Celebrate Scottish Wool !!

Did you know that October 14^th – 20^th is British Wool Week? On Sunday 20^th October I will be running three short workshops in Auchterarder to let you try natural dyeing, making felt and Fair Isle knitting, to launch a series of pop-up studio events in Auchterarder throughout the winter.

In the morning I will teach an eco-friendly method of dyeing fibre and yarn with plant materials. Solar Dyeing uses sunlight as the main source of energy. It requires very little special equipment and once you have learned the method you will easily be able to experiment at home to produce a range of colours. During the workshop you will create your own solar dye jar to take home and watch the colour develop.

In the afternoon things get a little more physical as we turn to making beautiful soft gossamer-fine felt scarves from specially selected and hand-dyed wool. The process gets a bit wet and messy but is great fun, and at the end of the session you will have created a unique piece of wearable art.

The evening workshop is a bit more relaxing, learning about Fair Isle knitting, with hints and tips to make this ancient technique much easier than it looks. You will knit a sampler to be used as a cup-cosy or bracelet. The session will be accompanied by a slideshow of Shetland landscapes and photographs from the knitting  collections of the Shetland Museum and Archive and the Unst Heritage Centre.

All three workshops will take place at 206 High St., Auchterarder (the premises of GRM Podiatry - thank you Gregor and Alistair!). Places are limited and must be booked in advance. To find out times and prices and to book a place e-mail deborah.gray7@btinternet.com or call 07776092903. If you book for more than one workshop you will get a discount.

Future pop-up studio sessions in Auchterarder  will take place most weekends (usually Sundays) in November and December (and beyond, if GRM will allow) and will include spinning, fibre preparation and art yarns, and all things woolly. Visitors will be most welcome to drop in  for a chat, or to join in, and the teaching workshops already advertised will also take place there. There will be tea and coffee and maybe even some cake! Details will be publicised on this blog and on Facebook, or use the contact details above.