Demonstration Stands

Basket Makers Southwest
www.basketmakerssouthwwest.org.uk

Basketmakers Southwest is a voluntary organization, bringing together crafts people interested in all aspects of making baskets, willow sculpture, chair-seating, rush work and other related traditional and modern crafts.

They share information on craft events and courses through our quarterly newsletter. There is a committee of volunteers who meet every three months or so, and who organize three meetings a year to which all members are invited: Rush cutting in Somerset in June, a Summer meeting in August and our AGM in November. Several times a year we invite a specialist craftsperson to run a course in Devon or Cornwall for the benefit of our members. They try to ensure that basket making and associated crafts are represented at events in the region and promoted in schools and through other community groups.

Coldharbour Mill Spinners
www.coldharbourmill.org.uk

Coldharbour Mill Spinners is a friendly spinning group that has been meeting for many years at the Old Stables in the mill yard. People can bring their your wheel and enjoy an afternoon spinning and share tips. For any newcomers who want to start spinning, a spinning wheel can be provided for use at the Mill during the group.

Coldharbour Mill Spinners meet in the Old Stables every Wednesday 2-4pm.

Devon Guild of Spinners, Weavers & Dyers
www.dgwsd.net23.net

Devon Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers are a group of people who share an interest in all aspects of fibre-crafts. There are currently more than 100 Guild members of all ages from teenagers to senior citizens. Levels of expertise in the three crafts range from beginner to expert. 
 
With a varied programme of activities and events, they meet at America Hall on the eastern edge of Exeter, close to the major road network enabling good access from all parts of the county. 
 
Devon Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers offer a warm welcome to new members and guests - find out more by speaking to one of our members at Fibrefest, alternatively visit our website to view the programme, location map and contact details.

Guild Of Machine Knitters represented by Taunton Machine Knitting Group
www.guild-mach-knit.org.uk

Taunton Machine Knitting Club was formed in 1978 and has been in existence since that year. Members, who regularly attend now, are just as keen today as they were in 1978.

Taunton MKC members regularly learn new techniques and knitwear designs at meetings and ‘hands-on’ workshops for both beginners and established machine knitters. Demonstrators are invited to club meetings and other designers/demonstrators run our one and two-day workshops. The Club attends, each year, a craft event or two to show members of the public what can be made on a knitting machines In addition, every year, members knit for charity organizations, i.e.

• knit knee blankets for care homes
  
• knit hats, scarves and gloves for the The Mission to Seafarers
  
• knit simple sweaters which Tools with a Mission send overseas
  
• knit small blankets for Taunton’s Musgrove Hospital Neo-natal Unit
  
• supplies yarn and useful items to a children’s playgroup
  
• and, in addition, has made financial donations to various charitable organisations

Members of the Club would be delighted to welcome prospective new members or anyone interested in knitting, be it hand or machine.

Somerset Guild of Spinners, Weavers & Dyers
www.somersetguildwsd.org.uk

Somerset Guild of Spinners, Weavers & Dyers is a small charity of about 70 members ranging from the very experienced to complete beginners. The aim of the Guild is to promote, educate and improve the crafts of hand-spinning and weaving. To these ends they hold regular monthly meetings for lectures and discussions, they also hold exhibitions of work, workshops, arrange demonstrations and organise and support courses. Membership is open to all and experience is not necessary.

They hold monthly meetings at Hatch Beauchamp Village Hall (near Taunton) on the third Saturday of the month (except August and December), from 10:30 - 3:30. The mornings are spent socialising, with members spinning, weaving, knitting or just chatting over a cup of coffee and a biscuit, after lunch there is usually a speaker on a textile-related subject. They issue a quarterly Newsletter; have an extensive library and sales table.

They also have a close association with other Guilds in the Southwest, i.e. Avon Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Wiltshire.