Associated Organisations

Please also see Settlement Groups

Group:   Letchworth Natural History Society

Illustrated lectures on various aspects of wildlife and conservation and on the Hertfordshire countryside.  Sunday rambles and Summer evening walks.  Guests £2 per meeting.

(Formerly Letchworth Naturalists)

Contact:Judie
Telephone:01462 632171

Event:   Letchworth Natural History Society        

Day:     2nd Tuesdays from 13th January 2009 to 12th May 2009     Time:     7.30 pm - 9.30 pm     Room:     Hall

No meeting in April

Group:   Letchworth Recorded Music Society

Fortnightly programmes of recorded music presented by members of the Society, until Easter 2007.  Occasional guest presenters.  Annual fee: £11.50.

Contact:Dave Sherriff
Telephone:01462 683467

Event:   Letchworth Recorded Music Society        

Day:     2nd & 4th Fridays from 9th January 2009 to 27th March 2009     Time:     7.30 pm - 10.00 pm     Room:     Brunt Room

Group:   RSPB

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Hitchin and Letchworth Group

Contact:Martin JohnsonAddress1:1 Cartwright Road
Telephone:01763 249459Town:Royston
Email:martinrjspc@hotmail.comPostcode:SG8 9ET
Website:www.rspb.org.uk/groups/hitchinandletchworth/

Event:   RSPB        

Day:     1st Fridays from 5th September 2008 to 1st May 2009     Time:     7.30 pm

Group:   Spinners, Weavers and Dyers, North Herts Guild

North Herts Guild of Spinners Weavers and Dyers

We meet on the first and third Thursday evenings of the month (except no meeting in the third week of July, nor August). It is not necessary to be an expert to join us. We welcome new members wanting to learn any craft skill associated with spinning, dyeing or weaving. We also felt and knit! We have four Saturday workshops this year: Creative Felting on 13th November, Four Corners with resident tutors on 29th January, Shibori Dyeing with Jennifer Hughes on 26th March, Pegloom weaving with Brian Bond on June 4th. The Guild has a variety of looms, spinning wheels and other equipment which can be loaned to members and an extensive craft library. We are pleased to provide tuition to new members. Contact us for further details.

We welcome invitations to demonstrate at local public events.

Contact:Susan DyeAddress1:55 Walsworth Road
Telephone:01462 422814Town:Hitchin
Email:susandye at phonecoop.coopPostcode:SG4 9SX

Event:   Spinners, Weavers and Dyers         Tutor:   Various Resident Tutors

Day:     Thursdays from 2nd September 2010 to 7th July 2011     Time:     7.45 pm - 10.00 pm     Room:     Spinks

'Show and Tell' is the first evening workshop of the new season on 2nd September
Come and find out what members have been working on over the Summer Break.
We will also be explaining how the Guild plans to participate in the V&A's "Inspired By" project, starting with a trip to the V&A on 24th September and design workshops across the winter months.

Guild members £2, Non members £4 includes tea, coffee and biscuits.

We meet thereafter on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays up to and including July 7th. For a programme of dates and activities for our evening meetings please contact Susan Dye on  01462 422814 or susan at phonecoop.coop

Event:   Nuno Felting - Saturday Workshop         Tutor:   Resident Tutors

Day:     Saturdays from 13th November 2010     Time:     10.00 am - 4.00 pm     Room:     Brunt Room

Suitable for beginners and experienced felters, this workshop will explore techniques of felting fibres into woven fabrics to achieve a delicate composite structure, more suitable for clothing than cobweb felt alone. The nuno felting technique offers a host of possibilities of texture and design. This workshop will appeal in particular to embroiderers and patchworkers.  Numbers are limited to twelve. 


Workshop Fee: £16 members, £24 non-members   £5 deposit to secure your place.
Materials Cost: Details of cost and equipment to bring will follow nearer the time.

Event:   Four Corners Day - Saturday Workshop         Tutor:   Spinners Weavers and Dyers Guild

Day:     Saturdays from 29th January 2011     Time:     10.00 am - 4.00 pm     Room:     Brunt

This is a real treat of a day when Guild members come together to share their skills. Participants can try out new craft activities and also draw upon members' expertise to refine existing techniques. There will be four textile-related themes: weaving on a 4 shaft loom, wheel spinning for beginners and improvers, creative felting and an introduction to 'darning squares' for patchwork. We are open to adapting or extending these options to suit demand, so tell us your fancy by 30 November and we will try and accommodate you!

£20 members of N Herts Guild of Spinners Weavers and Dyers, £40 non-members, £5 deposit to secure a place.
Materials cost and equipment list on booking. Send cheques payable to 'North Herts Guild of Spinners Weavers and Dyers' clearly marked 4CORNERS and with your contact details on the reverse to N Herts Guild WSD c/o 40 Strathmore Avenue, Hitchin Herts SG5 1SN

Event:   Shibori Techniques         Tutor:   Jennifer Hughes

Day:     Saturdays from 26th March 2011     Time:     10.00 am - 4.00 pm     Room:     Brunt

Japanese textiles are decorated with a wide range of shibori techniques that tie or stitch a pattern into the fabric before dyeing.  You will learn several of these: tying small patterns, such as dots; wrapping around a pole to make the arashi (storm) pattern; and stitching geometric shapes. The fabric will then be dyed blue.  Calico, or a cotton/silk mix fabric that dyes well and dries quickly, will be on sale or bring your own fabric.
About the tutor: From 1992-9 Jennifer  lived in Thailand, acquiring an extensive collection of textiles from the region and giving lectures and study groups on Southeast Asian Textiles. Originally a geography teacher and needlework designer, Jennifer is a member of the Embroiderers’ Guild; the Associated Guilds of Weavers, Spinners & Dyers; and the Textile Society, with articles published in various magazines, on topics such as Angkor Wat, Japanese Shibori, Thai Hilltribe Textiles, Weaving in Thailand, British Collectors, Madeiran Embroidery and Chinese Hats. Some of Jennifer’s textiles were displayed in the ‘Silks of the Ancient Kingdoms’ exhibition at the Knitting and Stitching Shows, 2004.

Workshop Fee: £24 members, £36 non-members   £5 deposit to secure your place. Materials extra.
15 places available. For more details please contact Susan Dye 01462 422814 or email susan at phonecoop dot coop

Event:   Peg Loom Weaving - Saturday Workshop         Tutor:   Brian Bond, Spinners Weavers and Dyers Guild

Day:     Saturdays from 4th June 2011     Time:     10.00 am - 4.00 pm     Room:     See below

A workshop for people to make a small mat or rug using the simplest of looms. We will use freshly shorn Welsh Black Mountain and Lleyn (white and bouncy) fleece from Church Farm. Or bring your own fleece from your stash. This workshop will show you a quick way of using unspun fleece to make large throws and cosy underblankets. Colours can be incorporated easily and plenty of dyed fleece will also be available to use as design highlights. Brian will also explain how to make a pegloom.

About the tutor: Brian is a member of North Herts Guild and has demonstrated peg loom weaving on his hand made loom at Apple Days in Tring for several years.

Workshop Fee: £20 members, £40 non-members   £5 deposit to secure your place. Materials included.
Tea and coffee provided. Own arrangements for lunch; there is an excellent café at the farm.
Venue: Church Farm, Ardelely, SG2 7AH  www.churchfarmardeley.co.uk/  The farm is about 6 miles east of Stevenage in the centre of the village opposite the Rabbit’s Foot Pub. Contact us to arrange liftshare.
The date may change to avoid any clash with our regular spinning day at Wimpole Hall. Contact us for confirmation.