Hand spinning & weaving
Classes & commissions
Supplies & equipment
Spinning
Level 1 Handspinning £335
Accredited by Agored Cymru (Welsh Awarding Body)
This unique, accredited and internationally recognised unit of three credits provides a foundation in hand spinning with wool. The taught element of the course is run over two days up to a month apart, with award winning tutor Dunja Roberts. In addition to the practical instruction you will receive a comprehensive Learner Guide and a Workbook to complete and full support throughout the course. There is no exam but the exercises you complete in the Workbook, along with examples of your hand spinning, will demonstrate the skills and knowledge you have gained in order to be awarded the unit.
Syllabus
- The characteristics and qualities of fleece and how it is washed
- The principles of spinning with a spinning wheel
- How to prepare wool for hand spinning
- How to spin with a spinning wheel
- How to produce a plied yarn
- How to finish yarn ready for use
Next course May 4th and 5th, 2018. at the All in a spin studio, Cwmdu. £335.
To book your place please get in touch
For available dates see the calendar
Spinning – the basics £80
A day of inspirational teaching, encouragement and fun. Learn the basics of hand spinning, right from choosing a fleece to setting the yarn. By the end of the day you will have proudly spun and plied your very own yarn which you will be able to use in a small project.
This course may be taken along with the ‘Next steps’ day to make a weekend of spinning delight.
Syllabus
- Fleece selection and washing
- Preparing the fleece for spinning (hand carding)
- Getting started with spinning singles
- Plying – making a 2 ply yarn
- Skeining, washing and setting the yarn
For available dates see the calendar
Art Yarns £90
Now you've mastered spinning fast, fine and consistent you are ready for the next challenge! Art yarns require you to slow down and grow a whole new set of skills to spin exuberant, colourful and textured yarns. On this course you will learn how to spin a variety of speciality yarns, including incorporating beautiful, hand dyed curls, beads and buttons. You will go home with a range of mini skeins of your very own.
Syllabus:
- Wheel control and set up
- Core spinning - from locks and tops, singles and plies
- Slub yarns and what you can do with them
- Multiply yarns
- Insertions
For available dates see the calendar
Exotic fibres £80
On this one day workshop you will spin new and exotic fibres, from lustrous silk to Kevlar and rose fibre. Each will demand different techniques to spin successfully.
Syllabus
The first part of the workshop will concentrate on discussion of the following:
- Fibre types: animal, plant, synthetic
- Fibre characteristics
- Drafting methods: woollen, worsted, mixed, from the fold
- Twist and take up
Then you will have the chance to experiment with a wide range of exotic and unusual fibres. Spin samples and make brief but effective notes which will build into your own practical spinning reference library.
For available dates see the calendar
Spinning Linen and Cotton £80
On this one day course you will learn the specific techniques used to spin flax into linen as well as learning how to spin cotton with a supported spindle. These new techniques will expand your spinning boundaries and give you more options how to spin and blend both very long and very short fibres.
Suitable for spinners with good, basic skills.
What you will learn:
- Different ways to present flax for spinning
- Spin line flax and tow flax
- different cotton preparations
- spin cotton from the boll, from a top and from punis
- spin using a supported spindle
- spin using a charkha
- spin off the point with a spinning wheel
By the end of the day you will have a number of samples to take home with you, as well as new skills to incorporate into your spinning repertoire.
For available dates see the calendar
Level 3 Handspinning £1550
Accredited by Agored Cymru (Welsh Awarding Body)
This unique, accredited and internationally recognised unit of twelve credits provides a broad and deep study of hand spinning. The taught element of the course is run over six days around a month apart, with award winning tutor Dunja Roberts. Along with the practical instruction you will receive a comprehensive Learner Guide as well as a Workbook to complete. There is no formal written examination but the exercises you complete in the Workbook, along with many examples of your hand spinning and a final design and make project, will demonstrate the skills and knowledge you have gained. The workbook and practical examples are assessed and on successful completion you are awarded an Agored Cymru certificate.
Syllabus
- Understand the history and processes of hand spinning
- Understand materials that can be used for hand spinning
- Know how to prepare fibres for hand spinning
- Understand a range of spinning styles
- Understand plying and finishing techniques for hand spun yarn
- Understand how to spin fine and bulky yarn
- Be able to design and spin fancy yarns
- Be able to spin a range of fibres
- Be able to design an artefact
- Be able to hand spin to a brief
Course starting January 13th, 2018 is FULL.
Next course starts June 2018.
To book your place please get in touch
For available dates see the calendar
Spinning – next steps £80
Now that you have mastered the basics of spinning you will soon want to be able to produce a wider variety of yarns. On this one day course you will discover new techniques for spinning yarns from fine to super-bulky using a variety of natural, luxury and manufactured fibres.
Come for a day of inspirational teaching, encouragement and fun and discover just what a wonderful variety of yarns you can spin for your next knitting, crochet or weaving project.
Syllabus
- Types of fibre and fibre preparation
- Choosing and using fibre preparation tools including drum carder, flick carder, blending board and wool combs
- Drafting techniques – woollen and worsted
- How to make a balanced yarn – ratios and twist
- Design your own yarn
For available dates see the calendar
Fibre preparation £80
You've been spinning for a while now, but are you getting stuck in a rut? Then it's time for some in depth study!
On this course you will try out up to ten different breeds from the main UK types of down (fine), longwool and lustre, hill and mountain, as well as a guest fleece or two!
By the end of the day you will:
- Know the properties of different fleece types
- Understand how to prepare various fleece types
- Know which tools to use and their effect
- Understand different drafting methods and know when to use them
- Understand twist and ratio and how it affects your yarn
- Spin samples and make simple, effective notes to build into a spinning reference library
You will go home inspired by what you can achieve!
Syllabus
- How to recognise the three main fleece types in the UK
- How to choose and using fibre preparation tools including hand carders, drum carder, comb, flick carder and wool combs
- Drafting techniques – woollen and worsted
- Spinning wheel ratios and twist
- Spin samples and make brief but effective notes which will build into your own practical spinning reference library
For available dates see the calendar
General information
Day workshop times are 10am to 4.30pm. All materials, tools and equipment are provided. Morning and afternoon refreshments are included but please bring a packed lunch. If you prefer you may go down to the tea rooms in Cwmdu where you will find delicious lunches served!
Half day workshop times are 10am to 1pm or 2pm to 5pm.
To book, please get in touch or telephone 01874 730907. By booking onto a course you are agreeing to the terms and conditions.
Payment methods: BACS, cheque, cash or debit/credit card.
Group tuition cost varies depending on the workshop. Individual tuition: £28 per hour.
If you would like to attend a workshop or have individual tuition but cannot make the advertised dates, please contact me and we can make alternative arrangements.