About Us

The Cape Guild of Weavers is South Africa’s oldest guild – founded 24 June 1950. Our aim is to encourage and promote the enduring and very satisfying crafts of weaving, spinning, knitting, felting and dyeing through the enthusiastic participation of our members. And in sharing a common interest, we break down communication barriers between generations, sexes and differing cultures.

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“I do regard spinning and weaving as a necessary part of any national system of education.”

– MAHATMA GHANDI

Our Story: Since 1950

The Guild was formed on 24 June 1950 with Elsabé Sauer as its first president. Understandably those early days had their challenges. There were only two weaving teachers in the Cape, Germaine Rouillard and Ans Blok. Looms and other equipment were unavailable. But in the early ’50s thanks to a generous loan by the S.A. Wool Board of 2500 pounds (what wouldn’t that be worth today?), orders could be placed with a local furniture manufacturer to build looms.

These could be bought by members of the guild either for cash or on easy terms. The price of a loom in those days ranged from just over 23 pounds to a whopping 55 pounds

Our Mission & Vision

The Cape guild has continued to thrive and to promote not only the ancient and rewarding art of weaving but also spinning, knitting, felt making as well as other forms of textile crafts. Its membership is – and always has been – open to all. And at exhibitions, festivals and gatherings its members are often to be seen, a focus of public interest and fascination, as they demonstrate their various skills.

Our primary crafts

Our members are skilled in a range of disciplines so, while we’re officially a guild of weavers, we also foster and promote five primary crafts.

Weaving

Weaving is the oldest textile production technique, usually done on a loom, and involving two distinct sets of yarns
interlaced at right angles to form, fabric or cloth.

Spinning

Spinning twists strands of fibre together to make yarn. Hand-spun yarn can look similar to its machine-spun counterpart, yet the resulting garments have an unmistakable character and value only achieved by a skilful hand spinner.

Knitting

Knitting, and its sister craft, Crochet, are experiencing a major global revival. Both require little equipment
and are easy to learn. For those who become hooked, they offer immense reward at every level.

Dyeing

Dyeing unlocks a magical world of colour and pattern possibilities for anyone involved in the fibre arts. We hold regular workshops on a range of dyeing techniques.

Felting

Felting creates beautiful, versatile textiles and objects – used in art, technology, fashion, jewellery, and
even musical instruments.

To our Committee

If our members are the weft, these kind-hearted individuals would be the warp of our cloth, since it is only through their generous giving of selfless service that the threads of fibre arts continue to come together, strengthen and ultimately weave a tapestry of knowledge that our future generations may come to know and love. We see you and are deeply thankful for all that you do.

Mignon Hattingh

Chair

Mignon leads our troupe of merry fibre lovers, giving all members overview at out monthly meetings and ensuring smooth operations all round. She also organises our speakers, possible funding and collaborations and loves to give demos of her alchemical plant dyeing magic.

Crafts: Natural dyeing, Botanical printing & Felting
Equipment: Pots, sticks, cords and more!
Studio companion: Her rescue pups; Cole – a black pitbul & her husky, Jessie

Linda Fedder

Communications & Editor

When Linda isn’t creating or editing our newsletters, she oversees the many facets of planning for events, workshops and exhibitions.

Crafts: Knitting & Weaving
Equipment: Harrisville Rug Loom
Studio Companion: One of her many cats

Lee-Ann Hyslop

Secretary

Lee-Ann takes care of many administration support duties and event support and workshop listings.

Crafts: Knitting & Crochet
Equipment:
Studio companion:

Inge Demasius

Treasurer

When Inge isn’t handling all things numbers, payments and membership fees, she can always be found demonstrating spinning at many of our events.

Crafts: Spinning & Weaving
Equipment: 8-shaft table loom, 4-shaft Floor loom (the Table loom and a rug weaving upright frame. as well as her spinning wheel live as part of the furniture in Inge’s lounge 🙂

Studio Companion: Whatever’s on the radio!

Beverley Keyser

General

Beverley, our Jill of all trades and astute grammar police, supports us with many facets, and is also our legal advisor. She can often be found rounding up and looking after Volunteers at Guild activities.

Crafts: Knitting | Weaving | Spinning (novice), Dyeing ( novice) & Embroidery
Equipment: Rigid Heddle Loom
Studio Companion: Lulu & Bella, her Siberian Forest Cats

Lorraine Nelson

Social media/Finances

Lorraine supports us with social media and keeping our financials on track. After many years of corporate work, she’s joyfully exploring her creative side.

Crafts: Crosstitching & beginner weaver
Equipment:
Studio Companion: Two furry felines

Follow our Threads

We curate active and engaging content on our social media feeds. Explore our Instagram below and follow us at @capeguildofweavers to stay in the loop with regular and, sometime spontaneous fibre art happenings.

Membership Info

Membership fees

Membership is open to everyone!

Annual Membership is R300 and includes:
Physical meetings | Library Access | Guild Shop Access | Monthly Newsletter

Country Membership is R150 and includes:
Physical meetings (when in Cape Town) | Guild Shop Access | Monthly Newsletter

Monthly meetings

We meet monthly from January to November – at 2:00pm on the 3rd Saturday of the month. Meetings include a lecture, screening or demonstration. There’s ample time to exchange ideas (and library books) and occasionally we’ll arrange excursions to studios, exhibits or other places of cultural interest.