Stratford-upon-Avon Guild of Weavers Spinners and Dyers

Amanda Hannaford, Spindling workshop and Whorls around the World talk. For further information please see our earlier blog WHORLS AROUND THE WORLD.

On 17th November Guild Meeting Amanda Hannaford will be demonstrating and talking about  Spindling and Whorls around the World .   Amanda Hannaford who is well known, internationally known, as a spinning teacher and dyer is also well known as a frequent winner of the Bothwell longest thread award, judged in Tasmania every two years. This is an international contest where you compete to spin the finest thread from 10g of wool or alpaca. In 2017 Amanda produced 858.520 metres of woollen thread on her spindle - very fine spinning indeed - to win the spindle category internationally. In the morning (starting at 10.15 - note earlier start) twelve workshop participants will learn how to use different types of spindle. She has an ambitious programme in mind, so all participants need to know the basics of spindle spinning. The workshop will demonstrate use of the supported spindle, and show the differences between bead whorl and the Tibetan and Russian spindles. Then she will dem...

Britspin is a brand-new spinning event organised through Ravelry by volunteers to raise money for the National Air Ambulance Service and to offer spinners a fun competition. About a dozen Guilds of Weavers Spinners and Dyers from Cornwall to Scotland have entered teams (10 spinners max) to spin yarn over 4 days (11-14 October). Guild teams from this area include the Over the Rainbow (Stratford-upon-Avon) Team and the Team Cotswold Guild.  Team Over the Rainbow are spinning in public from 12.30-3.30 on Thursday and 10.30-3.30 on Sunday at Rugby Art Gallery Museum Foyer. They will also spin from 10.30 to 3.30 at Southam (Tithe Place next to the Library, Southam High Street). To create a rainbow in four days they will be spinning a different rainbow colour each half day - so all of them spinning Red (Thursday afternoon), Yellow , Violet (Friday), Green , Indigo , (Saturday) Blue , Orange (Sunday). Other spinners, from our own guild or elsewhere, are welcome to spin along ...

Visit this Exhibition and sale by our Guild members. All the details above that you need - don't miss it

All you need to know about this wonderful not to be missed event, with plenty to do and see, incorporating 6 local Guilds of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers.  See and speak to our local Stratford Upon Avon members.

  Our Stratford Upon Avon Guild members joined in full spin and spent the day of 15th September out in public demonstrating their spinning skills and getting members of the public to have a go.   Members could be found in several venues round the region, including Hillers farm shop     Marton Museum of Country Bygones   Rugby Art Gallery and Museum     National Herb Centre        and Old Campden House Our thanks to all venues for their wonderful hosting!

ON SHEEP, SHOWS AND SPINNING Sheep Shaun Smith will already be known to many as seller-of-rare-breed-fleeces at various events. For the 22 September meeting he hopes to bring along some fleeces for sale after his talk (morning 10.30 onwards). This will centre on the history of sheep and breeds with focus on Primitive Sheep Breeds and their fleeces. So a look back to the earliest history of wool, to learn more about sheep dating back to the Neolithic and Bronze Age. Come and hear the talk and perhaps take home a fleece.    Shaun owns Harcourt Rare Breeds http://harcourtrarebreeds.co.uk/ and is particularly noted for Portlands .  He is also a member of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Group.  https://www.rbst.org.uk/   Shows We also hope at this meeting to offer some personal reviews at the meeting from members of the following shows visited in the past year - Bakewell, FibreEast, Wool@J1...