Reviews for The Spinning Barn

My wife and I attended a days spinning course at the Spinning Barn. My wife attended a course several years ago but has not really used the wheel since. I thought I would give it a go during lock down last year. I got so far but the skeins I was producing were far from consistent and not really fit for crocheting or knitting. I knew I needed to do a face to face course. After reading the reviews for the spinning barn, we decided we would book a course.

Upon arrival Theresa was very friendly and welcoming, and even Teddy (her lovely dog) made us feel at home. Teddy took up his place in front of the fire as Theresa looked over my lock down results and assessed my drum carded batts an spun skeins. Though she was very compliantly on my solo effort, she quickly spotted what I had done wrong and it was poor prep work and drafting technique.

She started us on the hand carders whilst explaining how it should be done. We spent the next hour producing rolags, improving our technique which each one. When we had a basket full, we then started on the wheels.

We started by just peddling the spinning wheels to get our tempo, then introduced a lead and practiced feeding. Once Theresa was happy with that we then got onto the actual spinning.

The day was very well organised and Theresa worked at our pace. Making sure we understood each step before moving onto the next. We both produced a skein of wool and when compared to what I had produced before hand, it was a 1000% improvement and I think I will be able to make something from this skein.

Overall an excellent day with first rate tuition. We had many questions, which Theresa answered thoroughly. Once we have mastered what we learnt today, we will definitely be looking at booking another course.

Theresa has the most beautiful studio and I had a marvellous day with her. I learned so much and got to really experiment with wheels, techniques and fibres. The day was just what I needed to really up my spinning game and I am reaping the rewards now I am back home working on my own wheel. Theresa was so patient with me while pushing me out of my comfort zone. I wanted to be able to spin lace weight yarn, and I did. The addition of a dog at my feet and a curious cat visitor at lunchtime really were the cherry on top of a beautifully iced and delicious cake. I hope to return again.

This was a delightful way to spend a weekend. The atmosphere in the spinning barn was warm, friendly and relaxed. This provided an excellent learning environment for all of us,Theresa is knowledgeable and is happy to share all her knowledge and experience. She is an excellent teacher and has endless patience, she tailored her approach to our individual needs and nothing was too much trouble. This approach meant that we all felt valued and we went away proud of what we had achieved and very keen to build on this.
In addition the refreshments provided were excellent.

The course was excellent and I would highly recommend to anyone wanting to learn to spin or as a refresher. Theresa spent time with each of us and went at our pace making learning relaxing and enjoyable. It was lovely to see the process through from fleece to yarn. Theresa has such a passion for her rare breed sheep (and her other animals) and her craft and her passion is infectious.

Her workshop is a credit to her and husband James and both made us feel so welcoming; nothing was any trouble. Great cake too... what more can you want.

I would recommend to anyone, give it a go.

The course is well structured and thoroughly enjoyable. You start by meeting the sheep, then look at fleeces, talk about how to wash the wool, and then card and comb some before learning to spin. I had previously done the one-day course at The Spinning Barn, and found it really helpful to follow it with this one. This course goes into more detail, and I was able to absorb a lot more. Theresa and James were also really helpful getting my wheel (which I obtained second hand between the two courses) working properly. The barn you learn in is warm and cosy, Theresa is really patient, and also explains things very clearly. And on top of all that, a delicious lunch is provided each day! I can't recommend this course enough!

Theresa is an enthusiastic and encouraging tutor who obviously knows her subject in great depth but has designed a one-day course that gets you started on the basics without leaving you overwhelmed. It was all great fun in her little workshop, warmed by a wood burning stove and well supplied with hot drinks and cake. The day was perfectly timed so that we carded, spun and plied our wool and were able to get it into skeins and wash it, ready to take away with us at the end. I loved it and would recommend it to any beginner or to anyone who wants a refresher course.

I can't recommend Theresa and her courses highly enough.
I arrived with a whole host of bad habits and preconceptions, having fought my wheel for a number of years.
But Theresa is so calming and patient, she's so positive and encouraging that I came away with a new love for my wheel, and desperate to get started on new projects.
We were a perfectly-sized group so we got lots of feedback, support and encouragement, Theresa spots as soon as you go wrong, steps in and gets you sorted in a flash. We were a mixture of past spinners and newbies and she tailored the weekend to accommodate all of us and our needs.
The location is perfect, gorgeous refreshments/lunches and you get to meet her lovely sheep.
I can't believe how much I learned in one weekend but didn't feel overwhelmed at any point
Perfect :)

Loved every minute of the two day workshop - and can't wait for Theresa to do another, and this time a longer one, please! It's taken me a bit of time to catch up since the workshop, hence the delay in writing my review. I found it so helpful to have two consecutive days devoted to learning more about sheep and fleeces, about the variety of spinning wheels we were using, and of course then the spinning. Having a good few hours to practice was phenomenally useful - and the time we spent sorting out our wheels and the hiccups with spinning has meant that I've felt confident to continue practising at home every day since then. Just the best and to find that it really is a peaceful-making experience, even when things go wrong, and the discovering that I can rather put them to rights again.

Theresa is a very good teacher - showing us step by baby step to help get us comfortable with some very basic skills, and with these it's felt possible to build confidence little by little. She is wonderfully and widely knowledgeable, always happy to share - with delight and great humour. I also loved working alongside the other group members. I found them such interesting and delightful people - a terrific experience altogether. Which makes me very much hope that Theresa will want to add a four-day workshop or a week's retreat soon in the new year. This would be fantastic! Please, can we do that?!! And thank you - it was such a special weekend. I can't wait to come again.