Fleece to Fabric (4 part workshop)
Ever wondered how the Elizabethans turned wool into cloth? Explore four heritage crafts on this journey of taking a raw fleece and transforming it into a woven item. These take place over four dates at different Hardwick locations.
- Booking essential
Transform a raw fleece into a new woven piece in this four-part workshop led by spinning and craft experts at Hardwick Hall. To take part in this workshop, participants must be able to make the allocated workshop times listed below.
Session 1 | Saturday 28 June | Fleece Preparation:
Participants will be shown how to tease fleece by hand and to use hand carders to produce rolags and flick carders to prepare wool locks for spinning. There will also be an opportunity to make batts on a drum carder and blend different colours.
Session 2 | Saturday 5 July | Spinning:
Get a feel for treadling on a treadle spinning wheel! Learn how to spin a single thread, practise this technique, and change a bobbin! Drop spindles will also be available for people to try. You will be able to take home one (or maybe two) skein/s of your own hand spun yarn!
Session 3| Saturday 19 July | Natural Dyeing:
Collect and harvest dye plants from the Hardwick Gardens to prepare a dye bath using flowers and woad leaves. Learn how to prepare a mordent bath and the yarn for dyeing. Participants should have at least 30 x 10 g samples of dyed yarn (plus your own yarn from previous session).
Session 4| Saturday 26 July | Weaving:
Learn how to set up and bind-off a mini-loom. If there’s time, master a new type of weaving technique, the weaving sticks, and create a coaster. You’ll be able to take home everything you have made today with enough skills to try these techniques at home!
Times
Prices
| Ticket type | Ticket category |
|---|---|
| All | £280.00 |
The basics
- Booking details
Call 0344 249 1895
- Suitability
Suitable for children aged 14 or over.
- Meeting point
The first session of this workshop will take place at the Park Centre located next to the Hardwick Ponds. Your workshop leader will let you know where to be the location of the next session will be.
- What to bring and wear
A hot drink is included in your ticket price for each session (hot chocolate, tea, or filter coffee), please bring your own snacks and lunch.
- Accessibility
There is an accessible toilet and parking close to the Park Centre and in the Stableyard. This workshop takes place on the ground floor with a small step to get into the workshop room at park centre and level access for the workshop room in the Stableyard. At the East Stables there are accessible toilets, changing places toilet, and parking, along with level access into the workshop space.
Upcoming events
Material Power: Rewoven
Material Power continues in 2025, displaying 16 contemporary textile artworks amongst the internationally renowned textile collection.
Walk With Us: Wider Estate Walks
Discover Hardwick’s longer walking routes on a free guided group walk around the estate. With 7 different walks to choose from, sign up to one or challenge yourself to complete them all!
Chesterfield Walking Festival: Wider Estate Walk
Join your neighbours and celebrate walking in the Chesterfield area on this wider estate group walk!
Guided by Nature: Veteran Tree Walk
Tour Hardwick’s veteran tree collection to understand how they provide protected habitats for rare fungi, bats, lichens and so much more!