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Print This Page   Textile Courses at Greystoke Hand Loom Weaving  Nuno Felt Scarves  Felt Slippers Traditional Large Hookie Rag Rug   Shibori Scarves     Felt Flowers& Corsages    Wonderful Winter Scarf Weaving     Rag Rug Hookie & Proddie Cushions   Felt Art       Rag Rug Wall Hangings    Beginners ~ Intermediate         Woolfest is a celebration of all things Woollen and Crafty (26 m W of here /J40 of M6 and Penrith deeper into lovely Cumbria and at the northern edge of the beautiful English Lake District. Make a holiday of it - many already do, excited enthusiasts travel  from from all over Early booking of both accomodation & courses advised   If you like textiles - you will love ... Fri 28 Sat 29 June 2013 at Cockermouth and our Quirky Week of Courses held from Fri 28th to Thu 5th July around Woolfest     Click right for Main Programme table with prices etc located at 'Other Quirky Days' on top men A Woolfest Workshop Innovations in 'Green Dyeing' from the natural Dye Garden with Helen Melvin Ideal for delicate fibres     About Helen Melvin of Fiery Felts   Helen Melvin is perhaps the UK authority in Natural green Eco Dyeing. She has spent years perfecting her techniques which has resulted in the publication of 4 specialist books on Eco Dyeing and her own Welsh Dye garden which has already appeared on a number of TV programmes. Helen brings with her a lifelong expertise of the most up to date Eco friendly but vibrant dye technques - after appearing at Woolfest in late June 2013 she will visit Greystoke to take day long workshops and share some of her secrets. The dyeing aspects of these workshops will take place under cover outside in the garden - please wear suitable protective clothes   Green Dyeing without compromise Helen's expertise combines the best from the original mediaeval Dye gardens ** and along with steaming and indigo vats she expertly brings them into the 21st Century with innovative green techniques such as fresh solar bundling. Excitingly the new resulting shades are not only deeper richer and more vibrant colours - but the methods are ideal for delicate fabrics like merino wools, silks and organzas. ensuring they remain soft, open and useable and colour without matting or felting **( the alchemists of industrial Britain introduced to the dyers armoury strong toxic & polluting chemical colours and harsh processes unsuitable for the most delicate of fibres )         Eco Dyeing Day Workshop   Tues 2nd July or (and poss Wed 3rd July 2013) Helen will bringwith her some silk, each student will have 4 long lengths to make 4 scarves, Using her unique dye techiques over the day you will learn and leave with these four pieces ideal for yourself or presents. There will be an additional materials / dye charge of approx £10 per person Natural plant dye enthusiasts tend to favour the natural more subtle shades and complexities of the natural plant palette. Madder ~ Woad ~ Indigo   Elderflower  ~ Buddleia ~ Coreopsis Bugle ~ Persicaria are just some of the common garden dye plants used over the centuries for traditional colours. However, using her own special techniques Helen has now created for the first time such elusive colours as turquoise - rarely heard of until a few years ago - it now becomes available to the natural Dyer     Rag Rug Making Days with Heather Ritchie       Heather uses both Hookie and Proddie methods in her rugs Include lovely flowers in your rug design - especially uitable for  wall hangings or cushion covers Heather brings along lovely ideas and fabric.                           return to top Sat 29th or Sun 30th June 2013 Thursday 31st October   Heather's rugs are fondly termed Paintings in Fabric. Iincredibly detailed, each depicts ascene from various corners of her life - from her Grandfather's allotment to her summer holidays from childhood. When she moved into a house in North Yorkshire with cold flagstone floors, a neighbour showed her how to make a rug using hessian sacking and old lisle stockings .Immediately she was inspired by the idea and over the last 25 years has developed and refined her Rag Rug making skills to the highest standard.     One of Britain's most experienced rug makers and teachers of rug-making. She travels widely running workshops and is internationally recognised for her skills:  She often tutors in the States and Africa where she is a founder of Rug aid   This course takes place around Cumbria's Woolfest 2013 What to bring - please read Some large sharp scissors and a couple of bags of material of the colour scheme you may want - though often the materials are pooled. Woollens wear best if hoping to make a floor rug (see below - Emma Tennant what to bring) Round frames are available for use and purchase at the end from Heather or  we have a number of square frames to borrow and possibly buy at the end of the day- these will be joiner made and will cost around £20 we think  They will be about 2 ft by 3ft  ish Hookies and Proddiies - again - are available to borrow - and buy at the end if you want - they are around £12 How to Book   return to top Rag Rug Making Days with Emma Tennant     Photos pf previous workshop may provide some ideas.   Emma's 2013 workshops Tue 22nd Oct or Thu 14th Nov     Emma provides joiner made traditional frames some 3ft x 4ft which are ideal for large floor rugs- the type for which she is so well known - though they do reduce to smaller working size if needed She makes rugs using the Hookie method and these are also provided You can buy either frame or hookie at the end (£28 and £12) Emma will show you how to plan and create these lovely distinctive rugs Emma Tennant lives in Roxburghshire, Scotland .She is widely held as an authority on the history of Rag Rug making.  Emma spends her winters making and designing rag rugs which are made by a group of neighbours and marketed under the name Hermitage Rugs. She spends the summer painting flowers in her studio at the foot of the Cheviots Hills and is a member of the Council of the National Trust.   She prefers using a fairly close weave hessian that gives a denser ,longer wearing rug.  You will follow the original methods of hookie rugging done by busy wives and mothers on dark winter evenings. Once booked with Emma  you could start looking out for materials to bring with you for our rug. For a floor rug woollens works best as they clean easiest, wear well and don’t attract the dirt as much – ie tweeds, coats, jumpers, trousers, jackets, anything from  charity shops as long as clean and dry – and if you know of any old fashioned tailors, they always have trimmings from wool garments they may be glad to give away (Continued see below left)         Author of   'Rag Rugs of England and America'       WHAT TO BRING? Some large dressmaking scissors and a few bags of material as detailed above and a darning needle with a large eye (blunt is fine) - do give your design some thought and simpe often has more impact. Notice how Emma manages to produce a shaded effect in her designs - this brings them to life. Photos of previous workshops may give you some ideas   return to top   Synthetic materials and cottons are also fine – though synthetics tend to attract dirt and are not so easily cleaned.  However if you re making a cushion or a wall hanging, then this perhpas won't matter. Emma will bring her rugs for you to see and her own collection of materals to share How to Book           Spinning, Natural Dyeing, Beginners' Crochet & Knitting Days with Marion Woolcott   About Marion Woolcott  ... an experienced spinner, weaver, dyer, knitter and crocheter as well as being a tutor and designer. She has taught many individuals and groups different aspects of spinning, specialising in producing exciting fancy yarns. Marion is also a founder member of The Wool Clip co-operative, where she sells her fine silk and merino woven scarves, yarns and clothing. Marion designs and sells patterns and kits inspired by her hand dyed yarns.     Learn to Knit - Wrist Warmers Tue 9th April    Marion can provide a Wrist warmer kit which contains 4mm bamboo needles and hand dyed mohair double knitting yarn, pattern and knitting instructions for £6 If you prefer to bring your own by all means do - needles should be 4mm or 4.5mm and Marion will provide the patterns.     Adults £64 Child £25   Special rates apply to accompanied Under 18's The same 2 course lunch available to all.   If you like textiles- You will love 'WOOLFEST' Fri 28th or Sat 29th June a celebration of all things Woollen and Crafty in Cockermouth (26 m W of here /J40 of M6 and Penrith  deeper into lovely Cumbria at the northern edge of the wonderful Lake District. Make a holiday of it - many already do, excited enthusiasts travel from all corners of the country and beyond.  Early booking of both accomodation & courses advised Many of our textiles courses are held around Woolfest for this reason   Dyeing with Natural Dyes Marion Woolcott £68 inc lovely lunch - see below for multi spin dye craft offer Friday 2nd August 2013    We will explore the world of dyeing wool with Natural dyes; covering mordanting the yarn the process which ensures the dye  adheres to the wool, and seeing the different colours produced from one dye bucket.   We will be using Weld, Logwood, Madder and some local plants.  If the weather is fine we shall also be able to have an indigo dyebath. Everyone will go home with sample cards of yarn from each dyebath. Total cost of wools /dyes £3 to Marion on the day please . Don't wear your best clothes and bring rubber gloves! Spinning Yarns Spinning Wheels & Drop Spindles  Tue 23rd July 2013 £68 inc lovely lunch - see below for multi spin dye craft offer                           We shall have a lovely woolly day - first looking at different types of sheep and the various merits of their fleeces with many samples on hand to explore. We will then go through sorting a fleece and preparing it using hand carders.  This wool will then be spun using drop spindles to start with progressing to a spinning wheel.  Everyone will go home with a hank of handspun yarn. Please bring an apron  All material costs are included in this class How to Book Beginners Crochet Fri 9th August 2013 Spend a day with Marion learning how to crochet- everything provided £64/25 inc lovely lunch ' Wrist warmers in a Day '   Special rates apply to accompanied Under 18's  to encourage families to enjoy learning new skills together. Lunch etc will be available to all. Please see above 1plus1 logo Joined Up Course Discount Spin - Dye - Crochet/Knit The Dyeing workshop follows the Spinning Workshop so students can dye their own spun fleeces-  they could learn to crochet some wrist warmers using their own spun dyed yarns Please deduct £15 discount from 2nd course and £20 from 3rd course of any of Marions courses booked in 2013 - inc knitting). (not applicable to already discounted child places)         return to top            FELT Workshops with Debra Esterhuizen 2013   Create your very own felt masterpiece with Debra- who She will bring all the materials necessary for the day, comprising a fabulous choice of of vibrant colours in various fleeces and silks. Fri 28th June - Making Felt Slippers £66 Thu 4th July* -Felt Art/Corsages or Nuno Scarves/Corsages £66 Fri 5th July - Felt Art £66 full including lovely lunch etc * felt art option recently added These courses are intentionally organised around the WOOLFEST weekend of Fri 28th Sat 29th June 2013   Convinced  that the alchemy of felt making is extremely therapeutic and somehow rekindles the child within us, she loves its familiarity of warm, tactile experience, the result is escape  and calm followed by the joy of a new skill resulting in a beautiful piece of art/craft.    There will be a material charge payable to the tutor directly on the day of £6     How to Book   Debra is a self taught  felt artist living in the Eden Valley, Cumbria. Her passion for art arose in her childhood growing up in the Peak District. Here a love for the wild and the beautiful was instilled and has remained integral to her being.     She appeared recently in the Cumbria Culture section of Cumbria Life magazine. Click here to see the article It was while she was travelling in Nepal that Debra discovered the ancient art of felt making. Soaking up the rich jewels of colour and form in all the beauty she observed and, overjoyed by the delights of these new cultures. On her return to the UK Debra began to create beautiful felt pieces, first objects but latterly “paintings “ as she calls them. Her artwork radiates energy using rich vibrant colours and exudes excitement witnessed in her travels. Her colours hold a dissonance which fills the image with energy and light. She attempts to portray the natural beauty of light shows observed in person and hopes to convey the experience through her chosen medium, perhaps reminding the observer of the beauty once visited.             return to top Wonderful Weaving on a Hand Loom - design and weave your own Scarf' with Jan Beadle         Bubble Up Scarves ~ Collapse Weaving When the scarf is washed different warps and wefts shrinks differentially to the cotton and so tightens and causes the cotton to bubble up , creating this exciting effect. Wed 27th Nov Collapse Weaving Bubble Up/ Shibori Create your own handwoven scarf in a day, incorporating unusual yarns that magically collapse giving the weave an unusual rippled effect. Spend a day weaving on a four shaft table loom experimenting with this weaving technique producing your own individually woven piece. Looms will be set up and ready to go. This course is perfect for beginners and for the more experienced wishing to develop their skills further. Jan graduated with a BA Hons in] Carpet Design and Related Textiles in the mid 80’s - she recently left the University of Cumbria where she was their Weaving Guru with over 25 years experience 2013 Thu 14 March   A Scarf for Spring ~ free weave & funky Your 4 shaft table looms will be set up ready to go - there will be a huge range of beatifully textured yarns that are all the rage to incorporate into your weaving - perfect for Beginners     A free weave student scarf from Oct 12 Tue 15th Oct Autumn Scarf- Free weave and Funky Make your own very special handwoven scarf in a day. Your four shaft table looms, will be set up and ready to go.There will be a huge range of beautiful textured yarns that are all the rage to incorporate in your weaving. Perfect for beginners Weave a Scarf workshop Summer 12 WOOLFEST weekend of Fri 28th Sat 29th June 2013 Mon 1st July  Weaving a Leno Scarf Spend a day on a loom learning the finger manipulated Leno technique, which produces a beautiful lace effect. Looms will be set up and ready to go for you to create your own individual woven piece. Leno only requires a basic loom that can do plain weave so don't be daunted, anyone can do it! This is a perfect course for beginners and weavers who would like to develop new ideas.         Material Charges Approximate material charges will be around £5 -£8 per scarf  depending on what is used and are payable directly to the tutor on the day.     How to Book   Make your own Shibori Scarf - Nov 27th       return to top         You are now viewing the 'Textiles Page' ... for Availabilty & all dates times & prices please return to complete programme table on the main Workshop page   'Be Fabulous with Felt' . . .  with Linda Anne Chapman -   Enjoy a Nuno Felt Scarf making Day Perfect for Hen Parties for groups of up to around 15 people here at the Cycle Cafe making corsages and nuno scarves and foibles - please enquire     Linda Chapman one of the team behind the hugely popular WOOLFEST She is also a member of the co-operative 'The Wool Clip' in Caldbeck    Linda came to Cumbria some 5 years ago and created her very own felt making studio overlooking Blencathra in the Lake District.  A talented all round artist, she has a fine art degree, with an origina l background in painting. www.moorendfelts.co.uk.   Linda's work is already sold in galleries throughout Cumbria and online from her web site   Material Charges Approximate material charges up to £10 will be payable to Linda on the day depending on what is made. return to top How to Book     Linda's Nuno Felt Scarf and Corsage Day Monday 14th Oct 2013 Wed 13th Nov '13 how to make felt flowers and foibles and nuno scarves which are fine silk chiffon or muslin gently rubbed with woollen yarns to create a ruched effect when dampened Photos pf previous workshop may provide some ideas.         [Poplin Dub, Greystoke, Penrith. CA11 0UT] [+44 [0] 17684 83984] [annie@greystokecyclecafe.co.uk]