History

By Chris

The Stratford-upon-Avon Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers was formed in May 1975, so this year we will be celebrating our 50th Birthday in 2025!

Our group grew from a class that met weekly at Stratford-upon-Avon College and shortly after joined the Association of Guilds of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers (AGWSD).

Demonstrations

Through our demonstration activity you can see members of our guild out and about in the community, explaining what we do to interested visitors and we usually incorporate hands-on activities to engage children in our crafts.

We visit local fairs and fetes, local group meetings, House Open Days and this year at Race days.

Peg loom demonstrations at Shipston
We first went to Shipston Wool Fair in 2011 when we demonstrated felting for the first time. This was very successful with queues of people wanting to try this technique. We showed a range of weaving techniques and, having washed and dried a freshly sheared fleece that morning, helped spin enough to knit a specially designed hat.

You can find more information about past activity at Shipston, including weaving of the tapestry through this link. Sadly, the organisers of the Shipston Wool Fair have taken the decision to close the event.

The Guild has been demonstrating at Mary Arden's Farm, Wilmcote for many years. At first we went to spin on their shearing day. This gradually expanded and we went along to all their special weekends, not only spinning but giving visitors a chance to weave a small piece on a loom to take away or start a kumihimo braid on a small cardboard disc, which they could finish at home. Many of the visitors were tourists but the local season ticket holders regularly enjoyed the chance to make something. Sadly 

Demonstrations went on hold with COVID and the Mary Arden's Farm made the decision to become a primary learning space. We look forward to demonstrating at Stratford Shakespeare properties again.

Exhibitions

We have also mounted two large exhibitions, one at Compton Verney when they had the Centenary Exhibition of the Dovecot Tapestry Studio,  and at Packwood House for the National Trust, showing the colours which can be obtained from plants and their use in early tapestries.

Belonging to the Association gives us contact with other guilds nationally and internationally and we have co-organised two AGWSD national summer schools as well as a National Exhibition. To find out more about our history follow the following links.

Tapestry at Stratford Hospital made by guild, and designed by Rosalind Lobb, to celebrate our 25th anniversary in 2000  (pictured here).

Information about the Sheldon Tapestry inspired Shipston tapestry designed by guild member Rosalind Lobb and made to celebrate the 2012 Queens Jubilee.