The purposes of the Needleworkers Guild of the West Kingdom are:
To promote the art
and enjoyment of historical needlework;
To further our knowledge
and develop our skills in any and all needlework styles;
–and to have fun doing it!
Check out News for what is going on with the Guild
Anyone who wants to join us is welcome!
As needleworkers in the SCA, we study and live the history of needlework, and we use our creative skills to actually re-create the glory of another time. Knowledge of history increases our learning and appreciation of needlework, and our use of authentic period stitches, fabrics, threads and designs increase our understanding of history and of the achievements of the past.
The Guild holds regular classes and exhibitions at Kingdom events. We also meet at most of these events, do Guild business and inspire each other with “show and tell”. We make presentations to Their Royal Majesties, and have Guild projects every year.
Why do we spend so many hours working on the arts of centuries past? Perhaps our answer is the same as that of a Maryland woman who has hooked rugs for most of her life. She simply said that her craft “brought her sheer joy, self-knowledge, solace and dreams.”
Encouraging each other
It’s important for everyone to keep in mind that the purpose of the Guild is to encourage historical needlework. We are not here to find faults in anyone’s work or to make anyone feel ashamed of their efforts. Anyone is welcome to bring needlework to a “show and tell” and receive appreciation, encouragement, and admiration for the asking. We are an open forum and everyone, whatever their skill level, is welcome.
For may of us there comes a point where we feel a need to know how to solve a problem, where to find Resources , or whether there are things we could do differently. If and when you are at that point, all you need to do is ask. Guild members are available, in person or online, to make suggestions based on their own experience with the craft.
Another way West Kingdom needleworkers share information and encourage each other is through online discussions. You can join our Facebook group, where we discuss coming events and our projects.