Workshops
There will be plenty of drop-in activities during our residency, including a special 'drop-spinning' challenge with a leaderboard to beat - winner gets a special prize. There will also be opportunities for community groups and children's holiday clubs of between 6 to 12 people to do special workshops, please get in touch if you're interested.
The workshops are on Thursday 4th August, Wednesday 10th August and Wednesday 17th August. These need to be booked in advance through Sprout with a payment of £10 each, the morning 'family' workshops costs £10 per family group. Materials and equipment kits are payable on the day.
Calendar - follow the Furzedown Fleece
Thursday 4th August - Spinning Workshops
Morning spinning workshop for families: apx 1.5 hours
An introduction to hand-spinning spinning for children and families - turning a sheep's fleece into yarn for knitting and weaving using drop spindles and spinning wheels
The workshop is led by Penny Walsh and is open to complete beginners. At the end of this workshop you will have a length of your own hand-spun yarn to take home! Book again for the knitting and weaving workshops to find out how you can use your yarn. Don't forget to have a go with the drop spinning challenge.
A family group of 3 (which must include 1 adult and up to 2 children between 6 and 14) costs £10. Sorry we cannot accommodate unaccompanied children.
Adults afternoon spinning workshop: apx 2.5 hours
Introduction to hand spinning for adults - turning a sheep's fleece into yarn for knitting and weaving using drop spindles and spinning wheels. The workshop is led by Penny Walsh and is open to complete beginners. At the end of this workshop you will have a length of your own hand-spun yarn to take home! Book again for the weaving workshops to find out how you can use your yarn and the advanced spinning workshop. Don't forget to have a go with the drop spinning challenge.
£10 each person
Wednesday 10th August - Weaving Workshops
Morning weaving workshop for families: apx 1.5 hours
An introduction to weaving with Aruna Reddy, for children and families. Using woollen threads, needles shuttles and bobbins, and looms, and your own fingers, learn how to design and create your own weaving.
This workshop is run by Aruna Reddy who is an experienced tapestry weaver, exhibitor, and demonstrator of her craft. By the end of the session you will learn how to weave in plain and multi-colours, cover various ways of starting your weaving piece, and removing it from the frame, find out about different types of looms and weaving techniques and know how to continue on your weaving journey after you leave the workshop.
We will provide colourful woollen yarns and ready warped up loom frames for you to use. You may purchase a warped up frame in the Sprout shop if you wish to take one away with you.
A family group of 3 (which must include 1 adult and up to 2 children between 6 and 16) costs £10 Sorry we cannot accommodate unaccompanied children.
Adult's afternoon weaving workshop: apx 2.5 hours
An introduction to weaving for adults with Aruna Reddy. Using woollen threads, needles shuttles and bobbins, and looms, and your own fingers, learn how to design and create your own weaving.
This workshop is run by Aruna Reddy who is an experienced tapestry weaver, exhibitor, and demonstrator of her craft. By the end of the session you will learn how to weave in plain and multi-colours, cover various ways of starting your weaving piece, and removing it from the frame, find out about different types of looms and weaving techniques and know how to continue on your weaving journey after you leave the workshop.
We will provide colourful woollen yarns and ready warped up loom frames for you to use. You may purchase a warped up frame in the Sprout shop if you wish to take one away with you.
£10 each person
Wednesday 17th August
Advanced Spinning Workshop
Adults morning advanced spinning workshop: apx 2 hours
This workshop is led by Penny Walsh who has great experience of all aspects of hand-spinning as well as natural dyeing (not covered on this course, unfortunately). You will learn about simple plying, chain playing, multi-plying, combing singles into a finished yarn, S and Z twists, and the effect of plying on twist, differences between woollen and worsted yarns, a bit about spinning the different fibres, animal and vegetal and demos on how to make fancy yarns and the chance to have a go yourself
You will be provided with sufficient materials to complete this course. Please feel free to bring along your own singles that you have already spun, for plying.
Samples of hand-spun and natural dyed wool are available in the Sprout Arts shop for you to purchase.
£10 each person
Knitting for children Workshop
Afternoon knitting workshop for families: apx 1.5 hours
This Children's Introduction to Knitting Workshop is for families ( 1 adult + up to 2 children aged 6 years and over) and run by Geraldine Kelly. The workshop is open to complete beginners and to those with some knowledge already. At the end of this workshop you will have learned how to hold your needles for knitting, how to make plain and purl knitting stitches, You will have your own piece of knitting to take home with you. Don't forget to have a go with the drop spinning challenge.
We will provide a selection of coloured yarns to practice your knitting. There will also be samples of hand-spun and natural dyed yarns for sale in the Sprout shop.
Knitting for children with Geraldine, for children and families. A family group of 3 (which must include 1 adult and up to 2 children between 6 and 16) costs £10. Sorry we cannot accommodate unaccompanied children during this workshop.
Bookings payable in advance through Sprout
Numbers are restricted so you must register your interest first by emailing sproutcommunityarts@gmail.com. To confirm your place you'll be sent payment instructions.
£10 for children between 6 and 15 years and families (up to 3 persons) for morning workshops
£10 per adult for afternoon workshops (adults over 15 years)
Materials and equipment kits payable on the day