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.

hot day for playing with a fleece

Texel fleece for a comfortable lurcher

My son Matthew's mate has come for a play on this hot day. When Tommie was dropped off his Dad gave me two Texel fleeces. None of us quite knows what to do now! I don't quite know what i am doing with the fleeces and the boys don't quite know what to do to prevent boredom, because indoors and computer devices are banned! Only my dog Stellar has it worked out - see photo! My terrier, Pickle, has scarpered in case that giant tub of soapy water is for her.

Shetland wool spinning

Shetland fleece spinning.

we have been experimenting more with techniques!



from a rather dull looking fleece
...... to a nice wool

they definitely spin better in the grease, however we have tried just soaking them in rain water (this one was in for a week) rinsing gently to remove most of the dirt, then either spin without carding or card but use a diz to remove the fleece off your carders. This produces a very light airy wool with no neps

 left over neps!

For any of you that have never tried this technique, I can highly recommend it. I can show anyone when I'm at Woolly Wednesday or this series of videos explains it (just substitute carders for hackles they work quite well especially on the slightly shorter staple of Shetland)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcYY1xF-JvY ....all 4 parts!

Alison

Fleeces to spin and knit

We have acquired two Kerry Hill fleeces, which I will bring to the next Woolly Wednesday meeting on July 2nd for all to share.

Also, remember Rachel, who gave us two Teeswater fleeces last year? I spoke to her today, she has more fleeces for us this year. I will collect them and likewise bring them to the next meeting. She would like some of the wool back ready spun, enough to knit a teddy bear!

Axle, a Teeswater shearling

I am happy to do this spinning as it is such lovely wool to work with it will be a pleasure. I will keep the fleece from her pet sheep Axle (a shearling, see pic) and bring the other three.

Manifold Show Winners in 2013

Woolly Wednesday at 2013 Manifold Valley Show
- the plants are all dye stuffs
- some samples that people have worked.

Very proud winners of the Best Stand at the 2013 Manifold Valley Show

We have a large gazebo that we take to shows - it is getting good use here

Come and see us at a local Show this year. - Spinning and Weaving Demo Dates for 2014

Woolly Wednesday in action at our June spinning and knitting day at Foxt Village Hall, Staffordshire

Next meetings at Foxt Village Hall, ST10 2HU:

July 2nd
August 6th
September 3rd
October 1st (we will be at the Brailsford Ploughing match, not in Foxt)
November 5th
December 3rd