Make a Hawktail Hand Broom
Workshop with Bristol Broomworks
Friday 20 November 2026, 2pm - 5pm
£80
Venue: MAKE Southwest
Suitable for: Adults (or 16+ with accompanying adult)
Level: Beginners with previous experience of making a hand broom / Intermediate
A Green Maker Initiative Workshop
Gather together this November and learn how to weave your own hawktail hand broom in this intimate 3-hour workshop!
Hawktails are similar to hens wings and turkey wings in construction and while complete beginners are welcome to this workshop, the challenge of learning the fundamentals of tension and balance alongside symmetry makes this broom slightly tougher to make.
We encourage beginners to join us for the morning fundamentals as a pre-requisite to this workshop.
Numbers will be kept low so each student receives the support required. Students will choose hanger type and twine colour for a broom that is unique to you. A beautiful and traditional brush for cleaning small spaces!
Students should already be familiar with the fundamentals of heritage handcrafted brooms (a pre-industrial heritage craft that uses no machinery and no electricity), and have an understanding of the processing and handling of fibre and various twine types.
Complete beginners are encouraged to attend the morning beginner fundamentals session as a pre-requisite as this design may frustrate a complete novice as we want students to be able to successfully achieve the tension and balance this design requires.
These pretty brooms are perfect for smaller spaces: potting sheds, artist studios, kitchen counters, camper vans, hearths, altars and book shelves - keep any small space tidy and looking lush!
A broom made by you to last a lifetime and beyond, or perhaps the perfect Christmas gift?
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Please note: broom making is a surprisingly physical craft and each broom is constructed in one sitting with one continuous length of twine. Broom craft requires strength and dexterity in both hands and feet. Be prepared to engage your core, hands, arms, legs and back for extended periods. Broom making can be a real work-out!
Students should be prepared to work with shoes off (socks are fine) and seated in a chair for up to an hour, possibly more (feel free to bring a cushion).
Recent workshop feedback:
“Brilliant, enthusiastic tutor. Was thrilled to create a really beautiful broom.”
“I thought it was a great half day, and the tutor made a real effort to thoroughly teach the basics. She couldn’t have done better.”
About the tutor
Jamie Dun is a broom maker based in Bristol, UK, working from a barn studio on a flower farm near Pensford in Somerset. Originally from Montana, on the northern plains of the US, she uses pre-industrial heritage craft methods - no electricity, no machinery - drawing on European, Shaker, and Appalachian traditions while incorporating influences from folklore, mythology, and traditional themes.
Jamie’s approach to broom making emphasizes the tactile, meditative nature of the craft and its connection to both earth and history. Through her workshops, she shares these time-honored techniques with students seeking to learn a beautiful, functional craft that engages the hands and stirs the soul.
On the Day
All tools and materials will be provided. Please wear comfortable / old clothes. Aprons will be provided if needed.
Tea, coffee and biscuits are included and will be available on the day. There will be a short lunch break during the workshop and participants are welcome to bring a packed lunch. Our Café is also open should you wish to purchase other refreshments during the workshop.
Workshop participants get 10% off in Rodney’s Café, our exhibitions, and our shop on the day of the workshop! Just show your booking confirmation email or your ticket at the till to receive your discount.
On arrival, please enter the building via the shop, follow the arrows to ‘Education Space’, through the smaller galleries, at the rear of the building on the ground floor.
Please be aware that you cannot use the Co-op car park for all day parking. The Methodist Church car park and Station Road car park usually have plenty of spaces. Click here for more information on our location and car parking for the day.
View MAKE Southwest's Cancellation Policy, HERE.