Workshops & Talks

at Edinburgh Academy 2026

Workshop, talk and general tickets now on sale!

(Please note: a day ticket to the marketplace is required to attend all workshops and talks)

Workshops and talks will all be held at Edinburgh Academy

Got a ticket for a 9.30, 10.00 or 11am workshop / talk? Make sure to join the Workshop / Talk queue signposted at the left of the Academy gates….

All talks are £5

Workshops are priced at a flat rate starting at £45, with materials costs added where relevant.

All our workshop providers and speakers are paid fairly, using sessional rates recommended by The Scottish Artists Union.


Nüshu Story Weaving: Writing Through Thread and Memory with Jiayi Chen
Apr
18

Nüshu Story Weaving: Writing Through Thread and Memory with Jiayi Chen

This workshop introduces participants to Nüshu, the endangered women’s script from rural China, through weaving, simple stitching and shared storytelling. In this session, participants will learn a few Nüshu symbols and create a unique personalized bookmark that holds a personal message or wish with their handmade paper and threads.

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Talk: The Sheepsaver: The story of a transatlantic partnership
Apr
18

Talk: The Sheepsaver: The story of a transatlantic partnership

Join Nora for a bit of knitting history, when the old became new again: Yarns International Shetland 2000 was a joint venture of US LYS owner Betty Lindsay and Jamieson & Smith, making available for the first time in the US Shetland knitting wool that was undyed and came in multiple colours. Its release was the beginning of a new way of thinking about color in knitting and helped change how yarn and designs are marketed.

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Talk: The Science of Textile Fibres
Apr
17

Talk: The Science of Textile Fibres

Explore the science behind the fibres that are the foundations of textile crafts in this talk delivered by textile conservator Isabella Rossi. Why does wool absorb so much water, why is linen so strong, and why does alpaca stretch, but not return to form? Come find our the answer to all these questions and more!

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TALK: Jazz up your woolly projects with Dorset Buttons!
Apr
5

TALK: Jazz up your woolly projects with Dorset Buttons!

Join Tania Ashton Jones of TJFrog as she takes you on a journey of how Dorset Buttons were used at the height of the Dorset Button cottage industry in the 1600 - 1800s, and how you can incorporate them today with your handmade woolly projects. Lots of ideas and samples will be shared from Shetland wool to hand dyed 4ply yarn, from cardigan buttons to shawl pins. Functional buttons to statement embellishments, be inspired to make Dorset Buttons to add to your creative projects!

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WORKSHOP: Craft for Wellbeing - needle felted landscapes with Amy Davidson
Apr
5

WORKSHOP: Craft for Wellbeing - needle felted landscapes with Amy Davidson

Learn the art of needle felting and create your own stunning felted painting inspired by Scotland's rugged landscapes.

At the end of the workshop you will walk away with a stunning felt landscape of your favourite place to hang up somewhere special! We will learn some more techniques like how to add a fluffy highland coo or sheep to your felted landscapes. It’s one not to missed!

Our workshops have an emphasis on craft for wellbeing so we will talk about how to slow down and move into a flow state.

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TALK: The Wonders of Wool with Lynne Sneddon
Apr
5

TALK: The Wonders of Wool with Lynne Sneddon

Wool is a wonderful, natural fibre. It’s soft and squishy and makes cosy clothing and accessories. But do you know what else it can be used for? By exploiting wool’s many beneficial properties discover how innovative companies have made, or are developing, products that can be used in sectors such as horticulture to peatland and countryside management, packaging and construction to cosmetics and healthcare. Now there are even more ways to add wool into our lives.

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TALK: The Sheepsaver: The story of a transatlantic partnership
Apr
5

TALK: The Sheepsaver: The story of a transatlantic partnership

1998 saw the release of a new “old yarn”. Yarns International Shetland 2000 was a venture of US local yarn store owner Betty Lindsay and Jamieson & Smith, making available for the first time in the US, Shetland knitting wool that was undyed and came in multiple colours. Its release was the beginning of a new way of thinking about colour in knitting and helped change how yarn and designs are marketed. This talk tells that story and examines the role that Betty and her partners had in shaping our hand knitting industry today.

Join Nora L Howley - knitter, researcher and storyteller - for this fascinating tale! Nora is particularly interested in the stories of the relationships between patterns, yarns, people, and places.

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