Annual General Meeting
2023-11-06 13:30 - 16:00 (Europe/London) | Kennet Valley Hall, Kennet Valley Hall, Lockeridge, SN8 4EL
Join us for a stitch day and our AGM. Lots of tea and perhaps some nice biscuits!

Please note that the original speaker is now unable to attend.

*** Cancelled ***- Nicky Barfoot - Stitched Selfie
2023-11-07 09:00 - 16:00 | Kennet Valley Hall, Kennet Valley Hall, Lockeridge, SN8 4EL
This workshop has now been replaced

Eco Printing with Ann and Tase
2023-11-07 10:00 - 16:00 | Kennet Valley Hall, Kennet Valley Hall, Lockeridge, SN8 4EL
Another chance to learn about Eco printing, but this time with Ann and Tase. In the morning you will learn how this fascinating technique works, which types of leaves give the best results and what type of fabrics to use. You will use various leaves to print a piece of fabric which will be steamed during the day.

In the afternoon we will experiment with different papers and teach you how to steam these to get the best results and discuss what can be done with them!

There will be lots of examples for you to look at, and between us we have lots of books to inspire you. There will be a small charge for materials, and a small materials list which we will send out later.

Mini Workshops for Christmas
2023-11-20 10:00 - 16:00 | Kennet Valley Hall, Kennet Valley Hall, Lockeridge, SN8 4EL
Join us for our third annual mini workshop day!

Three of our talented members will each run a short workshop and you should be able to participate in all three during the day.

Materials will be provided for a small cost of £3 for each of the three workshops and if you are required to bring anything else yourself, we will let you know.

You will have the opportunity to make ……..

Christmas Cards, a small Christmas Stocking to decorate your tree or use as a gift bag or to adorn a gift and a festive gift tag.

There will be cake, biscuits and drinks available to purchase but you will need to bring your own lunch. The cost of a place is £10 and there will be a limited number of places available.

Have fun creating Christmas themed items with three of our talented members

This workshop is for members only and the payment button will appear in the member area

Amanda Cook - from Fiddle Fingers to Artist in Residence
2024-01-08 13:30 - 16:00 | Kennet Valley Hall, Kennet Valley Hall, Lockeridge, SN8 4EL
Amanda will share her artistic journey; things she has discovered along the way and the joy in using materials most would regard as rubbish.

Amanda completed an A level in Textiles as an adult and continued her education with an Art foundation course. She held a solo exhibition in 2021 and then became the Artist in Residence at Marlborough College 2022-23

Deborah Wheeler - History and Workings of Whitchurch Silk Mill
2024-02-05 13:30 - 16:00 | Kennet Valley Hall, Kennet Valley Hall, Lockeridge, SN8 4EL
Deborah will be giving a talk on the Whitchurch silk mill based in Hampshire including an insight into the history, flora, fauna, weaving and future of Whitchurch Silk Mill

Sketch & Stitch Day
2024-02-12 10:00 - 16:00 | Kennet Valley Hall, Kennet Valley Hall, Lockeridge, SN8 4EL
A repeat of our very successful day last year.

Katy Rundle
2024-03-04 13:30 - 16:00
Katy Rundle is a British contemporary textile artist. Her art business was founded in 2018 and she creates from a studio in Hampshire. She is best known for her vibrant embroidered textile collages.

Winner of the ‘David Shepherd Wildlife Artist of the Year 2023 Newcomer Award, and finalist of ‘Women’s United Art prize 2022’, Katy is in demand as a creator of bespoke, original art commissions. Her work is collected on both sides of the Atlantic.

In addition, Katy was selected for Sky Arts’ TV program ‘Landscape Artist of the Year’ (2018), and her work has graced multiple magazines.

“My art business was born out of a passion for colour, light, nature, and textiles. My vision is for people to experience a celebration of life through vibrant uplifting art.”

Angela Knapp - Bird Workshop
2024-03-05 09:30 - 16:00 | Kennet Valley Hall, Kennet Valley Hall, Lockeridge, SN8 4EL
In this workshop, Angela will take you through creating your own image of a long tailed tit, including building fabric image, a discussion about fabric and thread choice, image selection, stitching on machine to add colour, detail and creating a realistic image.

There will be a charge of £8 for a basic fabric kit and a requirements list provided for additional materials.

Angela is a self taught free motion embroiderer and hand stitcher. Her work is inspired by the bird world, increasingly focused on threatened British birds. Se is a member of Society Graphic Fine Art, Society of Embroidered work and Contemporary Quilters West.

Jill Salmons - Costumes and Cultures of South America
2024-04-08 13:30 - 16:00 | Kennet Valley Hall, Kennet Valley Hall, Lockeridge, SN8 4EL
Jill will be giving a talk on a study of costumes from 3,000 years ago to present day with particular reference to Peru, Mexico and Guatamala (Costumes and Hats will be shown).

Jill has a BA in History from the University of Warwick and an MA West African Studies from Birmingham University. She has undertaken 7 years of research in West Africa and research and voluntary work in China, Peru, Madagascar and India. Jill own a large collection of costumes.

Liz Ashurst - Inspiration from Eastern Europe
2024-05-13 13:30 - 16:00 | Kennet Valley Hall, Kennet Valley Hall, Lockeridge, SN8 4EL
Liz will talk about her journeys to Poland and Russia with a sketchbook and camera, giving a personal view of the landscape, life-style and folk art and its influence on my work as an artist.

Liz Ashurst trained at Chelsea & Goldsmiths College of Art where she obtained the City and Guilds Embroidery certificate parts I and II and the Goldsmiths Diploma in Art & Design. She is a member of the Designer Craftsmen, Embroiderers Guild and New Embroidery Group. She is a qualified teacher, working freelance and exhibiting her work both nationally and internationally. In 1998 she met Zbys (pronounced Spish) the proverbial Polish builder and her life has never been the same since !

Tase Woolf - Introduction to English Paper Piecing
2024-05-14 09:30 - 16:00 | Kennet Valley Hall, Kennet Valley Hall, Lockeridge, SN8 4EL
Membership Type

Members £35.00 GBP

Non-Members £45.00 GBP

English paper piecing (EPP) is a patchwork technique dating back to the 1770s. The techniques folds fabric over paper templates, which makes sewing shapes such as hexagons and diamonds much easier than sewing with a machine. All you need to start is a little fabric, a needle, thread and scissors; as so little equipment is needed, projects are really portable and can be picked up almost anywhere!

In this workshop you will learn how to:

prepare the fabric for piecing

how to sew with an almost invisible stitch

piecing the elements together and make either a needle case or a pincushion or starting your own quilt!

Examples of English Paper Piecing

Jayne Emerson - A Journey Through My Creative Life
2024-06-03 13:30 - 16:00 | Kennet Valley Hall, Kennet Valley Hall, Lockeridge, SN8 4EL
Jayne will be talking about her life, including studying Textiles at Central St Martins, having her own upcycled fashion label, writing 6 books, selling designs to international fashion and interior companies, being on TV with Kirstie Allsopp and sharing her experimental ideas through online courses and her group the No Rules Textile Society.

Jayne is a practising textile designer, author and tutor based in north Gloucestershire, UK. She has an MA in Fashion from Central St Martins and a 1st class degree in Textiles from Loughborough College of Art and Design.

For the past 25 years she has created innovative textile samples that explore the boundaries of modern embroidery, patchwork and needle felting. These ‘seeds of ideas’ have sold to clients including Chanel, Calvin Klein, Nina Ricci, Louis Vuitton, Dior and Balenciaga. She predominantly uses vintage and reclaimed fabrics and her studio is a treasure trove of inspiration. Jayne regularly teaches experimental textile workshops and taught Kirstie Allsopp how to needle felt on TV. She has written six books Simply Felt (with Margaret Docherty), The Impatient Patchworker, The Impatient Embroiderer, New from Old, Simply Needle felt and Boho Felt Crafts with Rachel Henderson.

During lockdown she recorded three online courses, Experimental Needle Felting, No Rules Patchwork and Water Soluble magic. Jayne opened her membership The No Rules Textile Society in March 2021. Website www.jayneemerson.co.uk – Instagram @jayneemersontextiles – Facebook @JayneEmersonTextileDesign

Jan Tillett - Stitched Surface Texture
2024-06-04 09:30 - 16:00 | Kennet Valley Hall, Kennet Valley Hall, Lockeridge, SN8 4EL
This workshop is available to non members

Membership Type

Members £35.00 GBP

Non-Members £45.00 GBP

Using Free Motion Stitching you will learn a variety of ways to raise the surface of your fabrics to create rich, textural surfaces. You will go home with a variety of samples to inform future work.

Jan is a Textile Artist/Tutor from Devon. Lots of experimentation with techniques to create textured surfaces – mixing fabric, stitch, paint and more !

Textiles & Stitch Exhibition
2024-06-07 10:00 - 2024-06-09 16:00 | Kennet Valley Hall, Kennet Valley Hall, Lockeridge, SN8 4EL
An exciting exhibition of our members’ work

Summer Lunch
2024-07-01 12:30 - 15:00 | Kennet Valley Hall, Kennet Valley Hall, Lockeridge, SN8 4EL
Our annual summer lunch!

Sketch and Stitch Day
2024-07-15 10:00 - 16:00 | Kennet Valley Hall, Kennet Valley Hall, Lockeridge, SN8 4EL
Another one of our popular days where you come along and work on a project of your choosing with other members

Suzette Smart - Treasure Boxes
2024-09-03 10:00 - 16:00 | Kennet Valley Hall, Kennet Valley Hall, Lockeridge, SN8 4EL
Membership Type

Members £35.00 GBP

Non-Members £45.00 GBP

In this workshop you will use fabric collage and free machine stitching to create a beautiful and detailed lid for your treasure box. Suzette will share her ideas on how to create bunches of daisies and other flowers with fabric and stitch and how to include paper in your design too. You might want to include a vintage button or charm for the finishing touches. When your piece of work is finished, it will be folded and tucked and will need just a couple of stitches to keep it in place. The base of your box can be covered in a fabric to compliment. There will be plenty of treasure boxes for inspiration!

Suzette is a Textile Artist and Tutor who delivers workshops and talks throughout the UK and SW France for French General in 2023/24. She creates stitched narratives which draw on her connections within landscape and the paths that lead her through and home.

In 2019 her work Draw My World was selected for the inaugural Fine Art Textile Award Gallery at the Festival of Quilts

Vanessa Rolf - Unearthed - Stories Told Through Stitch
2024-10-07 13:30 - 16:00 | Kennet Valley Hall, Kennet Valley Hall, Lockeridge, SN8 4EL
Textile Artist Vanessa Rolf will introduce her working methods researching archives, using maps and delving into stories about people and landscapes. Her series of works, created in response to Hampshire Cultural Trust’s archives of archeological artefacts questions the value of things, what we choose to keep, how we treasure objects, and how these shape our ideas about being human. Vanessa primary uses hand stitch and inlaid appliqué methods with wool felt. Her practice also often includes reusing fabric that holds traces of its previous story

Experimental Mark Making and Printing Day - Ann Smith
2024-10-21 10:00 - 16:00 | Kennet Valley Hall, Kennet Valley Hall, Lockeridge, SN8 4EL
A fun day experimenting with unusual mark making tools and then combining these with a few new Gelli printing techniques for you to try.

This is an opportunity to create a collection of printed and painted papers which will be ready to use when you want to make cards, wrapping paper or small art works. There will be a variety of papers to use which could also be layered.

Paint will be provided and your could choose to go with traditional Christmas colours ready to use in the mini workshops in December or use any colour palette you fancy

This will be a relaxing day and you will get very messy; remember to bring an apron! The day will be structured with plenty of time to experiment and produce some interesting paper.

Members only

Annabel Wilson - Creating with Shibori
2024-11-04 13:30 - 16:00 | Kennet Valley Hall, Kennet Valley Hall, Lockeridge, SN8 4EL
Annabel has a passion for stitched shibori and loves to teach her skills to others and see the wonderful creative fabrics they can create with her guidance. To achieve this, she runs workshops and gives talks about shibori. Her shibori speciality is to create forms from the natural world such as flowers, leaves, and shells.

Also, Townhill Studio provides a very informative blog and beautiful shibori design patterns for sale. The art of shibori can be used in mending and repurposing clothes in the movement to more sustainable living.

Annabel Wilson - Discover Stitched Shibori
2024-11-05 10:00 - 16:00 | Kennet Valley Hall, Kennet Valley Hall, Lockeridge, SN8 4EL
Explore 4 or 5 stitched shibori techniques to create you own stunning fabrics, inspired by the natural world, leaves, shells, flowers or landscape

Payment button appears for members on September 4thnon members on October 9th

Mini Christmas Workshops
2024-11-25 09:30 - 16:00 | Kennet Valley Hall, Kennet Valley Hall, Lockeridge, SN8 4EL
Once again we are holding the popular Xmas Mini Workshops on Monday 25th November.

There will be three Workshops and you will have the opportunity to take part in each one.

The cost for this day of workshops is £15 plus you will need to pay each tutor £3 for materials provided by them. Please pay this in cash on the day.

Calico Christmas Trees with Lindsay Sherwood

This workshop shows how to make small calico Christmas trees for seasonal table decorations. All materials will be provided but if you have any special threads you would like to use bring them along.

Cards with Ann Smith

A fun workshop using painted papers and collage to create individual cards. Card blanks/ Stamps/stencils/embellishments will all be provided.

Christmas Moth with Nikki Vesey Williams

We will use felt tips to decorate your moth then hand embroider and bead and decorate. The legs are pipe cleaners which you can attach to your Xmas tree. Alternatively you can attach them to a cotton reel as a table decoration or turn into a brooch or hairclip!

Hannah Mansfield
2025-01-06 13:30 - 16:00 | Kennet Valley Hall, Kennet Valley Hall, Lockeridge, SN8 4EL
This presentation will focus on the embroidery technique of tambour beading. This is a specialist beading technique frequently used in haute couture embroidery which Hannah specialises in within her work as a freelance embroiderer and tutor. The presentation will begin with an explanation of the origins of the technique. Hannah will discuss the technical aspects of the technique and how it differs from other beading techniques. Using images of her own work, Hannah will explain how the tambour hook can be used to apply sequins, beads and threads in a wide variety of interesting ways. Hannah will also discuss her book, Tambour Beading: Techniques and Projects which is currently one of very few comprehensive books focused solely on the tambour beading technique in print.

Hannah Mansfield is a freelance hand embroiderer, tutor and author, based near Bristol. Within her work she specialises in the techniques of tambour beading and goldwork. She creates bespoke embroidery for private individuals and companies.

Hannah is the author of Tambour Beading: Techniques and Projects, published by The Crowood Press.

Hannah is an embroidery tutor delivering CHANEL and The King’s Foundation’s Métiers D’Arts Fellowship at Highgrove Traditional Crafts and also teaches embroidery classes online and at various venues around the UK. In 2019 Hannah was awarded first prize in the textile art open category of the Hand & Lock Prize for Embroidery. A previous entry to the Hand & Lock Prize in 2017 gained her third prize in the fashion open category. In 2020 Hannah was made a Trade Freeman of The Worshipful Company of Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers.

Liz Tapper - Measuring Millimetres on a Gold Napolionic Dress Coat
2025-02-03 13:30 - 16:00 | Kennet Valley Hall, Kennet Valley Hall, Lockeridge, SN8 4EL
Come behind the scenes to follow the processes involved in replicating a military dress coat in goldwork from the early 1800s.

Liz Tapper trained as an apprentice at The Royal School of Needlework, and now works as a professional embroiderer, designer and tutor. She has worked on commissions for Harrods and Lulu Guinness, London Fashion Week, for television and on numerous private commissions, with her work being featured on the BBC. She lives in Somerset and is a Member of the Somerset Guild of Craftsmen and the Society for Embroidered Work

Nicholas Ball - Inspiring Improv
2025-03-03 14:00 - 16:00 | Kennet Valley Hall, Kennet Valley Hall, Lockeridge, SN8 4EL
Nicholas will discuss his beginnings in Quilting, before sharing some of his quilts and the inspiration behind them as well as their construction methods

Nicholas Ball is an improv quilter from South Wales. After graduating Art School in 2006, it would be some six years before the quilting bug bit. With a passion for improv quilting, Nicholas’ aesthetic is an organic one, preferring to sew without the use of patterns or templates. He takes a lot of inspiration from natural world and his Vegetable Patch, Koi Carp and Shoal quilts showcase his love of liberated sewing. He has taught improv quilting both nationally and internationally, contributed to the UK’s leading quilting magazines and was a co-presenter of the QNNTV show Quilt Monkey, alongside fellow UK quilter Katy Jones. His debut book Inspiring Improv was published in April 2019 by Lucky Spool and his second title, Use & Ornament, followed in 2024. He is an Aurifil thread designer and Aurifilosopher and has released two thread collections.

Screenshot

Follow on instagram @quiltsintheattic

Nicholas Ball - Shoals
2025-03-04 10:00 - 16:00 | Kennet Valley Hall, Kennet Valley Hall, Lockeridge, SN8 4EL
Membership Type

Members £35.00 GBP

Non-Members £45.00 GBP

Join Nicholas to create your own shoal of Improv Fish; based on his Shoal quilt, you will make improv fish using improv triangles and freehand curves.

Look at Nicholas’s instagram @quiltsfromtheattic to see more of his work!

Instagram – @quiltsfromtheattic

Christine Highnett
2025-04-07 13:30 - 16:00 | Kennet Valley Hall, Kennet Valley Hall, Lockeridge, SN8 4EL
15 pieces of Christine’s personal work showing the 2D and 3D journey with eco printing and silk paperwork.

Completed HNC in Textiles 1999 through Open College of Arts, completed with distinction. City and Guilds Historical Heirloon machine embroidery 2012. Plus numerous other courses. Exhibited in Open Studio since 2013 and other exhibitions.

Jayne Emerson - Fabric Recipes
2025-04-08 10:00 - 16:00 | Kennet Valley Hall, Kennet Valley Hall, Lockeridge, SN8 4EL
For over 25 years Jayne has created the seeds of ideas for fashion and interior companies, mixing up textile techniques with vintage and reclaimed fabrics. She calls these samples ‘Fabric Recipes’ and will be here to share her inspiration with us!

A day of experimentation, play and word prompts. Mixing up techniques, breaking the rules and not thinking about end results. Bring your sewing machine and any fabric/thread scraps you want to use. Jayne will bring her fabric stash, embellishers, smocking machine, hand looms and a whole heap of ideas and inspiration!

Jayne is a practising textile designer, author and tutor based in north Gloucestershire, UK. She has an MA in Fashion from Central St Martins and a 1st class degree in Textiles from Loughborough College of Art and Design.

For the past 25 years she has created innovative textile samples that explore the boundaries of modern embroidery, patchwork and needle felting. These ‘seeds of ideas’ have sold to clients including Chanel, Calvin Klein, Nina Ricci, Louis Vuitton, Dior and Balenciaga.Jayne regularly teaches experimental textile workshops and taught Kirstie Allsopp how to needle felt on TV. She has written six books Simply Felt (with Margaret Docherty), The Impatient Patchworker, The Impatient Embroiderer, New from Old, Simply Needle felt and Boho Felt Crafts with Rachel Henderson.

She is the creator of four online courses, Gel Printing on and with Textiles, Water Soluble Magic, No Rules Patchwork and Experimental Needle Felting. She is the founder of No Rules Textile Society, an online membership for impatient, creative, textile rebels!

Debby Bird - A Journey into Colour with Silk Painting and Batik
2025-05-12 13:30 - 16:00 | Kennet Valley Hall, Kennet Valley Hall, Lockeridge, SN8 4EL
Debby will introduce her work where silk painting is often the first layer. She will explain how silk painting and batik became the basis of her practice and show you samples of other contemporary silk painting and batik that inspire her along with a very brief history.

Debby is a mixed media artist and tutor in Bristol. She began her art journey with a city and guilds in silk painting. This led her into all types of textile art. Her work ranges from tiny embroidered brooches , to huge wall hangings and installations. She has worked with schools and groups to create huge batik banners and teaches creative stitch on a weekly basis for Adult learning in Bristol.
