Since then, the technology used for weaving has evolved, but the basic process of interlinking a set of vertical threads with a set of horizontal threads persists around the world in many forms.

In Marquette County, a group called the Yarnwinders Fiber Guild has kept the traditions of weaving and fiber work alive for 73 years as the longest-running arts guild in the county, guild members Patty Beyer and Carol Henry said.

In celebration of the guild’s 73rd anniversary, the group will be hosting its first sale in many years on Saturday. It will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Federated Women’s Clubhouse, which is located at the corner of Front and Ridge streets in Marquette.

Attendees will have a chance to purchase a large array of scarves, shawls, rugs, needle-felted work, upcycled gifts, ornaments hand wovens, handspun items, beaded works, kitchen linens, wearables and much more made by the guild’s members.

Carol Henry, a member of the Yarnwinders Fiber Guild, inspects a piece of weaving she’s completed. A yarnwinder — the piece of equipment the guild is named for — is pictured in the background. The guild, which focuses on weaving and a wide array of fiber techniques, is the longest running arts guild in Marquette County, as it started in 1946, organizers said. (Journal photo by Cecilia Brown)

The sale gives shoppers an opportunity to purchase unique gifts for the upcoming holiday season while supporting local artists, Henry and Beyer said.

“It helps keep the local art groups strong by purchasing local and supporting local artists, no matter what their medium is,” Beyer said.

The event will also feature weaving and spinning demonstrations throughout to give attendees a firsthand look at the processes used to make some items at the sale, they said, noting they hope it can spark an interest in fiber arts.

“It can stimulate new artists,” Henry said. “People come in and see this and they think ‘Well, I could try that.’ It’s inspiring.”

Beyer added: “We spend time chatting with folks that come and visit us and encourage people to come and see what our group is about. We love having new people, making new contacts and getting people interested in an art that’s really been around for thousands of years.”

The guild originally started as the Blue Pots in 1946, Beyer said, noting the name was derived from the process of dyeing indigo in pots and the accompanying blue stain left behind in the vessels.

“That lasted for a number of decades,” Beyer said. “Then, in the 1970s, the group wanted to update themselves a little bit and ended up changing the name to Yarnwinders — that’s derived from a piece of equipment called a yarnwinder.”

Since then, the group has grown and evolved, especially with a resurgence of interest in fiber arts in recent years. The group now has 20 members working in a wide array of fiber mediums, Henry and Beyer said.

“We welcome folks no matter what their interest is,” Beyer said.

And while the guild has “always had a heavy weaving influence,” the group also works with mediums such as felting, basketry, hand-spinning, dyeing and much more, Beyer said.

“We explore many fiber techniques,” Henry said.

A major goal and longstanding tradition in the group is education and outreach, they said.

“Some of those folks were giving weaving lessons in their basements back in the 70s and earlier,” Beyer said. “There were early efforts to get people interested in weaving and spinning because there were a lot of spinners in the group early on too.”

Furthermore, the group regularly holds demonstrations at community events, has purchased numerous books and magazines on fiber arts for the Peter White Public Library and can help if “somehow, a loom arrives in (a person’s) life and they don’t know whether all of the pieces are there or even how to get it warped,” Beyer said.

“Our members are always open to helping those folks take a look at what they have and how they can get it working,” Beyer said. “Members have gone over to people’s homes to help them get set up and get started.”

For those who wish to get involved and learn more, the guild meets at the Marquette Arts and Culture Center in the Peter White Public Library at 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of most months. The meetings are held regularly September to June, with the December meeting typically held at a member’s house.

The meetings typically include a general business session where the guild discusses upcoming community activities members will be involved in, followed by a “show and tell” portion where members share their latest work to get feedback and inspire others.

The meetings also include a program so the group can see “a new technique or learn a little bit more about a topic folks might be interested in,” Beyer said.

For more information, email yarnwinder98@yahoo.com or visit Yarnwinders on Facebook for regular updates on meetings, activities and more.

Organizers recommend checking the Facebook page for the most current information on upcoming meetings, as the group meets in different locations for December and April meetings and does not hold regular meetings in the summer.

Cecilia Brown can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 248.