The Weavers and Spinners Society of Austin was founded in 1972 by a group of six weavers “so that they can better teach men, women and children to weave, spin and dye yarn.” The guild continues that effort today, by creating community spaces and offering kinship and mentorship to beginner and advanced artisans.
With over 250 members, we’re one of the largest guilds in Texas, uniquely Austin and Central Texas in character and spirit, but welcoming to members from far away. WSSA is also a member of the Handweavers Guild of America (HGA) and affiliated with the Contemporary Handweavers of Texas (CHT).
“Keeping Austin Warped since 1972”
Early Days – Weaver’s Co-op
WSSA was founded in Austin, Texas on September 28, 1972 as the Weaver’s Cooperative by Ann Bones, Joanne Donner, Tomijaan Nabors, Nancy Phillips, Posie Pincoffs, and Leslie Voiers. The Co-op immediately opened a shop in the courtyard of the Mi Casa es Su Casa restaurant at 504 E. Fifth Street, registering as a non-profit educational organization.
An early participant in the Texas Folklife Festival in San Antonio – and with yearly participation in the Texas State Arts and Crafts fair in Kerrville beginning in 1972 – the Co-op grew quickly. In just one year it had sixty members and was meeting at the Friends Meeting House at 3014 Washington Square. It was the first of many moves for meeting space (always an issue in Austin) but the group always found a home.
Weaving at the Texas State Arts & Crafts Fair in Kerrville, Texas 1973. Video begins at the point the Weavers Co-op is filmed. There is no sound.
Weaving Demonstration in the Austin Weavers Cooperative booth at the second annual Texas Folklife Festival, 1973.
University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, crediting UT San Antonio Libraries Special Collections.
Member of the Austin Weavers Co-op using a loom to make fabric at the Texas Folklife Festival, 1974.
University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, crediting UT San Antonio Libraries Special Collections.
Member of the Austin Weavers Co-op using a hand card in the preparation of spinning yarn. In the background, another woman is spinning yarn on a spinning wheel. Texas Folklife Festival, 1974.
University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, crediting UT San Antonio Libraries Special Collections.
A Member of Austin Weavers Co-op Using a Spinning Wheel. Texas Folklife Festival, 1974.
University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, crediting UT San Antonio Libraries Special Collections.
A women weaves at a loom located in the Austin Weavers Co-op Booth at the 7th annual Texas Folklife Festival. 1978.
University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, crediting UT San Antonio Libraries Special Collections.
Young woman receiving instruction on how to weave using a loom, courtesy of the woman standing by her side, who is a member of the Austin Weavers Co-op. Texas Folklife Festival, 1978.
University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, crediting UT San Antonio Libraries Special Collections.
Spinning Wheel Demonstration by the Austin Weavers Co-op. Texas Folklife Festival, 1978.
University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, crediting UT San Antonio Libraries Special Collections.
Two women carding wool in front of spectators in the Austin Weavers Co-op booth. Texas Folklife Festival, 1983.
University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, crediting UT San Antonio Libraries Special Collections.
One of the Weaving Co-op’s founders, Ruffin Hill, demonstrating spinning and weaving. Texas Folklife Festival, 1994.
University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, crediting UT San Antonio Libraries Special Collections.
The 80s and 90s – A New Identity
By 1979 the co-op had expanded to include “artisans working in all forms of fiber”. In 1983 the group adopted a new name and identity: Weavers and Spinners Society of Austin.
Around 30-40 members participated in study groups, workshops, a guild newsletter and, of course, demonstrations at festivals and fairs.
A group of guild members became a fixture at the Kid n Ewe (and Llama Too) festival in Boerne well into the following decade.
Members of the Llama Mama Fiber to Fashion team. Eileen spun with Margaret, Annabell, Sharon, Carol, and Penny until there were enough singles for Carol to ply. Then Eileen began weaving on the llama warp that she had previously dyed peacock-inspired blues, greens, and red-browns. The spun weft was all light blue, dyed from the same llama’s fleece. (“Majic”, Sharon’s mini llama).
Kid n Ewe and Llamas Too, 2008.
Into the 21st Century – Warp Speed Ahead
In 2006, WSSA honored the 25th anniversary of a local yarn shop, Hill Country Weavers, with their display of handwoven arts at Austin’s Bergstrom International Airport. The late Suzanne Middlebrooks, owner of HCW, taught many of the guild’s members to weave.
Continuing in the guild’s tradition of demonstrating weaving and spinning to the public, WSSA took part in Make magazine’s Maker Faire in Austin winning a Best Booth award in 2008.
In 2015, WSSA hosted the Contemporary Handweavers of Texas Conference, choosing a theme that highlighted dramatic changes in the production and use of textiles, including the creation of electronic textiles and biometric responsive garments.
The choice of topic was inspired, as this era saw dramatic technology changes for the guild: a website, online discussion groups and, during the COVID-19 pandemic, meetings on Zoom, a video conferencing platform.
Even the guild’s participation in the annual Austin Studio Tour, a city-wide event of artists and galleries, had to go online in 2020 and 2021, celebrating the creativity of it’s members with an outdoor exhibit and a video production of a collaborative installation by by videographer/ weaver Caitlin Young and WSSA members.
As the saying goes, the more things change the more they stay the same. Members of the Weavers and Spinners Society of Austin still joyfully demonstrate weaving and spinning to the public, support each other’s growth as artisans, and encourage and mentor those new to these art forms, whether in-person or online.
WSSA is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation under the Texas Non-Profit Corporation Act and a 501(c)(3) non-profit under United States tax law (EIN: 52-1656188). WSSA serves the weaving and spinning community in Austin and surrounding areas of central Texas. Funding for the educational and public service activities of WSSA come from membership dues and private donations. These private donations are tax-deductible.