Dillington House. Somerset County Council
Contact Name: Bookings team
What does this mean?
This craft course provider has been awarded Silver status for receiving 5 or more 5 star ratings from previous students.
The Students' Choice award ensures that course providers get recognised for their efforts in the teaching and practice of UK craft.
They also allow tutors to gain valuable feedback on their courses and for new students to find the course that's right for them.
Courses, kits & gifts
In-person course
Indian Block Printing - One Day Workshop
Learn about the traditional skill of Indian Block Printing with images of block printing around Jaipur, handling hand printed fabrics and hand carved blocks. You will print tissue paper, card...
In-person course
Willow Deer - One Day Workshop - COURSE FULL
Come and make a 4 foot high willow deer with a basic metal frame for your home or garden with local Somerset artist Jo Sadler of Forged n Willow. Jo...
In-person course
Abstract Painting - Three into Two Do Go!
For any artist who is intrigued by abstraction but isn’t sure how to go about it, this course offers a novel and stimulating approach to the genre, often employed by...
In-person course
Advanced Crochet Workshop
Add dimension to your stitchwork and create more texture in your crochet. Learn the secrets of blending colour whilst working with groups of stiches, clusters and spikes!
Develop your skills...
In-person course
Aran Knitting - Cables & Bobbles
On this sample-based session, you will practice the most common methods of travelling stitches and cable knitting.
Throughout the day you will work through a series of designs from simple...
In-person course
Autumn Delights Embroidery
On this interesting, fun and informative course, we will cover a wide selection of hand embroidery stitches together with Stumpwork (raised work). You can choose to work in surface embroidery...
In-person course
Basic sewing skills workshop – zip, hem, seam and bias binding
It is fair to say, that a number of people find it difficult to buy garments that are the perfect length, sleeves too long, or maybe a zip breaks in...
In-person course
Beaded Starburst Embroidery
Explore the world of colour with this fascinating embroidery day using Cretan stitch and embroidery beads. You will learn how to produce your own unique beaded starburst design with guidance...
In-person course
Beginners Crochet One Day Workshop
Master the basics of crochet on this one-day workshop. Learn how to create a basic chain and simple crochet stitches. The day is very hands on and you will be...
In-person course
Bobbin Lace - Weekend Course
This is a practical course for all abilities of lacemakers from those who have a knowledge of only the basic stitches to those who wish to study advanced techniques in...
In-person course
Bookbinding - Optional Focus on Case Binding
On this general bookbinding course participants may pursue their own rebinding or repair projects at their own pace under the guidance of our expert tutor, rather than following a particular...
In-person course
Bookbinding - Optional Focus on Library Style Binding
The light and airy studio at Dillington has all the tools and equipment needed for binding books in the traditional manner. On this general bookbinding course participants may pursue their...
In-person course
Bookbinding – decorative and dyed papers
Come and explore the glorious effects produced by dyeing, crumpling, colouring, manipulating, cutting, rearranging and weaving paper to create unique decorative sheets for use in bookbinding and other crafts. We’ll...
In-person course
Botanical Illustration - 3 Day Break
Botanical illustration is precise, detailed work, a combination of art and science. This studio based watercolour course is for all ability levels: no experience of art or botany is required,...
In-person course
Butterfly Needle Felting Workshop
Love wool! Then you’ll love needle felting!
Fibre artist Carla Taylor of The Mousehole Woolery will guide you step by step through the techniques of needle felting as well as...
In-person course
Christmas Card & Gift Block Printing Workshop
A day to explore the craft of Indian Block Printing to create your own wrapping paper, cards and textile product. You will have the opportunity to use a collection of...
In-person course
Dreamland Mystery Tour: Pop-up Book Workshop
This year’s workshop takes a magical journey through the rooms of a dreamland house.
Each page spread opens on a new room and reveals its secrets – salubrious sitting room,...
In-person course
Exploring Fabric Dyeing and Screen Printing
Students will discover the traditional textile processes of fabric dying using a resist technique called shibori. We will experiment with different ways of folding, clamping, binding and stitching fabric, dyeing...
In-person course
Festive Copper Foil Stained Glass Workshop - COURSE FULL
This course introduces students to the copper foil method of stained glass making. Often referred to as the Tiffany method, after Louis Comfort Tiffany. This method is used to make...
In-person course
Festive Knitting Workshop
Add to your Christmas decorations at this fun festive workshop. Using simple techniques, knit up a mini stocking or bauble for the tree – you might choose to create a...
In-person course
Festive paper cutting workshop
A great way to ease into the festive season. With the help of pre-designed sheets, some simple cutting exercises and lots of inspirational resources, you will cut out several panels...
In-person course
Festive patchwork star workshop
A great way to ease into the festive season. These lovely patchwork stars are the perfect introduction to the traditional, hand stitched, template technique of patchwork, also known as EPP,...
In-person course
Finishing Touches and Embellishments
This is a very inspirational day where you will work on pre knitted swatches, we will practice our embroidery stitches, add applique, embellish the surface in various ways including beads,...
In-person course
General Sewing Machine Two Day Workshop
Often we need practical help with a sewing machine project, theory and written instructions are sometimes hard to visualise. Practical workshops are aimed at helping and guiding students to accomplish...
In-person course
Get to Know Your Sewing Machine
If you have recently bought a sewing machine or have never really understood how to use all the stitches and feet that came with your sewing machine, then this is...
In-person course
Heat Press Workshop
A day exploring textures, colour and design using the heat press and sublimation printing. We will be preparing our own dye papers, and learn how to use different textures, images,...
In-person course
Indian Block Printing Workshop
We will start by looking at examples of hand block printed fabrics, considering design placement, colour and pattern.
Using a selection of hand carved Indian woodblocks experiment printing patterns, you...
In-person course
Knitted Toys
Spend the day working on a project selected from my Toys to Knit book. Choose from a traditional knitted ball which you can personalise or a beautiful starfish.
Following the...
In-person course
Lace Knitting
Classic lace knitting is a very traditional method of creating delicate and intricate work. During the day we will work up small samples of this technique, starting with the simplest...
In-person course
Learn to machine sew piped and zipped scatter cushions
Scatter cushions are used so much as decoration and for function in most peoples homes, used to bring an accent colour into a room, as a design feature, also practically...
In-person course
Making a Leaded Stained Glass Panel Workshop - Two Day Course - COURSE FULL
This two day course will enable you to create your own stained glass panel using the traditional method of combining coloured glass with lead. Stained Glass is an ancient art...
In-person course
Making a leaded stained glass spectrum stick for the garden
Using the traditional method of combining coloured glass with lead, this one day workshop will enable you to create one colourful stained glass spectrum stick which can be hung in...
In-person course
Mark making and mindfulness in stitch
This day is all about learning to be present and enjoying the moment.
We will begin by exploring the lovely grounds at Dillington House and looking more closely at the...
In-person course
Modular Knitting - Fans
Master the fascinating technique of modular knitting. Working with limited stitches and simple shaping you can create intricate pieces of work. It is a relatively simple method of the craft...
In-person course
Needle Felted Vintage Bear
Love wool? Then you'll love needle felting!
Fibre artist Carla Taylor of The Mousehole Woolery will guide you step by step through the basic techniques of needle felting as well...
In-person course
Pencil to Paint Art Course
Our world is replete with colour, light, texture and form. From apples on a table to sunlight on a mountain, the artist unravels all of these elements and convincingly daubs...
In-person course
Pencil Two Day Art Course with David Chandler - COURSE FULL
From Da Vinci and Durer to Gehry and Gormley, invention, discovery and understanding begin with drawing. As children, when we pick up a crayon and draw, we discover a liberating...
In-person course
Picture in Collage and Stitch
Do you want to create one of your own designs and translate it into a picture using the combined techniques of fabric collage with both machine and hand embroidery? Then...
In-person course
Printing with Leaves Workshop
Enjoy a day exploring dye sublimation using the heat press to create unique and exciting designs. You will be carefully guided through the different stages by demonstrations and will begin...
In-person course
Red Woodland Squirrel Needle Felting Workshop
Love wool? Then you'll love needle felting!
Fibre artist Carla Taylor of The Mousehole Woolery will guide you step by step through the basic techniques of needle felting as well...
In-person course
Stumpwork Embroidery - Week Holiday
This course will explore the beautiful and fascinating sixteenth century raised embroidery technique known as Stumpwork. The theme will be set around flora and fauna from a summer meadow, poppies,...
In-person course
The Joy of Painting
Watercolour and other water based mediums will be covered in this course which will look at all the crucial elements involved in producing good paintings right through from the planning...
In-person course
Watercolour wildlife
A wonderful opportunity to focus on techniques for introducing local wildlife into your paintings. Hares, badgers, foxes, deer. Creating atmospheric wet into wet backgrounds that set the scene for the...
In-person course
Watercolour woodland
Focusing on trees and techniques for creating atmosphere, depth and texture. Shari will bring plenty of visual references of trees and, of course, we have all the beautiful trees at...
In-person course
Willow Angels Workshop
Come and make a 4 foot high willow Angel with wings - new for Winter Season for your home or garden with local Somerset artist Jo Sadler of Forged n...
In-person course
Willow Chickens and Cockrels - One Day Workshop
Come and make a 2 foot high chicken or cockerel for your home or garden with local Somerset artist Jo Sadler of Forged n Willow. Jo will guide you through...
In-person course
Willow Dragonfly - One Day Course
Come and make a 3 foot wide willow flying dragonfly for your home or garden.
All materials provided and full guidance to make a willow sculpture. Just bring enthusiasm, your...
In-person course
Willow Pigs - One Day Course - COURSE FULL
Come and make a 2 foot high, 3 foot long willow pig for your home or garden with local Somerset artist Jo Sadler of Forged n Willow. Jo will guide...
In-person course
Won't Draw, Can't Paint!
Drawing isn’t a gift, granted to some but not others; it’s a skill that can be acquired by anyone with reasonable hand/eye co-ordination and a determination to improve. It’s also...
Reviews
See all reviewsCountry Hares & Foxes Needle Felting Workshop - COURSE FULL (Course inactive)
Absolutely excellent, loved every minute and Carla is an excellent tutor, very patient. Will book another felting course soon.
Response from Dillington House. Somerset County Council:
Thank you for your kind comments with regards to the Needle Felting course with Carla at Dillington House, we are glad you enjoyed your day.We look forward to welcoming you back to Dillington House soon.
Kind regards
Dillington House Bookings Team
Indian Block Printing - One Day Workshop
Clare is an excellent tutor - informative, encouraging and hugely positive.
Dillington is a magical place and the studio superb.
Response from Dillington House. Somerset County Council:
Dear DavidThank you writing a review with regards to the Indian Block Printing course you recently attended at Dillington House.
We are so pleased to hear that you enjoyed the course & we hope to welcome you back to Dillington House soon.
Kind regards Karen
Dillington House Bookings Office
Chinese Brush Painting - Flower, Bird and Insects in Freehand Style for Beginners (Course inactive)
I learnt a lot from these two days. The tutor was very accomplished and inspiring. I will definitely be continuing to practice the technique
The setting was picturesque and the food excellent.
Sadly some of the joining instructions had suggested the buying the wrong paper and brushes which meant we had to share our equipment amongst us. This wasn't easy at the beginning when we didn’t know one another but got easier as the camaraderie grew.
The room was spacious but as we had the door open the noise from an adjoining room with a very loud tutor was drowning out ours.
The accomodation was poor as the lights in our twin room kept flickering and the table lamp fused. The bathroom light only went on as you walked back out so we had to leave the strip light over the sink on.
This course was a birthday present from my partner and I'm glad I went on it.
Response from Dillington House. Somerset County Council:
Hi Wendy,Thanks so much for sharing your experience at Dillington House on the Chinese Brush Painting course.
We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed the course and that you learnt so much from the tutor.
We’re sorry to hear that your joining instructions weren’t accurate in terms of the correct brushes to bring along. It appears that this slight change on materials/tools required from a previous course to this one did not get updated on our system. We have implemented additional processes now to ensure this doesn’t happen in the future.
The noise from a nearby room coming from an open door is unfortunately due to the additional ventilation that some of our guests request in order to reduce the risk of COVID transmission. We will endeavour to brief all tutors further on the need to manage volume when teaching in spaces with open doors/windows for ventilation.
In regards to the issues experienced with your accommodation, these have now all been identified and rectified.
Please accept our sincere apologies for the issues which took the shine off what was otherwise a positive experience for you at Dillington House.
We do hope that we can welcome you back soon and would be glad of the opportunity to show you that these were without doubt isolated incidents and that you will have a universally positive visit upon your return.
We always welcome feedback and once again thank you for taking the time to get in touch.
Kind regards,
The Dillington Bookings Team
Willow Deer - One Day Workshop - COURSE FULL
Really fun well organised day, great venue and you actually take home a sculpture that looks like a deer.
Response from Dillington House. Somerset County Council:
Dear KarenThank you for your review. We are pleased you enjoyed your Willow Deer Workshop at Dillington House.
It is such a lovely setting to make a hand made sculpture using locally grown willow from the Somerset Levels.
We hope your deer is enjoying its new home.
We look forward to welcoming you back to Dillington House soon.
Regards Karen