Spinning Demonstration
Spinning Demonstration with Jane Deane
Thursday 21 August 2025
10.00am - 4.00pm
FREE (drop-in event, no booking required)
Venue: MAKE Southwest, Jubilee Gallery
Suitable for: Adults & Children
About Jane Deane
Jane works in textiles as a natural dyer who also hand spins and weaves, using mainly natural fibres, environmental concerns being a priority for her.
She has been practicing for 40 years and during that time has taught her skills internationally and throughout the UK.
In addition to working with commercially raised silk, Jane rears a few silkworms each year from the wild species of Giant Silkmoths. These live out their complete lifespan as the resulting silk is spun, not reeled, and the tiny quantity of fibre raised this way is used in special items. The caterpillars and moths themselves provide inspiration for design work as well as being a source of pleasure during their brief lives.
Indigo has a special place in her work and is among the dye plants she grows each year. She explores Japanese resist techniques, ‘katazome’ (rice paste) and the better known ‘shibori’. She is involved in natural dye research projects.
Jane teaches and talks about all aspects of her work and was for some years a guest speaker on the V&A textile courses.
She is co-author, with Alison Daykin, of Creative Spinning, a design book for hand spinners, commissioned by Gaia Press.
Come and learn all about traditional hand spinning!
MAKE Southwest member Jane Deane will be demonstrating a traditional hand spinning technique known as the ‘English long woollen draw’ on her own spinning wheel in our Jubilee Gallery.
She will be using Ryeland fleece from a locally farmed flock of sheep. Ryland is classed as a Down breed and is generally a short fibre with a soft handle.
This is an informal drop-in event and therefore visitors do not need to book tickets.
Please note that Jane will be taking a short lunch break from demonstrating between 12.30pm - 1.30pm.