SHARE is a Weavers & Spinners Society of Austin (WSSA) tradition, born from necessity when an ice storm forced the guild to cancel a guest-speaker-led workshop it already had reserved space for. Guild leaders quickly took matters into their own hands and turned lemons into lemonade (or would that be ice into ice cream?) with a last-minute round robin weaving event. It has since evolved into a free, members-teaching-members workshop – a way to share knowledge and help newcomers and beginners to get started.
While SHARE changes and adapts to guild members needs every year, we typically have looms setup for weaving, a activity of some sort (round robin weaving, spinning, bingo) and books, equipment, fiber, yarn, etc to play with.
Your fellow guild members will be there to demo, chat, and help with those kinds of questions and knotty problems that only seeing it and feeling it in person can help solve. Please join us to ask or answer questions, pipe in with suggestions, see what others have been up to with their craft, or just hang out for the fun of it.
Is it really free?
Yes! SHARE is free to you as a paid member of WSSA.
When we hold SHARE at Laura’s Library, we put out a donation box to support the library for letting us have the meeting space for free.
When is it?
SHARE is typically offered in the winter months in the early part of the year. Do be aware that both unpredictable and predictable Texas winter weather can mean cancellations or abrupt adjustments to the schedule or nature of SHARE. It’s kind of a tradition at this point.
Where is it?
The location can change from year to year, so see this year’s entry in the Member’s only event calendar.
What is kind of events are there?
This is an entirely volunteer run guild effort, which means the event’s offerings can run the gamut from beginner demonstrations of how to warp a rigid heddle loom, to hands-on experience threading a doubleweave. There might be hour-long formal presentations or several ten minute demonstrations huddled around a few portable loom. In 2024 we’re going to try to offer a couple of movies.
Essentially, what is on offer is what guild members want to and are able to share that year, and what you speak up and ask for help with. (In enough time for us to pair you up with someone who can help.) Bear in mind that the schedule of demonstrations and events is very subject to change and adjustment, due to availability, weather, health, member transportation needs, kids needs, grandkids needs, etc.
Above all, this gathering is meant to be an exchange of collective guild knowledge, so ask for help and offer help.
You can see previous SHARE events here:
SHARE Workshop 2023
SHARE Workshop 2022
SHARE Workshop 2021
SHARE Workshop 2020
SHARE Workshop 2018
SHARE Workshop 2016
SHARE Workshop 2015
SHARE Workshop 2014
If it’s free, why do I need to register?
Registering helps us know how many people to expect so we have enough chairs for everyone, tables to put your portable looms on, space for any spinning wheel circle or equipment we’ve brought from storage, etc. It also helps us determine what your needs, if any, are. And, importantly, it helps us get in touch with you if weather cancels or changes the event.
I’d like to volunteer!
Oh bless you.
Whether you’d like to demonstrate something, give a mini talk, help out with new weaver and spinner questions, help with setup and take down of equipment, or if you’re interested in helping put together next year’s SHARE, just let us know at programs@wssaustin.org and we’ll get in touch.
SHARE 2025
Saturday, February 1st
noon to 2:00 p.m.
Northwest Recreation Center
2913 Northland Dr, Austin, TX 78757
For more information, as well as a registration link, see the members-only event calendar.