EAGER to show off their skills, the Peter Tavy Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers will be holding their biennial exhibition of work, entitled 'Fabulous Fibres', at Peter Tavy Village Hall from October 30 to November 1.

The exhibition will be open from 10am to 4pm and will show that although it is easier to buy manufactured goods, often more cheaply, a hand-made article made with care and enthusiasm can give so much more pleasure to the maker and the customer.

The current credit squeeze has made people more willing to try skills which their mothers and grandmothers used and which were in danger of being forgotten.

The guild says the current generation has neither the time nor the inclination to slow down and to learn to make their own clothes and articles for the home.

'Unless we pass on these skills many will be lost and as will be seen at the exhibition, they don't have to have that obvious "home-made" look,' said the guild.

'Handknits now come with designer labels and there is a growing trend among the young for such items, at a price beyond most people.

Many are lucky enough to have someone in the family to knit for them and the range of wools available is amazing. The majority of items at the exhibition will be handspun but some have a commercial content which may enhance the fibre.'

There will also be articles woven on handlooms and examples of hand-dyed fibre. Whacky fibres will be on show, including plastic milk bottles, bamboo, banana and other unusual fibres which have been processed to enable them to be spun.

The Peter Tavy Guild was set up in 1998 and has 30 members. Entry is free, refreshments will be available and there will be a raffle.