I’ve been whispering my dream to others for a while now. Generally, I get two responses:
- “It’ll never work.”
- “How can I help?”
Like Martin Luther King, I can’t make my dream come true by myself. This crazy idea would take concerted effort from all of us, and that’s why I’m writing. I wonder, what do you think? Would you be willing to help make this dream happen?
This crazy idea began with a “what if?”
- What if . . . at the ANWG 2025 conference, we offered a free class to beginning weavers—I mean folks who have never held a shuttle?
- What if . . . we were able to take complete beginners through the whole multi-shaft weaving process in four half-day sessions?
- What if . . . we asked more advanced weavers to donate a couple of conference hours to mentor beginners through the various stages of weaving (warping board, winding on, threading heddles, tying on, and weaving)?
- What if . . . every student left with their very first sample of woven fabric?
- What if . . . we did it with loaned warping boards, table looms and weaving tools brought to conference for this very purpose?
- What if . . . we were able to create an entirely new audience of enthusiastic weavers?
All of us have worried about the next generation of weavers. Where will they come from? Who will bring them in? What will happen to our beloved craft, or to our guilds, when the last of us gives up the shuttle? Like you, I’ve grieved as our favorite teachers retire. I’ve observed the aging of our guilds, and the decreased willingness of aging guild members to volunteer. Like you, I’ve wanted to do something to bring in the next generation of weavers. I’ve noticed that some are attacking this at the guild level (way to go Boseman!). These questions made me wonder, if the purpose of ANWG is to promote education, maybe we should occasionally begin at the beginning. What better place to do that than conference?
Mine is a crazy idea. Why would a non-weaver attend a weaving conference? Who wants to volunteer when they could be taking a great class? Publicity won’t fill that class. I believe that each non-weaver would have to be personally invited. You would have to spot that potential weaver in your community, your guild, your spinning or knitting circle. And you would have to be bold enough to say, “Hey, why don’t you come spend the weekend in Yakima with me?” I wish someone had asked me so many years ago.
I think it might just work. We have a teacher willing to lead the project. What about you? Would you be willing to help, to share your equipment for two days, to invite a friend? Let me know what you think! Share your creative ideas. I can’t wait to hear from you.