Guild Open Day 14 Sept 2024

Karen Buchananevent reports, Reports, spinning reports

This was held at Glachbeg Croft Centre as Strathpeffer Community Centre was unavailable, and it proved a lovely venue for an Open Day.  The building is full of natural light and with the tables moved to the side there was ample room for us to sit and spin.  We were very well looked after.  Tea, coffee and some very nice … Read More

Spinning Challenge January 2024

Stephanie Hoyleevent reports, Reports, spinning reports

A set of challenges to ward off the gloom of dark cold days. Extra Zoom meetings have been scheduled so that we can be social, and share ideas, questions, inspiration. Each week one of the numbered challenges will be drawn to give us a challenge of the week, and Guild members are encouraged to share photos, patterns etc.

Fleece Day at Glachbeg Croft August 2023

Stephanie Hoyleevent reports, Reports, spinning reports

Glachbeg is a great venue for this kind of event, many thanks to David Spooner and his assistants who had done everything possible to make the day a success for us, there was plenty of car parking and the weather was kind with lovely sunshine throughout the event. The day was planned by Terry Williams, and she and Alison Munro … Read More

October 2022 Art Yarns Workshop

Stephanie Hoyleevent reports, spinning reports

A much anticipated Guild course run by Sue. Ten participants enjoyed an information packed day full of inspiration and expert guidance. There was a fine display of work by Sue with examples of how she had used her art yarns in a variety of ways. Participants brought in their wheels, and in particular wheels with a large orifice and low … Read More

September Open Day 2022

Stephanie Hoyleevent reports, spinning reports, weaving reports

This meeting had a focus on spindles. Sheila had brought along a collection of different types, and started by demonstrating a kick spindle. The spindle is supported in a framework and operated by spinning the ball at the lower end with the foot, giving the spinner a really good workout!! She also demonstrated a Navaho spindle, as well as smaller … Read More

Members’ Open day April 2022

Stephanie Hoyleevent reports, spinning reports

April 2022 Members’ Day The focus for the day was spinning. We had demonstrations of combing, blending board and picker. As usual there was also a lot of chat and a bit of show and tell! Sheila had brought her double weave samples to give people a clearer idea of what the May workshop is about. Aileen was wearing a … Read More

Flax Workshop April 2021

Stephanie Hoyleevent reports, spinning reports

Guild member Sophie presented this workshop. There is a long history of flax growing in Friesland in the Netherlands where Sophie lives. As recently as 150 years ago everyone had a small field of flax, which the women spun into linen yarn for shirts, nightwear, children’s clothes, lace etc. The woman who taught Sophie to spin flax was taught by … Read More

Fleece Workshop March 2021

Stephanie Hoyleevent reports, spinning reports

Amanda Hannaford ran this workshop, which focussed on fleece – the different properties of fleece from a variety of breeds, how to process and spin them to get the best from them, and what the resulting yarn can be used for. She started by showing us samples of short, medium and long stapled fleece processed in different ways. First a … Read More

Silk Spinning February 2021

Stephanie Hoyleevent reports, spinning reports

Jaine Mahon of (Skye Silks) gave us a wonderful workshop on silk spinning via Zoom on the morning of 13 February. She started by taking us on a tour of her studio, showing us some of her lovely handwoven silk scarves, and other handwoven and hand dyed items, then on to spinning. She had made up boxes, beautifully packaged, containing … Read More

Open Day and Challenge 8 Febrary 2020

Stephanie Hoyleevent reports, spinning reports

Between 40 and 50 people attended this event, with some coming and going in the course of the day. We had a big circle of spinners around the hall, with several weavers at tables as well. This was the day to bring along what we had made from the fibre distributed at the September Open Day: 50 gms Corriedale tops, … Read More

Spin to Weave Workshop October 2019

Stephanie Hoyleevent reports, spinning reports, weaving reports

I was too late to book for this workshop, run by Christina Chisholm, but visited it to take photos. When I arrived Christina was demonstrating how to avoid wasting precious handspun when using it as warp. She had a strong, commercially spun yarn, wound onto the back beam of her loom, and threaded through heddles and reed. A handspun warp, … Read More