Ontario Handweavers and Spinners

The Ontario Handweavers & Spinners (OHS) is a not for profit organization that brings together a community of spinners, weavers and fibre enthusiasts from across the Province of Ontario, throughout Canada, and in other countries

Benefits as a member of the OHS include:

  • Ability to join the Spinners Certificate Program and/or Weavers Certificate Program
  • Annual subscription to our quarterly magazine, Fibre Focus
  • Discounted registration in our conferences, virtual webinars and in-person workshops
  • Monthly email newsletters on current updates and upcoming events
  • Eligibility for our scholarships and awards
  • Access to our lending library

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⭐️ Please register for our upcoming AMM at the link in our bio or at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdOR_4Yz1KEAh9Zbc28nfhG_vfxTISIxPZi0itekpFlXJOGQw/viewform
Unit 12 Virtual Weaving Group will be starting soon and will run from June to September 2025! Unit 12 Fabric for Interiors explores Diversified Plain Weave, Doupe Leno and Passementerie bands to construct interior fabrics suitable for a range of uses through educated fiber and weave structure choices. You will use these fabrics to plan two room makeovers and then present these ideas to potential clients. Join the unit 12 virtual study group with your fellow weavers and unit leader. Virtual study groups meet regularly to discuss the unit topics, challenges and accomplishments. The Unit Leader will join your group at the first meeting for a unit overview, and at a halfway point for a Q & A session. To Register: ➡️ Sign in to the Members Site ➡️ Select the “Shop” link on the right ➡️ Select the Virtual Groups to join. Weaving modules may also be purchased. For more information, visit the OHS Weaving Certificate Program. Photo credit: A variety of interior fabrics created by Barbara Heins
The Spring 2025 issue of Fibre Focus has been distributed! To read a digital copy of the magazine, members can login to the OHS website to read recent and past articles on weaving, spinning, fibre and so much more! If you are interested in receiving this wonderful quarterly magazine, please find more information at the following link and join as a member of OHS today! https://ohs.on.ca/fibre-focus/
Join us! Join a REAL team of people who love spinning and weaving just as much as you do (I promise we really do have fun!). Join an organization that: ⭐️ operates TWO world renowned spinning and weaving education programs, ⭐️ educates by promoting talented individuals and businesses through workshops and webinars, ⭐️ shares all that we are proud of in Fibre Focus and ⭐️ supports our community with scholarships and awards. Sounds pretty great, right? Keep reading to learn about our board and committee roles and the opportunities that are available. Because that is what these are, opportunities for you to really make an impact. OHS Positions Available: ✅ Vice President ✅ Regional Representatives ✅ Webmaster Interested? Contact the Lea Williams, OHS President, at president@ohs.on.ca for more information or to express your interest.
What’s on your bobbin these days??? With colder, darker days ahead, the brighter colours need to be pulled from the fibre stash! In this photo the spinner used a hand dyed Polworth roving top and plans to practice colour pooling by chain plying! Feel free to share your bobbin photos by tagging @ontariohandweaversandspinners and we will reshare your work to our socials! Let’s see what you are spinning! PS. Don’t worry weavers - we will be doing a call out to see your looms soooooooon 🙃
An Update on the John Campbell Jacquard Loom (previously at the Ontario Science Centre) Toronto Guild member and Ontario Science Centre (OSC) weaving volunteer Heather Brady sent the following report on October 2, outlining the status of John Campbell’s Jacquard loom and its move to Fanshawe Pioneer Village in London Ontario: The Jacquard loom was disassembled last week by a Jacquard specialist brought in from Nova Scotia (Didier Shvartz, who has assisted with the loom before, and also helped set up the looms at Lang Pioneer Village) and Hans Baer (a former loom volunteer who gave a presentation to the Toronto Guild a few years back about our Sesquicentennial coverlet project). It was then packed by artifact movers in custom crates. The Jacquard head was so heavy it was lowered by a forklift. Apparently, the loom is currently in a temporary storage facility and will soon be moved to Fanshawe where they are preparing a space for it in an existing building. Hans believes putting the loom back together will be a much more difficult task than taking it apart. Another of John Campbell’s Jacquard looms which has been in storage at OSC all this time is also going to Fanshawe. According to Hans, it is a 4-shaft loom with a frame identical to the Science Centre loom and he believes they are interchangeable. Also uncovered from storage were stacks of John Campbell’s original punchcards, shuttles, and a temple (all going with the loom, as well as two coverlets woven by us [OSC volunteers]). John Campbell’s account book will be preserved in the archives at Western University. For an excellent article on John Campbell’s looms, read A Pair of 19th Century Jacquard Looms in Ontario by Michale Raske for Digits & Threads. @fanshawepioneervillage
Our AGM is fast approaching! All OHS members have been contacted and are asked to please register at https://docs.google.com/forms/u/1/d/e/1FAIpQLSdrPkS3VYQlAiduC-8vaBYe6M-8baWtR0xCK4_oJ5M4-m2d9w/viewform?usp=sf_link
This past weekend, the OHS board met in person together to plan for the year ahead! Our board members are excited to see you all at the upcoming AGM on October 23 at 7pm! Stay tuned to your emails for an e-blast for details for our virtual members meeting Currently we have 11 people sitting on our board with 4 vacancies and we welcome any new names to the table! Stay tuned for more info about open positions! We would love to have you!