THE MEMBERS’ PROJECT
This event is open to all Guild members. We offer a creative theme and invite members to submit an original piece of work which fits that brief. Guidelines regarding size, format etc are provided. There are no awards or assessment of the pieces, and all pieces are exhibited at the Knitting & Stitching Shows London and Harrogate. Past Members’ Projects have included Page 17, 100 Hearts and Home.
Our 2025 project is “Land And Sea”.
| Image | Title | Summary |
|---|---|---|
 | Members’ Project 24/25: Land and Sea (Brief) | Land and Sea: Members’ Project for 24/25 |
 | Members’ Project 2024: Repair, Restore, Recreate | Guild Members created pieces reflecting on the themes of Repair, Restore, Recreate. |
 | Members’ Project 2023: Fit for a King | To mark the occasion of the Coronation of King Charles III |
 | Members’ Project 2019: Home | The Guild project for 2019 was entitled “HOME”. |
 | Members’ Project 2018: 100 Hearts War Stories | We invited Guild members to take part in the commemoration of the ending of WW1. |
 | Members’ Project 2017: Page 17 | Page 17 is a specially created exhibition of textile artistry where each piece takes a book as its inspiration. |
 | Members’ Project 2016: Capability Brown | The Capability Brown project was exhibited at 43 venues during 2016 as part of the UK’s Capability Brown Festival. |
OTHER PROJECTS
At various times, the Guild invites all members to take part in a project with a view to the final piece(s) eventually being on permanent display at an appropriate venue. Examples of this are the Olympic Postcards and NHS Reasons to be Thankful. The Guild is also delighted when it is commissioned to create a specific piece of work – one example being The White Walker from Game of Thrones. Some commissions are open to all Guild members, others require stitchers with specific skills who may be invited to participate. The other unique project of which we are enormously proud is ‘The World’s Longest Embroidery’. In 2009 (when it was last measured) it was 605 metres long but it has grown considerably since then. Consisting of a number of large, rolled blank lengths of calico spread across the table, members of the public are invited to sit and stitch whatever they want.
| Image | Title | Summary |
|---|---|---|
 | Game of Thrones: the Hardhome Embroidery | The White Walker – an artwork made to celebrate the release of ‘Game of Thrones’ Series 5 DVD. |
 | Reasons to be Thankful: Thank You NHS | Giving Thanks to our NHS Heroes in Stitch |
THE MEMBER’S CHALLENGE
This is an annual event open to all Guild members. We offer a creative theme and invite members to submit an original piece of work which fits that brief. Guidelines regarding size, format etc are provided. A panel of experienced judges assess the work against specific criteria and prizes are awarded in a number of design and technique categories as detailed below.
- The Constance Howard Award for the most outstanding piece
- The Julia Caprara Award for best use of colour
- The Beryl Dean Award for best hand-stitching
- The Val Campbell-Harding Award for best machine-stitching
- The Margaret Nicholson Award for best composition
- The Jane Lemon Award for drama and creativity
- The Artistic Director Award for innovation
In 2024/2025 we added a new Award: The Janome Award for Inspired use of Machine Stitches
Many thanks to Janome for sponsoring this award, which encourages the exploration and use of automated stitches in machine embroidery.
Our 2025 Challenge is “Colour Rhythms”. Members can find the details of this latest challenge in the Members only area of this site.
All of the pieces are exhibited at the Knitting & Stitching Shows in London and Harrogate. Some of the previous Members’ Challenges are listed below:
| Image | Title | Summary |
|---|---|---|
 | Members Challenge 2024/2025: Colour Rhythms | Although areas of ‘Colour’ and ‘Rhythms’ have characteristics and rules of their own, the two themes together can inspire new ideas and ways of looking. |
 | Members Challenge 2023/2024: Opposites Attract | ‘The opposite of someone or something is the person or thing that is most different from them…’ |
 | Members Challenge 2022/2023: Layers | Take a look at the many layers that make up our understanding and experiences … |
 | Members Challenge 2021/2022: In and Out of Lockdown | The Members’ Challenge for 2022 was In and Out of Lockdown – or ‘My Lockdown Year |
 | Members Challenge 2020/2021: Exquisite Containers | Historically people have saved, collected and protected very important objects which mean everything to them, for all kinds of reasons. |
 | Members Challenge 2017/2019 | The winning entries for the Members’ Challenge competitions 2017-2010 |
 | Members Challenge 2013/14: Tree Rhythms | The Members’ Challenge in 2013/14 was ‘Tree Rhythms’ |