Mission/History


The Potomac Fiber Arts Guild was started in 1944 as the Potomac Craftsmen Guild by a small group of people in the Washington, DC area who liked to do handwork, especially weaving. For many years they met in one of the Smithsonian Institution buildings where one of the members was employed.
With more than 70 years as a premier fiber arts guild, we have grown to over 300 members. Our interests have built upon and expanded beyond weaving to include a wide range of fiber art, such as lace making, embroidery, spinning, knotting, knitting, crocheting, felting, quilting, dyeing, paper making, and stitching and surface design of all types.
Our guild’s mission is:
- To widen knowledge of the fiber arts and increase the number of techniques known.
- To investigate and study the fiber art made in our own and other lands.
- To improve our membership’s creativity, methods and techniques.
- To gain inspiration from one another by sharing our experiences.
- To promote the use of quality hand-made fiber art in our vicinity.
Our bylaws may be accessed here.
Past Presidents
2021 – Present Stacy Cantrell | 1990 –1992 Margaret Ralston | 1967 –1969 Mrs. Willner D. Mensing |
2019 – 2021 Gail Hamill | 1988–1990 Verna Suit | 1966 –1967 Mrs. H. M. H. A. Van der Valk |
2017 – 2019 Floris Flam | 1986–1988 Mickie Schneider | 1965 –1966 Mrs. John Porter |
2015 – 2017 Margaret Fisher | 1985 –1986 Margaret M. Conant | 1963 –1965 Mrs. Allen S. Arness |
2013 –2015 Eileen Doughty | 1984 –1985 Christine Spangler | 1961 –1963 Dr. Doris Cochran |
2011 –2013 Ann Graham | 1982 –1984 Betty Ladd | 1960 –1961 Mrs. Paul Henshaw |
2009 –2011 Zita Simutis | 1980 –1982 Caye Speakman | 1959 –1960 Cdr. Theodore R. Cooley |
2007 –2009 Anne Sanderoff-Walker | 1979 –1980 Byrdann Fox | 1957 –1959 Miss Elizabeth Long |
2005 –2007 Janet Stollnitz | 1978 –1979 Lee-lee Schlegel | 1955 –1957 Mrs. C. Edwin Nighman |
2003 –2005 Corrine Terebas | 1976 –1978 Dr. Howard E. Waterworth | 1953 –1955 Mrs. P. Hendley Napier |
2001 –2003 Roz Houseknecht | 1975 –1976 Miss Hyacinth L. McMorris | 1952 –1953 Mrs. Ralph Fast |
1999 –2001 Jane Butler | 1974 –1975 Mrs. Walter C. Sewell | 1951 –1952 Mrs. J. W. Waterhouse |
1997–1999 Lanna Ray | 1972 –1974 Mrs. William J. Flynn | 1949 –1951 Mrs. W. Gardner Lynn |
1996 –1997 Prue Hill | 1971 –1972 Doramay Keasbey | 1948 –1949 Mrs. Phillip Wood |
1994 –1996 Jean Christensen | 1970 –1971 Mrs. Frank J. Lynch | 1946 –1948 Mrs. Donnell Young |
1992 –1994 Jennifer Kelly | 1969 –1970 Mrs. Myron W. Klein | 1944 –1946 Mrs. Alfred R. Lee |