3 Bags Full

Hairpin Crochet circles and flowers

Tutor: Diane Stewart

Hairpin lace is a beautiful variation on crochet in which an ordinary crochet hook is used with a hairpin loom to create lacy, open work designs.

In this workshop you will learn to make strips of lace which you will then make into beautiful circles and flower shapes.

The looms and crochet hooks will be available for you to use on the day and there will also be looms for sale.

Suitable for: Anyone with basic crochet skills.

Materials needed: DK yarn, not dark colours.

Introduction to hand spinning

Tutor: Eileen McTague

Description: Come and join me to learn the ancient craft of spindle spinning. We will practice carding and blending the clean raw fleece before spinning it into your own yarn using a top whorl spindle, which is affordable, portable and fun.

Wool fibre will be provided. Spare tools are available for you to use, but if you have your own carders or hand spindle please bring them along.

Suitable for: beginners

Materials needed: Wool fibre will be provided. Spare tools are available for you to use, but if you have your own carders or hand spindle please bring them along.

Top Down Fair Isle Yoke Knitting

Tutor: Anniken Allis

Description: Circular yoke sweaters are perfect for a variety of stitch patterns. In this class we'll particularly look at using fair isle patterns on the yoke. The class will be based on working a sweater from the top down in the round.

In this class you will learn how a circular yoke is constructed and in particular how to include a fair isle pattern. You will learn how to work the circular shaping and how to adapt it to suit your fair isle pattern. You will also learn how to calculate the numbers for your own sweater and tips on choosing fair isle patterns to work on the yoke.

You do not need to know how to knit with two colours at the same time as this will also be taught.

Suitable for: Intermediate knitters who can cast on, knit, purl, cast off.

Materials needed: Small amounts of DK yarn in two colours & 4mm circular needles (80cm long) OR small amounts of 4ply yarn in two colours & 3.5mm circular needles (80cm long)

Wet felted landcapes

Tutor: Jean Fenton

Description: Using traditional wet felting techniques you will make a landscape picture or a scene of your choice. There will be many textural materials available on the day to make your picture unique and interesting, and you will be taught various extra techniques including pre felts and fibre blending.
During the day you may be able to make more than one picture (depending on your personal choice and speed of work) – usually most students make two pictures

Suitable for: Everyone

Materials needed: All materials provided and included in the course fee but participants might like to bring a waterproof apron and rubber gloves if they are worried about getting their hands wet.
It would be a good idea to bring their own hand towel to dry their hands throughout the day. I will provide towels for the table surfaces.
A plastic bag to take their work home with them as their pieces will still be wet.
If people wish to they can also bring some pictures to inspire them or to help them make their design.

Tunisian Crochet Beginners

Tutor: Diane Stewart

Description: Tunisian Crochet is a form of crochet that uses a long hook to gather up then work off stitches, making a compact fabric, suitable for bags, cushions, hand warmers and many other projects.

You will learn the basic techniques and stitches of Tunisian Crochet and how to use different colours to make great effects in your projects.

The workshop will include instruction sheets for the basic stitches and techniques.

Suitable for: beginners in Tunisian Crochet

Materials needed: Tunisian crochet hooks (these will also be available to borrow). 2 colours of DK yarn to practice, not dark colours.

Moving into the round

Tutor: Vicki Rowan

Description: Ever wanted to knit in the round and been totally intimidated by the process?
This workshop breaks it down into easy stages and provides a relaxed atmosphere to learn in. Discover that double-pointed needles and circulars are not scary and open up your creative possibilities for making loads of new and different items.

Suitable for: Knitters who can cast on and off, knit and purl.

Materials needed: Any double-pointed needles you particularly like but I will bring lots on the day.

Beaded Lace Knitting

Tutor: Anniken Allis

Description:
Beads add glamour and elegance to any knitting but work particularly well with lace knitting. In this class you will learn different ways of adding beads to your knitting and how to choose which method to use for your project. You'll also learn how to read lace charts and work common lace stitches.
In the afternoon you will get to choose from a selection of beaded shawl/accessory patterns to work on.

Materials needed: Small amount of 4ply yarn and 4mm needles for practice in the morning.

For the afternoon project: 400m/100gr or 600m/150gr sock or 4ply yarn and 4mm circular needles (80cm long) or 800m/100gr lace weight yarn and 3.5mm circular needles (80cm long). You will also need beads depending on project chosen and a 0.75mm crochet hook. Pattern will be provided.

In the afternoon participants will get to choose from a selection of patterns to cast on. They will need to bring yarn and needles as above.

Suitable for: confident novice and intermediate knitters.

Natural Dyeing

Tutor: Caroline Bawn

Description: Learn to dye with natural colours from nature onto yarn in a friendly relaxed class. Morning session teaches the basics, and the afternoon session teaches more advanced dye effects. You will dye 1 skein of luxury yarn in each session to take home and use in a project. Perfect to make something really special!
There will be the chance to buy more yarn to “play” with dyes and achieve a range of colours and effects. DIY dye kits will also be available.

Suitable for: Anyone from beginners to experienced dyers

Materials needed: All materials provided. Please wear old clothes and notify the tutor of any breathing conditions or skin allergies.

Nuno Felting

Tutor: Molly Tufnell

Description: This is a fun workshop where you will be introduced to the technique of Nuno Felting. You will make a pure silk nuno felted scarf to take home.

Nuno Felt is a fabric and is usually made using Silk chiffon and Marino tops. It is produced by driving the fibre through the material so that they become one and this creates a gorgeous new cloth. During this workshop we shall be using this technique to Nuno Felt parts of the base silk chiffon fabric in a pattern of your own design. This will produce a beautiful undulating cloth with ripples and folds. It is a technique often used to make scarves and flowing shoulder wraps because by using it well, you create a stable but ethereal structure. For more information about me take a look at my blog, go to: mollytufnell.co.uk

Suitable for: Everyone

Materials needed: Silk chiffon scarves, natural or dyed and Marino tops and Oliva soap will be provided.
You will need to bring:
2 old bath towels
Roll of bubble wrap about 1 mtr long
Old synthetic window netting
About a half mtr. length of plastic pipe or an old cut down broom handle to roll your project around
A plastic bag or container to take your project home in as it will be wet
Something to put your wet towels in to take home

Machine Embroidered Christmas Decorations

Tutor: Molly Tufnell

Description: This is a fun workshop where you can make some beautiful Free Machined decorations for your Christmas Tree and you don’t need to have tried it before. Although those pictured are round and square, you might decide on a shape of your own….the choice is yours! For more information about me take a look at my blog, go to: mollytufnell.co.uk

Suitable for: Everyone

Materials needed: Sewing machine in excellent order where the feed dogs can be lowered or covered and where you can control top tension and set stitch length and width to 0

Embelishments for your decoration such as: bits and pieces of sparkly fabric, any shiny bits and pieces like sequins, Xmas table sprinkles and so on.

Machine embroidery threads in Xmas colours, rayons and some metallics to try (they are easier to use than you think when you know how!)

Your usual sewing kit
8” wooden embroidery hoop with inner hoop bound with bias binding
A proper screw driver
Your sewing machine instruction booklet
Spare machine needles

Calico to practice on and white synthetic chiffon scarf fabric will be provided.