Celebrating embroiderers’ guilds

Narrabri group (The Embroiderers’ Guild NSW), smøyg class, 2021

Today I thought we would celebrate embroiderers’ guilds. I’ve been a member of the Embroiderers’ Guild of NSW for many years now. I have taught for them and many other guilds, in Australia and internationally. Guilds are wonderful places for learning as there are so many highly skilled stitchers from which to learn.

I have never been part of a guild group where I get together regularly with others to stitch. Because of the stage of life I’ve been in – raising children, working etc – I just haven’t had the time to devote to that. But for many, that’s the best part of being in a guild – meeting together regularly with other stitchers, and forming strong bonds of friendship, built around stitching (and as we all know, also solving all the world’s problems!).

Yeppoon group (Capricorn Coast Branch, The Embroiderers’ Guild QLD), Portuguese whitework class, 2016

For others, being part of a guild means learning from others, or sharing their skills with others. For some, it’s the access to the library (I love using our library!), or the guild collection (often some amazing treasures to be found!). Many guilds have yearly exhibitions, where members’ work is displayed for the community to enjoy.

Most guilds rely heavily on volunteers. They are often the backbone of a guild. They do so much work behind the scenes, but without them, most guilds wouldn’t exist. Often there are one or two key volunteers in a guild who are the “knowledge keepers”. I spent a year on the management committee of the NSW guild. It was at a really critical time when we were part way through the process of a large building program. It was a great way for me to give back to my guild.

Singleton group (The Embroiderers’ Guild NSW), Mountmellick class, 2016

So, tell me about the guild or guild group that you’re in. Do you meet regularly? Do you have a library? Do you have your own rooms, or do you meet in a community/church hall? In what capacity have you volunteered in your guild? Do you have a wide range of ages in your group? What activities does your guild run? Lectures, exhibitions, classes with local or visiting teachers, stitching groups, children’s stitching groups, or anything else? What are the challenges of your guild? How did you continue during the pandemic? What do you love most about your guild?