Songs, Threads and Yarns

Name: Songs, Threads and Yarns
Start: 2025-06-16T16:00:00+01:00
End: 2025-06-20T10:00:00+01:00
Location: Halsway Manor

Monday 16 Jun 4pm — Friday 20 Jun 10am, 2025

To make a booking enquiry please complete the form below. We will contact you to confirm availability and complete your booking.

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textile crafts made in a residential craft holiday

Pricing

This course is currently sold out. We do sometimes get cancellations - if you would like to be added to the waiting list, please fill in an enquiry form and tick the 'Waiting List' box.

Full board per person (tuition, activities, all meals & accommodation):

£460 – single occupancy ensuite room/cabin
£420 – sharing an ensuite room/cabin
£420 – single occupancy non-ensuite room
£380 – sharing non-ensuite room

Camping per person (tuition, activities, all meals):

£275

Non Resident (tuition, activities, all meals except breakfast):

£255

Get a closer look at the accommodation options here.

This course is currently sold out. We do sometimes get cancellations – if you would like to be added to the waiting list, please fill in an enquiry form and tick the ‘Waiting List’ box.

A summer holiday at Halsway Manor in which to share textile crafting skills, songs and stories. With host Meg Rose and very special musician-in-residence, Miranda Sykes.

The week presents a unique opportunity to develop your own craft projects in a supportive and convivial atmosphere, working with your hands whilst exploring related aspects of folk music, song and story telling. This is not an instructional course though presentations on various topics of interest and techniques are programmed throughout the week. The emphasis will be on learning from each other by show and tell, and there will be free time to walk and relax too.

Who is it for?

The week is aimed at textile crafters and artists of any level of experience – complete beginners, happy hobbyists, dedicated professional and anyone in between – who would like a few days in a lovely setting to develop their craft project, share their skills and learn from others.

You do not have to be a singer, musician or storyteller, but if you are please bring your instruments, songs and stories to share – anything craft-related especially well received!

We would also like to make it absolutely clear that, while many of these crafts are associated with women and women’s work, ALL are welcome!

The Team

Meg Rose has taught mixed crafts for many years and also has a long association with Halsway Manor, including hosting many singing courses.

Miranda Sykes started her career as a musician in 1996 at the age of 18, playing bass guitar in a country rock band. After 2 years touring and playing for line dancing in working men’s clubs across Britain, folk-rock band Pressgang were looking for a bass player. Miranda spent the next 2 years touring internationally with them. After a few years of musical promiscuity playing with Firebrand, Little Johnny England, Robb Johnson, Bill Jones, Steafan Hannigan, Reg Meuross, Kirsty McGee, The Phil Beer Band, Martyn Joseph and The Scoville Units; Miranda depped for Pete Zorn in the 2004 Show Of Hands festival band line up. She worked with them for the next 20 years. Miranda also found time for a short tour and album with the Miranda Sykes Band in 2005, duo album tours with mandolin player Rex Preston and 2 solo albums. 2024 brings a second tour with Hannah Martin, a new Baring-Gould Centenary project with Jim Causley, summer festivals with vocal group Daphne’s Flight, a tour with The Phil Beer Trio and a new solo album and tour “Out Of The Woods”.

Unless otherwise specified, our midweek courses check-in from 4pm on a Monday and check out by 10am on Friday, and our weekend courses check in from 4pm on a Friday and depart on Sunday by 4pm. Dinner on the first night is usually at 6.30pm, and in general, no formal teaching or introductory sessions take place until after this.

Enjoy the area, bring a friend, share a room, & save money

You can book on a course at Halsway and bring a friend who can explore the area while using Halsway as a base for meals and accommodation. Halsway Manor is in the Quantock Hills (England’s first designated National Landscape (formally AONB). We’re just minutes away from the West Somerset Railway (Britain's longest steam railway), a short drive or bus ride from Somerset’s Jurassic coast (ideal for fossil hunting), and surrounded by dramatic scenery and changing landscapes, from the wild hills of Exmoor to the flat expanse of the Somerset Levels.