Create Your Own Tweed Harris Handbag at Islander with Traditional Scottish Tasting Platter for Two

Islander is running a Harris Tweed handbag workshop at their shop on East Market Street, and on Monday 26 October you can book in to make your own. It's a 60-minute session, and the whole point is that you're the one calling the shots: you pick the colour of the bag, the Harris Tweed cloth for the lid, the strap, and the accessories, and then you put it together using the tools they provide. When it's finished, you get to display it outside the workshop under the floral entrance before taking it home as a 'Made in Scotland' souvenir.

Islander frames the whole thing as a way of preserving and celebrating the Harris Tweed heritage of the Outer Hebrides through traditional craft, and it's not just about the assembly. People who've done it have mentioned that the staff share the history of the fabric and the tweed process as you go, so you walk away with a bit of the story behind what you've made. The brand also supports family-focused social causes through partnerships like its Barnardo's workshop experience.

The session is suitable for ages 12 and over, and it's sold as a gift voucher valid for 12 months, which makes it a decent shout if you're looking for a present that someone can use whenever it suits them. It costs £72, and they run it seven days a week at 11:00, 12:30, 14:00, 15:30 and 17:00, so you can slot it in around your day rather than building your whole Monday around it.