Welcome to the Illinois Prairie Weavers Guild!
The Illinois Prairie Weavers Guild is an association of weavers, fiber, and textile artists who teach, encourage and inspire each other, sharing their experience, knowledge, and resources. We began as the Joliet Weavers Guild in January 1949, and, as we grew and changed locations, we renamed ourselves the Illinois Prairie Weavers in 1994. Our guild is a very active one, with a large library and an assortment of looms and equipment available by loan to members. We meet in the western suburbs of Chicago monthly, from September through June. Most of our meetings are hybrid, meaning you can attend in-person or online via Zoom. Some meetings are online only via Zoom, and those will be indicated in the program information for those meetings. Our meetings are open to anyone with an interest in weaving.
Our guild membership includes highly accomplished weavers who own weaving businesses, teach weaving or have been published or honored by the greater weaving community. We also bring in nationally known speakers for programs and workshops. If you are a beginning or novice weaver, we welcome you to come to learn and be inspired. Our members weave on a variety of loom types, from 32 harnesses to finger weaving and everything in between. So, no matter what your skill level, we invite you to join us at one of our meetings and be welcomed into our weaving community.
Large photo: Garment yardage woven by Billie M.
Show and Tell Photos button photo: Fabric woven by Phyllis S.
Photos © Illinois Prairie Weavers Guild. All rights reserved. You may not copy or reuse these or any other images on this site without express written permission.
Next Meeting
Tuesday, May 12th, 2026 – In-person/hybrid meeting, 10am
Guild Study Groups: Fox Valley and Strong Beginnings
Study groups allow guild members the opportunity to further explore, discuss, and study weaving in a small group setting.
Join us for the Fox Valley Study Group’s look into the world of overshot–specifically, miniature patterns created by designer Bertha Gray Hayes. Bertha designed hundreds of overshot patterns from about 1920-50 and wove them on her tiny Structo loom. The study group has woven selected patterns and will share their findings.
Strong Beginnings is a multi-state, multi-country study group of Guild members that meet over Zoom to learn more about this shared passion of weaving. While each meeting’s format is the same (Show and Tell, Q&A, topic), the variety of Q&A often leads to next month’s topic – or weavers helping one another with their common challenges of getting from yarn to cloth. We hope you’ll be surprised at our presentation!
Guild members will receive a Zoom link for the Membership Meeting and Show & Tell via e-mail. Non-members, please complete our Visitor Registration Form to participate at least 48 hours prior to meeting start.
Meeting Location
Congregation Etz Chaim
1710 S. Highland Ave
Lombard, IL 60148
© Illinois Prairie Weavers Guild.
You may not copy or reuse content from this site without express written permission.
Illinois Prairie Weavers Guild 