Weaving Workshops

The repetitive movements of weaving can be quite therapeutic, calming busy minds with the added satisfaction of creating something from natural or waste materials. Rest assured, that although weaving is founded on learning techniques, there is plenty of room for imagination, and once the basic concepts are there, you can take these skills in many exciting directions.

Please note, all willow weaving requires quite strong hands, and other weaving requires a certain amount of dexterity.

PRIVATE BOOKINGS

Workshops can be booked for 2 or 3 hours per session. You can also book a series of workshops to make a short course, over 3 or 4 sessions, for a 10% discount if paid up front.

Prices are: 1 person: £45 for 2 hours/£55 for 3 hours; 2–6 people: £35/£45 each.

Bell Ringing Sally Basket workshop is 3–4 hours, price £80 per person.

FOR STRONG HANDS:

WILLOW CLOCHE WORKSHOP

Make a willow plant support to stop your garden plants falling over – great for peonies in particular.

This uses a different technique from the willow obelisks.

WILLOW OBELISK WORKSHOP

Make an obelisk for climbing plants such as sweet peas and runner beans. This uses a different technique from the willow cloches.

WILLOW CHICKEN/PHEASANT/DUCK

We will make a frame for the bird’s body, and then which type of bird you turn it into is up to you!

WILLOW BIRD FEEDERS/ONION HOLDERS

These willow structures can be used to hold onions or fatballs – depending on who you want to feed!

FOR MEDIUM-STRONG HANDS

WREATH MAKING

Learn to make a strong willow wreath, and then there are options on ways to decorate it, make more wreaths or make another wreath from different materials.

FLATWEAVE CREATURES/SHAPES

Choose from a fish, a bird, a star, a Christmas tree, a leaf… or even a reindeer! Make as many items as you like within the session.

SIMPLE BASKET/TRAY

We will use a frame and a basic weaving method to create a small basket or ‘tray’ (a basket without a handle). This can be a traditional oval shape or a more abstract leaf shape.

RANDOMWEAVE BASKET/BOWL/BALL

We will create an ‘invisible’ frame and use a randomweave method to fill in the frame. This can be a bowl, basket or ball shape, or abstract ‘nests’ and ‘pods’ can also be created this way.

BELL RINGER’S SALLY BASKET

These baskets are sewn together using a coiling technique, and use old bell ringing ropes from the local church. A limited number of ropes are available so when they’re gone, they’re gone!

This workshop takes 3–4 hours and price includes a £15 donation to the church: price is £80 per person.

FOR LESS STRONG (BUT DEXTEROUS) HANDS

WILLOW HARLEQUIN TREE

We harvest live willow wands from the garden and plait them into a diamond or harlequin patterned ‘trunk’. In the spring and summer they will grow branches and leaves to make a beautiful little tree. Over the years the plaited stems will merge together to make a strong hollow trunk.

This workshop can only be done in late January/early February and involves some time working outside.

CORDAGE & LOOPING

Cordage is a type of string or twine made from dried garden plants such as daffodil leaves or soft rushes. This can be looped together to make a small bag or jar cover.

GREEN GLOBE LANTERNS

We make three simple willow wreaths and then build them into a globe. This is then decorated with flowers and greenery, and we attach a jam jar to make a tealight holder to complete the garden lantern.

RANDOMWEAVE HEART OR STAR

We will use sticks from the garden to make a frame, and then vines and ivy to fill the frame with a random weave. We will add in a string of tiny lights to complete the design.