Past & Public

The Mother Lode Weavers and Spinners Guild was formed in April of 1974, by a group of women weavers who had spent several months teaching themselves to weave. Lucille Morgan a member of the group, contacted Everett Gilmore of Gilmore Looms to seek looms for formal classes the group decided they needed. As Mr. Gilmore had current orders stretching out over the next several years, he agreed to provide the hardware for looms to be built by Mr. Mann, a local woodworker. At the time 14 four-harness looms were built and Mr. Gilmore provided three more.

Lucille was the teacher and became the first guild president. Meetings are publicized on a regular monthly basis in local newspapers and special press releases are prepared for special projects or speakers. Our guild has an excellent newsletter that provides information about local and statewide activities and reports of each of our guild’s various sub-groups are given and contact people are listed.

Although we have no formal cooperative relationships with area retailers, members participate in public events in several areas. We have demonstrated during the Calaveras County Fair held in April; the Sonora Arts and Crafts Fair, a weekend street fair in Tuolumne County; Columbia October Festifall at Columbia State Historic Park; the annual Quilt and Threads Show sponsored by the Sierra Quilt Guild and held in September; the Coyote Howl in Mariposa County; the Sierra Herb Fest in Groveland, Tuolumne County. We have demonstrated spinning, taught children and adults to use the drop spindle and weave on a 4-or 8-harness loom. In addition, several members have demonstrated weaving and spinning to classes of 4th and 5th graders studying Colonial America and California History.