Upcoming Woolly Wednesday events

Fantastic turnout yesterday - 22 spinning wheels around the room!

Next Woolly Wednesday in September will include a dyeing day. A vat of indigo will be brewing.

As discussed yesterday, some upcoming opportunities for spinning, knitting, chatting etc

Sunday 21st August 11 - 2p.m.

Richard Toombs, Lower Ground Farm, Swincoe Hill, Ashbourne, DE6 2HR
White peak Farmers Facilitation in association with Devon Red farmers.
I'm not sure how many people will be attending this event as it is a first time one. Bring a chair but it is in a agricultural building.

Contact Alison for more about this.

Apple day Sunday 16th October Alton Bridge garden 12-4pm more details to follow by email ... (contact us to be added to the email list)

We have made news again..........................
in this weeks Leek Post & Times,
With the photo 'stand by your bears' and the following narrative : -

"Over the last 2 months, Woolly Wednesday spinners and knitters, held teddy bear making workshops at Foxt village hall, where some members swapped their spinning wheels for sewing machines and made jointed bears under the instruction of Jane Wykes. Some bears were recycled wool sweaters or tartan fabric, others traditional fur fabric. Everyone who took part enjoyed making their new friends who will be treasured for years to come".

Handcrafted teddy bears

Our leader Jane has brought in her handcrafted bears. There is lots of interest in making these bears and the other members of the group are trying to persuade her to run a workshop in 2015.

Watch this space!

Henmore Marketing
www.henmore.co.uk
01335 289075

Woolly Family Day 2nd November

Woolly Open Day November 2nd 2014

Normally we meet on a Wednesday, but that means that lots of people miss out on all our Woolly goings on. So to address this, we are having a Sunday meeting on November 2nd in Foxt Village Hall. As with all our meetings this event is open to all comers, and we are particularly hoping that families and young people will be able to come along and join us.

We have put together a range of activities to suit different age groups. At all the various demonstrations we have done at local shows there have been children wanting to have a go at spinning, weaving, knitting, crochet, knitting nancy etc. Well at this event they can have a try. Some children are attracted to the machines and associated tools - spinning wheels, carding machines, looms - others enjoy the creative process and want to make something they can take home. Our creative group has come up with lots of fun activities. We are hoping to cater for all interests and maybe pass on to the next generation some of our collective knowledge of these traditional crafts.

We will be at Foxt Village Hall from 11am to 4pm on Sunday 2nd November and there will be cakes and refreshments available. We are charging £3 per family to help cover the costs of the room hire and some of the activities that we are putting on. Please contact us for further details or just turn up on the day
.

Dyeing Day in September

For the second year running we dedicated our September meeting to a dyeing session.

Spinners at Dovedale Sheepdog Trials

A last minute addition to our programme of events, we had a lively time in the bar and craft tent at the Dovedale Sheepdog trials at Blore, near Ilam.

As at all the shows we attend, families come and love us to help explain the processes of converting sheeps' fleeces into woolly items. Children have a go at carding the fleece or knotting a rug.

The thing that primary age children need to understand, because it's on the curriculum, is that adding the twist crucially adds strength. Try pulling apart raw fleece and spun fleece...

Ralph the fairisle ted

Look who came to watch over us today. Ralph sat in the basket of wool that was dyed in Kool Aid.

Meanwhile we shared out the fleeces - Kerry Hill, Teeswater, Alpaca, Texel shearling.

And we swapped some patterns - including the one for Ralph. Maybe he'll have some friends at our meeting in August.