Programme
The Somerset Guild hosts a busy programme of informative and inspiring talks and workshops
2025 Guild programme
Saturday, 21st June
Fleece Fair: An annual event where you can purchase high-quality fleeces from local suppliers. Find out more here.
Saturday, 19th July
Mayumi Kaneko will give a talk on handcrafted textiles using traditional Japanese techniques, with a focus on paper weaving.
Saturday, 16th August
Anila Preston’s Alpaca Farm & Studio in Dulverton, Exmoor. Anila breeds alpacas and creates sustainable luxury products with her high-quality EKO|ALPAKA yarns.
Saturday, 20th September
Richard Sims will present a talk on ‘The Flax and Hemp Heritage of South Somerset & West Dorset’, with insights from his work at Dawes Twine Works.
Saturday, 18th October
Annabel Wilson, a textile artist, will introduce the Japanese craft of Shibori resist dyeing, transforming plain fabric into remarkable patterns.
Saturday, 15th November
Morwenna Stephens, a Textile and Ethnographic Artefacts Conservator, will share her extensive experience conserving and mounting textiles and world culture artefacts.
Sunday, 15th December
Christmas Social: Details to follow.
Other events of interest
2025:
If you would like to find out about the August visit to the Eko Alpaka Farm near Dulverton, please look at the blog / magazine article in the hyperlink. There is also an interview with Brenda Gibson ‘ A Life in Fine Threads’
Dorset Guild Open Day to show off core skills: weaving, spinning, dyeing and felting. Sat 27th September 10.30 Holy Trinity Parish Hall, Sunninghill Preparatory School, Culliford Road North, Dorchester, DT1 1QG. From hyperlink, use the arrows at the bottom left of the page to scroll through the programme
Avon Guild is celebrating its 50th year with an exhibition. Save the date 31st Oct - 2nd Nov in SPARKS in Broadmead Bristol.
Unflappable. Fashioning the 1920s Costume Exhibition Killerton House Until 2nd November
Yeovil Literary Festival Patrick Grant (from the Sewing Bee) is talking about his book on sustainable clothing ‘Less’ on 24th October
Devon Open Studios until 21st September
Somerset Open Studios 13th – 28th September – see attached flier from Lia Jenkinson. Is there anyone else showing work, whether textile or other skill? We will be interested to hear and visit.
World Textile Day Saltford, between Bath and Bristol Saturday 4th October. Speakers not yet announced
Past events:
18th January Flaxland: A talk titled ‘Linen, Ancient & Modern’. This session will cover the history and heritage of flax. The talk takes place in the morning, followed by an optional workshop in the afternoon on Longline Flax Spinning (for 10 or more participants).
15th February Guild AGM in the morning. In the afternoon, Sarah Harris from the Spinning Weal in Clevedon will bring a sales table, demonstrate with a great wheel, and deliver an entertaining talk titled ‘Marie Antoinette's Guide to Farming’.
15th March Tapestry Weaver Anne Jackson will join us for a talk on her intricate work inspired by themes of witchcraft. Our Guild Spinning Competition will also take place this month.
Saturday, 19th April Skills Day! Guild members can share their skills with others. To contribute, email: secretary@somersetguildwsd.org.uk.
Saturday, 17th May Turning over a New Leaf – A talk on eco-printing with Sue Jenkins, focusing on botanical contact printing using locally gathered leaves.
Fernhill Fibre Experience Saturday 22nd March How to identify, grow, harvest, process and utilise natural, native, regenerative, real, organic fibres, food and fuel
Sodbury Yarn Over 12th -13th April Chipping Sodbury near Bath. Yarn festival featuring sales, and workshops
Wonderwool Wales – 26-27th April in Builth Wells, shared coach with Exeter Guild may be available.
Defashion Dorset Fri 16th / Sat 17th May, 10 – 5pm Hawkers Farm, Stour Provost.
Other Guilds
Demonstrations by Guild Members
The Guild is often asked to provide demonstrators at events. Do let us know if you are interested in hosting demonstrators or offering your skills as a demonstrator. Please come and see us and say hello if you are visiting an event.