ARTS AND CRAFTS CLASSES

We believe in continuing the tradition of the fibre arts. Our aim is to work with experienced spinners, felt makers, weavers and dyers and to learn from their bank of skills and knowledge. Working with artisans and crafts people helps us in the 21st century to appreciate handmade sustainable crafted products.

At Tippens Wood we are exploring traditional British craftsmanship with experts in spinning, dyeing, felting and weaving who are keen to share their knowledge. We run small group classes in these crafts for children and adults throughout Spring and Summer. We use our alpaca fibre and explore blending our fibre with wool, silk and other protein and vegetable fibre.

The spinning group meets every second Thursday of the month. Beginners and experienced spinners are welcome.
The felting group meets once a month in the weekend.

Please send us an enquiry if you are interested in joining our group sessions,classes or an evening class or want a lesson with a tutor.

CRAFT CLASSES

INTRODUCTION TO HAND SPINNING
- carding : use hand carders, flick carders and drum carders,
- prepare fleece for spinning worsted and woollen : rolags and tops
- spin a skein

SPINNING YARN
- work with different types of fibre and blend fibres ( mohair,angora,merino,silk, vicuna,camel)
- twist and tension,
- make yarn from 2 ply to aran to chunky knit,
- different techniques of spinning
- different techniques of plying

SPINNING REFRESHER
- spinning with batts,
- controlling twist and tension to make different yarn,
- fine spinning from suri alpaca
- woollen spinning from huacaya alpaca

INTRODUCTION TO FELTING
- Learn to clean fleece for feltmaking
- prepare fleece for felting
- make a felt
- make a few accessories using a basic felt technique

FELTING
- work with different types of fibre and blend fibres,
- Nuno felting
- Shibori felting
- different techniques of felting
- make a scarf

EMBELLISH AND STITCH
- Learn to use felting needles
- texturing for different fabrics
- make needle punched felt
- couching and stitching
- using a hand machine for embellishment