2025
Workshop Programme
Workshops will take place at Artspace Oban, 26 Alexandra Place, Oban, unless indicated otherwise. For details and to book, email artspaceoban@gmail.com
Additional workshops may be added – follow @artspaceoban and @deborah.gray7 for updates.
Individual tuition and bespoke group workshops including spinning, natural dyeing, knitting, and stitching can also be arranged.
Workshop Vouchers make a great gift, allowing the recipient to choose a workshop or one-to-one session. A £45 voucher can be exchanged for one place on a 3-hour workshop or 90 minutes of one-to-one tuition.
Artspace Oban also has Residency opportunities – one week to one month - if you would like some studio time for a project.
Jan 19th 2-5pm Knit a Temperature Blanket or Scarf Deborah will show different ways to represent temperature in knitting and help you design your own blanket or scarf to record a month’s – or a year’s – temps. Materials provided for knitting a sample. £45
Feb 8th 10 – 1 Sashiko – style stitching Learn this traditional Japanese decorative stitching, often used to mend or strengthen fabric. Straight stitches form beautiful patterns. Materials included. £45
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Feb 23rd 2 – 5pm Drop Spindle Spinning Using a drop spindle is the best way to learn to spin your own unique yarn. Deborah’s method allows you to slow the process right down to learn each step. The skills are easily transferrable to a spinning wheel at a later date. Materials included. £45
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March 15th 10 – 1 Plan your own dye garden This session will cover choosing which dyeplants to grow and growing tips for each type, planning your dye garden and a visit to the EcoCreative Cluster Dye Garden (a 10 minute walk away). £45. Dye plant seeds will be available for sale (proceeds to the EcoCreative Cluster).
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April 5th 10 – 1 Weaving without a loom Learn to weave simple patterns with wool on and around found objects – flat stones, driftwood etc. Materials included. £45
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April 27th 10 -1 Illusion Knitting Your knitting will hide a secret message or image that can only be seen from a certain angle. Knit a sample in the workshop and plan how to use this fun technique in a project. Materials included. £50
May – date to be confirmed Bookbinding with Beth Lancaster - TBC
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June 8th 2 – 4 Solar dyeing Learn a method of dyeing with plants that is easy to do at home, eco-friendly and doesn’t require a lot of special equipment. You will create and take away two solar dye jars to watch the colours develop at home. Materials included. £50
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June 28th 10 – 4 Natural Dyeing – wool yarn Learn to prepare wool yarn and dye a range of natural colours with plants. Materials included. £90. Only 5 places
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July 20th 10 - 4 Botanical Printing on paper and fabric A very special technique captures the form and colours from leaves directly, without inks or artificial colours. Materials included. £90 Only 5 places
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Sept 13th 9 – 5 Masterclass in Nettle Fibre Processing with Allan Brown Allan is the artist who created The Nettle Dress and is featured in the film of that name. The masterclass is hosted by the EcoCreative Cluster and will take place at The Rockfield Centre, Oban. Places are strictly limited so please notify your interest as soon as possible ( email artspaceoban@gmail.com), a ticketing link will be sent as soon as it is available.
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Sept 14th 10-4 Woad harvesting and dyeing demonstration *at the Dye Garden, The Rockfield Centre. Donations to Dye Garden funds.*
September 21st 10 – 4 Natural Dyeing on wool yarn and fabric
Covering mordanting, dyeing and finishing. Materials included. £90 Only 5 places
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October 12th 10 – 4 Botanical printing on paper and fabric A very special technique captures the form and colours from leaves directly, without inks or artificial colours. Materials included. £90 Only 5 places
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October 18th & 19th Natural dyeing on cotton and linen – 2-part workshop:
18th: 10 - 1 preparing and mordanting cotton and linen for dyeing
19th 10 – 4 extracting natural dyes, dyeing and finishing fabrics
Materials included. £125 for both sessions. Only 5 places
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November 2nd 10 – 1 Bookbinding with Beth Lancaster – details tbc
You could use paper printed at one of the Botanical Printing workshops to cover your book
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November 16th 2 – 5 New from Old – festive decorations from upcycled paper Materials included. £25
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November 19th 6.30 – 9.30pm Fabric Collage with simple stitching create a unique picture from mixed fabrics, found materials and stitching. Materials included. £50
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November 22nd 10 – 12 Making plant pigments for ink or paint We will make lake pigments from plants used in natural dyeing. You can take them home to make your own natural inks or paints (recipes provided). Materials included. £45
SHETLAND WOOL WEEK
27th September - 5th October 2025
I will be offering 6 or more classes during Shetland Wool Week, all in Lerwick. They will be included in the main Shetland Wool Week programme and tickets will only be available through the SWW Box Office.
Because tickets sell out very quickly once they are released, I recommend purchasing a Shetland Wool Week membership as this gives access to the programme a week before the tickets go on sale.
Details can be found on the Shetland Wool Week website
WHAT I OFFER
Workshops for groups and one - to- one tuition at beginner and improver levels, in spinning, natural dyeing, knitting and stitching
ONE TO ONE TUITION
If you can come to Oban we can arrange one to one tuition on most of the topics I offer in my group workshops. Alternatively, I can help you troubleshoot any problems you are having with your spinning, knitting, dyeing or stitching. Drop me an email : deborah.gray7@btinternet.com
WORKSHOPS FOR GROUPS
I'm happy to travel to teach at fibre festivals and local groups. Contact me by email: deborah.gray7@btinternet.com
WORKSHOP TOPICS
These are some of the workshop topics I can offer, for small groups. Most are also available for one-to-one tuition.
If you would like tuition on a different aspect of spinning, natural dyeing, knitting or stitching please contact me to discuss.
DROP SPINDLE SPINNING
Suitable for beginners. 3 hours.
A drop spindle is the easiest way to learn to spin. It is a simple, portable and inexpensive tool and the skills you will learn at this workshop are transferable to spinning with a spinning wheel, so it is a great place to start your spinning journey.
IÂ provide all the equipment and materials you will need, and you can take home the yarn that you have spun.
FLEECE PREPARATION FOR HAND SPINNING
Suitable for beginners. 3 hours.
From raw fleece to fibre that is ready to spin. We will cover choosing and storing fleece, when and how to wash it as well as preparation for woollen and worsted type yarns.Â
I can supply all the equipment and materials you will need, and you get to take home your prepared fibre.
SPINNING WHEEL
Suitable for beginners or improvers. 3 hours.
Learn the skills you need to spin lovely yarns on a spinning wheel. I'll help you decide which kind of wheel is suited to you, or show you how to adjust the wheel you already have, for enjoyable consistent spinning. I can supply all the equipment and materials, or you can bring your own if you prefer.
PURPOSEFUL SPINNING
Not suitable for beginners. 3 hours.
Learn how to plan and spin the right kind of yarn for any project. This workshop is a mix of theory and practical which will help ensure you get the results you want. Bring the equipment and fibre you want to use - ask me if you aren't sure what you will need.
SOLAR DYEING
Suitable for beginners. 3 hours.
Imagine you could dye fibre or yarn with plants, and get beautiful results without needing a lot of special equipment! Without needing a dye studio, and without using loads of energy! I will show you a method which uses solar energy - you just need a little patience as it takes time to develop. It is also gentler on the fibres and the pigments and sometimes gives colours that other methods don't.
If possible we will collect some dyeplants locally, before I show you how to set up your two solar dye jars (I'll provide some dye plants in case we can't forage). You will take your jars home to watch the colours develop over the next few weeks. I will provide some of the materials and tell you what you need to bring when you book.
BLENDING THE COLOURS OF NATURE
Suitable for beginners. 3 hours.
Using images of nature for inspiration, I will teach you how to blend a range of subtle or vibrant hues from primary coloured (plus natural black and white) wool fibre. This workshop makes us think more deeply about the colours that surround us, and how well they go together. I will supply all equipment and materials needed, and you can take your blended fibres home to spin or felt them.
KNTTED SECRETS, ILLUSIONS AND CODE
Not suitable for beginners. 3 hours.
Three techniques in one workshop for those who like to add a little intrigue to their knitting. Something hidden or disguised that only you will know about, until you choose to tell. We can have fun discussing how we might use these techniques.
I will supply materials and instructions for swatches in all three techniques, although you will probably only have time to try one or two during the workshop. I will tell you which needles and notions you need to bring when you book.
MAGIC LOOP KNITTING
Not suitable for beginners. 3 hours.
I will show you how to knit small diameters in the round using a long circular needle. For circles or tubes (hats, socks, gloves, sleeves etc.), this is the versatile and efficient technique for you if you don't like managing four or five slippery double-pointed needles.
I will tell you what you need to bring when you book.
KNITTING SOCKS TWO AT A TIME AND TOE UP
Not suitable for beginners. 3 hours,
No more second sock syndrome! No fiddly double pointed needles! I will teach you how to knit both socks at the same time on one circular needle, so they match exactly. And it really does feel quicker. Working from the toe up means you can try them on as you knit and adjust for perfect fit, and you can make them as long (or short) as you like.Â
I will tell you what you need to bring when you book.
DESIGN AND KNIT COLOURWORK BUNTING OR BAUBLES
Not suitable for beginners. 3 hours.
Knit unique colourful bunting with motifs or words that you have designed. Knitting single flags with intarsia lettering or motifs and two-at-a-time stranded colourwork bunting flags with a knotted steek will both be covered.
An example of my two-at-a-time stranded colourwork flags can be found in the section I contributed to the wonderful KNITSONIK Stranded Colourwork Playbook (by Felicity Ford)- a great source of inspiration.
There will be an optional show-and-tell session following on-line workshops,  for final questions.
You need to have basic knitting skills to enjoy this workshop.
A full materials and equipment list will be sent before the workshop.
A recording of the workshop will be available to registered participants only.
I will tell you what you need to bring when you book this workshop.
KNIT A MOEBIUS COWL
Not suitable for beginners. 3 hours.
The top edge is also the bottom edge and the inside is also the outside; you start knitting in the middle and work outwards, and the top and bottom go in different directions even though you never turn the knitting. How is any of that possible? I will help you get your head around this seemingly impossible shape and teach you the tricky beginning. After that it is actually fairly straightforward so we can talk about, and maybe try out some design variations. You will make a good start on a cowl or longer infinity scarf, which you can finish knitting at home.Â
I will tell you what you need to bring when you book.
