Stratford-upon-Avon Guild of Weavers, Spinners & Dyers
Demonstrations in 2010
During the summer, we are often invited to give demonstrations of spinning and weaving at local events and venues.
Calendar of 2010 Demonstrations
Court Barn Museum these demonstrations are in association with the exhibition "Spinning, Weaving and Chipping Campden
Saturday 8th May
Monday 31st May - Dyeing in the North Cotswolds since 1900"
Wednesday 9th June tbc
Wednesday 23rd June
Mary Arden's Farm – Wilmcote
Saturday 29th May - Tudor weekend
Saturday 5th June - Sheep day
Sunday 3rd October - Apple day
Hatton Country World
Sunday 30th May - sheep shearing
Wednesday 2nd June - sheep shearing
Holy Trinity Church - Stratford-upon-Avon
Saturday 12th June - Mediaeval Fair to celebrate the 800year anniversary of the church
Compton Verney
Saturday 17th July - Folk Weekend
Sunday 18th July - Folk Weekend
Saturday 8th May
Monday 31st May - Dyeing in the North Cotswolds since 1900"
Wednesday 9th June tbc
Wednesday 23rd June
Mary Arden's Farm – Wilmcote
Saturday 29th May - Tudor weekend
Saturday 5th June - Sheep day
Sunday 3rd October - Apple day
Hatton Country World
Sunday 30th May - sheep shearing
Wednesday 2nd June - sheep shearing
Holy Trinity Church - Stratford-upon-Avon
Saturday 12th June - Mediaeval Fair to celebrate the 800year anniversary of the church
Compton Verney
Saturday 17th July - Folk Weekend
Sunday 18th July - Folk Weekend
Shakespeare Parade - 24th April 2010
A group of our Guild members met at the Shakespeare Birthplace ready to join the Peoples' Procession. Our Honorary President, Mary Jeffery, unfurled one of the flags and then joined us as we set off through the town with our banners held high and bands playing. There were people in Elizabethan costume, school children and local dignitaries all carrying spring flowers for the Holy Trinity Church where Shakespeare is buried. There were musicians and dancers and lots of other local groups as well as ours, all out celebrating this very special day. The sun shone and everyone looked cheerful and we all had a very happy time.
Demonstrations in 2009
8th, 9th, 10th July - The Royal Show
The Heart of England Alpaca Group has asked the Stratford WSD guild to demonstrate spinning on their stand at the last Royal Show, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire. We shall be there on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 8th, 9th and 10th July!
21 June 2009 - Coughton Court
On Midsummer Day, Coughton Court arranged the creation of a modern "Throckmorton Coat" as part of their celebration of 600 years of the same family living there. The original coat had been made between dawn and dusk on midsummer day in 1811 to win a wager made by the then Squire of Throckmorton who had boasted of the speed of his modern methods of producing cloth.
The 21st Century coat was made of recycled materials by Pretty Rubbish, but the Stratford WSD guild went to demonstrate some of the different stages of producing cloth. We had four spinners, two weavers and two members with small weaving projects for children to try. There were demonstrations and lessons in spindle spinning by a member of another guild (who had been part of the recreation of the original coat at the Newbury Show several years ago).
There was lots of interest, especially from the children and we all thoroughly enjoyed the day.
Ann
The 21st Century coat was made of recycled materials by Pretty Rubbish, but the Stratford WSD guild went to demonstrate some of the different stages of producing cloth. We had four spinners, two weavers and two members with small weaving projects for children to try. There were demonstrations and lessons in spindle spinning by a member of another guild (who had been part of the recreation of the original coat at the Newbury Show several years ago).
There was lots of interest, especially from the children and we all thoroughly enjoyed the day.
Ann
June 2009 - Mary Arden's cottage
Saturday and Sunday 13th and 14th June – we demonstrated at Mary Arden's cottage in Stratford for their “Wool Weekend - the Big Sheep Show!”.
Sunday at Mary Arden's House was a lovely day I enjoyed too. I gave Audrey
a lift and when we arrived at Mary Arden's House, Ros and Evelyn were there
already.
We sat in the barn spinning away at our various spinning wheels
while Cotswold, Wiltshire Horn, Shropshire and Suffolk Sheep baa'd and
chewed the cud in their pens with us. One of the men came and took a
Cotswold Ewe and clipped her by hand outside in some kind of open air
theatre, where she just laid quietly while he wielded his clippers! The sun
shone down on us, and we moved about according to whether we were hot or
not, we were quite busy answering lots of interesting questions about the
kind of wood our wheels were made of and what happens when the yarn breaks
while spinning.
The shearer clipped two sheep in the morning and then the
other two in the afternoon, and then they were taken back to their field,
very soon it was time for us to pack up. I had a lovely day being able to
sit and just spin - what a treat!
Abigail
Sunday at Mary Arden's House was a lovely day I enjoyed too. I gave Audrey
a lift and when we arrived at Mary Arden's House, Ros and Evelyn were there
already.
We sat in the barn spinning away at our various spinning wheels
while Cotswold, Wiltshire Horn, Shropshire and Suffolk Sheep baa'd and
chewed the cud in their pens with us. One of the men came and took a
Cotswold Ewe and clipped her by hand outside in some kind of open air
theatre, where she just laid quietly while he wielded his clippers! The sun
shone down on us, and we moved about according to whether we were hot or
not, we were quite busy answering lots of interesting questions about the
kind of wood our wheels were made of and what happens when the yarn breaks
while spinning.
The shearer clipped two sheep in the morning and then the
other two in the afternoon, and then they were taken back to their field,
very soon it was time for us to pack up. I had a lovely day being able to
sit and just spin - what a treat!
Abigail
Photos from Hatton 2008 & report from Hatton 2009 - click here
May 2009 - Hatton Country World
In May 2009, (24 & 27 May), we demonstrated at Hatton Country World (http://www.hattonworld.com) again, on the sheep shearing days, as we did in 2008 (2009 report & photos from Hatton 2008 here).
In the past, we visited the National Trust property at Charlecote Park. We demonstrated our crafts in the beautiful surroundings outside the house in good weather, or inside if it was raining. The spinning wheels hold a particular fascination for visitors of all ages and our activities for children, such as card weaving or making “caterpillars” from yarn are also very popular. We take along examples of our weaving and dyeing and show different techniques such as stick weaving and braid making. It is interesting to meet people from all over the world and we frequently exchange ideas and learn new things!
Jane Brace
In the past, we visited the National Trust property at Charlecote Park. We demonstrated our crafts in the beautiful surroundings outside the house in good weather, or inside if it was raining. The spinning wheels hold a particular fascination for visitors of all ages and our activities for children, such as card weaving or making “caterpillars” from yarn are also very popular. We take along examples of our weaving and dyeing and show different techniques such as stick weaving and braid making. It is interesting to meet people from all over the world and we frequently exchange ideas and learn new things!
Jane Brace
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Last updated on 23 May 2010
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