Sue Lamberton is a researcher of historic textiles, with a particular interest in the women working in silk production, their work as artisans and independent business owners at a time when most women had few rights.

She demonstrates and makes time-consuming historic silk work and loves talking about and teaching these ancient skills.

A chance to try the Japanese art of Kumihimo braiding, and make some cordage out of fabric scraps. We will split into two groups so we can all try both.
Requirements list:
Kumihimo disc if you have one, although we will provide simple cardboard discs; lengths of spare embroidery thread or yarn. For cordage, fabric cut into 1-2 cm wide strips as long as possible, or raffia, yarn and string - some materials will also be available.

This workshop is an opportunity to learn the resist dyeing technique using hot wax, commonly known as Batik. You will be able to experiment with different designs – bring some ideas and imagery for inspiration - to create your own selection of dyed samples. .
Requirements List:
Sewing kits, apron, plain cotton fabric, designs or other inspiration.

Rebecca Offredi is an award winning embroidery artist and designer. She creates bespoke couture, and embroidered collections. Having started her working life as a private banker, Rebecca left her career in 2018 to pursue her passion for embroidery full time. Retraining at the Royal School of Needlework she graduated in 2021 with a first class degree in hand embroidery and a multidisciplinary approach to her practice.

This talk will focus on her story, her chromesthesia, and how it affects her art. .

Join Chris for a whistle-stop tour of Thailand's textiles. From Chiang Mai's Warorot and Hmong markets to the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles in Bangkok, we will take a brief look at some traditional patterns, mass production and the resurgence of artisan textiles.

A practical introduction to the Nuno felting process - laying out the sheer fabric and evenly distributing wool fibres on top. This is then wetted and agitated, causing the wool fibres to intertwine with the fabric, to create strong and supple lightweight, textured textiles. You will be able to make several small samples during the day.
Requirements list:
Bring an apron and any interesting fibres and felting wool, silks and sheer fabric if you have them

Another of our very popular play days, in a fully equipped textile room, with access to 11 sewing machines for free motion stitching, and our embellisher. The room is suitable for dyeing, including hot wax, and if you have any special requests, let us know.

Otherwise it’s a chance to spend a day doing your own thing!

Requirements list:
Bring projects you would like to work on and your sewing kits. Fabric scraps, thread and wool for the embellisher.

Our annual summer get together this time at the Orchard Room. Come along for a strawberry cream tea, catch up with friends and make a 'strawberry' key ring or brooch.

Bring any completed pieces of work and your Travelling Books for the display table.

An opportunity to pass on our stitching skills to members of the public who sign up for one of the two half-day sessions in this beautiful venue.

As a mixed media textile artist Mary McIntosh uses a variety of recycled materials in her work. Mary will talk about how recycled newspapers, dress pattern tissue, sweet wrappers, plastic bottles and even beer cans can be transformed to make work with meaning.

Based on a research project that investigates elite women's relationships with botany in the eighteenth-century. Anne has embroidered a coverlet and bedlinen, including nearly 20 pillowcases with, floral symbolism and text from the era. This talk explains the project and how it combines embroidery with women's history of the era.

Bring your own embroidery scissors and cut out and decorate a bespoke felt scissor case to fit.
Requirements list:
Sewing kits, embroidery threads and embellishments like beads and buttons, felt if you have some, and the pair of embroidery scissors for which you want to make a case. A variety of coloured felts will also be provided.

Quiz, Christmas ‘make’ and card swap

“In Stitches” slide show and talk covers all aspects of Linda’s work specialising in machine-stitched images. She will talk about the joys of being a practising textile artist, gathering ideas, working with galleries and shops, gaining private and public commissions, and working towards shows and exhibitions.