About the group
This subgroup of the Cambs Guild was formed to explore traditional textiles from around the world. It built on the success of the Peruvian Textiles Study Group.
From 25 July 2026, we will no longer meet at the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. We have booked the community room at Rock Road Library from 10 to 2 pm on some of the original dates. These are not the same dates as Guild meetings at Arbury. See below.
In 2027, we will meet 6 times a year on Saturdays. We take breaks over the Summer and Winter (see list of dates below).
For our chosen topics (see list below), we can be inspired by the local textile collection – in the Cambridge Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (MAA) and/or their archive. Or from visits to other collections, books and/or travels.
How we work
- We decide together on a long list of topics (see list below) – we just need at least one person to have the time and enthusiasm to focus on the topic and another person to be keen to learn about it.
- Then one or more members volunteer to take a lead on the topic.
- They do a bit of research, try out some techniques and materials, then share what they have learned at a practical session.
- We give members some time to start the technique beforehand if they wish. People often bring what they have worked on to future meetings.
- For some topics we have more than one session especially if we are preparing for the Guild exhibition.
- At Rock Road Library, we can use a laptop and projector. We will also have access to moveable tables and a kitchen so could have a broader range of practicals.
To date, the group has been very informal, a lot of fun, and usually gives us a much greater respect for the skills and creativity of textile makers around the world too.
Sharing our enthusiasm
We’d like to share our enthusiasm and skills more outside our sessions:
- We can do talks and practical sessions at the main Guild meetings.
- In May 2025, we had a TTSG display at the Guild exhibition in Grantchester on ‘Weaving with sticks’, which was very popular and fun to do. It was inspired by a bow loom on display in the MAA.
- On Sunday 9 November 2025: we had two tables at the MAA Winter Craft Fair. Explaining what we do and demonstrating some traditional textile techniques. It was a really good way to get to know Museum and Department staff, students and volunteers – and also chat to visitors about what we do.
- At Guild Day on Saturday 28 March 2026, we enabled a drop-in session on African-inspired covered core coiling, which was a lot of fun. Maybe 30 people learned on the day.
- At Guild Day in March 2027, TTSG members have offered to teach people how to spin different fibres with simple drop spindles.
How to join
- All current members of the Cambridgeshire Guild are eligible to join the TTSG mailing list and attend TTSG meetings.
- To join the TTSG mailing list (currently around 50 people) contact the TTSG co-ordinator: currently, Becca Jones. Contact her via the Guild Secretary or look up her contact details in your members’ contact list. Or give her your e-mail address at a meeting.
- Once you are on the mailing list, Becca will contact you by e-mail with upcoming dates and topics of meetings. And/or keep an eye on this webpage.
- You don’t need to come to every meeting and we are very happy if you just dip-in to topics you are interested in.
Booking a place?
The room in the Museum had a smaller capacity than our membership so people needed to ‘book’ places. At Rock Road Library we will have more room. We will probably aim to keep the attendance to under 20 people to maintain the informality of the group and especially for practicals. It works well to be seated around one big table. Let us know what you think.
Meeting venue
Community Room at Rock Road Library, 69 Rock Road CB1 7UG (information on the Friends of Rock Road Library website). It is a short walk from the central Cambridge train station and very close to bus stops that go down Cherry Hinton Road or Hills Rd. Including ones from park and rides.
Residents parking isn’t active on Saturdays but is limited. There is an NCP car park by the Junction/Leisure Park. Best to use public transport.
Buses:
- The Babraham Rd Park and Ride bus stops outside Homerton College on Hills Road. Walk down Blinco Grove (the church is on the corner) to the junction with Rock Rd – you can see the library near that corner.
- The Citi3 bus goes down Cherry Hinton Road – get off opposite Numark Pharmacy on the corner of Rock Rd. I think the stop towards the station has a stop near the kitchen showroom.
Timings
- Gathering from 10 and start at 10.30 am. We need to be ready to leave before 2pm when the librarian closes up.
What to bring
- The invitation e-mail will have a schedule/agenda for the session and, if there is a practical, a list of objects, tools and materials to bring along. We usually have some to share.
- We also love to see what you are working on – or what you have brought back from your travels.
- At Rock Road library, we will have access to a kitchen and there is an accessible toilet and also a very nice garden.
- Bring lunch if yo want to stay that long.
Upcoming dates of meetings (room has been booked):
Autumn 2026 dates:
- Saturday 3 October 2026: Catch up on any travels/trips and exhibtions we might have seen over the Summer. An intro to applique in textile traditions. Some time to plan for the next few sessions, including thinking about revisiting Peruvian textiles. The library is having its apple day so it might be a bit busier than usual.
- Saturday 5 December 2026: ‘Angela’s socks’
2027 dates:
- Saturday 6 February 2027: maybe something Peruvian.
- Saturday 6 March 2027
- Saturday 1 May 2027
- Saturday 5 June 2027
- Saturday 2 October 2027
- Saturday 6 November 2027
Long list of topics we are actively interested in
- Objects: bags (including dowry envelope bags) and carrying (including namlo); socks.
- People and place: Africa (Guild Day focus in March 2026); Himalaya (including Nepal and Bhutan – CMC visit in 2026); Hmong (applique); India (including Banjara, Bengal and Nagaland); Korea; Japan (including Ainu, sashiko, boro, semamori, shibori and Saga nishiki 2026); Peru (February 2027); vikings (some focus in December 2025).
- Tools and materials: cotton for spinning; flax; paper for weaving (including Saga nishiki); raffia (including for coiling); rush for weaving; willow bark for weaving;
- Techniques: applique (Banjara, Hmong, mola, Kuba, Siddi etc), backstrap weaving (including narrow braids); bojagi (Korean textiles); islets and holes; kantha; nalbinding; natural dyeing (including avocado, lichen); plaiting (four-cornered baskets with paper strips); ply-split braiding; resist/stencils in natural dyeing; Seminole quilting; Siddi/kawanji quilting; smocking; tablet weaving.
- Topics focussed on recently: barkcloth; boro, bow looms; coiling, ikat, looping (knotless-netting); Saga nishiki; sashiko, semamori, shibori; shisha mirrorwork; soft twining; sprang; tannin dyes from wood; wool locks for textiles.
Past activities
- Tuesday 23 June. Visit to Centre for Material Culture (bunker). Focus on ikat weaving, including from Borneo.
- Saturday 20 June 2026: Ikat weaving.
- Saturday 2 May 2026: Saga Brocade (from Japan).
- Wednesday 15 April. Visit to Centre for Material Culture (bunker). Focus on the ‘Congo’ area of Africa, including Kuba textiles.
- Saturday 21 March 2026: Shibori and tie dye resist dyeing.
- Wednesday 18 March. Visit to Centre for Material Culture (bunker) – focus on Japan including Ainu.
- Saturday 7 February 2026: Sashiko, boro and semamori.
- Wednesday 28 January 2026: Visit to Centre for Material Culture (bunker) – focus on Bhutan, Nepal and Tibet.
- December 2025: Weaving with wool locks, spinning with drop spindles.
- November 2025: Shisha mirrorwork. And MAA Winter Craft Market stall.
- October 2025: ‘Show and tell’ and planning for the next few sessions
- June 2025: Natural dyeing – visit to the Cambridge Botanic Garden
- May 2025: Guild exhibition
- March 2025: Twining – soft basketry
- February 2025: Bhutanese street fashion and a ‘fashion show’
- January 2025: Looping
- September 2024: show and tell, planning
- May 2024: Sprang and nalbinding
- April 2024: Tannin dyes from trees
- February and March 2024: Bow looms – weaving with sticks
- January 2024: Barkcloth
- November 2024: visit to the bunker (MAA store)…
- November 2023: visit to the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology Store.
- April 2023: Workshop on Latvian mittens (Links)
‘Becca’s best (scenic) walk from the central rail station’:
- Cross the road and walk towards and then to the right of Gail’s cafe.
- Keep to the right of the cafe, past the side of Tescos, turn left opposite the Tawa Indian restaurant to walk across the large garden between the flats. This is the scenic route and cuts a corner off.
- Go past the bike repair and food stands.
- Cross the road towards the Co-op on the corner of Hills Rd (Brooklands Avenue junction).
- Turn left down Hills Road (Addenbrooke’s direction), over the railway bridge.
- Cross Cherry Hinton Road at the lights by the estate agent (and Marque building) and carry on left along Cherry Hinton Road, you will go past Rogue Barbers with Tescos on the other side of the road.
- Carry on past the EACH charity shop (very good, opens at 9am) and Kanto bakery (long queues but very good coffee and interesting lunch options), past the Rathmore Club on the corner of Rathmore Road.
- Cross Rathmore Road. Go past the next parade of shops and small Harpurs cafe (shorter queues).
- By the kitchen showroom (opposite Numark chemist), turn right down Rock Road (there is a sign to the library).
- Cross over Hartington Grove (the house on the corner is on the Pink Floyd trail).
- The library is on your left across the road. There are a few cycle racks.
- Enter through the main doors.
- The Community room is at the front of the building to the left.
Last updated: 17 September 2026