​In October 1970, ten women met in a private home to encourage one another in their infant spinning and weaving efforts. Both pursuits had declined but some instruction had been given the previous year by Rosamund McCulloch in weaving and by Zoe Richardson in spinning. Subsequent meetings were held in private homes but as news spread, numbers increased and a hall had to be hired.

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In August 1971, Fran Attrill was elected as the first president of the Handweavers, Spinners and Dyers Guild of Tasmania, and meetings were held at the Girl Guide Headquarters, Hobart. A constitution was drawn up based on that of the Handweavers and Spinners Guild of Victoria. Financed from a produce stall run by Erna Foot, a library and newsletter were started. Tutors in spinning were Austral Carey, Fran Attrill and Clara Gregory. Country groups formed quickly. The Northern Branch met at Richies Mill. There were constant demands for demonstrations and exhibitions at schools, craft and agricultural shows, and instruction was given at schools and Senior Citizens’ Clubs.

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Janet Blundell and Claire Bamford started Adult Education classes in spinning and weaving, which continued to be run by Guild members for many years. Nicole Johnson was influential in establishing the Secheron Textile Centre in 1978 which provided a two-year certificate course, as part of the Hobart Technical college and later, the School of Art.

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MORE RECENT HISTORY

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Greater interest in weaving and dyeing with natural dyestuffs caused us to acquire equipment for loan. Expansions in equipment and the library needed new premises. The Guild Headquarters has moved 10 times and is now housed in rooms at St Georges Church, Battery Point, Hobart. There is a good range of spinning and weaving equipment available for hire.

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A very successful yarn store was started by Robyn Matheson, which has continued to be run successfully by various Guild members. In 2002, a yarn store was set up at the Northern Branch by Diana Kearney, to be run on similar lines to the one in Hobart.  In 2012, Kimbra Shadbolt created a Yarn Store for the Burnie Group and others in the region. Yarn store items are frequently taken to meetings all over the state, and country members can arrange for items to be posted to them, at the discretion of the yarn store personnel.

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The library, started by Claire Bamford, is now the most comprehensive on fibre arts in the state. There is a large meeting room with space to run workshops, and rooms for the yarn store, equipment and library.

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Biennial exhibitions are held in Hobart or Launceston, and exhibitions are held regularly in other parts of the state by the northern branches. These exhibitions are of great interest and often result in new members.

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Membership reached 280 in 1984 with the opening of the Devonport Group. By 1986 the membership had reached over 400. There was a gradual decline in numbers over the next decade, but more recently membership has been steadily growing. By the close of 2025, there were over 400 members again. Groups meet regularly in Kingston, Bruny Island, Geeveston, New Norfolk, Devonport, Deloraine, Burnie, Launceston, Wynyard, Exeter, Beaconsfield, St Helens, Cygnet, Ulverstone, Fingal, Judbury, Port Huon, Derby, Dodges Ferry, Richmond, Woodbridge, Yolla and Zeehan.

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