The Valley Forge Rug Braiding Guild
Join the Valley Forge
Rug Braiding Guild
for our
Spring Braid Conference 2025
in Lewiston, NY!
Near Niagara Falls
April 24-27, 2025
Thursday am - Sunday noon
Elevation of Story
5,036 feet
Registration
will open online February, 2025.
More info coming soon!
Dates of Conference
Check in: 10 am - 12 noon Thursday, April 24, 2025
Classes begin Thursday at 1 pm
Check out: Sunday, April 27, 2025 at noon
Location:
Stella Niagara Center for Renewal Retreat & Conference Center
4421 Lower River Road | Stella Niagara, NY 14144
Website: https://www.stellaniagararetreats.org/
Cost: $495/person
Includes meals Thursday noon to Sunday am, cost of rooms at the Stella Niagara Center for Renewal, insurance coverage, and paying our staff!
One-day Attendees:
$75/day without meals; $125/day with meals.
Three-day Commuters:
$150 without meals for 3 days/ $297 with meals
(classes are extra)
Schedule
Arrive Thursday morning 10-12:00. After lunch, class offerings begin at 1pm Thursday, with two afternoon class times (1pm, 3pm) and morning classes (9:30-11:30). Evenings include the Tea Cup Auction, Show and Tell, and Rug Challenge: Braided Water
Print the schedule: click here
Classes
Classes are priced inexpensively at $20/session; a two-session class is $40. Beginner Classes: Chair Pad, Braiding with Denim. There are many Intermediate and Advanced Classes available!
Making Waves Chair Pad, Braided Pincushion Jar, Turkey Treat Basket, Zigzag Chair Pad, Braided Heart on a Wire, Butting Workshop, Rita's Star Basket II, Two-Braid Tote, Linking Circles with Tetracuspids and Triangles
View or Print class information here
Scroll Down to see photos and more information.
Scholarship Information
A number of partial scholarships will be available from our Fundraising/Scholarship Committee. More info coming soon.
Lodging
Most rooms are standard retreat center fare: singles with a bed, desk, dresser, chair, sink, and hanger bar. Bathroom/showers are down the hall. There are a few rooms with two twin beds at the same per person price. There are a limited number of single rooms with their own bathrooms, which will cost $100 extra; these rooms can be applied for after registration.
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Lodging Before and After: Extra nights are available for your convenience: Wednesday, April 23 before the conference and Sunday, April 27 after the conference. Meals included. These nights are not handled by VF Guild registration, but through the Stella Niagara Center itself. After registering, you will get contact information to set this up.
Meals/Food
Included meals are from Thursday lunch through Sunday breakfast. Gluten free meals are available. The facility asks that we not bring food to share... but you are allowed to bring food for yourself. There is a fridge for snacks in the basement.
Airports:
Stella Niagara is 34 miles and a 45 minute drive from Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF). We will make every effort to pick people up from the airport once flight schedules are made available.
Trailing Spouse:
A spouse who accompanies an attendee, with or without meals, and stays in the Retreat Center.
$330
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Vendor Tables
Vendor tables are available for $40. Tables are 30 inches by 6 feet. Please keep the items related to rug braiding and other wool crafts.
Rug Challenge: Braided Water!
The guild's Rug Challenges over the years have led to wonderful and innovative creations in the world of Rug Braiding. Join with us in creating something simple and small..... to complex and large! The topic can be interpreted any way you like, from mountain streams to tap water to oases in the desert. We ask that the creation contain at least 50% braiding, but no one will check! The Rug Challenge Rugs will be presented one evening at the conference. Share your work with us!
Tea Cup Auction
Sponsored by the Fundraising/Scholarship Committee, the Tea Cup Auction was a hit at the Easton conference two years ago! Many beautiful items were created or donated to raise money for the guild. While many items are related to braiding (a rug, braiding tools, books), many other items are not. Purchase blocks of tickets and fill out your name; place tickets in the tea cups in front of items. Random drawing from each tea cup.
Nearby Attractions:
Niagara Falls!! Outing planned for Thursday 3pm!!
Sign up with the Transportation Coordinator, Janet O'Connell, after registering for the conference.
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Niagara Falls: A top attraction near Lewiston, located 5.7 miles away
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Cave of the Winds: A caverns and caves attraction located 6.2 miles away
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Niagara Falls State Park: A state park located 6.2 miles away
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Frank Lloyd Wright's Martin House: A historic site located 19.5 miles away in Buffalo
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Old Fort Niagara: A historic site located 6.2 miles away in Youngstown
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Niagara Falls Observation Tower: An observation deck and tower located 6.1 miles away
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Whirlpool State Park: A state park located 6.8 miles away
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Goat Island: An island located 6.8 miles away
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Devil's Hole State Park: A state park located 2.8 miles away
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Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls, USA: A factory outlet located 6.1 miles away
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Aquarium of Niagara: An aquarium located 5.6 miles away
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Cancellations / Refunds
Our cancellation policy before April 8, 2025 is a refund of registration fee less $50 to cover our costs, and full refund of teacher fees.
On April 8 and after, no refund of registration unless you find a replacement for yourself and no refund of teacher fees. Student will receive all class materials and any kit.
Beginning Rug Braiding: Continuous Circle Chair Pad
Teacher: Mary Hibbard
Description: Participants will learn the basics of continuous rug braiding. We’ll talk about wool preparation, learn how to start braiding the chair pad, lace the braid to the growing rug to create a nicely shaped 13-15” circle, and how to end the rug with a taper. We’ll also talk about wool preparation and color changes.
Sessions: 3
Cost: $60 (additional $15 wool kit)
Prerequisite skills: None
Kit: Wool kit $15
Finish? Most participants will finish the chair pad in class.
Folds: Left Opening
Teacher Bio: Mary took her first braiding class 12 years ago at New England Braids in Methuen, MA. Since that time she has attended many braiding events and taken classes to advance her skills. Mary has been teaching beginning rug braiding via zoom and at the Valley Forge Rug Braiding Conferences for several years.
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Pincushion Jar
Teacher: PeggyAnn Watts
Description: A useful 2-Braid circle to make a pincushion… or the start of a butted round rug or basket. We will make this one into a pincushion atop a jar for pins or other small storage.
Sessions: 2
Cost: $40 (plus $20 kit, see below)
Prerequisite Skills: Must be able to braid, lace, and count loops.
Kit: $20 includes mason jar, wool, template & booklet
Level: Confident Beginner
Max Students: 12
Min Students: 2
Complete Project in Class: most likely
Teacher Folds: RO
Class Folds: LO & RO
Butting: 2-Bracelet Butt
Teacher Bio: PeggyAnn is a rug braider, hooker of rugs, and a weaver. She is the owner and teacher of the Belfast Braiders Studio in Belfast, NY. She has taught at both the Valley Forge Rug Braiding Guild’s Conferences and New England Braids in Methuen, MA. She is a member of the Southern Tier Fiber Artisans of New York and the Weaving Guild of Bradford, PA.
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Two-Braid Tote
Teacher: PeggyAnn Watts
Description: Learn to make a 2-braid spiral tote bag or basket. No butting required.
Sessions: 2
Cost: $40 (plus $20 kit, see below)
Prerequisite Skills: Confident Beginner, able to lace with some assistance.
Kit: Optional leather handles for purchase, or just braid the handles.
Level: Confident Beginner to Intermediate
Max Students: 12
Min Students: 2
Complete Project in Class: possibly
Teacher Folds: RO
Class Folds: LO & RO
Butting: None
Student Brings: Lacing cord, lacing needle, prepped wool strips, clamp if needed; routine braid supplies.
Teacher Bio: PeggyAnn is a rug braider, hooker of rugs, and a weaver. She is the owner and teacher of the Belfast Braiders Studio in Belfast, NY. She has taught at both the Valley Forge Rug Braiding Guild’s Conferences and New England Braids in Methuen, MA. She is a member of the Southern Tier Fiber Artisans of New York and the Weaving Guild of Bradford, PA.
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Braided Heart on Wire
Teacher: Bobbi Mahler
Email: bobbimahler@icloud.com
Description: This class is mostly straight braiding but uses triple corners for the points of the heart.
Sessions: 3
Cost: $60 plus kit fee of $3
Kit: Heart wire $3; students bring their own medium-weight wool.
Prerequisite Skills: Basic Braiding
Level: Beginner - Intermediate
Max Students: 8
Min Students: --
Complete Project in Class: Yes
Teacher Folds: RO
Class Folds: LO or RO
Butting in Class: Yes; any method can be used. Teacher uses Triangle Butting method.
Teacher Bio: Bobbi Mahler lives in Belgrade, Maine. She is a retired Navy Officer with 28 years of service, and a lifetime crafter. She started braiding in 2004, and has braided everything from baskets to pot holders to very large rugs. She presently braids for fun, and both teaches and helps those interested in braiding. Besides many rugs for various friends and her own house, her braiding projects include two 9 X 12 matching rugs braided for friends, pin cushions to be sold by her church, pot holders for personal use, and has provided fun rugs for braiding conference competition. She is a member of the Valley Forge Braiding Guild.
Turkey Treat Basket
Teacher: Cathy Winship
Description: Students will learn to make a basket using the flip-flop technique. Other interesting techniques will be combined to create the turkey. Following the class, the flip-flop skill can be applied to braiding a rug. Turkey Treat Basket Dimensions: 7.5” bottom, 11” feather height, holds a 2-cup container.
Sessions: 3
Cost: $60
Kit: None. Teacher will send a list of supplies needed.
Prerequisite Skills: T-Start, 9-Loop Center, butting 18- & 27-loop rows by a method with which the student is confident and comfortable.
Level: Intermediate
Max Students: 8 Min Students: 4
Complete Project in Class: Yes… hopefully!
Teacher Folds: RO or LO
Class Folds: LO or RO
Butting in Class: Yes; any method can be used; students should be comfortable with their chosen method.
Teacher Bio: Cathy Winship has been braiding for 10 years and teaching for 5 years. She developed a love for combining traditional and contemporary designs in her rugs. Teaching, creating, and collaborating on projects keep her very busy – always learning!
Braiding with Denim
Teacher: Dianne Tobias
Description: How about a Braided Denim Round? Have you ever wondered how denim would braid up into a round, a rug or a basket. They make useful trivets with a fringed ending, so no butting, though the brave-hearted may try!
The beautiful blues that we see in denim jeans make for interesting braided projects. Learn how to choose, ‘design’, cut, and braid with denim. Students will be asked to bring old jeans, but instructor will also provide a supply.
Sessions: 2
Cost: $40
Kit: None.
Prerequisite Skills: Basic braiding skills; butting is optional.
Level: Confident Beginner
Max Students: 10
Min Students: 2
Complete Project in Class: Probably… but could continue making larger after class if desired.
Teacher Folds: LO
Class Folds: LO or RO
Butting in Class: Optional but probably not.
Teacher Bio: Dianne has been braiding since about 2008. She has made a number of wool rugs in various shapes and enjoys incorporating braids with rug hooking. Dianne has taught at a number of US and Canadian venues.
She is passionate about dyeing stretch velvet for other fiber artists; she owns and operates The Velvet Hook, a business dyeing custom velvet colors for rug hooking customers.
Dianne especially enjoys exploring using basic braiding skills with fabrics other than wool such as cotton, velvet and denim and inviting braiders to expand their horizons ‘beyond wool’.
She is the co-author of “Combining Rug Hooking and Braiding” with Kris McDermet and Christine Manges.
Making Waves Chair Pad
Teacher: Rose Robertson-Smith
Description: Spiral chair pad with scalloping curves. Learn to make and align double- and triple-corners; how to insert a second T-Start braid to create a new row. Finish with enclosed ends for blunt endings. Optional: use a hit-or-miss strand to create interest.
Sessions: 3
Cost: $60 (plus kit fee of $30)
Kit: $30 includes all fabric needed for chair pad: 1. Dark solid strips for the inserted row. 2. Mix of textured and solid strips for center of mat.
Prerequisite Skills: Must have braided one rug before.
Level: Confident Beginner / Intermediate
Max Students: 10
Min Students: 4
Complete Project in Class: Yes!
Teacher Folds: LO
Class Folds: LO
Butting in Class: None
Teacher Bio: Rose learned to braid from classes at Dorr Mill in 2006. Since then, she has taught rug braiding locally in her home, at community centers, and at braiding conferences. She has an Etsy shop, Idlewild Wool, where she sells recycled wool from used clothing. In addition to braiding, Rose is a seamstress, doll-maker, gardener, and enjoys smocking. She runs a bed and breakfast – Lucinda’s House -- from her historic property near Nashville.
Linking Circles: Tetracuspid and Triangle
Teacher: Christine Manges
Email: ccmanges@gmail.com
Description: The Rugs=Food=Love Project of 2020 was a pivotal fundraiser uniting the rug hooking and rug braiding worlds to help Food Banks during a time of tremendous job instability. Hooked and braided 9” circles were donated from all over the US and Canada and joined by 11 rugmakers into beautiful rugs that were raffled off. Key to joining the circles were two shapes: the Tetracuspid and the Triangle. This class will focus on making these two important shapes. https://www.valleyforgerugbraidingguild.org/rugs-food-love-project
Sessions: 2
Cost: $40
Kit: None
Prerequisite Skills: Must butt by any method.
Level: Intermediate
Max Students: 10
Min Students: 2
Complete Project in Class: Yes!
Teacher Folds: LO
Class Folds: LO or RO
Butting in Class: Yes
Teacher Bio: Christine learned to braid rugs in 2006 while fixing a braided rug made by her grandmother. Since then she has co-authored a book on rug braiding and taught a lot of classes, both at conferences and online. She is one of the founding members of the Valley Forge Rug Braiding Guild.
Zigzag Chairpad
Teacher: Christine Manges
Description: This dramatic chair pad has rows upon rows of zigzag patterns. Created using a combination of careful lacing and double corners treated as straight braids, this chair pad starts with the double-star center found in the Killer II Chair Pad, and continues the zigzags.
Sessions: 3
Cost: $60
Kit: None
Prerequisite Skills: Must butt by any method.
Level: Intermediate
Max Students: 10
Min Students: 2
Complete Project in Class: IF you pre-braid rows, yes.
Teacher Folds: LO
Class Folds: LO or RO
Butting in Class: Yes
Teacher Bio: Christine learned to braid rugs in 2006 while fixing a braided rug made by her grandmother. Since then she has co-authored a book on rug braiding and taught a lot of classes, both at conferences and online. She is one of the founding members of the Valley Forge Rug Braiding Guild.
Rita’s Star Basket II
Teacher: Christine Manges
Description: With the double-star butted braiding pattern as the bottom of the basket and an 8-strand diagonal stripe multistrand as the sides, this basket is really pretty! Created by my friend Rita. Learn how to arrange the strands to create the pretty star center, then learn how to make an even-numbered multistrand braid and how to butt it. The even MS Diagonal Butt is slightly different from the odd MS Diagonal Butt.
Sessions: 3
Cost: $60
Kit: None
Prerequisite Skills: Must butt by any method.
Level: Intermediate
Max Students: 10
Min Students: 2
Complete Project in Class: Yes!
Teacher Folds: LO
Class Folds: LO or RO
Butting in Class: Yes
Teacher Bio: see above.
Butting Workshop: Two Sections -- one LO, one RO
Teachers: Bobbi Mahler (RO) and Christine Manges (LO)
Description: Having trouble with butting your braids? Right opening braiders can work with Bobbi on the Triangle Butt. Left opening braiders can work with Christine on Annie's Fanny OR the Triangle Butt. Meant for the braider who has some experience with butting, yet is struggling with the details. Small class size will give everyone individual attention.
Sessions: 1
Cost: $20
Kit: None
Prerequisite Skills: Some frustrating experience with butting!
Level: Confident Beginner / Intermediate
Max Students: 5 in each section: 5 LO, 5 RO
Min Students: 2 in each section
Complete Project in Class: Yes!
Butting in Class: Yes
Teacher Bios: see above.