Recent Guild Activities

Blog, Workshops

Wellington Fibre Road Trip – FULL

London District Weavers and Spinners


When: Delayed until April 1st 10:00 to 2:00ish

This course is now full

Donna Hancock will lead us through colour theory and a hands on over-dyeing workshop in her mill.
Bring your lunch and 2 – 25 gram skeins of coloured protein fibre yarn. (No black or dark colours)

Donna will also supply some coloured alpaca, mohair, wool, dyed yarns and the dyes.

Participants will go home with small samples of original and dyed yarns.
We will have the opportunity to meet Donna’s angora goats (mohair), maybe some kids and shop!

Members: $35. Non-members: $45

Wait List registration available in case of cancellations

Over dye class Wellington FibresDownload

COVID protocols

    • Proof of full vaccination
    • Mandatory masks for the duration of each class
    • Compliance with any other Covid-19 protocols set by the East Lions Community Centre

    ***Cancellation Policy: Participants who cancel their registration up to 1 month prior to the start of the workshop will receive a full refund.  A participant who finds a replacement for his/her spot within 1 month prior to the start of the workshop will receive a full refund.  Cancellations within 1 month of workshops (with no replacement found) and “no-shows” will not be refunded.  If the Guild cancels a workshop for any reason, all registration fees will be refunded.  

    Blog, General Meeting

    March General Meeting

    London District Weavers and Spinners

    Recording of meeting – click HERE

    Too much fun!
    Not only will be having our own multi-talented Diny Warren speaking on, sharing and showing some of her fabulous work with indigo,

    …but we’ll also be holding a stash and ‘side hustle’ sale:


    How it works:
    -Send an email to LDWSFinance@gmail.com if you want to put some items in the sale.  This allows us to figure out how much time and space we need for the sale.
    -Materials / items to be put up for sale must be dropped off at 5:00 pm on Tuesday, March 7, 2023.
    -Each item or bundle of items must be pre-labelled by the member as follows:
      *Guild Member Number    *Item Number    *Price
                 …for example, guild items should be labeled as follows:

                  *6 – *1 – *$10
                  *6 – *2 – *$15- If you are bundling some items together (eg. partial spools of thread) they should be “packaged” – eg., in a paper bag, attached by elastics etc.
    – For items submitted by members, 20% of each sale will go towards the guild.
    – There will be books for sale which have either been donated or are duplicates from the Guild’s Library.  100% of these proceeds will be reinvested into the library.
    – A large selection of yarns were semi-donated to the guild – i.e. the donor will get 50% of the proceeds.  
    – At the end of the sale, you need to pick up any of your unsold items.
    – Cheques for the member share of the sale will be mailed within two weeks.   
    – The sale will take place before and after the March meeting (which is Diny Warren’s Indigo presentation). 

    UPDATE: Cash is recommended for shoppers as it is faster than using a card.  We will have ‘Square’ available.

    Blog, Workshops

    Beginning Weaving Course – FULL

    London District Weavers and Spinners

    This class is full. A new class will be posted in the fall.

    • Learn how to warp a loom
    • Discover basic weaving techniques & weave structures
    • Select appropriate yarns
    • Plan a project
    • Keep records of your projects
    • Follow instruction for projects
    • Learn weaving terminology and equipment

    Dates: April 16, 23 and 30, May 7, 28
    Time: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
    Location: East Lions Community Centre – 1731 Churchill Ave, London, ON
    Instructor: Kathy Morgan
    Cost: $350 members, $380 non-members

    Preregistration is required.

    ***Cancellation Policy: Participants who cancel their registration up to 1 month prior to the start of the workshop will receive a full refund.  A participant who finds a replacement for his/her spot within 1 month prior to the start of the workshop will receive a full refund.  Cancellations within 1 month of workshops (with no replacement found) and “no-shows” will not be refunded.  If the Guild cancels a workshop for any reason, all registration fees will be refunded.  

    Covid-19 protocols for in person courses:

    • COVID Protocol for classes
    • Proof of full vaccination
    • Mandatory masks for the duration of each class
    • Compliance with any other Covid-19 protocols set by the East Lions Community Centre

    Blog, General Meeting

    February General Meeting

    London District Weavers and Spinners

    Kathrin Weber, from Blazing Shuttles is our February speaker. 

    Link to Zoom recording – available until March’s meeting on the Meeting Presentations/Handouts page
    Ensure you are signed into the LDWS website with your password in order to see the presentation.

    This will be an in-person meeting at the Community Centre and also on zoom

    She will be presenting “Effective Use of Materials and Color”, with the following description:

    “Do you have yarn in various colors, textures, weights, yarn types that you are not sure what to do with? Perhaps you have a lovely yarn that may not be strong enough for that warp you want to wind. Or your yarn is too fine or too big or the colors are too bright and they don’t go together. Or, to be honest, the yarn you have been hoarding is just too dang expensive to use! How do you make a little go a long way?
    This lecture with images will help you think of creative ways to plan and execute woven projects of mixed yarn types and colors that you might have thought would never go together technically or visually. Spend a little time with me thinking, “What if…?” And then dig through your yarn closet for hidden treasures waiting to be woven.”

    What a great way to get your creative juices flowing, and burst out of the winter blues!

    Blog, General Meeting

    January 2023 – Bonus Shared Presentation

    London District Weavers and Spinners

    January 4th, 2023 we had a shared presentation with the KW guild. The presenter was Kathrin Weber from Blazing Shuttles. Kathrin presented Dyeing to Please You: Dyed Warp Techniques.

    The presentation will be available until February 4th, 2023. Handouts are also available. The access to the presentation as well as the handouts is on the members only portion of the LDWS website CLICK HERE Ensure you are signed in first for the link to work.

    Blog, Workshops past

    Beginning Rigid Heddle Weaving (Feb 2023)

    London District Weavers and Spinners

    Learn to Weave on a Rigid Heddle Loom

    If you have wanted to learn to weave but are not ready to tackle a 4 harness loom, or
    if you wish you could weave for yourself, your friends and family, or to sell at FAFS, or
    if you have limited space for a loom, or
    if you are a spinner with beautiful yarn you want to turn into useful treasures, or
    if you’re just curious, come and join us. 

    In 2 – 3 hour classes you will set up the loom and weave a scarf, then set up the loom again to refine your skills and learn some useful tricks and techniques. 

    Instructions will be given to participants before the course about yarn requirements.

    Location: 1731 Churchill Ave, East Lion’s Community Centre

    Instructor: Linda Elkins

    Cost: The course fee will be $85 for LDWS Members and $110 for non-members – payable on registration.

    The class will have a minimum of 4 students and a maximum of 6.
    A limited number of looms are available to rent for $10. Loom rentals are for a month from the date of the first class.If you have your own please indicate in the form below

    Dates: February 18, March 4

    Time: 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm

      • COVID Protocol for classes
      • Proof of full vaccination
      • Mandatory masks for the duration of each class
      • Compliance with any other Covid-19 protocols set by the East Lions Community Centre

      ***Cancellation Policy: Participants who cancel their registration up to 1 month prior to the start of the workshop will receive a full refund.  A participant who finds a replacement for his/her spot within 1 month prior to the start of the workshop will receive a full refund.  Cancellations within 1 month of workshops (with no replacement found) and “no-shows” will not be refunded.  If the Guild cancels a workshop for any reason, all registration fees will be refunded.  

      Blog, Workshops

      Felt a Scribble Scarf

      London District Weavers and Spinners


      Registration: OPEN

      Date: Saturday April 29 10:00 – 3:00
      Location: East Lion’s Community Centre – 1731 Churchill Ave
      Instructor: Leslie Samson
      Participant fee: Members $125, Non-members $165 (includes materials)

      SCRIBBLE LACE SCARF
      with Leslie Samson
      In this class we will make beautiful lacy felted scarves. The halo of the angora will fill in lacy spaces to create a cozy and sensational accent for winter dressing or a light cover in warmer weather.
      There are tricks for the best results. Using a premium product – 50/50 angora / merino pencil roving and silk fabric, participants will learn the easy way to lay out and felt a laminated accessory with an expensive look.

      Free-styling applications of nuno, 3-Dimensional techniques, finishing and embellishment techniques will be covered.

      Students will bring: A tea towel and a bath towel (bath sheet would be too large).

        • COVID Protocol for classes
        • Proof of full vaccination
        • Mandatory masks for the duration of each class
        • Compliance with any other Covid-19 protocols set by the East Lions Community Centre

        ***Cancellation Policy: Participants who cancel their registration up to 1 month prior to the start of the workshop will receive a full refund.  A participant who finds a replacement for his/her spot within 1 month prior to the start of the workshop will receive a full refund.  Cancellations within 1 month of workshops (with no replacement found) and “no-shows” will not be refunded.  If the Guild cancels a workshop for any reason, all registration fees will be refunded.  

        Blog, Workshops

        Shibori and Indigo Dyeing Workshop

        London District Weavers and Spinners

        REGISTRATION OPEN to all

        Dates: Sat., May 6 and 13 10:00 – 3:00
        Location: East Lions Community Centre
        Instructor: Diny Warren
        Registration Fee: Members – $115 Non-Members – $155
        Material Fee: $45 – to be paid to instructor at first class

        This is a 2 day workshop.
        Day 1 – Shibori
        Day 2 – Indigo dyeing

        Scroll to bottom to register

        What is Shibori?
        The word Shibori comes from the Japanese verb Shiboru which means to wring, squeeze or press.
        Fabric is compressed to block the dye from entering. This can be achieved in many different ways.
        Folds and pleats can be placed randomly for a chance effect by scrunching, twisting or they can be arranged in a controlled way by folding, wrapping and binding.

        Then there is the stitched Shibori where rows of small stitches can follow a draw line, follow a specific
        shape. Pulling up the threads of hand sewn rows of small stitches create tiny folds.

        Several techniques will be shown and applied on the first Saturday, May 6.
        The most traditional and most common technique for dyeing Shibori is Indigo dyeing, which is what we
        will be doing. Other dye methods can be used.

        Saturday May 13, we will be using an Indigo Vat
        You will be shown how to start the vat, how it comes alive and watch the magic happen when you dip
        and carefully retrieve your pieces from the Indigo liquid.
        Watch the colour change in front of your eyes. A sense of mystery and expectation always prevails no
        matter how well you prepare your folding, clamping or stitching.

        We will be using mainly cotton material in this workshop.
        At the conclusion of the two days you will have :
        Created an Indigo dyed Cotton scarf 22”x 72”, and two light weight cotton napkins 22”x22”, we can dip
        some silk hankies. You will be able to bring some small cotton or linen items from home to dye, depending on the survival of the vat.

        The knowledge to apply these techniques to other fabrics using different dyeing techniques.
        Shibori and Indigo dyeing can be used on Silks, fine wools, linen, hemp.

        Further instructions for the workshop will be provided to the class registrants closer to the workshop
        dates.

          • COVID Protocol for classes
          • Proof of full vaccination
          • Mandatory masks for the duration of each class
          • Compliance with any other Covid-19 protocols set by the East Lions Community Centre

          ***Cancellation Policy: Participants who cancel their registration up to 1 month prior to the start of the workshop will receive a full refund.  A participant who finds a replacement for his/her spot within 1 month prior to the start of the workshop will receive a full refund.  Cancellations within 1 month of workshops (with no replacement found) and “no-shows” will not be refunded.  If the Guild cancels a workshop for any reason, all registration fees will be refunded.  

          Blog, Workshops past

          Beginning Spinning Class – Winter 2023 – Class is Full

          London District Weavers and Spinners

          This Spinning Wheel course is for the person who would like to learn how to spin on a Spinning wheel, while having fun making your own yarn from wool fibres. 

          We will cover:

          • The working of the spinning wheel
          • How to prepare fibres for spinning
          • Spinning the yarn
          • Finishing yarn

          Location: This course will be in person, and take place at the East Lion’s Community Centre in the North Art Room

          Instructor: Diny Warren

          Cost: The course fee will be $175 for LDWS Members and $210 for non-members – payable on registration . A material fee of $30 will be required to be paid on the first day of class.

          The class will have a minimum of 4 students and a maximum of 5. Spinning wheels are available for use during the class. If you have your own please indicate in the form below

          Dates: February 18, March 4, April 1

          Time: 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

            Will you be bringing your own spinning wheel?

            • COVID Protocol for classes
            • Proof of full vaccination
            • Mandatory masks for the duration of each class
            • Compliance with any other Covid-19 protocols set by the East Lions Community Centre

            ***Cancellation Policy: Participants who cancel their registration up to 1 month prior to the start of the workshop will receive a full refund.  A participant who finds a replacement for his/her spot within 1 month prior to the start of the workshop will receive a full refund.  Cancellations within 1 month of workshops (with no replacement found) and “no-shows” will not be refunded.  If the Guild cancels a workshop for any reason, all registration fees will be refunded.