Quick Details
Always wanted to learn how to spin wool? This beginner-friendly, full-day workshop (09:30–18:00) takes you through every step from raw fleece to finished yarn, using wool from sheep raised on the farm. Small group of max. 10, lunch and all tools included, and you take your handspun yarn home. Children have their own wool-themed activities, so the whole family can join. Just 1 hour from the Algarve and 2 hours from Lisbon.
Adult
Ages 17 & Older
€ 149
Child
02-16 years old
€ 30
Learn to wash, card and spin wool from fleece to yarn on a farm
Turn raw fleece into your own yarn on this full-day, hands-on wool workshop on a working farm in Ourique, in the Baixo Alentejo. Get to know the different wools from the farm’s own sheep breeds, what affects fibre quality and how to judge it. Learn to skirt, sort and roll a fleece, wash wool the right way, and prepare it for spinning by teasing, carding and combing. Then practise spinning on a drop spindle and a spinning wheel. Lunch and all tools are included, and you take home the wool you spun. The day ends with a visit to the farm and its daily routine. Kids enjoy wool-themed activities.
What is included
- Full-day wool workshop (09:30–18:00) for beginners
- Expert guidance from a local wool artisan and the farmer (English and Portuguese)
- Introduction to the different wool types from the farm’s own sheep breeds
- Skirting, sorting and rolling a fleece
- Washing wool the right way
- Preparing wool for spinning: teasing, carding and combing
- Spinning practice on a drop spindle and a spinning wheel
- All materials: hand carders, combs, drop spindles, spinning wheels and a variety of farm-raised wools
- Lunch
- The yarn you spin, to take home
- Visit to the farm and its daily routine
- Wool-themed educational activities for children
- Sheep shearing demonstration (spring only)
- Small group of max. 10 participants
What’s Not Included
- Transport to and from the farm
- Drinks and snacks outside lunch (unless offered by the host)
- Extra wool or handmade products to buy on site
- Gratuities
Itinerary
- 09:30 – Welcome at the farm in Ourique and introduction to the wools from the farm’s own sheep breeds.
- Learn what affects wool quality and how to assess it (in spring, see how the sheep are sheared).
- Skirt, sort and roll a fleece.
- Wash the wool the right way.
- Lunch on the farm.
- Prepare the wool for spinning: teasing, carding and combing.
- Spin your own yarn on a drop spindle and a spinning wheel.
- Visit the farm and discover its daily routine.
- 18:00 – End of the workshop. Take your handspun yarn home.
Highlights
From sheep to yarn in one day. Follow the whole journey of wool, using fleece from sheep raised on the same farm where you learn.
Truly hands-on. You don’t just watch: you wash, card, comb and spin yourself, on both a drop spindle and a spinning wheel.
Take your work home. Leave with the yarn you spun, a unique souvenir of the Alentejo made by your own hands.
A slow craft in a slow land. Spend a calm day in the Alentejo countryside, with a farm lunch and no rush.
Family friendly. Children from age 2 are welcome and have their own wool-themed activities while adults learn.
Meeting point
- After booking we will send all the details of the farm, location (meeting point) and contact
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Do I need any experience to join the wool spinning workshop? No. The workshop is designed for beginners who want to learn wool processing from raw fleece to yarn.
Where does the workshop take place? On a working farm near Ourique, in the Baixo Alentejo, about 1 hour from the Algarve coast and 2 hours from Lisbon. The exact meeting point is sent after booking confirmation.
How long does it last? It is a full-day workshop, from 09:30 to 18:00, including lunch.
Is lunch included? Yes. Lunch and all materials are included in the price.
Can I take my yarn home? Yes. At the end of the day you take home the wool you spun.
Can children join? Yes. Children from age 2 are welcome and enjoy wool-themed educational activities. Children pay €30; adults pay €149.
Will we see sheep shearing? Shearing takes place in spring only, so it is part of the workshop during that season.
How far in advance do I need to book? Bookings must be made at least 6 days before the workshop date.
What should I wear? Comfortable clothes and shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty, as you will handle raw wool and walk around the farm.
How many people are in a group? A maximum of 10 participants, so everyone gets personal guidance.
What is the cancellation policy? Please see our Terms & Conditions.
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