Members of the small loom study group will be helping with the effort. If you’d like to learn more and maybe join the group please contact Dan Steves.
Expired Membership Message Incorrectly Sent to Current Members
FYI – it seems like many members got a notice that their membership had expired. This is incorrect in most cases. There appears to be a bug in our membership software. You can ignore it, or login to the website if you’re curious and it’ll tell you if you’re up to date.
Fall Sale
It’s time to get ready for the PHG fall sale: Handwovens for the Holidays! The application is here and will be available on the website members area soon.
Remember that you must be current with your PHG membership. Spaces are reserved on a first come/first served basis. We will make every effort to accommodate requests for space location, but nothing is assigned until your application check is received. I’d like to encourage folks to sign up for the publicity jobs: it’s a pretty easy task and such an important part of getting folks in the door. We need social media posts, postcard and flyer distribution, access to free news list posts, etc. Looking forward to a great sale this year! For questions, email me at: judilee.fitzhugh@gmail.com
Library Update
Evening Meeting Library Availability
With the MAC trying to rent out the former Senior Center in its entirety, the guild is unable to rent one of the rooms that we have been using for the past year. The evening meetings are currently scheduled in the gym. Unfortunately, we are unable to move the library carts into the gym. Library and the small equipment library browsing will be available from 6:30 to 7 in the hallway in front of the guild closet. For those unfamiliar with the closet location, the library will be visible just down the hall from the MAC gallery.
Some may be wondering why we can’t have the library in the gym. The library carts are not able to access the gym due to the many high door sills that must be crossed to get them there. We did try that once in May, 2022, which led to a cart-astrophic failure (picture available in the June, 2022 newsletter). It still causes nightmares. We’re not trying that again. Please be cognizant that there are classes being held in the classrooms, so please keep voices low when browsing in the hallway.
The morning meeting availability is unchanged. The meetings are scheduled for the auditorium which is library cart friendly.
Introducing LibraryThing’s TinyCat
Over the summer, the guild upgraded its online catalog search interface. The catalog will now appear more like search capabilities that you are used to rather than the glorified spreadsheet that it has for the past decade. Hopefully, this will improve your browsing experience and encourage you to use the library more often. The home page will now look like this:
Enter your search term (author, title, keyword) in the search box and hit enter to find a list of items.
To find an item in the library, notate the first tag listed for the item. This is the shelf section in which the item is located. The shelf is then sorted by the authors’ last names. If you are curious as to what else is in that section of the library, you can click on the tag to see what other items are on that shelf. Or click on the author’s name to see what other books or DVDs they have published. If you want to know more about a specific title, you can click on it to bring up the item record. There you will find reviews from other LibraryThing members, if any. You will also find a link to the Amazon record which will have its own description of the item and reviews.
Browse the PHG Library online from the comfort of your home anytime. The first tag for each item tells you in which section the item can be found. Newer acquisitions may be on the “New” shelf. Also explore tools you can check out from the Small Equipment Library. Both are available for browsing during our regular meetings.
Bulletin Board
Ukraine Donations
As many of you know, Janis Johnson and Debbie Ellis have been supporting Ukrainian relief efforts since Putin’s invasion. They routinely vend at Ukrainian festivals, have marched with them in the Grand Floral Parade, and have been honored for their service to this community.
We have grossed over $12,000, with all proceeds donated to both the Ukrainian Foundation and DAWN US, the two primary Ukrainian foundations in this region. The funds are used for medical supplies for the military: Tourniquets, chest compression kits, and other lifesaving materials.
This is all thanks to you, the members of PHG, as well as to other friends, who very kindly donate wonderful products for us to sell at these events.
We are so grateful and will continue to support this community as long as it takes.
Our next event will be Ukrainian Winterfest, Dec 5, at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. We are again seeking donations to re-supply our inventory. Towels, scarves, linens of all kinds, inkle bands, kumihimo bracelets, jewelry, greeting cards, mug rugs, bags, etc, have all sold well.
If you have any good-quality items that you ordinarily would sell yourself (rather than discarding), do consider helping us out. Ukrainian motifs and colors are especially valued. Janis lives in Beaverton and Debbie lives in Milwaukie. We can arrange to collect your donations, or you can bring to the next meeting(s).
Many thanks! Slava Ukrayini!
Debbie Ellis (artisanfibers@aol.com)
Janis Johnson (janis.marie.johnson@gmail.com)
Latest ANWG Newsletter
The Association of Northwest Weavers Guilds has posted their July 2026 newsletter. Check out the creative ways other Northwest weaving guilds are getting their members together for fiber activities. All ANWG newsletters are available here.
Looking to Buy or Sell Weaving Equipment or Materials?
Check out the Items for Sale page.
Fiber News and Events
Damascus Fiber Arts School presents Tapestry Talks
On Saturday, Sep 12, at 10am Pacific, our guest will be Nikyle Begay. In this talk Nikyle Begay will talk about the history of the Navajo shepherding and weaving culture. From traditional stories to recorded accounts pertaining to the acquisition of sheep, husbandry practices, and the use of wool for weaving–will also touch in dyeing with local plants. Nikyle will also share his life with sheep, from when and how he got started with his flock to what he is currently up to, working to improve Navajo-Churro wool quality by looking at historical textiles and the art of twill weaving. See Tapestry Talks – Damascus Fiber Arts School for more information.
ANWG 2027 Conference
June 14-19, 2027
Portland, Oregon
https://anwgconference.org/
Handweavers Guild of America
Textiles & Tea
Tuesdays
Handweavers Guild of America, Inc.’s (HGA)‘s Textiles & Tea takes place every Tuesday at 4 PM (ET). We’ve invited some of the most respected fiber artists in the field today to join us for an hour long conversation where we will discuss their artwork and their creative journey. Make a cup of your favorite tea and join us as we talk about fiber, creativity, inspiration, process and so much more.
Newsletter Contributions
Send news items and fiber events to Tim Prins by the 25th of the month for inclusion in the next month’s newsletter.
Rental Equipment
PHG has equipment available for rent to current PHG Members. Click here for more info.
PHG Board and Chairs
Please click here for a list of PHG Board Members and Committee Chairs.