The Sanday Spinners' Introduction to Spinning course is now available for booking.

Offered in association with the island's accommodation providers, the course promises an unforgettable  "Island Experience" for the novice handspinner. Take advantage of special rates for accommodation and learn to spin, with individual attention from our two highly experienced tutors, in the relaxing setting of our idyllic island.

Demonstrating Skeining with a Niddy Noddy

Sanday Spinners' courses are run in the comfortable setting of the Ayre's Rock conservatory. A maximum of four participants* ensures that all beginners receive plenty of individual attention.

The course fee includes tuition on two afternoons,** course hand-outs, use of spinning wheels during the course and after hours, aftercare support via the Internet, and a quantity of Sanday fleece to take home to practise with. Light refreshments are provided by our hosts at Ayre's Rock and are included in the course fee.

The course offers everything that a beginner needs to know:

• Introduction to fleece: choosing a good fleece and sorting the fibre, cleaning
  
• Reasons for and principles of drafting and spinning
• Drop spindling
  
• Introduction to the spinning wheel
• Hands on spinning with a wheel
• Plying, including Navajo plying
• Skeining with a niddy noddy

Residents may opt for an additional session in introductory dyeing or hand knitting with handspun yarns, and there is potential for visitors staying longer than two days to visit the neighbouring island of North Ronaldsay and its famous seaweed-eating sheep.

Course Fee:
£100 per person

Course Dates:
Wednesday/Thursday 30th April/1st May - places still available
Tuesday/Wednesday 27th/28th May - places still available
Wednesday/Thursday 9th/10th July - places still available

Other dates may be available by negotiation. 

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Accommodation: Ayre's Rock - tariff details here

For the non-spinner, Sanday has a wealth of wildlife and archaeology to offer. Visit the Sanday Tourism Association's website, sandayorkney.co.uk for information.

Notes:

* For groups booking together, we can be flexible about the maximum number of participants. Fees will be negotiated accordingly and please note that for bookings of 6 to 8 persons, the self-catering rooms at Ayre's Rock offer a block booking rate discount of  £50 per night (when available.)

** It may be possible to rearrange afternoon 2 to the morning, if travel arrangements necessitate and all partcipants are in agreement.