Stratford-upon-Avon Guild of Weavers Spinners and Dyers

THIS EVENT HAS NOW BEEN CANCELLED due to the ill-health of the tutor. The June meeting will now be one where we catch up on projects such as cotton spinning, rigid heddle projects, and other creative endeavours. The guild newsletter provides more detail. Learn more about small portable braiding techniques (emphasis on flat and square braids) at our next meeting (arranged by Jane Lucas and taught by Freda Robinson at Arabesque Braids ).  In her talk in the morning Freda invites us to 'Follow me in my adventures into braiding, and share an exploration of many different braids and their uses.  See and examine many braids I have collected in my travels Ireland to Peru; Nepal to Ukraine and many countries in between.  See the development of braids from Viking times to the present day and explore their potential for yourself.' After lunch Freda will teach us braiding techniques using kumihimo discs and lucets, including how to make beaded bracelets. There is a smal...

Guest speaker Sarah Wroot will be teaching an Introduction to Cotton Spinning session (10 participants max) on the morning of the next ‘birthday’ meeting (20 May, 10.30-12.00) and will also do a talk on Cotton in the afternoon (after lunch from around 2pm) with demonstrations of different techniques and equipment and an opportunity to ‘have a go’. She will be bringing a charkha with her. Sarah (pictured spinning here) is a hand spinner who is learning to weave in order to use her hand spun yarn. She has published several articles in Spin Off, demonstrated spinning techniques for John Styles’ Historic Textiles workshop at the V&A, woven hand spun fabrics for use in the film industry, and offers workshops on fine spinning, cotton spinning and spinning for weaving. Currently living in Cambridgeshire, she and her husband expect to return to Canada in 2017. More information about her interests and work can be found on her blog ‘carpe diem’ at https://wroot.blog The morni...

Tom Blunt will be visiting the guild in the morning to give a talk about the work of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust . His talk will be in the morning and is sure to be interesting (although note that he won't be bringing fleeces for sale on this occasion). His session starts at 10.30 in Side Room 1 and 2 but please allow plenty of time to get here if travelling in by car. This is also the day when Stratford closes roads in its centre (7.30-12.30) to celebrate Shakespeare's birthday!   As he is buried at Holy Trinity Church, opposite where we meet, you may encounter road closures and need to make a detour or approach from a different direction. Ann has prepared some very clear directions ( link here ) and has briefed the organisers so that they know who we are and why you need to be able to pass their barriers. It will speed your access if you email us in advance to let you know you are coming so we can pass on that information. Please come along in the morning to support this...

Our at home meetings don’t always land on the 1 st of the month, or take place on a Saturday, but on 1 st April Chris hosted a weaving themed 'at home'. Fifteen guild members attended and had a busy day with many of them gathered in the ‘weaving’ shed where these pictures were taken (thanks Theresa). A really good attendance and we were very happy to send two of the guild’s rigid heddle looms out for trial with keen new users – perhaps we can encourage more of our spinners to be weavers too?   As usual spinning and other crafts – knitting, crochet and peg-looming in this case – also played a part. Steve (Chris’ husband) is working on adapting one of the guild's older looms and we have at least one more ready for warping up, so these can be loaned out too. If you have a yen to try rigid heddle weaving then get in touch ( email ). Help should be available at the meeting on the 22 nd April to get you going. You may notice that Sally is using a narrow braid loom ...

In November of last year the committee set us a challenge to work with Wensleydale. Jane provided the materials and sent us off with 100gm each of Wensleydale fleece. We were challenged to 'do something' with the locks - and bring this back to show in the February meeting. Fabulous felted hat with dyed locks and felted mini balls by Sally And rise to the challenge we did. The contributions were varied, and demonstrated so many of the creative 'yarn' crafts that we all enjoy. There was felting, picture art, weaving, knitting, and the rest. No limits to our creative imaginations. (Further photos are in the Member's area). Fancy a coffee? crocheted cuffs with locks by Abigail lovely melange of spun alpaca and Wensleydale for these fingerless gloves by Liz a woolly Wensleydale knitted nest by one of our newer members A little Wensleydale certainly goes a long way. a tableful of creative endeavours includi...

From April the website address for the Stratford upon Avon Guild of Weavers Spinners and Dyers will change to  wsdstratford.blogspot.com . If you visit the 'old' address http://www.wsd-stratford.org.uk/ you will be automatically redirected after 10 seconds. This new site has been designed to be easier to read on mobile devices and also to be more visual. So say goodbye to our old site and welcome to the new!