Fibre Week 2023
Fibre Week Workshops
For the second year in a row, At Birkhill House CIC is dedicating a whole week in July to the celebration of locally grown, traditionally processed slow fibre in all of its glorious forms.
Ever fancied learning the fibre process from creature to creation? Desperate to learn how to spin yarn? Now is your chance...
These workshop are all free thanks to a generous Community Grant from the National Lottery Fund, enabling us to provide over 100 hours of fleece & fibre and natural dye based workshops.
Fibre Processing - Learning the Basics
Monday 17th July 2023, 10am-1pm & 2-5pm
Have you ever wonder how the sheeps’ greasy locks and alpacas’ dusty fleeces turn to beautiful fibre and yarns? if the answer is yes, wonder no more. During both sessions you will be able to watch and take part in skirting, picking and cleaning of fleeces from Birkhill alpacas and wool fleeces from Scottish Borders. You can also bring your own fleece you want to process but don’t know how. Magdalena Sobula, Birkhill’s fleece and fibre development officer, will answer all your questions to help you understand fibre processing in as much detail as your heart desire.
This workshop is a truly hands on experience and things might get dusty and messy, so please don’t wear your Sunday best.
FREE, ages 16+, 12 people max, booking essential
Fibre Processing - Moving on from the Basics
Tuesday 18th July 2023, 10am-2pm
This stand alone workshop picks up where part 1 workshops finished: with wool and alpaca fibre sorted and cleaned we will move on to further preparing fibre for spinning or felting. You will get a chance to try combing, carding and blending fibre and learn which method will give the best results depending on the fibre and the project in mind. It is a great opportunity to try the tools and techniques before you buy the expensive equipment yourself. Please note that after this workshop you will leave with knowledge and skills but not a finished product however, there will be an opportunity to buy the fibre processed during the workshop.
This workshop is a truly hands on experience and there will be a lot of fibre flying around, so please don’t wear your Sunday best.
FREE, ages 16+, 10 people max, booking essential
Drop Spindle
Tuesday 18th July 2023, 3-6pm
Have you ever wanted to spin your own yarn?
Well, now is your chance to learn the basics of drop spindle spinning. During this three hour workshop you will get a chance to learn about different fibre preparations, types of yarns and spindles and most importantly, try and spin a length of yarn yourself. Drop spindles and a variety of fibre will be provided. You will get to work at your own pace, and if you wish to continue at home we have a selection of fibres and spindles for sale. Please note that you will be working primarily with wool, if you are allergic or sensitive to animal fibres do not book this workshop.
FREE, ages 16+, 8 people max, booking essential
Wet Felting
Wednesday 19th July 2023, 2-5pm
In this two hour workshop Nicky Stevens will share her methods to create beautiful wet felted sheets that can be used in a variety of projects. From designing to finishing, you will learn the techniques, tricks and shortcuts to help you achieve the desired effects. You will be using our homegrown alpaca fibre and wool in all natural, undyed shades and from various preparations to enhance your understanding of the art and science of felting. The relaxed atmosphere and creative environment is bound to leave you inspired and knowledgeable enough to start your own felting journey. Please note that the process can get a little messy, so do not wear precious clothing. If you are allergic to wool please do not book as only natural fibres will be used.
FREE, ages 12+, 8 people max, booking essential
Natural Dyes
Wednesday 19th July 2023, 6-8pm
Join us for a demo of our easy One Pot Dye Kit. While the dye simmers, we will take a stroll around the At Birkhill House dye garden, were we will talk about a variety of uses for the plants currently growing there.
Natural dye supplies and kits will be on sale on the day.
Please note – We will be enjoying the outdoors for some of the session. So please dress appropriately.
FREE, ages 14+, 8 people max, booking essential
Tweed Guild Demonstration
Thursday 20th July 2023, 10am-1pm
Curious about how to start spinning? Need advice on how to take your spinning technique to the next level? Come meet the members of the Tweed Guild, who will be here all morning showcasing their skills and ready to answer any questions you might have.
FREE, ages 16+, 15 people max, booking essential
Freeform Weaving
Thursday 20th July 2023, 1:30-4pm
Eta Ingham Lawrie will demonstrate her signature freestyle weaving technique in this short demonstration workshop, which is a truncated version of her usual day-long sessions.
Eta works with hand-dyed fleecewool, rugyarns and other natural fibres to create her distinctive art. You will have a chance to try freestyle weaving for yourself, and create a small sampler to take home.
All equipment & materials will be provided but please do bring your own scissors, a blunt ended needle and any other bits and pieces you might like to incorporate.
FREE, ages 14+, 8 people max, booking essential
Found Fleece
Thursday 20th July 2023, 5-7pm
Wool enthusiast Lynne Sneddon will share how to make useful items from wool we might think of as waste.
Lynne will take you through how to find and pick your own bits of fleece and the steps to turning it into a useful fibre. She’ll bring wool samples and examples of her work to inspire you to make your own creations. You’ll never look at a fence in the same way again!
FREE, ages 14+, 12 people max, booking essential
Indigo Vat Demonstration
Friday 21st July 2023, 10am-2pm
Enjoy a stroll around the At Birkhill House dye garden and have a peek at this years indigo bed. We will talk about the transformation from plant to pigment and have a chance to dip some fibre in a vat made from last years crop.
Natural dye supplies and kits will be on sale on the day.
Please note – We will be enjoying the outdoors for some or all of the session. So please dress appropriately.
FREE, adults only, 8 people max, booking essential
Fibre Frenzy!
Friday 21st July 2023, 2-5pm
Part of a four-week course for young people, run in conjunction with Beyond Earlstion.
Spend four Fridays learning about pot dyeing yarns with fresh materials, "crush" dyeing fabric with fresh indigo and woad, making rope and cord out of natural plant fibres and using mordants as resists to create pattern.
Book through Beyond Earlston.
FREE, young people only, booking essential
Textile Making Day
Saturday 22nd July 2023, 10am-1pm & 2-5pm
On the sixth day of our fibre journey we are opening our doors for constructing textiles! Join us At Birkhill House for a Textile Making open day featuring weaving demonstrations, a wool exhibition and a series of knitting and crochet clinics.
We will have weaving demonstrations – with a chance to try your hands at weaving on a peg loom, table loom, inkle loom and a little pin looms.
In the morning, we’ll also be hosting Lynne Sneddon with her Wonders of Wool exhibition! Find out how a huge brown bundle of fleece, considered a waste product, was saved from becoming compost.
If you’re struggling with any projects, Magdalena Sobula and Samira Hill will be running a series of Crochet and Knitting Clinics (see below) throughout the day - also free, but booking is essential!
Weather permitting, you are welcome to bring packed lunch and hang out with our alpacas. Tea and coffee will be available for a donation.
No booking is strictly necessary for the Textile Making Day, but it would be helpful to have an idea of numbers. If you could RSVP for one of the time slots below, that would be great, but impulse drop-ins also more than welcome!
FREE, all ages welcome, RSVP greatly appreciated
Wonders of Wool
Saturday 22nd July 2023, 10am-1pm
We're delighted to be hosting Lynne Sneddon and her Wonders of Wool exhibition.
Find out how a huge brown bundle of fleece, considered a waste product, was saved from becoming compost. What steps did it go through? And just how difficult is it to turn greasy fluff into a comfortable jumper?
Lynne will talk about what motivated her to make the jumper, and why she’s interested in the wonderful properties of wool. Come see some interesting samples and chat about woolly innovations that might surprise you.
FREE, all ages welcome, no booking necessary
Crochet Clinic
Saturday 22nd July 2023, 10am-5pm, multiple time slots
Do you need help with your crochet project? Choosing the right yarn, hook or finding a pattern?
Would you like some assistance with understanding a written pattern or a chart? Maybe you have found an old WIP that you would like to finish but forgot where you are in a pattern?
Is there a specific technique that you need for your project? Do you struggle with your tension, counting stitches or unexpected increases?
If any of these apply to you or you have any other crochet questions come to our crochet clinic. Crochet tutor Magdalena Sobula will be there to assist and provide guidance how to proceed. In order for you to get the most out of your clinic time the groups are limited to 3 people per hour so booking is essential. Please remember to bring your hook, yarn and pattern you need the help with, as well as all the notes, swatches and pen and paper.
Please note that these session are not suitable for learning a new craft, if you would like to learn to crochet the beginner classes are better suited for that purpose.
FREE, ages 16+, 3 people max, booking essential
Knitting Clinic
Saturday 22nd July 2023, 10am-5pm, multiple time slots
Are you stuck on a project? Have you found an old WIP, and would like to finish it, but do not remember or cannot make sense of where you stopped, or where you are in the pattern? Are you stuck on a project that you are currently working on, because of a potential error in the pattern, or because the pattern asks for a specific skill / technique that you are not familiar with, in order for you to continue? Or are you stuck because you keep making the same mistakes in a particular section?
If any of the above applies to you, come to our project and pattern clinic! Professional knitting and crochet teacher, designer, pattern writer and pattern technical editor Samira Hill will look at your project and provide help and guidance on how to proceed. In order to get the most out of your clinic time, groups are limited to 3 people maximum per hour, and booking is essential. Note: these sessions are not suitable for learning an entire new craft, as knitting for beginner classes are better suited for learning a whole array of new skills.
You will need to bring:
- the knitting project you need help with (please bring all the pieces you have made, not just the part you need help with)
- the knitting pattern (please bring the WHOLE pattern with you, not just the part you need help with)
- the yarn you are using or intend to use with at least one label or ball band, and with your swatch(es) if you have any
- the needles you have been using, stitch holders, stitch markers
- your project notes if you have any
- pen and paper or notebook
FREE, ages 16+, 3 people max, booking essential
History & Archaeology of Scottish Knitting
Saturday 22nd July 2023, 5-7pm
In this presentation, knitting teacher and former professional archaeologist Samira Hill will show and explain how the craft of knitting is represented in both the archeological and historical records in Scotland, from prehistory through to medieval and modern times, as well as why, and how, knitting has evolved through the centuries and spread into many distinct knitting styles as we know them today.
FREE, ages 16+, 12 people max, booking essential
Fibre Week Open Day
Sunday 23rd July 2023, 12noon-4pm
On the last day of our Fibre Week celebration we are opening our doors to all fibre, yarn and textile enthusiasts. Pop along with any questions, bring a project to chat about or a work-in-progress to tackle. Our shop will be open, alpacas welcoming and some of our tutors will be there to assist you in your fibre needs and listen to your feedback.
Tea, coffee and snacks will be available for a small donation.
Weather permitting you are welcome to bring a picnic blanket and lunch on our grounds with the alpacas and ragdoll cats.
No booking strictly necessary, but it would be helpful to have an idea of numbers. If you could RSVP, that would be great, but impulse drop-ins also more than welcome!
FREE, all ages welcome, RSVP greatly appreciated
