Stratford-upon-Avon Guild of Weavers Spinners and Dyers

MARCH GUILD MEETING - 21ST MARCH CANCELLED With regret but following today's Government advice we have taken the decision to cancel the meeting this weekend. We will review our future meetings based on the situation and advice closer to the time. We hope to put items out to members of interesting items, videos and activities that will help us during any isolation that is necessary, so let us know what you have been up to. Finally, we have a number of members who fall outside of the vulnerable category currently who are offering any assistance for those who need any help, so please do let us know if you need assistance or indeed are able to offer it to the membership. Please stay safe and well.  

March meeting – Plying with a purpose  As usual our next meeting with take place in the New Room, doors open at 10.00 am for a 10.30 am start. Plying can be so much more than twisting two strands of spun yarn together to get something balanced to use. There are of course the complex plies detailed in in books such as Sarah Anderson’s authoritative ‘Book of Yarn Designs’ or playful art yarns with unexpected quirks. However, sometimes, to solve specific practical problems, you need to ply for a specific purpose. This session is not so much how to ply as how to ply to solve a problem; for some specific projects or when operating under constraints. We’ll look at best practice when plying, address some myths about plying and then go on to practice different plying approaches including: Andean (aka bracelet plying) which allows you to spin and ply using only one bobbin,or to use up ends so you can empty bobbins Plying with more than four strands eg to create a five stranded...

OUR ADVENTURE IN FEBRUARY Despite the rain, wind and flooding, our February meeting had an excellent turnout, with some new members coming along for the first time. Kay Hawkins, a member of the Braid Society, came along to guide us through our adventure.  Kay took us from the very beginnings of setting up a Marudai, preparing the bobbins, Tama, and working out the counter weight to balance the bobbins. We then worked through 3 to 4 different braids, all just using the same 8 bobbins, just moving them in different ways to great effect. After lunch we were taken on a tour of Kay and Sara's trip to Japan last year, including their pilgrims walk and the Braiding Society Conference in IGA. The Braiding Conference is held every few years and the next one will be held in Denmark.  Saving up for it already! The Guild is planning to hold a 'Getting Better At' workshop and has a number of Marudai that are available for members to hire. Please email us on wsdstratford@gm...