Community Outreach

Community outreach is one of the missions of the Handweavers of Bucks County.

Each year the Guild participates in several events with the goal of educating the community about fiber arts. Guild members conduct demonstrations and give non-weavers the opportunity to try their hand at weaving and spinning.

Our goal is to promote a greater interest in the fiber arts and weaving by inspiring new weavers and educating the general public of the importance, beauty, and utility of handmade textiles

Exhibits and demonstrations are held annually at the following events:

The Garden State Sheep Breeders Annual Sheep & Fiber Festival, Ringoes, NJ
The Handweavers of Bucks County Annual Show & Sale, Trinity Episcopal Church, Buckingham, PA (SHOW & SALE PAGE)

Members demonstrating their craft

Sheep & fiber festival, ringoes, nj 2023

Red Mill Museum's Holiday Weekend, 11/29-12/1, 2024

Over 8000 people visited the Red Mill Museum Village for the Winter Festival from 11/29 to 12/1. The HWBC had a display in the Tenant House with examples of types of looms and items woven by HWBC members (from Jean's purchases from Guild Sales.) As part of our second community service event for this year, Sarah Doyle demonstrated rope making, Jean weaving, and Barb spinning to kids and adults.

Top row from left: Tenant House with HWBC Banner, table looms and guild-woven items, Sarah demonstrating rope making and Barb spinning
Bottom row from left: Jean threading a loom, center display, types of looms and a display of our guild members items

Community Service at the Red Mill Museum's
"Hands On History" Event, 9/1/24

Thank you to Deb Faehner, Leslie Ewing and Barb Hohenwarter for their spinning demonstrations at the Red Mill Museum's "Hands On History" event on Sunday, 9/1. Jean West used the four 2 shaft looms donated by the Lois Macnik's estate to teach the public to weave.

Barb Hohenwarter, Deb Faehner, and Leslie Ewing demonstrate spinning

HWBC member Jean West teaching weaving

Hands-On-History - Red Mill Museum and Village

On Sunday, September 1, at the Red Mill Museum and Village in Clinton, NJ, four of our guild members participated in "Hands-on-History". Jean West and her friend, Marsha Atkinson, instructed children on weaving on four 2-harness looms donated to the Mill by Lois Macknik, a long time volunteer and a member of both Jockey Hollow and Handweavers of Bucks County. Deborah Faehner, Lesley Ewing, and Barb Hohenwarter demonstrated spinning with the drop spindle and spinning wool and flax on wheels. It was a fun event.

Congratulation’s to our member’s Carol Van Sant and Barbara Hohenwarter! 👏👏👏👏

The Middletown Grange Fair was held August 14-18, 2024 on the Middletown fairgrounds in Wrightstown PA. Barb and Carol entered their handwoven items for judging and won many ribbons! See captions below for details.

Carol Van Sant received six first-place ribbons, one second-place and her first-place shawl won Best of Show

Barb Hohenwarter received four first-place ribbons, one second-place and one third-place ribbon

2023 TWIST Sheep to Shawl Event

On Saturday, April 22 several members of HWBC took part in the Twist Sheep to Shawl Demonstration Event. This is an event that member Debby Brady and her team have held for several years (with a few years hiatus for the pandemic). On Saturday, we enjoyed the beautiful weather while we carded, spun, and wove the shawl. The spinners and carders were Lesley Ewing, Debbie Faehner, Barb Hohenwarter, and Judy Lehrhaupt. The blue, tan and white shawl was warped and woven by Lynette Greenwald. $150.00 was raised via the auctioning of the finished shawl. This contributed to a larger total that was raised as part of a silent auction along with the shawl created by the Twist team. All money was donated to the Delaware Valley Food Bank in Lambertville, NJ.

A special thank-you to Jean West who helped us acquire a beautiful fleece. This fleece was generously donated to the guild by Sue Posbergh of Windswept Farm (173 White Bridge Road, Pittstown, NJ). Sue is a member of the New Jersey Fibershed. The quality of this fleece was amazing, and we are truly grateful for her generosity.

The HAndweavers of Bucks County - helping the community

Our Community Outreach Chair, Marilynn Cowgill, and HWBC members Judy Walker and Debbie Faehner visited the South Hunterdon High School AP Art class for a second time. They demonstrated and helped the students with weaving on a floor loom, weaving on an inkle loom and spinning. During their previous visit, our members taught knitting as well. Enjoy the photos and video below, taken by their teacher, Marissa Sozio.

“Thank you so very much again for donating your time today and bringing all of the amazing resources with you! You are all truly inspiring with your talents. I really appreciate you all sharing your knowledge with my students and they are very grateful to have this experience.”

Marissa Sozio

Charitable Donations

Doylestown Hospital is requesting donations of handmade prayer blankets for patients at the end of their lives. The size that works best for bed-bound patients is approximately 4.5 by 2.5 feet, woven, knitted or crocheted, of bright or comforting colors, particularly shades of blue. Blankets can be put in a bag labeled “Pastoral Care Department” and dropped off at the Main Lobby front desk at the hospital. Please include your name and address. Thank you so much for considering this need.