Preserving Artistry and Craft

The work of our hands is a link to our foremothers. We aim to build basic skills and raise the standard of our crafts while opening fibre work to the whole community.

Discover our workshops, skills sharing sessions, events and drop-ins.

Discover our irregular workshops & events

Sheep to Shawl

Every year Guilds around the region compete to create a garment from raw fleece in one day at the Salmon Arm Fall Fair. 2026 Fair runs August 28-30, Sheep to Shawl is on Saturday. Visit our display and try out a variety of fibre art, or enter your own in the many classes of competition.

Skill Exchange

Every meeting our members share their work and learn from each other. Meetings are held on the first Monday of the month, 7pm downstairs at SASCU Rec Centre in Salmon Arm. Contact us for details. 2026: Feb 2, March 2, April 6, May 4, June 1

Spin-ins

Annual spinning gatherings are a chance to learn together, share skills and find new fibre sources with spinners from all over the province. Local fibre and equipment vendors on hand to top up your supplies.

Sept 26, 2026

Tuesday Free Spin

weekly year-round
1:00 -3:45, Salmon Arm Library (Picadilly Mall)

Every week our members gather at the library to spin together. We share tips and techniques, stories and skills. Bring your spindle, wheel or any other hand work (needle felting? knitting? we do it all!) and dedicate some time to your craft in good company.

Free Drop-in

Annual Spin-in

Saturday, September 26, 2026
9:30 – 3:30, Elks Hall, 3690 30 Street NE, Salmon Arm, BC

Vendors, snacks and lunch, gift basket draw, show and tell, – all the usual things plus an opportunity to renew friendships, chat and maybe just hang out. (Spinning is often optional) Knitters, felters, crocheters, all are welcome. No wheel yet but want to spin – let us know and we’ll try and bring you a wheel!!! We are looking forward to another great day of visiting and maybe some spinning of fibre in addition to the spinning of yarns.

Fee: $30 includes lunch, snacks, draw for gift basket (max registration is 40 people, register ASAP)

Spinning, Weaving, Felting

9:30-4:30, October 3, Salmon Arm Lawn Bowling Club

Three workshops simultaneously on one day – you have to choose.

Weaving: you will be working on a 4 shaft pre-warped table loom. We will show you the parts of the loom and how to read a weaving draft. You will weave different structures and go home with a small sample.

Spinning: We will show you how to set up and care for your wheel, treadling and the basics of making yarn. Wheels are available if you don’t have your own.

Felting: The basics of wet and needle felting will be covered, with lots of samples and ideas.

Materials for each workshop will be supplied, please bring your own spinning wheel if you have one for the spinning workshop.

$75 for each workshop, choose only one

Extreme Warp Makeover with Robin Spady

October 16 & 17, 2026
Elks Lodge, Salmon Arm

Explore the versatility of a single threading by ‘making over’ the threading you chose from one of the three provided in a multitude of ways by changing the treadling sequences and wefts. Lunch provided.

On Friday, Oct 16th in the evening Robyn will be presenting a program called Taming the Hue – Techniques for the Colour Challenged

Fee $350, Materials to be paid onsite direct to Robyn $20

Holiday Market

Saturday, November 21, 2026
10 – 3:30

All our members get together every year to show and sell their work. You’ll find the perfect gift for just about anyone – including yourself. From socks to tree decorations, rugs to table runners, yarn to sweaters, toques and mitts and anything else made from fibre. There’s a huge range of prices and goods, all handmade by local artisans. Shop local and handmade!

past events

Sheep to Shawl

Teams of up to 6 spinners, one weaver and one plyer compete to take a fleece from washed raw fleece to a beautiful finished shawl. The competition starts at 10:30 on Saturday Sept 29, running until 4:00. In that time, the fleece will be combed or carded, then spun into singles. As soon as enough singles are spun, the plyer will turn them into two-ply yarn, then load bobbins for the weaver.

Weaving begins with a pre-loaded warp on the loom. The warp has also been taken from raw fleece through by the same team – washing, combing or carding, spinning and plying, then dyeing (if the warp is to be dyed). The weaver chooses the pattern, then dresses the loom with the team’s yarn. This is the warp. Once the team has created full bobbins for the weaver, she will start by making the end of the piece, weaving a starter section and securing it. Then the full pattern weaving begins, for which the weaver has less than 4 hours to create a piece of the given size.

Once the weaving is done, the piece is cut off the loom, and the ends of the warp are twisted into fringe. The finished piece is washed and set to dry for judging.

The competition is judged on quality of spinning, appropriateness of weaving design and matching of design to type and quality of spun yarn, evenness of weaving, size, quality of fringe, and of course…. speed. Teams have a 15 minute grace period at the end of the competition to get their washed shawl onto the judges table, but if the shawl is not finished the team is disqualified.