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A tangled web of weavers

Spinning guilds come together on Peninsula
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The Peace Arch Weavers and Spinners hosted their annual Spin-In late last month at Historic Stewart Farmhouse

It was an event worth yarning about when the Peace Arch Weavers and Spinners (PAWS) held their annual Spin-In July 30 on the Historic Stewart Farmhouse grounds on Crescent Road in South Surrey.

Dating back to 2000, it’s a gathering of invited members from different spinning and weaving guilds from around greater Vancouver who take the opportunity to get together to “sit, chat spin and catch up with others from their guilds,” according to the local organization’s Elizabeth Davies.

“We usually have them from North Vancouver, Chilliwack, Richmond and Langley and even as far away as Salt Spring Island,” Davies said, adding the event usually draws some 60 to 75 people.

“We also invite the public, as there are so many changes in spinning wheels now, plus the many fibres that are available,” she said.

“We also ask that vendors come and show their wares, and all are very interesting.”

Based in the Surrey Museum in Cloverdale, PAWS has members from White Rock, Surrey, Langley and Washington State.

Purpose of the guild, is to  promote, encourage and improve the ancient art and craft of weaving and spinning. It offers classes, demonstrations and workshops to the community as well as provides a scholarship fund and opportunities for members to share knowledge, skills and ideas.

In addition to participating in the upcoming Outside The Box celebration of fibre and textile art in White Rock and South Surrey in September, future events for PAWS will include their annual Fibre Flare artisans sale scheduled for Nov. 12-13 at Ocean Park Hall (for which Davies is co-ordinator).

For more information, visit www.paws.name/