Programme for 2023/2024 

• December 7th 2024
  Making / stitching a Christmas Fairy this afternoon to get everyone into the Christmas spirit. Please remember the meeting is in the recreation hall behind the main hall.
   
  
• Your next meeting is above
• November 2nd 2024
  Felted Fruit making today. You will be making a three dimensional fruit using felt and stitch. We will provide felt and pattern. Please bring embroidery threads and your sewing kit. There will be embroidery threads available if you require any. 
  
• October 5th 2024
  Change of craft this afternoon but we will have needle felting at a later date.
  We will be sewing beautiful scissor keepers this afternoon. Patterns and material will be provided. Please bring embroidery threads and a cross stitch needle. Needles will be available for you if you don’t have one.
• September 7th 2024   MEMBERSHIP DAY ( SEPTEMBER 2024 – JUNE 2025 )
  First meeting of our new year. We will be having a very interesting talk, demo etc from Marie Henderson who learnt to weave when she was a teenager and went on to a weaving school in Sweden.  Having then taught weaving in evening classes in Sweden and latterly at the Poldrate Arts and Crafts Centre in Haddington.   At the weaving school she was introduced to different braiding techniques and her curiosity has taken her further in this subject.  Marie is a member of the Braid Society and she weaves mainly fabric for dress making, and usable items, not pictures. She likes combining different techniques in her work.
  
• June 1st
  Exploring Millinery with Sarah Cudby. We will all have the opportunity to make a  fascinator. Sarah will demonstrate the process then everyone will have a chance to design and make their own. A kit will be provided.
  This is our last meeting before our summer break so a few copies of our annual accounts will be available for you to look at.  The next newsletter will be sent out in August with a membership form attached in readiness for our September start again. Have a nice summer everyone.
• May 4th 
  Tempting tassels, we will provide instructions how to make a variety of tassels, plain, beaded, could make into earrings etc. Please bring in any special yarns you might like to use and any small beads.
  Members: Bring yarn or thread to make tassels, scissors.
• April 6th 
  Finish off Project Day, Problem solving day. Having a small activity at the side. Please bring in any unfinished pieces that you still have at home.  Please bring sewing kit and threads.
• March 2nd
  Needle weaving around a circle. Please bring any yarns you wish to use, we will be providing the card for you to mark and cut.
• February 3rd
  T Bag bundles to stitch into.
  You will all be untying a previously dyed bundle of fabrics which can then be ironed, layered, cut and stitched into. Your finished piece will be a well-proportioned and stitched mini piece of artwork. Your artwork can then be displayed as a coaster for you to admire every time you have a nice cuppa. Acrylic coaster provided.
• January 13th Lunch outing
• WELCOME TO 2024
• December 2nd 2023
  We will be making Fairy Slippers, using felt, for tree decorations or for presents. Please bring beads, sequins, lace, fringing etc plus plenty of imagination and your sewing kit
• November 4th 2023 PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE AND TIME. MEETING IN THE RECREATIONAL HALL  FROM 3PM – 5PM
  Up-cycling Arty Ideas, we are asking people to bring in items that they want to try and recycle, ideas from everybody welcome. Please bring a selection to get the creative mind working. We will be making name badges, possibly using a selection of materials from all of the recycling brought in.
• October 7th 2023
  Transfer dyeing. We will be using transfer pre dyed – painted papers, these will be cut up and laid onto synthetic fabric, then the fabric goes into a heat press sandwiched between baking parchment. You can use leaves and ferns to make prints so bring anything along you may want to use. You will be able to use your printed pieces in future projects.  Bring lots of imagination too and any synthetic fabric you may wish to try
• September 2nd 2023
  MEMBERSHIP DAY, Please bring along your completed membership form.
  We will be stitching into hessian using various colours of embroidery thread, assorted fabrics and adding embellishments.
  
  
  SUMMER BREAK, in 2023

  June 3rd 2023
  We will be using old wooden cotton reels that you may have and not known what to do with to make into pin and scissor holders. Please bring any cotton reels, other cotton reels can be used if you don’t have wooden ones. Please remember your embroidery threads, needles, and scissors as well as your sewing kit.

• April 29th 2023
  PLEASE NOTE MAY MEETING BROUGHT FORWARD
  PLEASE NOTE Meeting in Recreational Hall behind main Hall.
  We will be making treasured beads. Please bring an assortment of small beads that you may like to use, needle,embroidery thread and scissors
• April 1st 2023
  We will be making Recycled Key Fobs/Luggage labels using recycled fabrics, lace, tape, buttons, sequins, paper pattern pieces, ribbons and beads etc. Please bring an assortment of mixed media that you want to add to your luggage label design.
• March 4th 2023
  We will be stitching into our felted fabric from last month then sewing it to make a small needle case or pouch/bag, please bring sewing kit, embroidery threads, beads etc.
• February 4th 2023
  Nuno felting with merino wool on a base of scrim, making a piece of fabric to make into a small bag (next month) incorporating recycled chiffon scarves, organza, yarns, and fabrics. Please bring a largish towel and a spray water bottle and any fabrics you wish to incorporate into your piece.
  January 2023
  non – Christmas lunch for the group
  WELCOME TO 2023
• December 3rd
  Chicken scratch embroidery. This is stitching onto gingham fabric in a hoop, various designs can be achieved.
• November 5th
  Weaving on largish Y shaped sticks. We published a workshop on this website in June 2020, this will give you an idea of the shape of sticks to look out for.
  
• October 1st
  Silk Painting, making silk painted cards. Also, a demo using Angelina Fibres, which can be used for card making, jewellery etc. Please bring apron and protective gloves as silk dyes will be used. Please bring your sewing kit.
  
• September 3rd 2022
  Poppy brooch making, a few different methods to make poppies using yarn, felt or recycled materials. Please bring any crochet hooks or knitting needles you may want to use. Are you looking for fabric packs etc “The Bethany Charity Shop in Gullane has project packs of exciting materials and thread, and some bigger pieces of fabric FOR SALE.” as of 25th August.
  Please remember to bring in your membership forms today.
• June 4th
  Mini book making. Your cover will be made using your piece of marbled fabric from the previous month. Please bring your sewing kit as you will be sewing into your marbled design before making it into your mini book cover.
  
• May 7th
  Marbling on fabric. We all know how much this was enjoyed before, so here we have a chance to create more fabric ready for next months activity! Also for anyone who missed it last time. Please bring a can of basic (cheapest)  shaving foam, an old shallow tin to work in, an apron, rubber gloves and any favourite fabrics you may wish to marble onto.
           
• April 2nd
  This meeting will be held in the Recreation Hall found behind Gullane Village hall, parking is still available at front of hall.
   Knitted fragments. Making a fabric out of knitting, crochet etc. Going in all directions, decreasing, increasing, you can never go wrong! Using odd needles, big needles, small or large crochet hooks. Please bring what ever sizes you wish to use, and small scraps of various thicknesses of wool. Guidance will be provided.
• March 5th
  Weaving on a card approx 12cm square, using any yarns, wools, ribbons, recycled yarns, plastics etc you wish to bring in. Weaving card will be provided. Please bring in a bodkin or a tapestry needle, your sewing kit including scissors. This can be woven as a mini hanging or can be made into a little bag. Example below.
  
• February 5th
  Making wet felt bowls round an orange. Please bring a towel, an orange, and a fruit or vegetable net or pop sock.  Visitors £4 each and membership of only £15 (to take us through to June) will be collected at this meeting.
• January (NO MEETING)
  HAPPY NEW YEAR NOW 2022
• December 4th
  Wreath making with paper, wicker wreaths making inserts and embroidering mini hoops with Christmas emblems.
• November 6th
  You will be using your previously printed leaf fabrics to make into really special gifts, for yourself or others! Either books, little bags, (sewing machines and iron supplied) or can be made into a textile hanging. Sewing kit required.
  We will have extra leaf printed pieces for anybody who missed last month.
                   
  
  
• October 2nd 2021
  We will be using acrylic paint to print leaves onto fabric this month. Please bring a selection of leaves with good veins as these make the best prints, fairly waxy leaves are best. Please bring rubber gloves and apron as you will be using Acrylic paint and any favourite natural fabric you may wish to print on. Paint, brushes and fabric will be supplied. At our November meeting fabric can then be stitched and embellished to make them into something special.
• September 4th 2021
  Our first meeting for over a year! We wish to welcome everybody back this month, and are encouraging people to bring along any crafts you may have been doing or discovered during the last year to show everyone. This month is mainly to introduce people to the slightly different way our meetings will be to ensure your safety. If you wish to bring your own refreshments, that’s fine otherwise people will be served at their tables using disposable cups. we look forward to meeting you on the 4th September.
  We will also have on display some craft items from our past  meetings so you are able to see what we get up to!

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• June 6th 2020
  We will be posting another workshop for you to do at home with family and friends.
• May 2nd 2020
  We will be posting another workshop for you to do at home with family and friends.
• April 4th
  We will be using our marbled fabrics to make a variety of items including cards. This month we will be posting on this website instructions so you will be able to do this in your own home.
• March 7th 2020
  We will be Marbling a variety of fabrics using shaving foam as a base. Materials will be provided but please bring apron and gloves, we will be using marbling dyes. If you wish to bring shaving foam ( cheapest make as this normally contains less scent ) and any plain materials ie silk but not synthetics you are most welcome to do so. If you have a ruler that you could bring (plastic please) this will be for scraping the foam from your fabric before starting again. Your marbled fabrics will then be brought back next month (April) to be made into bags, cards etc. 
  
• February 1st
  Helen’s hats. We will have a demonstration of a basic hat being made out of a variety of materials. Patterns for this hat will be available on the day. During the demonstration and discussion we will have the opportunity to make a few embellishments for a hat, so please bring your sewing kit with you. Bring notebook to remind you of the process etc. See you all there.
• January 11th 2020
  Our non-festive lunch in Gullane with Quiz and competition. Competition is to make something of your choice, but it must have a button or buttons in or on it.
• December 7th (PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE THIS MONTH, In Gullane Bowling Club)
  Christmas decoration time. We will be sewing Christmas decorations. You can use festive stitches to enhance your decorations and learn a reversed applique technique. Please bring sewing kit and any favourite threads, ribbons (to hang them)  you may wish to use. Felt will be provided with patterns and a little stuffing. There will also be another folded fabric decoration to make, materials provided.
  

  

  
  
• November 2nd
  This month we will be making ‘Christmas Gnomes’. All materials provided, please bring sewing kit and any favourite beads threads or sequins you may wish to use. We will be explaining ways that you can make larger Gnomes out of recycled items, that you may wish to make at home, so bring a notebook if you wish. We will be making on the day a smaller Gnome all hand sewn that could be a Christmas Tree decoration or to sit and watch over you. We are in Gullane Village Hall from 2 – 4pm, £4 for non members includes refreshments. 
  
  
• October  5th
  UPDATE re Sew Forth’s meeting today.  Unfortunately we have had to postpone our hat making demonstration due to a family emergency. Instead we will be making the “Little Treasures” as pictured below rescheduled from our November meeting. All materials supplied, £4 per person for non members. Refreshments included. Everybody welcome. 2 – 4pm in Gullane Village Hall.
  We look forward to seeing you there.
• September 7th 2019
  (PLEASE NOTE A DIFFERENT MEETING PLACE THIS MONTH) We will be meeting in the Gullane Bowling Club, literally diagonally opposite the Village Hall in Gullane. We will be twisting and stitching small vessels or large containers, please bring sewing kit and any left over material you can tear into strips to recycle. Don’t worry we will come with a selection of fabric if you have none.
  Tea/Coffee and cakes from 2 – 4pm £4 per visit for non-members, you can always join when you come for only £26 per annum which runs from September – June 2020. Look forward to seeing you all then.
  
• June 1st
  Fiona is a Sculptor/printmaker/community engagement artist and is an active member of Made in East Lothian who runs workshops etc at the Hub in Haddington. Fiona also teaches a very popular class of printmaking at the Poldrate Arts and Crafts Centre. Printmaking for fabric with Fiona Maher who is an experienced teacher and printmaker is coming on Saturday 1st June from 2 – 4pm. Venue: Gullane village hall. This is an introductory workshop covering direct transfer printing from found objects and multi coloured printing from cardboard. Please come along for a creative afternoon, bring any feathers, plants, or dried grasses ( anything fairly flat but interesting). If you have fabric you would like to print onto – natural materials such as cotton/linen etc are best and with as little texture as possible. All materials used are safe and environmentally friendly. Please come with apron and have fun!!!
  
• May 4th
  Recycling month ideas!!!
  We are asking you this month to bring in any textile related off cuts, this could be lengths of fabric, scraps of lace, bias binding, zips, net, wool etc. Everything will be put in a heap on the floor and we will then talk about any ideas as to the best way to make something new out of the items. Please bring a sewing kit, pins and scissors with you. We can then take away any pieces and maybe work on these during the summer! You know you always want a project. 
• April 6th
  We will be doing Silk Painting, please bring apron and rubber gloves in case there are any paint runs etc. Silk and paints will be supplied.
• March 2nd
  We will be making Dorset Buttons, please bring, needles, scissors, any special threads you may want to try after mastering this technique. Everything else needed will be supplied. Sample of buttons below:
  
  
• February 2nd
  Fiona Waddell will be talking to the group about her journey into sewing.
• January 12th
  Our non festive lunch today will be at the Mallard Hotel in Gullane, 12.30 for 1, please make sure you have put your name on the list to attend. We will be having a quiz and a competition which will be to make a brooch. Look forward to seeing everyone there.
  
• December 1st
  It’s time to make Christmas decorations, we will be making a lovely paper decoration out of either book pages or magazines, come and have a lovely festive afternoon.
  
• November 3rd
  We will be using foiling onto fabric to enhance an embroidered initial. This can be done on card instead if you wish. If you have a favourite fabric you wish to use i.e velvet’s which give a rich background please bring with you as well as your sewing kit and assorted threads.
• October 6th
  We will be cutting our own mini stamps i.e.in soft cut lino then printing the designs onto a variety of fabrics. Please bring your sewing kit, threads and any beads you may wish to embellish your print with. Please bring an apron to protect your clothes when printing.
• September 1st
  Our first meeting after the Summer break.  We will be hand stitching various fabrics so bring along a selection of velvet’s, satin’s, or any favourite fabrics you wish to work with. Please bring your sewing kit and threads, there will be various fabrics for you to use if you are not able to bring any. A bottle either plastic or glass and pair of tights or pop socks to stretch over will be needed as well. Tea, coffee, cake and scones during the afternoon. Non members £4 each or you may wish to take out membership for the year at £26. Come along and join up on our first meeting and have some fun with like minded people.
  See you Saturday.
• June 2nd
  Kantha Stitching with Christine. We will be revisiting Kantha stitching this afternoon, a relaxing way of layering fabrics and running stitch lines through all layers. You can stitch small pieces to make cards or larger areas for bags or cushions. Please bring your sewing kit.
• May 5th
  Macrame with Helen. We will be making lovely glass pot holders in a variety of colours. Come and join us learn the stitches, and having fun. All materials provided.
• April 7th
  We will be located in the large Village Hall in Gullane this month.
  This month we will be making boiled wool brooches, by folding, layering and stitching pieces of felt and thicker boiled wool together which could then be embellished with beads. If you have any thick boiled wool (or maybe a piece of coat fabric, or over washed jumpers!) or fabrics you wish to use please bring them along. You can also bring your piece of felt that was made at a previous meeting. Please bring sewing kit.
• March 3rd (cancelled due to bad weather)
  We will be located in Gullane Church Centre this month, please turn right before traffic lights (if coming from the Edinburgh direction) or turn left after the traffic lights (if coming from North Berwick) then the Church is located a few yards down this road on the corner.
  We will be revisiting Kantha stitching this afternoon, a relaxing way of layering fabrics and running stitch lines through all layers. You can stitch small pieces to make cards or larger areas for bags or cushions. Please bring your sewing kit.
• February 3rd
• We will be located in the large Village Hall in Gullane this month.
  Celtic Knot and box. (A heart shaped pattern for Valentines Day?) We will learn how to draw the simple Celtic knot patterns that could then be used for embroidery or decoration on top of boxes. Don’t panic no serious measuring required, please bring pencil, rubber, ruler and sewing kit if you wish to stitch the knot, come and have a relaxing afternoon. We will provide material but if you have any favourite threads you wish to use please bring them as well.
  
• January 13th 2018
  Our non festive Lunch at the Mallard Hotel in Gullane. We will be having our great quiz and a competition where we have asked you to make or decorate a box. Looking forward to seeing everybody on Saturday for the start of the New Year. Meeting time 12.30 -1pm.
• December 2nd
  Slight change of plan this month. We will be making two different types of Christmas decorations. First one will be made of fabric circles ( we will supply). Next one we will be making a fabric Christmas tree with a difference which you, could use for your table. All materials will be provided, but please bring scissors and sewing kit.
• November 4th
  We will be having an introductory class in making fabric by felting fibres together. You will be able to make two samplers from the provided pack.  Please bring a towel with you and a plastic bag to carry your work home in. All other equipment will be provided. Sample below.
• October 7th
  Using the fabric that was printed in September (we will have extra printed pieces for anybody who missed last months meeting) and we will be using it in many ways. These could be a book cover for your envelope books, a card etc or wherever your imagination takes you. Machine will be available to use.
  
• September 2nd (start of our next year)
  We will be doing transfer dyeing onto synthetic fabric this afternoon in the large village hall in Gullane. You will be using dyed papers to design your patterns that you wish to see on your fabric. Fabric and dyed papers will be provided for you and there will be a heat press on hand to use with care, so all you need to do is have fun designing your prints. If you wish to bring fern leaves or leaves with fairly thick veins then they can be used to print with. We will also have a sewing machine available for people to use and experience free machining.
  Membership forms will be available  at this meeting for you to fill in should you wish to do so. 
  
• June 3rd
  We will be making envelope books. Please bring with you approx 10 – 15 new or used A4 envelopes. Once your book is completed you will be able to fill it with memories of your up coming summer break. Note down where you have visited, what you have seen and you can even put some memories in to the envelopes of your book. We will see you all again in September.
  
• May 6th
  We will be making Summer drawstring bags this month. All materials will be put into a bag for you to use at a cost of £2.50 each. Fabric will be cut into the right sizes all ready for you to spend the afternoon stitching, and chatting!
• April 1st
  Stitch
• ing Inches, please bring sewing kit, scraps of lace, beads, etc and lot’s of imagination! Basis for the inches will be supplied for you to stitch and embellish and colour. You can make as many as you wish. If you do not have acess to any fabric scraps there will be fun items to use available.
• March 
  This month we will be making something out of the crazy patchwork piece of fabric that you made last month. Please bring sewing kit.
• February 4th
  Crazy Patchwork day, please bring small scraps of fabrics, scissors, sewing kit, and embroidery threads. You could also bring pieces of lace and beads to add to your crazy patchwork.
• January 14th PLEASE NOTE DATE, (we thought the 7th was too soon)
  We are having our non Festive Lunch today, with competitions and our famous quiz!
  Lunch at the Mallard in Gullane 12.30 – 1pm, names will be gathered at our November meeting with a £10 deposit please.
  Competition: To make a tea or coffee cosy, in whatever medium you wish (crochet, knitted, etc)
• PLEASE NOTE FROM NOW ON WE WILL BE MEETING ON THE 1ST SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH IN GULLANE VILLAGE SMALL HALL (just behind large hall)
• December 3rd
  We will be doing 3 different Christmas themed decorations today.
  1 – Making Christmas tree in fabric, please bring: sewing kit plus a small piece of Christmas fabric and any embellishments you wish to add. We will provide the wadding.
  2 – Snowman, group to provide pieces to make.
  3 – Paper decoration out of colourful pages of magazines or books. We will provide pages etc.
• November 5th
  We will be discussing recycling ideas, please bring in something that you want to recycle but have no ideas what to do with it. Everybody can come up with ideas. We will show you what you can do with drinks cans, ties, wristbands made from tyvek etc. We will also be continuing with the button Kamal Kadai Indian Embroidery.
• October 1st
  Liz will be demonstrating Button Kamal Kadai Indian Embroidery. Please bring a 6″ embroidery hoop, threads and any beads you wish to use. Please look HERE to find out more about this embroidery technique.
• September 10th
  We will be making Anglo Saxon style bags and accessories in a mini workshop, using leather, fabric, etc. All materials provided.
• July and August
  No meetings scheduled, have a nice summer break.
• June 11th
  Mini workshop making assorted brooches or pendants (Anglo Saxon style), materials provided. Please bring scissors, rulers and imagination!
• May 14th
  “Stitching Consequences”. Committee will provide A5 size background fabric. Members will then have 10 mins to stitch one line of their favourite stitches then this line will be folded over and then the piece of fabric will be handed onto the next person. Everybody will come away with a lovely selection of assorted stitches to take away.
• April 9th
  Japan Crafts Talk and Workshops by Katie Chaplin in conjunction with the Poldrate Quilters.
  Please click HERE to go to the Japan Crafts website where you can learn more about Katie who will be talking to us about the Kimono – Costume of Japan.
  Katie will be dressing a mannequin in full formal kimono whilst explaining the history and detail of the costume. We will be in the Alistair Grant Hall for the lecture and the cost to our Sew Forth Group members will be £6 and non – members £7.50 each. If you would like to attend this lecture please contact Isabella for your ticket. : imsimpson33@hotmail.com or phone 01620 842367
  Workshops: Sunday 10th April on the 2nd floor Poldrate Granary
  10am – 12noon Making a Japanese Rice Bag £10pp (Materials £6 each payable to tutor) there will be enough fabric to make two complete bags.
  1pm – 3pm?: TBC
  These workshops can hold a maximum of 20 people each, the Sew Forth Group members have priority to fill the first 10 spaces thereafter open to both groups.
  The afternoon workshop the Poldrate Quilters have priority to fill the first 10 spaces thereafter open to both groups.
  If you wish to book any of these workshops please contact Isabella (as detailed above)
  Details and pictures of the workshops and talk can be found on the Japan Craft website as linked above.
• March 12th
  “Knitted Fragments revisted” Please bring an assortment of wool oddments, knitting needles of different sizes, crochet hooks, large eyed needles for sewing pieces together.
  Aberlady Craft Group have booked a coach to go to Ingliston 28th April for the Knitting and Stitching Show. Coach will leave Aberlady at 9am and leave Ingliston at 3pm. Cost TBC, this does not include the admission to the show. Please let Anne Frost or Sheila Baird know if you are interested
• February 13th
  ‘KANTHA STITCHING’ is the fun stitch of the day. Christine will show us how to layer and stitch with assorted fabrics and threads. A nice relaxing stitching afternoon.  There will be cards so anybody wishing to mount their stitched piece as a card  can do so. We will supply an assortment of fabrics for everybody to use. Please bring your sewing kit, and any favourite fabrics you wish to use as well.Tea and scones available while you stitch.
  To learn more about KANTHA STITCHING please click HERE to watch a video of this technique.
  PLEASE NOTE WE WILL BE ON 1ST FLOOR POLDRATE GRANARY TODAY
• January 9th 2016
  We are having a New Year Lunch for a change. This will be in the Mallard in Gullane, and there will be a deposit of £10 each which will be collected in November. We will also be having our Quiz and a competition which will be to make a card. It can be for any occasion and hopefully will involve stitch in some way or another. 12.30 for 1pm at the Mallard.