On Saturday and Sunday, the ancient textile art was alive and well at Burrill Pines Lagoon Point conference centre.

Spinners and weavers from Bomaderry, Nowra, Goulburn, Eden, Canberra and the Blue Mountains joined members of the Murramarang Spinners and Weavers group for the local guild's 16th annual retreat.

Thirty four people arrived on Saturday for a day of workshops and socialising in the warm, sunny conditions. Outside some sought shade on the balcony while others lapped up the best day spring has had to offer.

Inside the conference centre women were spread out in groups or pairs, working efficiently while sharing stories.

Members were learning about Tunisian crochet, spinning alpacca wool and sharing advice about dying wool, using natural colours and re-purposed material weaving.

A show and tell table featured weaved home-wares, woolen blankets, bags, clothing and materials such as alpaca fleece and silks to use.

Through to the second room, three vendors and maintenance man had set up shop. Fleece vendors Rob and Marilyn Southwell, from Goulburn, made the trip down the mountains.

During the drought their water source from the Wollondilly River was fine, but for almost two years they had bought feed they said.

On Saturday, they had to hand feed their stock before making the trip down with an eye to return home that evening to ensure their animals were fed the next morning, Murramarang Spinners and Weavers president Jeanie Martin said.

Mrs Martin said the Murramarang Spinners had also made a "small contribution" to the farmers.

Dye and equipment vendor Linda Coffill had made the journey from Grose Vale near the Blue Mountains. Mrs Coffill also made sure she bought some of the Southwell's fleece.

Also in the far room was handy-man and repair wizard Trevor Passmore of Bomaderry.

Mr Passmore does maintenance on spinning wheels for the annual conference. He said most spinners were in good working order.

"I just put people's minds at ease," he said.

Generally veterans' wheels posed no issues. But, newcomers might buy a second-hand wheel and turn away from the art if something goes wrong with the wheel, he said.

Mrs Martin was rapt in the turn out at the conference. Since moving to the Burrill Pines centre, overnight visitors have had more freedom.

"We've got day visitors, 26 on site and one camper," she said.

The Murramarang Spinners and Weavers meet on the first and third Monday of every month at Miriam's rug room in Milton.

The spinners host stalls at the Milton Show each year, visit kids' club and are available to teach.

Mrs Martin encouraged the wider community to try the textile art as an outlet for creativity.

"There is a therapeutic feeling to it," she said.

To join phone Mrs Martin on 0413 03 15 47.