Workshops for Craft Festival 2026

At Craft Festival, we have a range of bookable and drop-in workshops for all ages. Our workshops are very popular and most sell out quickly.

Click the workshop link and you can book direct. All 2 hour workshops are £30 + Booking fee, which is payable at the time of booking.

The workshop fee does not include entry into the show. To book a workshop you must be over 16 years of age. Some workshops are 18+ please, check carefully before booking. We have a range of free workshops for children and young people from ages 2-18 years in the Craft Club.

Our workshops are hosted in Workshop Venue 1 & Workshop Venue 2. Please present your ticket to your tutor. Upon arrival at Craft Festival, turn immediately left at the entrance. The workshop venues are ahead of you, beyond First Aid. 

To Book Your Workshops, hover and click over the workshops. You will be directed to our booking system. 

Friday June 12, 2026                                                                                       

11am-1pm Make It Yours: Customise Your Clothes with Embroidery with Stephanie Carswell from Hawthorn Handmade V1      

Got an old jumper that needs some love? Learn how to customise your own clothes in this fun embroidery workshop. You'll discover the amazing world of Stick and Stitch patches which allow you to easily add embroidery to any fabric you like. You'll learn how to use the stick and stitch sheets, how to prepare your fabric and materials, and then we'll get stitching! Stephanie will teach everyone 3 beginner stitches to get started with (back stitch, reverse chain stitch and stem stitch), and she'll be available to help with more as the session moves on including French Knots, Lazy Daisies and more. Bring your own clothes (no thick denim please), or use one of our supplied tote bags, napkins or pouches. Everything else you need will be provided including DMC threads, hoops, needles and scissors. You’ll leave with your very own unique customised item, a true one off! 

11am-1pm Botanical dyeing and stitching a felt pouch with Siân Lester V2

Siân will take you through a relaxing session making and hand stitching together a simple wool felt pouch that has been botanically dyed. You will add the finishing touches by attaching your own handmade botanically dyed tassels and cord. There will be an opportunity to try your hand at immersing some cloth and yarn into a dye bath, so that you have some extra pieces to take home for future projects. 

2.30-4.30pm Introduction to Woodcarving with William Barsley from The Orchard Carving Studio V1  

We’ll start with an introduction to the tools, techniques, and traditions of the craft before moving on to practical exercises. The focus will be on shallow relief carving — a versatile and rewarding technique for creating decorative designs. By the end of the day, you’ll have the knowledge and confidence to continue carving independently at home, and your own carved piece to take away with you. 

2.30-4.30pm Make Your Own Stitched Whisk Hand Broom with Jamie Dun, Founder of Bristol Broomworks V2

Perfect brooms for beginners: Make your own classic stitched whisk hand broom with Jamie Dun of Bristol Broomworks.   Students will learn the pre-industrial era fundamentals of handcrafted broom making. We will cover tools, materials and basic broom tying methods as well as a bit of broom history and lore.   Hand brooms are great for smaller spaces - cars, campervans, kitchens, potting sheds and art studios etc. This broom is ideal anywhere one uses a dustpan and brush. Students will take home the brooms they make that day.  Each broom is tied with one continuous length of twine whilst seated in a chair and tied off all in one go! Then we’ll learn to use a sewing vice and stitch rows across our brooms to flatten the sweeping area in the Shaker style.  Students should be 18+ and comfortable using knives, sharp scissors, PVC cutters, long stitching needles and lighters.  Broom making is surprisingly physical. Students should have excellent use of both hands and feet, core strength and ability to sit for long periods, whilst pulling hard and consistently for extended periods of time. 

Saturday June 13, 2026                                                                          

11am-1pm Introduction to Woodcarving with William Barsley from The Orchard Carving Studio V1

We’ll start with an introduction to the tools, techniques, and traditions of the craft before moving on to practical exercises. The focus will be on shallow relief carving — a versatile and rewarding technique for creating decorative designs. By the end of the day, you’ll have the knowledge and confidence to continue carving independently at home, and your own carved piece to take away with you. 

11am-1pm Make Your Own Hens Wing Hand Broom with Jamie Dun, Founder of Bristol Broomworks V2                                   

Perfect brooms for beginners: Make your own classic Appalachian style hens wing hand broom with Jamie Dun of Bristol Broomworks. Choose one of two session time options on the same day.  Students will learn the pre-industrial era fundamentals of handcrafted broom making. We will cover tools, materials and basic broom tying methods as well as a bit of broom history and lore.   Hand brooms are great for smaller spaces - cars, campervans, kitchens, potting sheds and art studios etc. This broom is ideal anywhere one uses a dustpan and brush. Students will take home the brooms they make that day.  Each broom is tied with one continuous length of twine whilst seated in a chair and tied off all in one go! 

*Students should be 18+ and should be comfortable using knives, sharp scissors, PVC cutters and lighters. Students should have excellent use of both hands and feet, core strength and ability to sit for long periods, whilst pulling hard and consistently for extended periods of time. 

2.30-4.30pm Introduction to leatherwork, create a marbled leather key ring with RachelO'Connell from ROCWORX V1

In this introduction to leatherwork workshop, students will create a marbled leather key fob.  Students will choose from a variety of prepared patterns, learn how to cut, edge and seal their leather.  They will learn how to hole punch and affix rivets and their key ring, finishing with personalisation and waxing. 

2.30-4.30pm Make a willow swallow with Mary Eluned Baskets V2          

This hands-on, two hour workshop introduces the craft of willow weaving by guiding you through the creation of a beautiful swallow silhouette.  You will learn the foundational techniques specific to creating detailed, flat shapes and defined edges using prepared willow rods.  For those who work quickly, there will be some other small willow projects to build your skills.  No previous weaving experience is required. 

Sunday June 14, 2026                                                                                           

11am-1pm Suminagashi Ink Marbling on Paper and Textiles with RachelO'Connell from ROCWORX V1

Suminagashi ink marbling is an ancient surface pattern technique, which originated in Japan in the 8th Century.  The patterns are created by dropping ink onto water, before transferring to paper and textiles.  In this calming workshop, students will learn how to create organic paper patterns and make a marbled silk scarf.  Aprons and gloves provided. 

11am-1pm Carve a Geometric patten on to natural limestone with Maria Moorhouse from Sculptworks V2                       

Carve a geometric design on a piece of natural limestone. You will learn how to how to draw the design onto you stone and use hammers and chisel to produce a masonry geometric patten to take home.

2.30-4.30pm Chopping board workshop with Jo Weaden from Studio Arvor V1  

Learn how to work with a variety of tools to create a chopping board using English timbers. This is suitable for complete beginners and for anyone that would like to learn about some of the woodworking tools and how to correctly use them. We will be working with a combination of hand tools such as saws, planes and spokeshaves. The workshop is for 18+. 

2.30-4.30pm Carve a small soapstone sculpture with Maria Moorhouse from Sculptworks V2 

Create a small soapstone sculpture using hand carving tools hammer and chisels, files and learning the creative technique of intuitive carving. You leave the session with your own unique hand carved sculpture.