Alpaca Fleece Academy

Why start small when you can start by taking the whole alpaca fleece all the way from dusty mess to fluffy clouds, ready for spinning? This series of workshops is for crafters who want to take their skills to the next level and learn how to process alpaca fibre into yarn. Over the course of three sessions, you will learn the theory and practice of fibre processing, starting with skirting and washing, through picking, combing and carding, all the way to spinning into yarn. You will receive expert tuition and support from weaver and alpaca fibre expert Magdalena Sobula to get the most of your fleece and walk away with the materials and knowledge to produce a ‘sweater quantity’ of hand spun yarn. All the tools and equipment will be provided and cost of a whole fleece is included in the price.

Please note that although the basics of drop spindle spinning and yarn design will be introduced, this is primarily fibre processing course. We have separate workshops and courses for you to learn yarn design and spinning.

• Price: £345/person, Minimum 4 participants

• Who it’s for: Ages 16+

• Length: 18 hours (3 x 6-hour workshops)

Magdalena Sobula

Since I remember, there was always yarn in our house. I grew up watching my mum and auntie knitting and crocheting and very early I became an enthusiastic crafter myself.

After moving to Scotland with my family I ran a small business, Stitching a Rainbow, selling custom made patchwork blankets and small crochet makes. I stopped in 2016, when I decided to turn my love of yarn and fabrics into a career.

I enrolled for BA in Design for Textiles Associate Programme with Glasgow Clyde College and Heriot-Watt University and followed with Master’s Degree, graduating in 2021.

I am a weave designer, self proclaimed alpaca fibre ambassador, knitter, crocheter, spinner and it brings me a great joy to share my passions with others.

In addition to leading workshops At Birkhill House CIC, I also run my own small business, Soft Stories Design.