Stratford-upon-Avon Guild of Weavers Spinners and Dyers

We know that it is probably clearly obvious to everyone, we don't anticipate having our usual meetings for the next few months. However, we plan to make sure that you don't miss the Guild. Now that we have settled into our new routines – working from home, staying at home as much as possible, and in some cases staying at home all the time, I hope we shall all have time to pursue our time-honoured efforts at Stash-busting and finally getting round to working on the UFOs which may fill our cupboards. (UnFinished Objects in case you are wondering.) So that we can all keep in touch and inspire each other we have set up a forum site to which all our members can contribute – Groups.io / SOAWSDGuild . Lots of you have already joined and we will send out the invitation again for those of you who may have lost it. You can reply following a particular topic or start a new topic if there is something else you want to talk about. By these means we plan to hold virtual meetings each mon...

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...

Reminder for our next meeting Adventures with Kumihimo Braiding Let us know if you want to use one of the Guild Marudai  Pack up your own if you have one with all the weight bag, chopstick and bobbins Bring your lunch, we will be having a short talk from 1.30pm before the afternoon session See you all then

February meeting – Adventures in Kumihimo with Kay Hawkins   (questionably assisted by Sara!) © Kay Hawkins 2019 Kay is a member of the Braid Society, some members may have attended her mini-workshops at the Society’s ‘have a go’ days. She will give us an introduction to kumihimo braiding on the marudai and kumihimo disk   This will include selecting yarns, warping up, controlling tension and some simple braid patterns. For those of you with experience of braiding or who are feeling adventurous, there will be the opportunity to use those skills to make an item such as a key fob, bracelet, necklace or a lanyard.   Perhaps we can hope to see all our members at future meetings with their name badges on braided lanyards!    The workshop will extend into the afternoon for those keen to make use of Kay’s expertise. (The ‘social spin’ will continue as usual). At lunchtime Kay and Sara will give a presentation on ‘Our braiding adventure in ...

JANUARY MEETING - 18TH - AGM & GBA - Stashbusting This Saturday we hold our January meeting as usual we will start this meeting with our AGM when we report on last year and elect the new committee. It will be in the New Room (please use the side door). Doors open at 10.00 am and the meeting starts at 10.30. We have already circulated the agenda and notice of some amendments to the constitution which the committee wish to put forward. After the AGM we shall break for lunch and then at 2.00 pm there will be a GBA on …... STASHBUSTING As January is the time for New Year resolutions perhaps you have made one based on stashbusting? You may be in dire need of help, as with sales and present-giving you could have recently acquired more fluff than you can use or store. Come along to this Getting Better At session for tips, ideas and advice on how to get your stash under control. Chris Pegler (who freely admits to being in a STABLE* state) will be talking about how to use up spinn...