November Meeting - The Guild Collection

Today's talk was given by Pauline Heywood, the current chair of our region.

Collection image from the Embroiderers' Guild website

Pauline gave an interesting and illustrated talk about the history and development of the collection held by the Embroiderers' Guild, from its inception in 1906 to its present location in Aylesbury today. She also showed pictures of some of the most important items in the collection, including some of the earliest items - Coptic woven fragments from the 6th to 10th century. The first item to be acquired in the collection was apparently a pair of kid gloves dating from approximately 1600.  Today the collection spans not only the centuries, but also the continents with articles collected from around the world. More information about the collection can be found here on the Embroiderers' Guild website.

In other matters . . .

Stitch club has restarted as part of the morning session. It is open to all members.  In December Pauline will be giving a demonstration of Free Machine embroidery and Chris will be giving ideas for working with layers of fabrics, and in January Eileen will be demonstrating what can be achieved with a soldering iron!

The December meeting is the Christmas meeting. We will be making a Christmas bag using triangles. Please bring Christmas fabric, usual sewing kit, embellishments and a Pritt stick.

We have also been approached by Susan Aldworth, an artist who is working on a project '1001 Pillowcases'
One of the works that will go on show at St Mary’s in York during The Dark Self exhibition in May 2017, is an installation of 1001 embroidered pillowcases, sewn by local people, community groups and schools.. anyone who wants to join in.

One Thousand and One Nights: I dream of… An installation based on the Arabian Nights, stories that were collected over many centuries from the Middle East and South Asia. The installation will bring together 1001 dreams and thoughts about what sleep is from local community groups, individuals and schools in and around York. They will embroider their dreams and thoughts onto the front of 1001 white pillowcases.

If you interested in this project please contact:

Susan Aldworth:

E: saldworth.t21@btinternet.com

M: 07732 987 786