Courses
Artist Sue Lawty and I are running a two-day workshop as part of Selvedge London Textile Month at the Geffrye Museum of the Home in central London. We will be teaching participants the ancient Japanese craft of making thread from Japanese paper alongside exploring the woven possibilities of paper thread – your own handmade thread as well as thread made from found papers. This is a rare opportunity to work with two tutors within one workshop and to participate in a collaborative and experimental learning experience. No experience is necessary for the paper thread-making part of the workshop, but participants should have some familiarity with setting up a frame for weaving.
More information is given in the leaflet below and bookings can be made through
https://www.selvedge.org/products/london-textile-month-threads-of-paper
Natural Dyeing Summer School
This year we are offering a week long Natural Dyeing Summer school – if you think any of your members might be interested in this, we would be very grateful if you would share this email with them, or print the attached flyers and add to your Guild notice board if you have one. Many of our previous Natural Dyeing Course participants have been Guild members (testimonials below). For anyone who lives more locally we also have some one day workshops in Natural Dyeing, Sheep Husbandry and Felted Seat Pad making.
Natural Dyeing Summer School 2026 – a week long immersive course in a beautiful location next to the Thames in South Oxfordshire. This will be an opportunity for anyone interested in Natural Dyes for personal or professional use to learn and develop skills in the company of a small like minded group. The course is based around dyeing a full rainbow of colours on wool (participants will choose a fleece to dye from our Shetland x Gotland organic fibre flock), Our approach to dyeing is not recipe based, we aim to build a holistic understanding of why plants produce dyes, how they behave and how we can harness the best colours from them. This means that we will cover a certain amount of plant physiology and chemistry. Over the years we have honed ways to make this as simple and accessible as possible and we provide course notes to support learning. For more information see our website or attached PDF.
For anyone interested in shorter one day workshops in natural dyeing, felted rug making or sheep care please see attached PDF’s below or our website upcoming workshops page.
Native Sheep Husbandry 6thJune
Introduction to Natural Dyeing and Wool Processing7thJune
Thank you very much,
Romilly, Flow and Steph
The Outside
Ancient Textiles and Heritage Crafts
www.theoutside.org.uk
theoutsideinfo@gmail.com
Testimonials
‘The extended dyeing course was fantastic. After many years of not having time to dye anything this was a fantastic reintroduction that really worked from first principles. The colours we created with Romilly and Flow’s help were terrific and I look forward to doing my own experiments this year from all that I learned. The course also helped me be a bit braver about experimenting and responding to what was in front of me rather than going by set guidelines. It was well worth it.’ Susan Kay-Williams
‘The Outside at Hardwick Estate, near Reading, is a wonderful creative place to be and to learn all about natural dyeing. Romilly and Flow have created a space and environment that is like food for the soul, with their calming, eco friendly approach to life, but at the same time were able to feed the scientist in me and my thirst for knowledge about how dyeing works.
Flow and Romilly have an enormous amount of knowledge about mordanting, dyeing and native dye plants. We barely scratched the surface of what they know during our eight days with them. This was a great course that taught me an incredible amount, allowed me to experiment and push some boundaries to meet my individual needs as a new and keen dyer. Highly recommend this course to everyone.’ Julie Roberts (Berkshire Guild)
Introduction/Beginners Courses in Spinning and Weaving
We have many members skilled in spinning and weaving techniques, some of whom are willing to provide one to one classes. If this is of interest please get in touch.
We also hold skills share days throughout the year at our monthly meetings which you are very welcome to attend as a visitor and we will find someone to assist you.
A list of Guild members, their location and specialties, will appear here soon.
Val Conway
A very experienced weaver – providing weaving instruction at the Guild and at a Burgess Hill Creative Community class on Thursdays
Please get in touch: Patricia Conway valconway8@hotmail.com
Jackie Bennett
Tapestry Weaver, East Sussex, www.jackietapestry.com
Learn Art Weaving in Lewes and Uckfield areas
Create your own mini-weaving, on a small frame, which is a good introduction to weaving in general – all materials and equipment provided. Typically you will make a coaster-sized tapestry-woven piece in a day.
Learn open-weaving techniques – a hybrid of weaving and embroidery
Please contact me directly for more information on upcoming workshops.
One-to-one and bespoke lessons
Are you working on a project and don’t know what to do next? Maybe you have an idea in mind and would like some help to get started. Or you are a beginner wishing to try weaving for the first time. I offer fun workshops, and tutorials, in-person or online. This can be one-to-one or you may join with a small group.
I also offer bespoke workshops for up to 4 participants at my home, or elsewhere for larger groups.
Online Tutorial Group: for weavers who are working on their own projects and would like to share with a group and gain help and feedback from me. Contact me for more information and to join.
I live Central Lewes and there is free parking available – or I can come to you. I also teach at West Dean College and other locations.
Please get in touch jackietapestry@gmail.com
London Guild WSD Workshops open to all but priority given to members of the LGWSD.
For detailed information: www.londonguildofweavers.org.uk
Craft Courses
A large number of online courses plus in person courses around the country.
See their web site for more information www.craftcourses.com
The Handweavers Studio & Gallery
A wide range of workshops covering weaving, spinning, dyeing, tapestry weaving, and other yarn and fibre crafts. Weekly weaving classes are also held at their studio in Finsbury Park, London.
The mixed ability weaving classes, organised into three 10 week terms per year – autumn, spring and summer – are held on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday evenings with morning and afternoon classes on Tuesdays & Thursdays.
For more information or to book a class please see www.handweavers.co.uk/workshops-classes.irs, phone 0207 7272 1891 or email courses@handweavers.co.uk.
Create with Fibre
Tel. 01292 550393 mail@createwithfibre.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/createwithfibre
Spinning online course
This course is about how to spin yarn: but not only that. It looks at the wide choice of fibres available and helps you to choose the right spinning tool for you.
The course represents excellent value – as well as 13 pdf booklets, there are over 120 mins of videos to accompany every aspect of the booklets, so that as well as reading about the processes, you can watch videos of exactly how it’s done.
Price £30
https://www.lowimpact.org/onlinecourse/spinning/
Weaving online course
Weaving is a great way to create beautiful handmade items for your home and wardrobe without the need for any existing craft skills. It is a simple technique in its most basic form and very versatile. Use your weaving to make scarves, pictures and even clothing. Although not a requirement, if you spin too you have the added bonus of being able to create things from the very beginning, sheep to scarf! Weaving is something that both adults and young people can enjoy.
This course will show you the basics of how to weave on a simple frame loom and progress to teaching you to use the versatile yet easy-to-use ‘rigid heddle’ loom. These looms can be used to make many things yet do not take up much room in your home and can be easily stored.
Through a combination of easy to follow videos filmed by Piotr Karter at Inlight Media and comprehensive supporting texts, experienced course tutor Janet Renouf-Miller of Create With Fibre will guide you through the weaving process from start to finish. At just £30 for 36 videos and 12 texts, it makes a great gift for any crafter… yourself included!
Price £30
Pinki Punki
A Fibre Artist and Designer, she has a Creative Video School on YouTube www.youtube.com/c/PinkiPunki/videos
How to Spin Unicorn Art Yarn www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEvaxBTrDTo
Art Yarn Spinning – Fancy Plying www.youtube.com/watch?v=93cxnlc9BwQ
Art Yarn Spinning – crochet braid yarn (how to) www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYqj0iCX-j8
Art Yarn spinning – corespun stacks www.youtube.com/watch?v=giN56ykclWE
Spinning yarn – a balanced corespun yarn (how to) www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-LkeGAYJfc
Simple thick and thin hand spun yarn www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tmt7e_xiajs
Spinning yarn lock spinning art yarn (how I do it) www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVqblNtDah8
Plants & Colour
Online courses. There is a 15% discount for those on low or no income. Visit their web site for more information www.plantsandcolour.co.uk
Dyeing Paper with Natural Colour – An Online Demonstration With Jacqui Symons
A two-hour online demonstration of the techniques and processes that can be used to dye paper. Aimed at beginners and natural dyers who would like to introduce paper into their work, Jacqui will demonstrate how to best mordant papers to achieve strong colours, how to prepare and make dye baths for dyeing paper and how to achieve flat and uniform results on sheets of paper. She will highlight the differences between dyeing paper and dyeing fabric, discuss the best papers to dye with natural colour and also talk about materials and equipment used in paper-dyeing. The session will be a combination of live talk and demonstration, mixed with pre-recorded content to show some longer processes. From £35.
Introduction to natural dyes (Online Course)
Introducing you to approaches to natural dyeing textiles to create a variety of colours. Specialising in effective plant based mordants (fixatives) for vibrant colours. We will look at fabric, fabric preparations, dye plants, extraction processes, and dye processes through written recipes and video tutorials.
Starting with fabric preparation processes: scouring, oiling, and plant based mordants. Working mostly with protein fibres and plant based mordants (fixatives), however also including recipes for working with cellulose fibres and using mineral mordants.
Extracting colour from dye plants, adding fibres to dye baths and then working with modifiers to expand your colour spectrum. Creating and working with a fructose indigo dye vat. Using the vat to create blues, and over-dyeing for greens, purples, and browns. £65
Botanical Ink & Paint Making (Online Course)
An introduction to four techniques for making inks and paints, including making lake pigments. Identifying reliable and effective plants for pigment. How to use binders, preservatives, and additives. Working with metals, acids, and alkalis as to fix and transform colours on the paper. £65
Natural Fabric Dyeing with Justine Aldersey-Williams at The Wild Dyery
Core Skills in Natural Fabric Dyeing
This exciting, online home-study course teaches you how to dye fabric a spectrum of colours using just three plants.
Leaf : Print : Cloth
This exciting, online home-study course teaches you how to eco print foraged leaves and flowers on to fabric. Eco printing is a wonderful technique that records the unique signature of foliage on cloth, creating a lasting record of a time and place.
Patterned by Plants
This exciting, online home-study course teaches you how to hand print fabric using traditional techniques with plant dyes.
Skillshare – online classes including some that are free on all kinds of things including felting, drum carding, washing raw fleece, knitting, crochet, sewing, embroidery and much more. For more information see www.skillshare.com/browse/crafts or click on the links below.
www.skillshare.com/browse/spinning
The Braid Society
thebraidsociety.wildapricot.org
Braids and Bands is a discussion group moderated by the Braid Society and primarily exists to provide members with information about the Braid Society activities. Non members of the society with a genuine interest in braids and bands are also welcome to join this group. Members can ask questions about any narrow ware technique, or share details of their latest project. Items wanted or for sale can also be advertised. This document Instructions for Groups io gives step by step guidance for joining and using the service. This Braids and Bands group is hosted by Groups.io.
There is also a Braids and Bands group on Facebook which is also open to non members of the society and is moderated by the Braid Society. For Braid Society Members there is a separate group on Facebook that is used for communicating Society information.
School of Stitched Textiles
FREE online courses for beginners. They also do accredited and master practitioner courses. Courses available in the following – stumpwork, machine embroidery, hand embroidery, drawing for design, goldwork embroidery, patchwork, applique, crochet and knitting. For more information see www.sofst.org/beginner-courses or www.sofst.org/courses/our-courses for their more advanced courses.
Made and Making run courses on crochet, knitting, felting, sewing, patchwork, papercrafts, printing, calligraphy and much more!
Courses are held at Made and Making, Garden Studio, South Downs Nurseries, Brighton Road, Hassocks, West Sussex BN6 9LY. There are many free online tutorials on their website plus paid for online courses.
For felting courses see www.madeandmaking.co.uk/felting.html. Courses include: Felted 3D vessels/cases, felt pictures, felted flowers, 3D needle felting, felted hats and bags, felted slippers, needle felted bunting, Nuno felting, felt scarf and Christmas needle felt. Prices range from £40 to £69.
For crochet and knitting courses see www.madeandmaking.co.uk/crochet-knitting.html. Courses include: Beginners’ crochet, crochet techniques, amigurumi, Tunisian crochet, Intarsia crochet, Entrelac crochet, filet crochet, beginners’ knitting, arm knitting, and sock knitting. Prices range from £5 to £289.
For free sewing and crochet projects and tutorials, including how to make T-shirt yarn, plus some sewing patterns to purchase see www.madeandmaking.co.uk/projects-tutorials.html
For more information please see: www.madeandmaking.co.uk or contact sarah@madeandmaking.co.uk, tel. 07967819540.
Craftsy
Courses in crochet, knitting, sewing, quilting and more.
Knitting courses include everything from beginners, colourwork, cables, Fair Isle, stacked stitches, brioche, lace, left handed knitting, Peruvian knitting, socks, sweaters, Bavarian twisted stitches, Portugese knitting, twined knitting, Estonian lace, intarsia, fearless steeking.
Crochet courses include beginners, ripples and waves, granny stitch, Tunisian, crochet in the round, amigurumi, reading and understanding patterns, joining as you go, motifs, crocodile stitch, freeform crochet, fair isle crochet, broomstick lace, plus shuttle tatting.
For more information see www.craftsy.com
Slipstitch
They are currently working on expanding their range of online classes – keep an eye out for updates.
For more information please see https://slipstitchldn.co.uk/, email hello@slipstitchldn.co.uk or phone 0208 883 9478. Located at 108 Alexandra Park Road, London, N10 2AE.
Knit School
Knit School from The Loveliest Yarn Company is an online membership for knitters who want to get more from their knitting, learn new techniques and be part of a community of knitters.
Four ways to join: sign up for their weekly newsletter, listen to the Get Knit Done podcast, join their Facebook page, or become a member.
Blog posts www.knitschool.co.uk/blog
For more information see www.knitschool.co.uk/
Edie Eckman
Knit-Crochet Diplomat, writer, teacher, designer, editor. www.edieeckman.com
For a range of knitting and crochet classes and workshops see https://www.edieeckman.com/education-resources/classes-workshops/
For video tutorials see https://www.youtube.com/user/edieeckman
The Weald and Downland Museum often hold courses and workshops in traditional skills.
For more information see www.wealddown.co.uk/courses/, email courses@wealddown.co.uk or phone 01243 811021. The Weald and Downland Living Museum, Town Lane, Singleton, Chichester PO18 OEU.
West Dean College of Arts and Conservation
Study anything from short courses to Foundation, Diploma and Masters degrees (in full partnership with the University of Sussex) in a wide range of subjects. Set in the beautiful surroundings of West Dean Gardens. With over 800 creative short courses ranging from basketmaking to gardening and from photography to textiles there’s plenty to choose from if you want to learn a new skill or develop your existing talents.
For short courses in textiles please see www.westdean.org.uk/study/short-courses/courses?category=Textiles&subcategory=&tutors=&level=&month=&duration=.
Courses include Kumihimo – Japanese braidmaking, A dip into natural dyes, Wild textiles – foraging and natural dyeing, Eco-dyeing and printing with plants, Hand block-printing with natural dyes, Traditional Shibori textile technique, Make a shibori textured scarf, Colour and texture in weaving, Tactile sensibility in woven tapestry, Tapestry weaving – the basics, Woven tapestry – sculptural forms, Weaving on a body-tensioned loom, and Colour and collage in feltmaking.
For more information on their short courses see www.westdean.org.uk/study/short-courses, email bookingsoffice@westdean.org.uk or phone 01243 818300. West Dean College of Arts and Conservation – The Edward James Foundation Ltd, West Dean, Nr Chichester, West Sussex, PO18 0QZ.