SWA: Spinning and Weaving Association
Spinning and Weaving Association

About SWA

Membership

Membership in the Spinning and Weaving Association will provide your business with benefits at each level.

Member benefits will grow as our membership grows. We invite you to contact any of our current members or review the SWA membership brochure (PDF) for more information.

Benefits at the Wholesale/Retail Level

Promotional opportunities. Participate in a coordinated campaign to educate and excite the general public about spinning and weaving through Spinning and Weaving Week in collaboration with The Handweavers Guild of America.

Educational opportunities. Provide teacher training and educational how-to literature on spinning and weaving, including:

  • Syllabi for effectively teaching spinning and weaving
  • Teacher-to-teacher training at Convergence and The National Needlework Show
  • Educational materials for teaching spinning and weaving

Networking opportunities. Take part in formal and informal gatherings and information exchanges, such as:

  • Wholesale night at Convergence
  • Spinning and weaving reception at The National Needlearts Association trade shows

Member-only information on this web site. Get the inside information on:

  • A list of teachers and the workshops they teach
  • Business information that includes accounting and tax tips
  • Organizational minutes and business reports
  • Quarterly newsletter with business news and notes, calendar of events, resources, and industry chat
  • A comprehensive calendar of events

Opportunities to improve your business. Take part in seminars to help your business grow. Find out how to:

  • Pick the right software for your business
  • Select an effective inventory on a small budget

Trade shows. Promote spinning and weaving at appropriate trade and consumer shows, such as:

  • The National Needlearts Association trade show at Long Beach, California, and Columbus, Ohio
  • Stitches East and West

Group power. SWA makes it easy to:

  • Support advocacy for our trade industry through co-op advertising
  • Conduct surveys and collect market data on the business of spinning and weaving

Exposure. Benefit from listing on this web site (see Membership Directory)!

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Benefits at the Associate Level

  • Help support the growth of spinning and weaving for future generations
  • Receive e-mail bulletins about special events in your area
  • Enjoy access to the general public section of the web site
  • Be included in a teacher/designer list for retailers’ use
  • Receive updates on Spinning and Weaving Week (the first week in October)

“Many professions have professional organizations. My profession is in the fiber arts. As much as I find joy and satisfaction in this work, I also take it seriously. I see it as my professional responsibility to belong to appropriate professional organizations. That is why I became an Associate Member of the Spinning and Weaving Association.

“The benefits of membership for me have been ample: opportunities to network; news that is relevant to the fiber arts and fiber businesses; and, more generally, support and promotion of the fiber arts within our larger society. I have also been given the opportunity to give back to the association by my participation on the SWA Education Committee, where I am able to use my skills and experience to promote the teaching and learning of spinning. Beyond my involvement in the Education Committee, I see my role in this organization as a critical link between the general public and the retail/wholesale fiber businesses. Among my professional goals is to have increased awareness of and activity in the fiber arts. As such, I encourage new spinners and fiber enthusiasts to seek out resources from among the retail members. I also participate in demonstrations and educational events to promote the fiber arts, hoping to indirectly support the retail and wholesale members of SWA. I envision that, as SWA grows, my professional commitment and opportunities will likewise grow.”

—Amy Tyler, Stone Sock Fibers
Interlochen, Michigan
SWA Associate Member

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