Welcome to our class offering page. We would love to have you join us. All classes are held at the Franklin Event Center (formerly Franklin Jr. High), 4801 Franklin Avenue, Des Moines, IA, unless otherwise noted. Classrooms will be provided via e-mail to registrants.
Before registering for a class with the Des Moines Weavers and Spinners Guild, please make sure you understand our Class Cancellation and Withdrawal Policy. If you have any questions, please contact education@desmoinesweaversguild.org.
Level: Beginner
Saturday, November 1st
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
**2 Spots Left**
Skill Level and Prerequisites: Beginner - no prior experience required
Instructor: Kei Burke
Saturday, November 1, 2025; 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
$63 member/$73 non-member
Learn the art of Card Weaving by creating a pair of shoelaces! Using a set of 10 cards (provided in class) you will learn to set and warp your loom, read a pattern, and weave beautifully patterned bands on an inkle loom.
Looms, cards and yarn will be provided in the class. A set of 25 Card Weaving Cards ($13 value) is included in the class fee. Inkle looms will be available for Guild Members to check out (no fee) in order to independently finish your projects, if needed.
Ages 12 and older, please.
Maximum participants: 6
Level: Beginner
Saturday, November 22nd during Threads & Fiber
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
**Class is Full**
Skill Level and Prerequisites: Beginner - no prior experience required
Instructor: Emily Bollhoefer
Saturday, November 22, 2025; 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
$50 member/$60 non-member
It’s relaxing, it’s portable, it’s inexpensive and it spun the world’s threads for thousands of years. It’s the Drop Spindle! Spindling is a great way to learn the mechanics of spinning, to learn how to handle fiber, and to experiment with new fibers. Spindlers have great control of drafting and the insertion of twist. The instructor will demonstrate with various fibers and spindles. Plying techniques will be discussed and demonstrated. No experience necessary!
Equipment: Drop Spindles and Fiber will be available for your use or you are welcome to bring your own.
Instructor Bio: Emily is a member of the Des Moines Weavers and Spinners Guild and one of the more accomplished spinners in the Midwest. Her gorgeous yarns have earned many accolades including Blue Ribbons in Spinning and Handknit with Handspun, Best of Show and Sweepstakes at the Iowa State Fair; Blue Ribbons at the Wisconsin State Fair; Best of Show at the Michigan Fiber Festival; and 1st Place at HGA Convergence 2024!
Maximum participants: 6
Level: Beginner
Saturday, November 22nd during Threads & Fiber
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
**Class is Full**
Skill Level and Prerequisites: Beginner - no prior experience required
Instructor: Kei Burke
Saturday, November 22, 2025; 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
N/A member/$50 non-member
Inkle weaving has a long,cross-cultural history,and is a fun way to create simple or intricate woven bands that can be used as bookmarks, custom trims, ribbons, guitar straps,leashes, and more. Inkle looms are portable and take up very little space! Students learn to set up and weave simple bands on an inkle loom. Students will try a few patterns, choosing from a variety of colors. All equipment and tools needed for the class are provided.
Maximum participants: 6
Level: Beginner
Saturday, November 22nd during Threads & Fiber
9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Skill Level and Prerequisites: Beginner - no prior experience required
Instructor: TBD
Saturday, November 22, 2025; 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
$65 member/$65 non-member
Do you love the idea of gifting a handmade item to a loved one (or yourself!) for the holidays? But, seriously, who has the time for that?!?
Well, now you do!
We’ll have the looms all set up and instructors on hand. You just need to arrive for a relaxing day of crafting to make a fashionable hand woven scarf! No experience is necessary as the setup, warping of the rigid heddle looms, will already be done. You will quickly learn the weaving process and off you go, leaving at the end of the workshop with a finished, hand-woven, wool blend scarf!
A selection of different colorways will be available on a first come-first serve basis.
Maximum participants: 8
Level: Beginner
Sunday, December 7th
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
**3 Spots Left**
Skill Level and Prerequisites: Beginner - no prior experience required
Instructor: Pam Poppe
Sunday, December 7, 2025; 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
$105 member/$125 non-member
A great introduction if you've been curious about weaving! You'll learn the basics of warping the loom and weaving. This is a full day class and you will complete multiple wash rags made from Sugar ‘n’ Cream cotton.
Materials Notes: You will need to bring 2 skeins of Sugar N Cream cotton, in 2 contrasting colors.
Equipment Notes: A Schacht Rigid Heddle loom with an 8-dent reed will be provided for the class. If you prefer to provide a loom for your own use, please make arrangements with the instructor prior to the class.
Maximum participants: 8
Past 2025-2026 Guild Year Classes:
Beginning Spinning on a Wheel Sept. 27 & 28, 2025
Intro to Natural Dyes Oct. 5, 2025
Beginning Weaving on a 4-Shaft Loom Oct. 7, 9, 14, & 16, 2025
Danish Medallions on a Rigid Heddle Loom Oct. 25, 2025
Past 2024-2025 Guild Year Classes:
Beginning Spinning on a Wheel Sept. 7 & 8, 2024
Beginning Weaving on a 4-Shaft Floor Loom Sept. 10, 12, 17, & 19, 2024
Beginning Rigid Heddle Sept 28
Introduction to Natural Dyes Sept 29
Beginning Tapestry Oct 6
Beginning Drop Spindle Oct 20
Tea Towels on a Rigid heddle Oct 26
Weave-A-Scarf Workshop Nov 23
Double Weave on a Rigid Heddle Dec 8th
Beginning Card Weaving Dec 15th
Beginning Spinning on a 4-Shaft Loom Jan 28, 30, Feb 4, 6
Weaving Krokbragd on a Multi-Shaft Loom with Debby Greenlaw Feb 20 - 22
Supported Spindle Mar 30
Bookbinding with Woven Covers Apr 6
Spinning Crepes with Peggy Doney (The 100th Sheep) Apr 26
Beginning Card Weaving Apr 26
Beginning Drop Spindle Apr 26
Introduction to Wet Wool Felting with Lisa Nelson Apr 26
2-D Needle Felting with Bonnie Ohrt Apr 26
Traid Dyeing with Peggy Doney (The 100th Sheep) Apr 27
Past 2023-2024 Guild Year Classes:
Beginning Rigid Heddle Sept. 17 & 24, 2023
Rag Rug Weaving Sept 30 & Oct 1, 2023
Overshot Weaving on a Rigid Heddle Loom Oct 7, 2023
Beginning Weaving on a 4-Shaft Loom Oct 10, 12, 17, & 19, 2023
Beginning Card Weaving Oct 15, 2023
Beginning Spinning on a Wheel Oct 28-29, 2023
Weekend Weaving Workshop Nov 11, 12, 14, 2023
Beginning Tapestry Nov 18, 2023
Beginning Band Weaving Nov 18, 2023
Beginning Drop Spindle Nov 18, 2023
Weave-a-Scarf Workshop Dec 2, 2023
Intermediate Rigid Heddle Dec 10, 2023
Color as a Communication Tool with Chris Acton Jan 13, 2024
Texture in Tapestry Jan 21, 2024
Overshot Weaving on a Rigid Heddle Loom Jan 27, 2004
Kumihimo Feb 4, 2024
Weave and Sew a Tote Feb 6, 2024
Weekend Spinning Workshop Feb 10, 11 2024
Beginning Rag Weaving on a 4-Shaft Loom. Mar 2, 2024
Working with Rags Mar 3, 2024
Repurpose and Create: Making Cordage Mar 10, 2024
SAORI Weaving with Chiaki O'Brien Apr 27, 2024
Beginning Rigid Heddle Apr 27, 2024
Beginning Card Weaving Apr 27, 2024
Beginning Drop Spindle Apr 27, 2024
Learning to USe a Pin Loom Make-and-Take Apr 27, 2024
Bengala Mud Dyeing with Chiaki O'Brien Apr 28, 2024
Introduction to Natural Dyes
Introduction to Natural Dyes
Beginning Rigid Heddle
Beginning Rigid Heddle