It’s all very well trying to teach yourself a new craft skill by watching YouTube or trying to learn from a book, but in reality, there is nothing quite like receiving expert tuition to get you started. Not far from the West Oxfordshire border with Gloucestershire, you will find the award-winning Lechlade Craft Barn located just a short walk from the centre of Lechlade on Thames.
The Craft Barn has been providing a range of craft workshops since it was launched in 2014 by owner Karen Holland. The craft workshops are run by Karen and her talented guest tutors, who all share a long-held passion for crafting as well as art and design. The Craft Barn is based at Karen’s home in a stone barn, full of character, inspiration, and craftiness.
The array of affordable, fun, and relaxed craft workshops held at the Craft Barn expands year on year. The workshops are beginner friendly with step-by-step guidance from tutors. You can select from activities such as Lampshade Making, Mosaic Making, Silver Smithing, Stained Glass, Pyrography, Needle Felting, Willow Weaving, Book Binding and much more.
If you and a group of friends love to craft together, why not hold a crafty party as a special birthday celebration or even a hen party? The venue is the perfect location for people just to get together and have fun doing something different.
Every Wednesday afternoon, the Craft Barn is filled with Crafternooners. The afternoon offers a perfect time and place to meet like-minded crafters, share ideas and enjoy a relaxed, fun afternoon. You can take something along as you will work on your own projects so this can be knitting, sewing, crocheting, embroidery, jewellery, or something else. You will be able to swap skills, share what you are doing and meet new friends. There is no actual tuition provided just lots of chatter and friendship.
There are numerous workshops held throughout the year for you to choose from. We have highlighted just three which will be held in April and early May 2023. Workshop prices vary, they include tuition and often the materials required together with tea and coffee, but you will need to bring your own packed lunch.
Lino Cutting on 15 April follows Heather Riches tuition, enabling you to learn your first steps in printmaking. Heather is an illustrator, pattern designer and printer and by the end of the day, you will have produced your own A5 lino block enabling you to print some samples on the day.
If you have a longing to learn how to create jewellery, why not give the Silver Clay Art class a go on Thursday 20 April? Guest tutor Jo Richards from Faye Benjamin Jewellery will teach you how to turn Silver Clay from a squashy lump into a piece of solid silver jewellery in just one day.
If you have the desire to combine your artistic skills with learning a new needle craft skill, the Needle Felted Landscape Workshop is a must. Held on Friday 5 May, the workshop will be run by Cath of Hedgehog & Hoot. You need to bring along a favourite picture or choose one from the many available on the day to create your own needle felted landscape picture. You will learn the basic principles of how a felting needle works and how to safely and effectively use both a multi needle felting tool and a single needle. Using a wool/fibre background you add your details to create a landscape picture. Your finished piece can be framed as a picture or used to make a book cover or embellishment for another project.
To see which crafting workshop most appeals, visit lechladecraftbarn.com
