All in a spin reviews

3 Mar 15'

Liz Baldwin reviewed: Beginners Hand spinning - 'From fleece to fibre’ - at All in a Spin

"I am amazed at how much I learnt in a day! it was as enjoyable as it was educational. Dunja is a superb teacher, she is gentle and patient and paces the day to suit everyone. She obviously loves to spin as much as she loves to teach. I did the beginners and advanced courses on consecutive days which was quite tiring although it never felt like hard work. I would recommend this to anyone who is just starting to learn to spin. Fabulous cake as well."

3 Mar 15'

lucy walters reviewed: Beginners Hand spinning - 'From fleece to fibre’ - at All in a Spin

"What a fantastic day. On arrival I was able to find Dunja helping a lamb arrive in to the world. That was magical. The farm have some wonderful views. The spinning course was just what I needed. Dunja went through all yhe different types of fleece and how to care for it. It was really nice to have it broken down and explained clearly. The spinning aspect was a bit difficult for me, but Dunja patience helped me through and she had loads of tips. It was just a fantastic day. Would highly recommend if u are wanting to learn the skill of spinning.......... P.s. Lunch provided was just lush. :-)"

16 Feb 15'

Romaine Bowman reviewed: Beginners Weaving with the Rigid Heddle Loom - at All in a Spin

"Lovely day with Dunja in a fabulous setting. Dunja went through the process of weaving on a 16" rigid heddle loom, very patiently explaining everything i needed to know to get started. We looked at selecting yarn, warping the loom, weaving, finishing and removing from the loom and finally washing the finished weaving, all in one day! I was made to feel very welcome and the day included a lovely lunch with homemade soup in Dunja's cosy kitchen. I went home with my first piece of woven cloth and full of enthusiasm. I would certainly recommend this weaving workshop and would like to do some spinning and fleece processing with Dunja in the future."

11 Feb 15'

Mary-Ann reviewed: Beginners Hand spinning - 'From fleece to fibre’ - at All in a Spin

"I had a great learning to spin day! Dunja has so much knowledge, and she doesn't mind how many questions you ask. She also has a lot of patience - much needed for me with my spinning attempts! I'm now looking to borrow a spinning wheel so that I can continue with this new found hobby. The farm is in a beautiful location with stunning views. A day and money well spent I'd say."

8 Feb 15'

Lynne Sephton reviewed: Beginners Hand spinning - 'From fleece to fibre’ - at All in a Spin

"I had a fantastic day..Dunja is a brilliant teacher and I now feel confident to spin on my own.She provided a lovely lunch and as much coffee and tea that one could drink !!.Nothing was too much trouble and I can guarantee anyone who books the course will have fab time. I am at this point in time, already washing a fleece ready to practise with, can't wait for it to dry !! need to be patient."

26 Jan 15'

Lynda Clark reviewed: Beginners Hand spinning - 'From fleece to fibre’ - at All in a Spin

"This was a fabulous day. Very patient teacher and beautiful setting. I have booked another 2 courses as I enjoyed the day so much."

25 Jan 15'

Maggie B reviewed: Beginners Hand spinning - 'From fleece to fibre’ - at All in a Spin

"Lovely to meet the sheep that the fleeces come from. Excellent course from an excellent, knowledgable and patient tutor. I would thoroughly recommend this course to anyone interested in wool and yarns and sheep, all in a beautiful location."

20 Jan 15'

Helen Hitchcock reviewed: Beginners Hand spinning - 'From fleece to fibre’ - at All in a Spin

"I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience, a lovely day spent in lovely surroundings. I learnt so much, gained practical experience, knowledge and a real desire to spin."

15 Dec 14'

Jill Osborne reviewed: Beginners Hand spinning - 'From fleece to fibre’ - at All in a Spin

"Lovely day at Dunja's farm. The course is excellent from start to finish, with lots of practical experience. I hope to carry it on and know I will be in contact with Dunja again for her expert knowledge"

15 Dec 14'

Helen Hodges reviewed: Beginners Hand spinning - 'From fleece to fibre’ - at All in a Spin

"It was my sister who spotted the course and I have to confess that I wasn't too sure what to expect. I've previously tried a number of different crafts including knitting and felting so agreed to go more out of curiosity than any thing else .... It turned out to be a fascinating introduction to spinning. As a bit of a city girl, it was really interesting to learn about the qualities of the fleece and how to prepare it ready for use. During the day we were patiently taken though the various techniques in order to produce our own skein of wool. Although I need a lot more practice if I am ever to produce a consistent yarn, I feel very proud of what I was able to achieve in such a short space of time. This was in no small part down to the excellent tuition received from Dunja. I would definitely recommend the course as I had such a lovely day. I hope that I can find a way to fit spinning into my life."

13 Oct 14'

Elisabeth Walsby reviewed: Beginners Hand spinning - 'From fleece to fibre’ - at All in a Spin

"I had a fantastically enjoyable day from start to finish learning to spin with Dunja. She's a thorough teacher who takes time to explain, demonstrate and then observe her pupil to make sure they have taken the information on board while remaining calm and encouraging throughout. I felt that we covered a large amount of information and techniques in just one day and in a very logical order that made me feel I understood the process. I feel equipped with the knowledge that I need to go ahead and get practicing on my own. Both Dunja and Brian are very welcoming and I would highly recommend this course to anyone looking for instruction in spinning."

6 Oct 14'

Robby Tucker reviewed: Beginners Hand spinning - 'From fleece to fibre’ - at All in a Spin

"Arriving at the little farm out in the Black Mountains with its amazing views was a delight. Dunja has the course set up very efficiently . You begin with the fleece and follow the stages through the day as you learn how they work. From washing the fleece to preparing it for spinning. As a complete beginner I was amazed how the teaching helped me quickly pick it up. There is a lot to learn in one day but I came home with a small skein of wool I had spun myself. I took notes and lots of photos which has helped me to have a go on a borrowed spinning wheel. Now I need to practice a lot. I know if I get stuck Dunja is only too pleased to help answer my questions."

16 Sep 14'

Fiona Aldred reviewed: Beginners Hand spinning - 'From fleece to fibre’ - at All in a Spin

"Today has been one of the best craft learning sessions I have ever attended which exceeded my expectations. Dunja welcomed me into her home and immediately put me at my ease with her calm and peaceful nature. I learnt about fleece and how to select a good fleece, had a go at hand carding and making rolags, before moving onto spinning. I was able to take my own wheel and Dunja helped me to gain a much better understanding of how it works. I was also given the opportunity to try a variety of different wool, in various forms. The day was geared to my ability and level and Dunjas teaching style is really helpful especially the way she watches then gives feedback. I have gained new skills and knowledge which has given me confidence. I have had such a lovely relaxing day and would recommend it to anyone wanting to learn more about spinning, I even got to make friends with Ajax the ram! An additional bonus was the delicious lunch and the welcome from both Dunja and Brian. For anyone wanting to learn about spinning attending a course with Dunja is an absolute must, highly recommended."

8 Sep 14'

Lynda hall reviewed: Beginners Hand spinning - 'From fleece to fibre’ - at All in a Spin

"I thought that the first day was interesting and well planned however day 2 surpassed my expectations call the different textures and fibres were explained and we were allowed to design our own yarn. This was fascinating. Dunja is a very knowledgable spinner and us very enthusiastic in every aspect if the craft. Her instruction was both entertaining and clear. A day to remember"

8 Sep 14'

Lynda hall reviewed: Improvers Hand Spinning - Next Steps in Hand Spinning - at All in a Spin

"The 2 day tuition was excellent. Dunja started from raw fleece and worked through to finished wool. Explanation was perfect. A home made lunch with lots of tea and coffee were provided. A perfect venue."

29 Aug 14'

Jenny Watts reviewed: Beginners Hand spinning - 'From fleece to fibre’ - at All in a Spin

"A really enjoyable and informative. I'd been reading about how to spin but it really does help to have a patient expert showing how it is really done. I've even managed to spin and ply another skein since the weekend. Dunja was friendly and welcomed us into her lovely home, so thank you for a great day."

23 Aug 14'

Ruth Moore reviewed: Beginners Hand spinning - 'From fleece to fibre’ - at All in a Spin

"I had a fantastic day with Dunja learning to spin. She was welcoming and hospitable from the moment we arrived. I finished the day having spun two mini-skeins of yarn from fleece I carded, spun and plied myself. I really feel like I achieved something! Dunja is an excellent teacher - very relaxed and patient with our efforts and answering all our questions. She is great at allowing you to have a go at things but is there with helpful advice and tips if things start to go wrong. It's a great way to learn - because you do it yourself (and make the mistakes) you will remember how to do it next time. She has shared her knowledge of spinning all the way from fleece selection and preparation right through to plying the yarn. I now feel able to have a go myself and think (with practice) I can achieve some good results. I look forward to returning for the advanced course once I've had some practice! Oh and lunch was lovely too!"

4 Aug 14'

Liz Budden reviewed: Beginners Hand spinning - 'From fleece to fibre’ - at All in a Spin

"I had such a brilliant day and came away quite amazed at feeling that I could actually achieve the spinning and also very inspired to practice practice practice so that I could do some of the more advanced projects that Dunja described. Dunja's teaching is amazing because she watches and gives feedback and tips in a very detailed and practical way - very empowering! Coming away with an actual skein of wool was very satisfying. Home cooked lunch "en famille" round the farmhouse table was delicious and relaxing."

9 Jul 14'

Rachel Auckland reviewed: Improvers Hand Spinning - Next Steps in Hand Spinning - at All in a Spin

"I attended two of Dunja's courses at the Wool and Willow Festival in Llanidloes: fibre preparation; and exotic fibres. This allowed me to use equipment and materials I could not otherwise afford. It was good value for money and I learned a lot. Dunja's a patient and thoughtful teacher. Her classes are well organised and she provides a simple method of recording technical information which is accessible, and enables students to keep track of their experiments and learn from the results. As well as making good progress with development of my spinning skills, I also had a lot of fun playing with the various 'toys' on offer. My only regret is that I didn't get to handle any yak fibre, as suggested in the advertising. All in all a very worthwhile experience."

23 Jun 14'

Lis reviewed: Improvers Hand Spinning - Next Steps in Hand Spinning - at All in a Spin

"Having done the beginners course I went on to do this course. This introduces you to more preparation techniques and the use of hand and mechanical tools used for preparing and blending yarns and then moving on to spinning and plying them on different types of spinning wheels... I think I'm hooked! Dunja has a wealth of knowledge and tremendous enthusiasm for her craft."

23 Jun 14'

Lis reviewed: Beginners Hand spinning - 'From fleece to fibre’ - at All in a Spin

"This course is held on the farm where Dunja lives, which is wonderful as you get to meet the sheep! This beginners course starts from the very beginning , looking at fleece what parts are used and how to select a good fleece ..... Right though to spinning and plying different types of fleece. Like the previous reviewer I did not take notes, but there was a handout. I had an amazing time and found it to be a very relaxing and enjoyable. You will not be disappointed! P.S. The lunch was amazing!"

10 Jun 14'

Sue Collins reviewed: Beginners Hand spinning - 'From fleece to fibre’ - at All in a Spin

"An excellent day which met my expectations and more. I learnt new ways to prepare fleece before spinning and also how to spin yarn of more varied thickness. Really enjoyable - thank you"

10 Jun 14'

Susan Waring reviewed: Beginners Hand spinning - 'From fleece to fibre’ - at All in a Spin

"I thoroughly enjoyed my workshop day with Dunja and felt I learned a lot. We covered all the areas listed in detail and I went away with a good understanding of the basics and the how to do them. I found myself too bound up in what I was doing to take many notes or photos which I had intended to do. So if there had been a hand out with some basic information like a diagram of the spinning wheel and the action of carding I would have appreciated it. Dunja and Brian were very welcoming and their farm is delightful with stunning views. I would recommend this course for a good grounding in spinning."