Programme

2012 Programme

January
January	Saturday 21st	Usual start 10.30, AGM 11.00 with lunch provided (soup & bread). Launch guild challenge. Own projects in the afternoon. Programme notes
February	Tuesday 7th	Making skeins for March 17th workshop. Plus own projects. Drum carder will be available for challenge project.
February	Saturday 18th	Own work and a visit from Bedfordshire Wool Company Programme notes
March	Tuesday 6th	Making skeins for March 17th workshop plus own projects. Drum carding for challenge project.
March	Saturday 17th	Dye sampling workshop. Maggie Stearn. Programme notes
April	Tuesday 3rd	Own work.
April	Saturday 21st	Cobweb felt workshop. Michelle Dibdin. Max 8. Programme notes
May	Tuesday 1st	Silkworm talk. Maggie Stearn.
May	Saturday 19th	Own work.
June	Tuesday 5th	Queen's Diamond Jubilee. A right royal dress up.
June	Saturday 16th	Open day. Programme notes
July	Tuesday 3rd	Own work.
July	Saturday 21st	Own work.
August	Tuesday 7th	Visit Barbara's farm. Ask for directions. Programme notes
August	Saturday 18th	Garden party, Alpaca farm, Millbrook. Afternoon tea 14.00 - 17.00. Bring a plate of food to share. Ask for directions. Programme notes
September	Tuesday 4th	Own work.
September	Saturday 15th	Natural dying. Debbie Bamford (Mullberry Dyer) Programme notes
October	Tuesday 2nd	Own work.
October	Saturday 13th	Weaving workshop. Maggie Stearn. Max 12. Programme notes ***NOTE DATE CHANGE***
November	Tuesday 6th	Own Work.
November	Saturday 17th	Rush weaving. Felicity Irons. Max 12. Programme notes
December	Tuesday 4th	Christmas meeting. Challenge judging. Bring a plate of food to share. Programme notes
January 2013	Saturday 19th	AGM.

Guild Challenge

The committee would like to launch the Bedfordshire Guild Challenge.

The theme of the challenge is The Garden.

You can interpret this theme and produce an item any way you wish and your entry can be as large or small as you like, using weaving &/or spinning &/or dying.

Include your inspiration and techniques used to produce your item.

Anonymous judging by all members will be on 4^th December meeting. If you are not able to attend the December meeting and would like to take part in the challenge give your entry to a committee member when it is completed.

The prize will be £20 for the person getting the most votes.

The items produced could be used as theme for exhibitions and displays put on by the guild in 2013.

Some meetings at the beginning of the year have time allotted for fibre preparation if your require it.

Challenges have been successful with other guilds that send us their newsletters (in folder in trunk).

Saturday 18^thFebruary. Visit by Bedfordshire Wool Company.

2012 fleeces for sale.

Saturday 17^th March. Dye sampling workshop.

Workshop participants will collaborate to produce a set of shade cards using Kemtex acid dyes which are suitable for wool and silk yarn/fibres.

These sample cards will take much of the guess work out of mixing the shades and colours needed to complete projects.

Before the workshop participants will be asked to punch holes in their shade cards which will be provided, pre-printed.

Also, help will be needed to produce 150, 5g woollen skeins.

These two jobs prepared before the day means more samples can be produced.

You will be able to dye yarn of your own after the samples are dyed and awaiting drying.

Equipment needed:-

Apron Old washing up bowl or similar.

Rubber gloves Scissors

Cling film Hole punch – single preferably.

Old towel Plastic cups

Saturday 21^st April. Cobweb felt workshop.

Shelley has dyed tops for sale to use at £7.50 - 80g.

She uses 80g fine wool & silk tops, (50% 100’s merino & 50% mulberry silk). If dying your own wool/silk tops to bring make sure it doesn’t partially felt in the dying process. You can dye or paint the cobweb scarf once it is made.

Please bring:-

Plastic apron

Plastic bag to take wet felt home in

Bubble wrap 2.5m (Shelley will have some to buy)

Empty squeezy washing up liquid bottle with small amount of washing up liquid in, Shelley recommends Ecover

Small hand towel

3-4 elastic bands

Small washing up bowl

Saturday 16^th June. Guild open day

More details to follow

Tuesday 7^th August. Visit Barbara’s farm

Ask for directions if you need them

Saturday 18^th August. Visit Alpaca Farm

Ask for direction if you need them

Saturday 15^th September. Natural dying workshop

Debbie will provide mordanted fibres and a cotton bag to dye - additional fee £5

Please bring:-

Plastic apron

Rubber gloves

Small bowl

Old towel

Plastic bag to take damp fibres home

Saturday 13^th October. Weaving workshop

A progression from the last two workshops, we will be using woollen yarn and hopefully some members will use their own hand-spun, singles or plied for the weft. Two or more coloured yarns for warp and weft to create ‘Colour and Weave’ patterning

We will go into calculating, choosing the right thickness warp and weft yarn for a project, warp sett for different reeds/rigid heddles, the amount of each yarn required for the project, allowance for shrinkage in finishing.

Please notify Maggie if you want to borrow a loom and or have one of your own.
Bring the usual toolbox, scissors etc, yarn (suitability/suggestions could be discussed at an earlier meeting) note paper, pen, pencil, coloured pencils.

Suggested project – Oragami cushion cover. *****NOTE DATE CHANGE*****

Saturday 17^th November. Rush Weaving workshop

Additional charge for rush £5-8 (depending on how much you use)

Tuesday 4^th December. Challenge Judging.

Bring a plate of food to share.