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:
Purbeck Art Weeks Festival 24th May to 8th June
Great British Fibre Festival - 7th -8th June at Coldharbour Mill, Uffculme.
John Arbon Textiles Mill Open Weekend 2025 7th - 8th June
Frome Festival runs from 4th to 13th July Frome Weavers will have an exhibition alongside other artists in the new gallery
Stitchfest by the Sea Weston-super-Mare 5th – 6th July
Summer Wool Festival 26th - 27th July 2024 at Redborne School in Ampthill near Bedford (MK45 2NU)
Dorset Arts and Crafts Association Showcase 2025 1st – 5th August Purbeck School, Wareham, BH20 4PF
Devon Guild Exhibition at Buckfast Abbey 23rd – 25th August
Avon Guild 50th Anniversary Details to follow about a small exhibition in Bristol city centre
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). To book the workshop, email: secretary@somersetguildwsd.org.uk.
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.