Weaving Retreat Itinerary

A detailed weaving retreat itinary will be sent to you nearer the time (including our menu for the week!), but below is what you can expect from your weeks stay with us.

Day one- Friday

Arrival at The Merchant’s House from 5pm.

Day two- Saturday

Enjoy a tour around the Pier Arts Centre exhibitions and permenant collection with the curator.

Spend the morning gathering research and inspiration for your project.

Produce sketches and wool windings to explore our colour palette (no artistic experience necessary- you'll be guided through the session the whole way).

Design your project- you will be guided through our step by step guide on how to design your project, using the inspiration you have gathered from our visit to the gallery.

You will learn our weaving design principles, to assist with choosing design.

We will calculate our yarn quantities, ready for winding your warp.

Day three- Sunday

Studio visit to our micromill in Kirkwall. You'll have a chance to weave on our industrial looms and see how we produce our cloth and scarves.

Visit to local makers around Orkney, including the Orkney Furniture Maker.

Stop at Sheila Fleet for lunch.

Visit to Burnside farm, to see Jane Cooper, author of The Lost Flock, and her famous Orkney Boreray sheep.

We will sample the fleece, and have a go at spinning the fibre.

Day four- Monday

Begin warping your project.

Continue warping your project.

Day five- Tuesday

Beam the warp

Dress the loom, including threading your heddles, sley the reed and tie on.

Begin weaving your sample, hemstitch and begin your project

Day six- Wednesday

Weave your project

Day seven- Thursday

Weave your project

Finish and wash your project

Day eight- Friday

Check out by 10am

Weaving Retreat in the Heart of the Orkney Islands