Who we are and what we do
The Kennet Valley Guild of Weavers, Spinners & Dyers was formed in 1977 when Jan and John Shailes got together with some friends in their sitting room to spin. As time went on, more people came along, and the group decided to join Berkshire Guild. In 1979, the growing band, struggling to get to Sonning for Guild meetings, took the plunge and formed their own Guild in Newbury, which has been in existence continuously since then. Our members cover an enormous range of textile skills, with experience ranging from beginners to experts. We have recently celebrated our 40th Anniversary!
We're now on FaceBook. Join our community and keep up to date with posts and comments.
NEWS • NEWS • NEWS
Happy New Year to everyone!
As many of you probably will know, our very own Ruth Saunders has received an MBE in the Queen’s New Year list for services to charity during Covid, after walking a marathon in 2020 to raise money for Thames Valley Air Ambulance. To those of us who know Ruth it’s no surprise as she has been an inspiration to us all for many years. I’m sure you will join me in sending her our heartfelt congratulations.
Hopefully we will be back together soon, but in the meantime don’t forget our Zoom meetings, starting on the 8th January with a talk about the Huguenots of Spitalfields.
Stay safe and best wishes for the 2021.
Louisa
Kennet Valley Guild Zoom
Friday January 8th - 10:30am
Another of our lovely online get-togethers, this time with speakers and a presentation from the team at the Huguenots of Spitalfields. Don't miss it - everyone welcome!
If you don't receive an invitation and you would like to join us, please get in touch via kvgwebmaster@gmail.com
The Talk: The Huguenots and Their Heritage.
Speakers: Charlie de Wet and Tim Kidd.
Charlie and Tim are London Blue Guides who would normally walk parties of visitors around the Spitalfields areas describing the lives of the Huguenots.
They will be giving us an illustrated talk on the Huguenots and their immigration to England, settling in the City, Soho, Greenwich, and Clerkenwell. They will describe what the Huguenots brought with them and the legacy they left behind them.
The Huguenots truly transformed the skill base of the country and reference can be made to how they wore and sold silk, and their contribution in making England a world leader in textiles in the 18th Century.
THE KENNET VALLEY GUILD CHRISTMAS ZOOM GATHERING
A good time was had by all at our Christmas Guild Meeting and a full report is in progress.
The winner of the Kennet Valley Guild Christmas Trophy at the Show & Tell competition is Hannah Lewington. Hannah has created a beautiful shawl using a pattern called 'Nightshift Shawl' by Andrea Mowry. The yarn is by John Arbon and is from his Harvest Hues collection.
Many congratulations Hannah, from everyone at the Kennet Valley Guild.
THE KENNET VALLEY GUILD SHUTTLE
Lynne has published the new electronic edition of The Shuttle which is, as always, an excellent read. Enjoy the 28 pages of articles about recent speakers, lockdown projects, Ruth Saunders' astounding fund raising marathon, snippets, a Christmas quiz and word search, dates for your diaries and much more.
Thank you Lynne and all contributors who have made the the December issue a bumper one!
If you would like a printed version the Shuttle, please click the button below and print directly from the file or ask a friend or family member to help you.
New! - Zoom Chat Links
For everyone who would like to follow up on our discussions and the shared resources that emerge at our Zoom Meetings - enjoy perusing these links. The subject matter is diverse and reflects the interesting conversations we have.
Whitchurch Silk Mill is closed again due to Covid Tier restrictions.
More about the mill on their web site
Guild member, Pat Foster has launched her new web site which we thoroughly recommend you take some time to enjoy.
Pat recently published The Draft Book by Jeremiah Fielding 1775 (edited by Pat, and Guild Members, Janet Dunbar and Lynne Harper). Many of our Guild members wove the samples that feature throughout the book. If you're interested in history and weaving it's a must for your book shelf. Pat invites anyone who chooses to weave any of the drafts to send her photos of the process and finished piece.
The book is proving to be enormously popular here in the UK and in the USA.
You can order a copy on Pat's web site. https://www.patfosterweaverdyer.com/
