Branches
Branches and Country Groups
Welcome to The Embroiderers Guild, Victoria, which is a statewide organisation with 12 vitally active regional branches (including 1 country group) whose members enjoy monthly or weekly activities, classes, exhibitions, excursions and more.
Invitation
Each Branch kindly invites you to join them at their meetings and gatherings. Experienced members will willingly help beginners who are new to embroidery or particular types of embroidery.
Can you visit a branch meeting or gathering to find out about it?
Yes, you are welcome to visit any branch 3 times before joining. Ask lots of questions :-)
Members love to meet others who enjoy sewing and they're happy to share what they're making.
Beginning, Practising or Experienced?
All levels of skill, from beginners to experienced, are welcomed and supported by local branch members or visiting tutors.
What embroidery can you do and learn when you join a branch?
Embroidery is not just doilies!
Branches learn and teach a vast range of traditional and contemporary embroideries and textiles. Techniques are practised, shared and encouraged.
See the Photo Gallery for a snapshot of the types of embroideries you might sew. Keep in mind.... these are exemplar pieces. Not one of us started at this level and many of us sew much simpler designs. Our priority is for enjoyment, not perfection.
What is a beginner?
A beginner might be new to any hand sewing. A beginner might be practised at cross-stitch, knitting or crochet, for example, and new to other types of textiles, such as Crewel or Hardanger. A beginner will already be a member of a branch. We are all beginners at something!
Newcomers
As a newcomer, you might like to bring something that you are stitching or simply watch and ask about what each member is working on. You will find that embroiderers are often humble, but keen to show and tell. They are renowned for their generosity and will happily help you get started.
How can you find out about your local branch?
Please click on a link below to find out about your local branch, make contact and be warmly welcomed.
Note: Due to Covid-19 restrictions, regular meetings and activities have been suspended in some areas. Please check with each branch for their current situation.
Branch and Country Group Members
What are your fellow embroiderers designing, producing and learning around Victoria?
Discover the wonderful creations taking place at other branches as they proudly showcase their current activities.
Click on the links below to open up an ever-changing world of exciting traditional and contemporary embroideries and textiles.
(Branches' websites are currently being updated)
Meetings: First and third Tuesdays each month form 9.30 am - 2.30 pm, February to November.
Plus: We run workshops, classes, Sit & Sew sessions. Visitors are always welcome.
Contact: 0417 021 209 Email: aw@embroiderersguildvic.org
- Monthly classes (in-house and external tutors)
- Annual bus trip to other branches, a shopping trip to Melbourne, or to an exhibition
- Every second year, we hold our own exhibition
- Visitors and all EGV members are most welcome.
- Prospective members may visit 3 times before joining.
Contact: 0439 386 688 Email: ararat@embroiderersguildvic.org
Our aims are to provide a safe and friendly ambience, to conduct classes of choice for our members and visitors to enhance their embroidery skills, to share knowledge, and most importantly, to enjoy the social interaction within our branch.
Our branch has a lease with the Ballarat Bridge Club. We are very fortunate to have a large meeting/stitching room with excellent lighting, air conditioning, heating, and a well-equipped kitchen area. We have a well-stocked library and a secure storeroom to house embroidery items, documents and embroidery tools.
Our Newsletter Editor is kept busy presenting a colourful monthly newsletter to keep our members updated with news, embroidery tips, photos and places and events to attend. Most are emailed; some sent by post.
If you would like to learn more about our branch and activities you are welcome to call, text or visit us on the days we meet as noted below. We would be delighted to hear from you. Beginners to experienced stitchers are very welcome.
We meet at:
The Ballarat Bridge Club
1001 Eyre Street, Ballarat.
Postal Address:
P.O.Box 45w
Ballarat West 3350.
Contact:
Ballarat Secretary
0408 993 121.
Sit and Sew
1st Saturday: 10.30am – 3.00pm
Smocking and Beading
2nd Tuesday: 10.30am – 3.00pm
Lace Group
2nd Tuesday: 6.00pm – 9.00pm
Everybody Counts
2nd Thursday: 7.00pm – 10.00pm
Sit and Sew
3rd Tuesday: 7.00pm – 10.00pm
Sit and Sew
3rd Thursday: 10.30am – 3.00pm
Patchwork
4th Tuesday: 10.30am – 3.00pm
4th Tuesday: 6.30pm – 9.30pm
Creative Works
4th Wednesday: 10.30am – 3.00pm
Some groups are embroidery specific, such as 'Everybody Counts', which relates to embroidery whereby you count stitches such as cross stitch, hardanger etc. However, many members choose to do their own style of embroidery at these groups. The aim is to be comfortable and enjoy each others' company and skills.
Other Meetings and Events:
Monthly Committee meetings.
Three general meetings held in March, July and November.
Branch AGM held on the 1st Saturday in May.
Branch Biennial Exhibition (next 2022.)
‘Autumn Leaves’ Seminar (held in alternate years, next 2023).
We’d love to meet you.
Please click on the link below to see samples of the 450 beautiful exhibits at our 2020 Exhibition titled 'Needles, Knots and Threads'.
Below are 9 samples that highlight our diversity.
Marong
(Melway ref: 609 C3)
Contact: 0413 275 565 Email: bendigo@embroiderersguildvic.org
Monthly Meetings: We meet on the first Sunday of each month, from 10.00am – 3.00pm. On this day we hold our general meeting over lunch and members bring their own stitiching to work on. There are often guest speakers and shared lunches for special occasions. There are also regular special interest days and an informative monthly newsletter.
Visitors are most welcome to attend. Come and join us. We look forward to meeting you.
SPECIAL INTEREST DAYS EACH MONTH
- Third Sunday of the month:
- Sit and Sew
- Beading
- Lace Group
- Junior Group
- UFO stitching (members supporting members)
- As advised in our newsletter
- Workshops
- Crazy Patch & Small Treasurers
- Boutique (where items are made to sell at our biennial exhibition)
PLUS:
- Summer School every January
- Winter School each alternate year in July
- Exhibition every two years.
Meetings: We meet on the third Wednesday of every month (except January) from 10.00am to 3.00pm. At this meeting members work on individual or group projects, and there is also a general meeting. There are frequent guest speakers and shared luncheons.
Visitors are most welcome to all meetings.
Special interest groups meet regularly:
- Saturday Group
- In Stitches Group – devoted to every kind of surface stitchery
- Conservation and Historical Studies Group
- Texture and Stitch (machine embroidery and surface embellishment)
- Crewel Group
- Drawn Thread Group
PLUS: we provide:
- A lively and informative monthly newsletter
- A comprehensive lending library covering all forms of stitching and textile art
- Workshops, classes, outings and social events
- A biennial exhibition in conjunction with the Castlemaine State Festival.
- Next date to be advised- hopefully in Spring 2021
- Exhibition Title: "21 Years along the Embroiderers' Path"
Flinders foreshore, overlooking Westernport Bay and Philip Island
(Melway ref: 262 B10)
Stitching, friendship, and an incomparable view!
Meetings: All Guild members and other visitors are welcome to join us every first Monday and every fifth Monday (if the month has a fifth Monday) of the month at the Flinders Yacht Club..
How to find us:
- Drive down to the pier, then along the car park to a small gate.
- Follow the gravel road for quite a distance till you come to a clearing and a wooden building right on the foreshore.
- That’s the Flinders Yacht Club! We meet there every first and fifth Monday from February to December.
Contact: 0419 165 353 Email: geelong@embroiderersguildvic.org
Special interest groups also meet regularly - please contact us for current meeting places.
Counted Thread Techniques
First Monday of the month: 9.30am – 12.30pm
Canvaswork
Third Monday of the month: 11.00pm – 3.00pm.
GeeTag (Fibre Art)Group
Second Saturday of the month: 12.00 noon – 4.00pm
The Manor Lakes Group meets at the Manor Lakes Community Learning Centre on the first Thursday of the month at 10.00am. Bring something to sew, or join in one of our group activities (bring needle and scissors) and join us for lunch.
Patchwork Group
Fourth Wednesday of the month: 10.00am.
More groups meet regularly at members’ homes.
We also provide:
- ‘Introduction to Embroidery’ sessions (please contact us if you wish to join a beginners session).
- Classes in a range of techniques from beginner to advanced levels throughout the year. Sign-up sheets are available at our meetings.
- A comprehensive library available for borrowing covering traditional and contemporary embroidery and textile arts.
- Fun, friendship, and a stitch-supportive environment.
For the latest class and meeting details please check our branch website.
Peart Street, Leongatha
Branch Postal Address:
PO Box 46, Leongatha Vic 3953
Contact: (03) 5655 1626 Email: leongatha@embroiderersguildvic.org
Meetings: Regular monthly meetings are held on the second Tuesday of every month, from February to December, between 9.00am and 12 noon.
- Guild members and visitors are always very welcome to join us.
Guidance Groups:
- Cape Paterson Community Centre on the third Thursday of each month, from 10.00am to 2.00pm
- Korumburra Access Centre, 3 Radovick Street, Korumburra from 9.30am to 2.30pm.
About Us
Although we are a relatively small branch, we are very productive and enjoy a diversity of skills, techniques, materials and projects. One of the lovely aspects of our group is that we are inclusive and supportive of everyone. We celebrate and applaud beautifully traditional and excitingly contemporary embroideries. It’s wonderful to have talented members willing to teach and we simply ask. We proudly invite you to click on the links below to view our work and to contact us to say 'Hello'.
We meet at:
MADEC (Mildura and District Education Centre)
133-177 Madden Avenue, Mildura
(opposite the Mildura RSL)
Branch Postal Address:
PO Box 131, Mildura Vic 3502
Contact:
President 0438 293 796
Email: mildura@embroiderersguildvic.org
Meetings:
(Please contact us to find out the latest news - meetings change as the pandemic situation changes)
- Sit and Sew every Wednesday and Friday from 9.30am – 3.00pm
- We also meet on the second and fourth Saturday of each month with our felting group
- Our basketry group meets on the second Wednesday each month
- We enjoy January's Summer School with specific skills or projects being offered in-house
- A highlight is our Exhibition which occurs every 2 years in September
Facebook:
We invite you to view a range of our textiles at https://www.facebook.com/embroiderersguildmildura
Publications:
Newsletters: Our friendly group is delighted to receive our weekly newsletters with photos and captions. In 2020, we published 43, which were emailed (or posted as required) to our members.
Please click on the links to see the attached documents of our 2021 photographic newsletters.
'Summer School- Buttoned Up' 1. Photos January 15 2021
'Felters Rule' 2. Photos January 22 2021
'Quilts and Buttons' 3. Photos January 29 2021
'Death Head Buttons' 4. Photos February 5 2021
'A Dandelion and Machine Quilting' 5. Photos February 12 2021
'Heavenly Hats' 6. Photos February 19 2021
Published Books: We are proud of our annual hardcover books, which are professionally published to showcase photos of every member, their textile works, tutors and special events.
1. 2020 Book
2 Sample Pages from our 2020 Book:
Please click on the link below to see our 2020 book titled 'Our Year in Isewlation' with 100 pages and 723 photos.
(This will take you to a new website called Photobook Australia. It will open in a new window. The Embroiderers Guild website will remain open at the top of your page. You can log in via Facebook or Google or add your email address. A 
will flash on your screen for a short time.... and then you can enjoy our 'picture story' book)
2020 Book: 'Our Year in Isewlation'
2. 2019 Book Please click on the link below to see our book
Please pop back as we update frequently. Take care everyone 
Canadian Bay Rd, Mt Eliza
(Melway ref: 101 E/F 1)
Branch Postal Address:
PO Box 220, Mt Eliza Vic 3930
Contact: (03) 9787 3055 Email: mornington@embroiderersguildvic.org
Meetings: We meet every Wednesday, from February to mid-December:
- First Wednesday of the month: 9.30am to 12.30pm
- Second Wednesday: 1.30pm to 4.00pm.
- Third Wednesday: 1.30pm to 4.00pm
- Fourth Wednesday: 9.30am to 12.30pm.
- Fifth Wednesday (if there is one!): 9.30am to 12.30pm.
Visitors are most welcome to attend any meeting.
The Masonic Centre
Appin Street, Wangaratta
PO Box 904, Wangaratta Vic 3677
- The Day Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of every month, from 9.30am to 2.00pm.
- The Night Group meets on the the first Monday of each month from 7.00pm to 9.30pm. We sit and stitch, or work on a planned activity.
- The Traditional Group meets on the second Tuesday of each month from 9.30am to 1.30pm, in the home of a member.
Warrnambool West Primary School
Hoddle Street, Warrnambool
PO Box 433, Warrnambool Vic 3280
- General Meeting - Warrnambool West Primary School, Second Tuesday 7.30 pm
- Daytime Sit & Sews - Members Homes, First & Third Thursdays, Noon - 4 pm
- Guidance Days - Warrnambool West Primary School, Last Thursday, 10 am - 3 pm
- Stall Sewing Day - Warrnambool West Primary School, Fourth Thursday (whenever the month has 5 Thursdays), 10 am - 3 pm.
