Sharing Their Love of Fiber Arts.
The seed that started the Whidbey Weavers Guild was a textile exhibit at the Coupeville Recreation Hall in 1965. Mary Ellen Littke, Thelma Brown, and Doris Macomber brought their looms to demonstrate weaving and had a display of photographs. Mary Fullington brought some of her mother’s handwoven pieces, including a dress she had woven from her own handspun yarn. During the Coupeville Arts and Crafts Festival In 1966, this dedicated group demonstrated spinning and weaving on the loading platform of the Coupeville dock. In 1968 Treva Carter, from the art center in Oak Harbor, talked Doris into teaching a weaving class to five gals. After this class, the group felt they needed to start a weaver’s guild to foster growth.
Guild Beginnings: Small but Dedicated.
In December 1969 the group started with seven members who met in Doris’ home for five years. The original members were Thelma, Mary Ellen, Lyn Murphy, Elaine Hadden, Joy Fantry, Treva Carter, and Doris. They were joined by Mary Fullington and Ann Meerkerk. Virginia Harvey was the first program speaker, talking about textiles. She, along with Mildred Sherwood and Anita Luvera Mayer soon became active members. As the group grew, they decided a leader was necessary. Doris became the first leader and focused on planning the meetings and programs. Ann followed to lead the group and Mildred took over until 1981. Suzanne Ramsey led the expanding group until 1987. By this time they had grown to about 30 members meeting at the Methodist Church in Coupeville.
Fiber Lovers Gather for Spin-In.
Spin-in is an Australian word meaning “joyful gathering”. The first Whidbey Spin-In was organized by Ann, Lyn, and Laura Vanderbeek in 1972. Inspired by the gathering Ann, Lyn, and Laura started raising sheep.
Guild Becomes Official.
In 1986 the decision was made to legally organize the Guild, setting dues and electing officers. The new Constitution and By-Laws were accepted in April 1987, with Virginia Dusenbury elected the first President. Subsequent presidents were Pauline Doyle, Lucetta Walker, Evelyn Boyd, Alphild Johnson, Nita Coates, Jean Nelson, Rene Delight-La Torre, Sally Starnes, Pat Oetken, Nancy Baggott, and Linda Thom.
Expanding Guild Programs.
Study groups formed to focus on specific member interests. Crazy 8s being the first, followed by Blockbusters, Braidy Bunch, Firehouse Spinners, Foursomes, Dye Study, NW Regional Spinners, Samplers (formerly Twill Group), Sixteen Shaft Group, and South Whidbey Spinners.
Over the years the Guild has presented their woven creations in several fashion shows for the community. In the early years, Guild members demonstrated carding, spinning, and weaving at the Coupeville Arts and Crafts Festival. They even had dye pots going. Members also went into the school classrooms to demonstrate the fiber arts.
Yearly participation in the Island County Fair has brought members many blue ribbons in weaving, spinning, surface design, to mention a few of the fiber arts that are now being created by the Whidbey Weavers Guild.
Origins of Guild Sale.
In 2004 Carys Hamer undertook the leadership of our first Annual Guild Member Sale. For the first three years, it was held at the Coupeville Recreation Center and then moved to Greenbank Farm in 2007. Now known as Uncommon Threads and features a wide variety of clothing, accessories, yarn, and home décor all handcrafted by Guild members. Since 2016 the sale is now held at Whidbey Island Nordic Lodge Hall in early November.
Whidbey Weavers Guild has been a community of fiber artists for over 50 years. We are a dynamic organization dedicated to providing an environment instilling interest, inspiration, and education in the fiber arts. Membership extends throughout the Puget Sound, Admiralty Inlet, and the Straits of Juan de Fuca regions. Members come from seven counties and one Canadian province.
Who We Are Today.
The current members range from beginners and hobbyists to production weavers and fiber artists, some of whom are nationally recognized artists and teachers. Our large spinning community has members who raise sheep, alpacas, llamas, goats, and dogs to harvest fiber.