Cartmel Handspun Spinning School reviews

10 Jul 16'

Valerie reviewed: Hand spinning for beginners at Cartmel Handspun

"Lots of individual attention from Elaine which led to fast progress. However many online videos or books you read it can't match learning off an expert. Shown how to set up my spinning wheel and help with problem solving so I could get it working properly (which it is now). Range of processes and skills shown and Elaine has a flexible friendly approach, thank you very much."

5 Jun 16'

Jennie F reviewed: Hand spinning for beginners at Cartmel Handspun

"A great day to learn the basics of hand spinning from choosing a fleece to the end product. Elaine was lovely and welcoming and as it is a small course with only 4 people there was plenty of opportunity for one to one help when needed."

18 May 16'

Katie M reviewed: Hand spinning for beginners at Cartmel Handspun

"Elaine was patient and a wonderful hostess. She welcomed us in to her home and was a delight to spend the day with! Having a small class meant we were able to have one-to-one help when we had problems. In just one day the group went from having little to no experience to walking out the door with a skein of yarn we spun ourselves! Elaine also went over the basics of what to look for when buying a fleece and how to prepare it. A great day!"

13 May 16'

Sarah Potter reviewed: Hand spinning for beginners at Cartmel Handspun

"With just 4 people on the course, Elaine was able to spend plenty of time with each one of us, sorting out our problems ans setting us back on the right path. We covered everything from how to choose a fleece and what to do with it, through drop spindling before using a spinning wheel. Elaine provided a variety of fibres for us to try out. There really was nothing we weren't taught! A lovely day in a beautiful location."

3 May 16'

Helen crowe reviewed: Hand spinning for beginners at Cartmel Handspun

"We had a lovely day with Elaine.She was a perfect hostess and teacher - so incredibly patient.I now feel that I have got to grips with my spinning wheel and all I need to do now is practice....I learned so much from washing fleeces through to spinning yarn and to come away with a self made ball of yarn at the end of the day was a very satisfying bonus!"

18 Apr 16'

Lisa Thomason reviewed: Hand spinning 2 day course: From fleece to fibre

"My friend and I are both self-taught spinners at the early stage in our spinning journeys. We decided on this beginners' course as we both felt that there were probably some very large gaps in our knowledge and technique. This course appealed to us for a number of reasons: a two-day intensive course fitted us better than a series of shorter sessions, the location, but most importantly we felt that the very small class sizes would mean that the course was tailored to our needs. Elaine's property is in beautiful surroundings and although we did not need to take advantage of the holiday cottage, I rather wish we had as it was gorgeous! Elaine is a very friendly and hospitable person and an excellent tutor. When we met the third student on the course, it transpired that she too had experience of spinning. I don't think it would have mattered if any of us had been a complete beginner however, as Elaine quickly got the measure of our skill levels and made sure each of us progressed, sorting out our bad habits and clunky techniques. The course took us through fascinating aspects of spinning that I'd never really considered, such as how to choose and process a raw fleece. Whilst I don't think this is something I'll be doing, it really enhanced my understanding and appreciation of the fibres I'll be working with and I feel more connected to the art as a whole. It was also great that Elaine had such a variety of breeds for us to work with and it's given me a greater understanding of how to choose fibre to get a particular result. At the end of the course we were each given a comprehensive and well-produced course booklet and an invitation to Elaine's next 'spin in'. For those new to any craft, the cost of a two day course such as this can seem prohibitive, however I cannot stress strongly enough how worthwhile and what great value for money Elaine's course is. Lunch is excellent too!"

18 Apr 16'

Jane Lang reviewed: Hand spinning 2 day course: From fleece to fibre

"I spent a very enjoyable couple of days looking at the whole process of fleece to fibre, with an excellent teacher. Elaine moves through the material at a pace appropriate for her students. We had all done some spinning before but agreed we'd missed out key learnings and picked up bad habits. Elaine coped with all our issues, and took all our questions in her stride. The equipment provided meant we could all have a go at everything, including trying out some interesting modern wheels on which we made art yarn. Learning in a group is great fun, and as a bonus I made some new spinning friends."

6 Apr 16'

Sarah reviewed: Hand spinning for beginners at Cartmel Handspun

"We had a brilliant day learning the process of spinning using a drop spindle and spinning wheel. Elaine was very patient, encouraging and really knowledgeable and helpful. There was a range of different spinning wheels available for us to try which was great. It was a really enjoyable and informative day and brilliant to come away with yarn I had drafted, spun and plied myself. Loved it :)"

5 Apr 16'

Sally Tolley reviewed: Hand spinning for beginners at Cartmel Handspun

"I had a lovely day on the spinning course, Elaine was indeed very patient with us. It was a lovely day spent learning a new craft. We were made to feel very welcome in her home ."

5 Apr 16'

Rebecca Lonsdale reviewed: Hand spinning for beginners at Cartmel Handspun

"Myself and 2 friends had a wonderful time on this workshop. Elaine is very patient and explains the process of spinning very well. I well and truly have the spinning bug now I understand the process!"

31 Mar 16'

Carole Lloyd reviewed: Hand spinning for beginners at Cartmel Handspun

"What a fantastic course. We had a full day with hands on from the moment we arrived until we left. Elaine made the day fun and relaxing and we could ask as many questions as we liked. I had not experience of spinning prior to this day and came away with my first spun yarn. I can highly recommend this course and look forward to being able to join in more in the future. Thank you so much for your instructions and book I have come away with."

25 Mar 16'

Daisy reviewed: Hand spinning for beginners at Cartmel Handspun

"Elaine put on an afternoon taster workshop in our bookshop which certainly attracted attention. The feed back from our customers was very positive and several of them booked onto courses. Others bought books!! Thanks for a successful collaboration."

15 Mar 16'

Val reviewed: Hand spinning for beginners at Cartmel Handspun

"Fantastic day. Learnt far more than I expected from fleeces to spinning . Elaine had so much patience. I was really pleased to be able to come home with my own spun yarn. I only wished the time didn't go so fast."

13 Mar 16'

Rose reviewed: Hand spinning for beginners at Cartmel Handspun

"A wonderfully creative day spent learning to spin, with Elaine an excellent, patient teacher. Delighted to come away with my very own handspun skein of wool, and with the confidence to build on the skills and techniques demonstrated on the day. Thanks!"

22 Feb 16'

Maggie T reviewed: Hand spinning for beginners at Cartmel Handspun

"Elaine put on a special Family Day for me, my mum and sister which we all enjoyed enormously. We were (mostly) beginners and it was great to be able to learn together with a really knowledgeable and patient teacher. Thanks Elaine."

16 Feb 16'

Angie Tyler reviewed: Hand spinning for beginners at Cartmel Handspun

"An absorbing day with a truly knowledgeable and supportive tutor. I enjoyed learning so many things about fibre - and wool in particular, and was pleased to come away confident with my own new set of spinning skills. Recommended."

16 Feb 16'

Jason Haine reviewed: Hand spinning for beginners at Cartmel Handspun

"A thoroughly enjoyable day being creative. Elaine provides everything needed including plenty of one to one coaching and encouragement. Fantastic to work from fleece to yarn and taking home my own skein, held aloft Simba like, was the icing on the cake. Good company for the day in a relaxed atmosphere."

4 Feb 16'

Sue Ball reviewed: Hand spinning 2 day course: From fleece to fibre

"I attended the two day course and found it very informative and fun. It was really helpful to be able to try more than one style of wheel and not to feel rushed. Homemade soup for lunch was lovely - some fresh fruit would have been nice."

31 Jan 16'

Heather Procter reviewed: Hand spinning 2 day course: From fleece to fibre

"I thoroughly enjoyed this two day course and left feeling confident to wash, card and spin fleeces from my own sheep, which is what I had hoped for from the outset. Can't wait to get my own equipment and start producing!"

31 Jan 16'

Liz O'Driscoll reviewed: Hand spinning 2 day course: From fleece to fibre

"Just completed a 2 day beginners course with Elaine and have throughly enjoyed it. I can highly recommend it to anyone who wants to understand how to spin. I have tried to spin before and could not get it, but finally this weekend I have mastered it and produced a skien of yarn really chuffed. Thank you Elaine."

22 Dec 15'

Sharon White reviewed: Hand spinning for beginners at Cartmel Handspun

"A fascinating day spent doing something new with a very knowledgeable tutor in a comfortable, homely setting. Lunch was lovely too.5 Came away with my very own hand-spun yarn, which I admire several times a day. Thank you Elaine, you have passed on the spinning "bug"!"

21 Dec 15'

Tina Pearsall reviewed: Hand spinning for beginners at Cartmel Handspun

"If you want to learn to spin, this is the way to do it. In a Cosy, rural setting with a teacher who has all the answers as well as patience and enthusiasm. I ended the day with a skein of two ply yarn. OK, it was a bit lumpy but I was very proud of it and Elaine was very encouraging."

2 Dec 15'

Val Seger-Bernard reviewed: Hand spinning for beginners at Cartmel Handspun

"Just wanted to say that I really enjoyed the Beginners Hand Spinning course with Elaine. She was exceptionally patient and really thoughtful in her way of teaching me. I felt that she was trying hard to understand how I would learn and adapting her methods to help me 'get-it'. It is a lovely environment in which to learn. Lunch was lovely. I would highly recommend attending a course with Elaine if you are interested in learning more about fibre and spinning. She is most definitely an 'expert' :)"

1 Dec 15'

Angie reviewed: Hand spinning for beginners at Cartmel Handspun

"Lovely day learning this absorbing craft in a superb setting with a patient and very knowledgeable teacher. What more could you want?"

20 Oct 15'

Cathy reviewed: Hand spinning for beginners at Cartmel Handspun

"Elaine is patience personified - kind, helpful and fun with the most wonderful way of bringing the story of Rumpelstiltskin alive. As if by magic, beautiful skeins of wool appeared from nowhere. My efforts were somewhat more lumpy and erratic, but as a first timer I was pretty proud of the day's handiwork. And can't wait to try again."