2026-2027 Programs
Unless otherwise noted, meetings start at 10am US Central Time and are held in person at Congregation Etz Chaim in Lombard, IL, and livestreamed online via Zoom.
Please be sure to check this page for updates closer to the actual program dates.
Tuesday, September 8th
Lori Breslauer, “Weaving Through the Andes: 25th Anniversary Peruvian Artist Tour”
September’s program focuses on a region of the world where artisans create beautiful and functional objects using Wool. Join us as Guild member and past President Lori Breslauer discusses her travels in Peru from Lima to Cusco, including museums, workshops, and weaving communities.
The meeting will include a breakout session of small groups to review our summer reads and report back to the membership on their assigned topics in one of the following two books:
“Worn – A People’s History of Clothing” by Sofi Thanhauser
– or –
“Fabric – the Hidden History of the Material World” by Victoria Finlay
Guild members will receive a Zoom link via e-mail. Non-members, please complete our Visitor Registration Form to participate at least 48 hours prior to meeting star
Tuesday, October 13th
Lynn Smetko, “Design Deliberations“
Lynn is an award winning weaver, designer, past President of Complex Weavers as well as author of numerous weaving articles. She loves pushing the limits on her computer-assisted loom. This month’s program focuses on projects woven in Cotton. Learn more about Lynn at lynnsmetkodesigns.com.
Guild members will receive a Zoom link via e-mail. Non-members, please complete our Visitor Registration Form to participate at least 48 hours prior to meeting start.
>>WORKSHOP (In-person): Lynn Smetko: “The Many Seasons of Summer & Winter”<<
- Monday, October 12th: 9:30 am to 3 pm
- Tuesday, October 13th: 12:30 pm to 3 pm
- Wednesday, October 14th: 9:30 am to 3 pm
Cost: $220 payable to the Illinois Prairie Weavers Guild plus $25 supply fee payable to the instructor
To register for this workshop, please complete and submit our Workshop Registration Form. Make checks payable to: Illinois Prairie Weavers Guild and send to Julie Guynn at the address shown in your member directory.
Tuesday, November 10th
Esther Peregrine, “Silk Study Tour in Japan”
Esther will share her travel experiences in Japan, where she visited farms, learned about silk reeling, and weaving and dyeing silk. The fiber focus of this program is Silk. Learn more about Esther from her Facebook page essiespinner.
Guild members will receive a Zoom link via e-mail. Non-members, please complete our Visitor Registration Form to participate at least 48 hours prior to meeting start.
>>WORKSHOP (In-person): Esther Peregrine: “Silk Reeling from a Cocoon and Learning to Spin It”<<
- Tuesday, November 10th: 12:30 pm to 3 pm
- Wednesday, October 11th: 9:30 am to 3 pm
Cost: $90 payable to the Illinois Prairie Weavers Guild plus $35 supply fee payable to the instructor
To register for this workshop, please complete and submit our Workshop Registration Form. Make checks payable to: Illinois Prairie Weavers Guild and send to Julie Guynn at the address shown in your member directory.
Tuesday, December 9th
Holiday Party and Guild Challenge
Fun, food, and sharing! View your guild mates’ responses to this year’s Challenge, “Edgings.” Learn more about this challenge on our Annual Challenge page.
Guild members will receive a Zoom link via e-mail. Non-members, please complete our Visitor Registration Form to participate at least 48 hours prior to meeting start.
Zoom Meeting — Tuesday, January 12th
Deborah Jean Cohen, “Radical Potholder Weaving“
Deborah is an Arkansas-based designer of potholder weaving patterns and the author of the book “Radical Potholder Weaving.” The proceeds from her work helps to support a non-profit small monastery in a remote part of Nepal called Ügyen Thegtse Samdrubling.
Guild members will receive a Zoom link via e-mail. Non-members, please complete our Visitor Registration Form to participate at least 48 hours prior to meeting start.
Tuesday, February 9th
Lori Seidemann, “Not Knowing as a Creative Method“
Lori is a gifted Chicago-based artist/weaver who incorporates naturally dyed fibers that she has personally cultivated.
Guild members will receive a Zoom link via e-mail. Non-members, please complete our Visitor Registration Form to participate at least 48 hours prior to meeting start.
Tuesday, March 9th
Janet Erio, “Ipswich Lace” – The Only Documented American-made Lace“
Janet Erio is an expert bobbin lace maker and member of the Lacemaker and Collectors Exchange (L.A.C.E.), a group of people who love lace in all forms.
Guild members will receive a Zoom link via e-mail. Non-members, please complete our Visitor Registration Form to participate at least 48 hours prior to meeting start.
>>WORKSHOP (In-person): Janet Erio: “Bobbin Lace Workshop”<<
- Tuesday, March 9th: 12:30 pm to 3 pm
- Wednesday, March 10th: 9:30 am to 3 pm
Cost: $40 payable to the Illinois Prairie Weavers Guild plus $15 supply fee payable to the instructor
To register for this workshop, please complete and submit our Workshop Registration Form. Make checks payable to: Illinois Prairie Weavers Guild and send to Julie Guynn at the address shown in your member directory.
Tuesday, April 13th
Kitchen Towel Exchange: Make One, Get One
Make one, get one kitchen towel exchange. Finished towel size should be 18″ wide x 25″ long. Bring one towel to exchange with your guildmates in this fun, playful event.
Guild members will receive a Zoom link via e-mail. Non-members, please complete our Visitor Registration Form to participate at least 48 hours prior to meeting start.
>>WORKSHOP (In-person): Jodi Ward: “Scrappy Bag”<<
Jodi, a member of our guild and past President, will lead us in constructing a bag with scraps from our very own stash of woven leftovers.
- Tuesday, April 13th: 12:30 pm to 3 pm
Cost: $5 payable to the Illinois Prairie Weavers Guild
To register for this workshop, please complete and submit our Workshop Registration Form. Make checks payable to: Illinois Prairie Weavers Guild and send to Julie Guynn at the address shown in your member directory.
Tuesday, May 11th
Guild Study Groups: Itty Bitty and 8 Harness
Study groups allow IPWG members the opportunity to further explore, discuss, and study weaving in a small group setting.
Join us to hear about these two groups’ experiments and findings from the past two years. It’s always a delight to hear about the experiences of others as they gather and work up weavings to share with us.
Guild members will receive a Zoom link via e-mail. Non-members, please complete our Visitor Registration Form to participate at least 48 hours prior to meeting start.
Tuesday, June 1st – Note this is the first Tuesday of the month to accommodate the Midwest Weavers Conference
Guild Members, “Two Members Working Together as One“
Listen as we share the stories of our collaboration with another member of our Guild. Some pairs might not have even known their partner before this assignment. Each piece to be created and shared will be no larger than 15” x 23” (but can be smaller). After the program, pieces will then travel around the community for display.
>>End-of-Season Potluck and Stash Sale<<
Please bring a meatless dish to share.
Guild members will receive a Zoom link via e-mail. Non-members, please complete our Visitor Registration Form to participate at least 48 hours prior to meeting start.
Questions/Comments: Contact 1st Vice President Julie Guynn.
Illinois Prairie Weavers Guild 