HAND-SPINNING ON THE ISLE OF ARRAN
Are you visiting the Isle of Arran soon? Do you enjoy exploring new experiences? Then an introduction to hand-spinning might be for you…
Join Kat in her shop, Bay Wool & Crafts, in Whiting Bay, where she will take you through the basics of hand-spinning over one, two or three hours of tuition. You will experience handling some different types of fibre, and then Kat will demonstrate spinning some fleece from Cheviot sheep, bred in Kildonan (on the Isle of Arran). You will learn to treadle and control a wheel, and to ‘draft’ some fleece to prepare it for spinning. Finally, you will take to the wheel for yourself and spin some Cheviot on your own. Kat will of course be on hand offering advice and guidance, including on how tension is adjusted to spin consistent and even ‘singles’. If time allows, she will demonstrate plying two of these singles together, to give a final, balanced yarn – explaining all the terms and equipment as she goes.
By the end of the session, it is hoped that you’ll have a skein of wool that you’ll have spun on the day and plied yourself – ready for you to finish by ‘setting’ at home, and which can then be used for knitting, crocheting or weaving. An apron will be provided for you, along with a tote bag for you to take away. If you’re based in the UK, Kat can also provide you with the details of your local Guild of Spinners, Weavers and Dyers, in case you get the hand-spinning bug, and decide to pursue your spinning journey further.
Kat learnt to spin in 2023, as part of the local affiliated group to the Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers (GSWD), called Spin Off. She has been an active member of this group ever since, which meets once per month in Whiting Bay, and also demonstrates during the summer at the Arran Heritage Museum just outside Brodick. She has recently taught several people the basics of hand-spinning and has now decided to offer this to a wider audience of island visitors. She also demonstrates hand-spinning at Bellevue Farm’s regular Farmers’ Market (held every quarter – please see the farm’s website and social media for details). She spins local fleece from Blue Faced Leicester, Cheviot and Dutch Spot herds based on a farm in Kildonan, and also alpaca fleeces from a herd on Bellevue Farm. Each of the individual animals of the alpaca herd have their fleeces separated during processing, so that each can be traced back from the animal to the final ball of handspun fibre. Finally, she also sources pre-dyed merino fibre from World of Wool, and their sock blend fibre – the latter being available as finished socks. Examples of Kat’s hand-spinning are available for sale at Bay Wool & Crafts, as well as other items she has spun and knitted herself. Kat also hand-dyes wool using natural plant dyes, though the wool is not from local herds (this is also available in the shop).
Bay Wool & Crafts opened in late 2018, and since then has showcased all that the island’s creative population has to offer. The shop does not take a commission from their artists, which means that 100% of the ticket price gets passed to the individual maker. The shop prides itself on exhibiting high quality products from local craftspeople, including jewellers, candle makers, glass mosaic artists, carvers, traditional artists, and even a welder – amongst others. The shop of course also features knitters, including Kat’s own-pattern cowls and neck cosies, alongside her hand-spinning.
Kat’s hand-spinning experiences are run on Mondays from Bay Wool & Crafts in Whiting Bay. For further details and to book your slot, please visit
www.baywoolcrafts.co.uk or email shop@baywoolcrafts.co.uk.
