Orkney Weaving Retreat

Description

Weaving retreat in the heart of the Orkney Islands Join us for an unforgettable weaving retreat in the picturesque Orkney Islands! Immerse yourself in the rich textile traditions of this stunning location, where creativity, heritage and nature intertwine. Starting on Friday, March 14th 2025, until Friday March 21st 2025, this week long retreat will take place at the enchanting Merchants House, on the Stromness waterfront. Discover the joy of weaving in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, surrounded by like-minded individuals. Whether you're a beginner (with no weaving knowledge!) or an experienced weaver, this retreat offers a unique opportunity to enhance your skills and indulge in your passion. Our expert weaver, India Whitwell, founder of Orkney Cloth, will guide you through sampling your ideas and creating your own project, ensuring you gain valuable knowledge, confidence and inspiration. Throughout the retreat, you'll have the chance to explore the captivating beauty of the Orkney Islands. From the rugged coastline to ancient archaeological sites, this location is a treasure trove of natural and historical wonders. Take breaks from your loom to breathe in the fresh sea air on the doorstep, soak up the breathtaking views, and let your creativity flow. Indulge in delicious local food, connect with fellow weavers, and create memories that will last a lifetime. Don't miss this incredible opportunity to weave your way through the heart of the Orkney Islands! Register now to secure your spot at the weaving retreat in the heart of the Orkney Islands. Prices and deposits: The cost includes your own en-suite room at the Merchants House, as well as all your meals. During the week you'll receive at least 28 hours tuition, with your own loom, equipment and yarn, as well as one day visiting local crafters in the island. We have one twin room available, at £1100 per person, perfect for friends! (Discount only available if booked for two people). Please note this is an introductory price, as this is our second weaving retreat. Any questions, please reach out via the 'message the tutor' button. Meet your host: India Whitwell, weaver and founder of Orkney Cloth will be your tutor and host for the week- on hand for all of your weaving questions and dilemmas! India has studied weaving for the last 6 years, learning to use her industrial looms- which she carefully restored, and set her own award winning weaving business. Since then, she's run courses and workshops throughout Orkney and sells her products around the world. When she's not teaching or weaving, she likes to take long walks around Hoxa with her greyhound Peggy, and husband Jack. The Merchants House: We will be staying in the picturesque Merchant House, run by Wendy at Orkney Escapes. The plaster pink house is situated in the centre of Stromness, a small fishing town in the heart of the Orkney Islands. The house has four beautiful double bedrooms, and is furnished with beautiful details, including artwork and textiles from the island. The house boasts sea views from every room, and opens out onto its own stone built pier garden and quay, looking out to the sound. You'll see the ferry coming and going, as well as Orkney's wildlife and exquisite skies, providing all the inspiration you'll need for your stay. Personalising your stay: To make the trip as personalised as possible, we will send you a short survey for you to clarify your needs for the week, including any dietary requirements and your level of weaving experience. We will also follow this up with an hour online consultation to discuss your aims and intentions for the week ahead. Cancellation policy: If you cancel your order before 4 weeks prior to your trip, you are entitled to a 50% refund on the ticket price (excluding your travel costs). Any cancellations after this point will be non refundable. We will strive to accommodate your booking, but we are not liable for cancellations due to weather or cancelled transportation. As such, we recommend that each participant takes out adequate travel insurance. In a bit more detail... You’ll be staying on the seafront in the heart of Stromness, in a lovingly restored plaster pink fishermans cottage, Merchant’s House, with beautiful views over the Hamnavoe bay from every room and luxuriously furnished for a comfortable, cosy stay (the log burner is a particular highlight for us!). We’ll be using the peaceful location of Stromness as our base for inspiration and exploration. During our week-long retreat, we will explore Stromness as a start point for our weaving project, including a trip to the Pier Art Centre and a look through their collection and archive. Travel arrangements: Please ensure you allow a few days flexibility either side of the retreat to ensure you arrive in time, as travel to Orkney can be weather dependant. There are regular flights to Orkney from Kirkwall Airport by Loganair, flying from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness, Shetland, and even London. We are also lucky to have multiple ferry options including Northlink, which sails from Scrabster to Stromness, or Shetland/Aberdeen to Kirkwall. Please note, travel to and from the island and transfer to the cottage is not included. However, we are more than happy to advise and lend a hand. The retreat includes at least 28 hours of weaving tuition on your own Ashford table loom. We’ll discuss your potential project before the retreat during a Zoom session, so we can prepare for any resources, materials and inspiration that you may need. Meals will be cooked in house, and we will provide you with breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout your stay with us. Students will come away with an increased weaving confidence and knowledge, as well as a finished project of their choice: a scarf, table runner, or your own woven and designed fabric are all possibilities! We look forward to welcoming you to our home in the Orkney Islands, and to the heritage craft of weaving.

What's included in the price?

- An hour long video consultation prior to the weaving retreat to decide your project and set your intentions for your week in Orkney. - A minimum of 28 hours of dedicated weaving tuition. - Access to your own Ashford, 8 shaft loom for the week. - Access to our weaving tools and equipment, including x4 warping mills, beaming and threading equipment. - Access to our library of weaving materials, which are all 100% wool, including Supersoft wool, Merino and Shetland yarn. - 7 days accommodation at The Merchant’s House, in one of 4 double rooms. We have one twin room which are ideal for friends or partners. - Travel around the island during our day visiting local crafters (please note this won’t include travel to and from the airport or ferry, although the ferry terminal is a 15 minute walk away). - Visit to Jane Cooper, author of The Lost Flock, and her rare Orkney Boreray sheep. We will have a chance to sample and spin the fleece. In the afternoon, we will visit a selection of local craftspeople around the island. - All meals including breakfast, lunch and dinner at the cottage. One night night we will have an optional meal at Adam's Place (price not included). Please see their seasonal menu here. - A visit to the Pier Arts Centre and a tour of the collection.

Cancellation policy

Medium - Cancellation and a full refund can be obtained up to 4 weeks before the course starts

Maker

Orkney Cloth

with Craft Courses since 2024

Message the tutor

Orkney Cloth is a micro textile mill based in Kirkwall. We produce artisan, hand woven products and offer retreats to learn the heritage craft of weaving. Orkney Cloth was founded by India Whitwell in 2019. After successfully crowdfunding for a loom, our award winning business weaves everything in house. We've been passionate about heritage skills and textiles since the beginning, basing all of our weaving in our studio, where we create our hand woven scarves and blankets. We are also available for bespoke projects and commissions, weaving to your own specifications. Recently, we have been working with local wool producers to create our Orkney Boreray collection, a hand woven, limited edition range of products spun and woven using Orkney wool. We have taught weaving in Orkney since 2018, and this year, we launched our own weaving retreats. Based at Orkney Escapes on the waterfront in Stromness, our weaving holidays provide the perfect place to learn the heritage craft of weaving, with like minded people, in a place where the landscape inspires. The week features a stay at our beautiful location in Stromness, access to your own loom and weaving equipment to make your own Orkney inspired product.