Barbara Diefenderfer

Barbara Diefenderfer, the Weaving Teacher in Residence at the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts in Hagerstown, Md., has woven for nearly 40 years and taught for 35. Prior to teaching weaving, she taught tailoring and general clothing construction in public schools.

She is a familiar instructor at MAFA conferences and lecturer on various weaving topics in the Mid-Atlantic region. She earned a Master Weaver certification through the Potomac Craftsmen Guild in 1987 and was a member of the committee creating the Guild Advancement Program for the Central Pennsylvania Guild.

While Barbara is enthusiastic about every aspect of weaving, she particularly enjoys weaving with color and fine threads to produce household textiles and fine clothing. Her greatest thrill comes from ‘turning on the light bulbs’ for novice and advancing weavers, reflecting her belief that there are always new things to learn in weaving.

Barbara Diefenderfer has been the Weaving Teacher in Residence at the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts in Hagerstown, Maryland, for over 40 years, and she has woven for nearly 50 years. As a graduate of the University of Delaware specializing in textiles and education, her first career found her teaching tailoring and clothing construction in public schools. She is a familiar instructor at MAFA conferences and presents workshops for guilds in the region. In 1987 she earned a Master Weaver certification through the Potomac Craftsmen Guild and was a member of the committee creating the Guild Advancement Program for the Central Pennsylvania Guild of Handweavers.

While Barbara is enthusiastic about every aspect of weaving, she particularly enjoys weaving with color and fine threads to produce one of a kind household textiles and fine clothing. Her greatest thrill comes from ‘turning on the light bulbs’ for novice and advancing weavers, reflecting her belief that there are always new things to learn in weaving.

Eight-shaft straight twill is her very favorite pattern source! She has a collection of over 50 such drafts many of which she has designed herself.