2013 Events involving British Wool
This is very much a page-in-progress!
I'll list events I know about or come across, but please let me know about all those I'll inevitably be missing, especially smaller local events that might not be advertised outside their immediate area. British wool enthusiasts will travel!
Criteria for listing an event here - that it involves British wool and/or sheep or includes at least some stockists that sell British wool products.
MAY 2013
Chipping Norton Fibre Festival, Chipping Norton, Saturday 4 May
Fibreworks knitting and crochet shop is organising its first Fibre Festival, which looks back at the town's proud wool and weaving history.
The Cotswold Journal reports that the Town Hall will be filled with all manner of craft activities during the day, with many workshops and displays exhibiting a diverse range of techniques and textiles.
Visitors will first be greeted by sheep and lambs outside the building, before stepping inside the building where they can get involved with many demonstrations, such as spinning weaving, knitting and rag rugging.
The Cotswold Journal reports that the Town Hall will be filled with all manner of craft activities during the day, with many workshops and displays exhibiting a diverse range of techniques and textiles.
Visitors will first be greeted by sheep and lambs outside the building, before stepping inside the building where they can get involved with many demonstrations, such as spinning weaving, knitting and rag rugging.
JUNE 2013
North Sheep Harrogate Wednesday 5 June
The event will focus on the way ahead for the British sheep industry as its gears up to new challenges and opportunities for the years ahead.
NSA North Sheep organisers are also reflecting their firm commitment towards encouraging all students and youngsters involved in practical sheep management activities by staging the third NSA North Sheep Young Shepherd of the Year Award. New for 2013 will be a sheep shearing competition. Stockjudging and lamb selection will continue.
Woolfest Cockermouth Friday 28 June 10am-6pm & Saturday 29 June 10am-5pm
Woolfest was founded to provide a showcase and a celebration of the best of wool and wool crafts.
The event is all about creativity and design with beautiful quality, amazing colours and skilled craftsmanship and this was recognised in 2012 when Woolfest won the Cumbria Tourism Award for Event of the Year.
Woolfest offers
a showcase of talents
a wealth of advice
a bank of knowledge
a treat for the senses
and a treasure trove of natural fibres
The event is all about creativity and design with beautiful quality, amazing colours and skilled craftsmanship and this was recognised in 2012 when Woolfest won the Cumbria Tourism Award for Event of the Year.
Woolfest offers
a showcase of talents
a wealth of advice
a bank of knowledge
a treat for the senses
and a treasure trove of natural fibres
JULY 2013
The Wool Experience Blaze Farm Cheshire July 6 2013 at 10am
Watch and learn about the sheep shearing process with shearing demonstrations taking place throughout the day. See the creative use of raw fleece by expert spinners and skilled weavers. There’s even felt making displays too.
The event is on 10am-4pm and entrance is £1 adults and 50p children, all of which goes to good causes.
(Note - linked website will update to 2013 event nearer the time)
The Great Yorkshire Show Harrogate, North Yorkshire Tuesday 9 to Thursday 11 July 2013
Annual event - livestock on show from pretty well every breed of sheep imaginable so you get to see prime examples ‘in the wool’ - and hundreds of them; also prize-winning and other fleeces for sale direct from farmers, on the day.
Fibre-East Bedfordshire 27th and 28th July 2013
Fibre-East was conceived of, and is being developed, to benefit a specific community: individuals and small businesses working with wool and other natural fibres sourced in the UK, as well as the farmers who produce those fibres.
A place where everyone can meet - from prospective customers and consumers to small independent businesses promoting themselves to the wider crafting community. We offer advice, and demonstrations encouraging visitors to learn about the production of wool and other fibres and to acquire new skills in working with them and textiles that can be created from them.
A place where everyone can meet - from prospective customers and consumers to small independent businesses promoting themselves to the wider crafting community. We offer advice, and demonstrations encouraging visitors to learn about the production of wool and other fibres and to acquire new skills in working with them and textiles that can be created from them.
SEPTEMBER 2013
British Wool Weekend 2013 Harrogate Saturday 7 September to Sunday 8 September
The aim of British Wool Weekend, is to raise the profile of BRITISH WOOL and the many related products produced from British wool.
If you are one of the talented and creative craft workers who use British wool, to spin, weave, knit, crochet, cross stitch, embroider, hand dye, make felt or any other textile process, or you simply enjoy exploring the textile treasures produced by these craft workers, a visit to this show will be a delight.
Explore the stands full of treasures for the textile craft worker, or treat yourself to a hand crafted pure wool item. Watch the entertaining Sheep Show Man shearing a sheep, or visit the Alpacas.
If you are one of the talented and creative craft workers who use British wool, to spin, weave, knit, crochet, cross stitch, embroider, hand dye, make felt or any other textile process, or you simply enjoy exploring the textile treasures produced by these craft workers, a visit to this show will be a delight.
Explore the stands full of treasures for the textile craft worker, or treat yourself to a hand crafted pure wool item. Watch the entertaining Sheep Show Man shearing a sheep, or visit the Alpacas.
Masham Sheep Fair North Yorkshire 28th & 29th September 2013
Masham Sheep Fair takes places on Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th September in Masham, near Ripon in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales.
Masham boasts one of the largest and finest market squares in England, famous for its sheep sales where in the past as many as 70,000 sheep were sold each year.
The popular Masham Sheep Fair commemorates these times, raising much money for charity, and filling the town with sheepy fun and entertainment.
Events include an action packed programme on both Saturday and Sunday, with a Sheep Show, Sheep Racing, Craft Market, Bishop Blaize Procession, Fleece Stalls, Wool Competition, Sheepdog Demonstrations, Hand Bell Ringers, Morris Dancers, Art Exhibition and Tours of Theakstons & Black Sheep Breweries, as well as the Old Time Children's Fair. The them for the flower display in St. Mary's Church will be "A Material Harvest" - there'll be someone spinning, weaving and dressmaking along with displays of knitting, lace and embroidery.
Masham boasts one of the largest and finest market squares in England, famous for its sheep sales where in the past as many as 70,000 sheep were sold each year.
The popular Masham Sheep Fair commemorates these times, raising much money for charity, and filling the town with sheepy fun and entertainment.
Events include an action packed programme on both Saturday and Sunday, with a Sheep Show, Sheep Racing, Craft Market, Bishop Blaize Procession, Fleece Stalls, Wool Competition, Sheepdog Demonstrations, Hand Bell Ringers, Morris Dancers, Art Exhibition and Tours of Theakstons & Black Sheep Breweries, as well as the Old Time Children's Fair. The them for the flower display in St. Mary's Church will be "A Material Harvest" - there'll be someone spinning, weaving and dressmaking along with displays of knitting, lace and embroidery.
Yarndale Skipton Auction Mart 28th & 29th September 2013
Yarndale will be a festival of creativity celebrating traditional and contemporary crafts using wool, cotton, linen and silk in an area which is still the home of many yarn based businesses.
Held at Skipton Auction Mart – Yarndale is an exciting new event for established and new creative talents.
Held at Skipton Auction Mart – Yarndale is an exciting new event for established and new creative talents.
OCTOBER 2013
Shetland Wool Week Shetland, 7 - 13 October.
The varied and extensive line up for the 2013 Wool Week festival includes master classes and events with well-known local and international knitters and designers.
Now in its fourth year, Shetland Wool Week is a celebration of Britain’s most northerly native sheep, Shetland’s textile industries and rural farming communities.
North Atlantic Native Sheep and Wool Conference Shetland, 11 - 15 October
The North Atlantic Native Sheep and Wool (NANS&W) Conference is an international project held annually in venues in the North Atlantic region. Previous meetings have been held in Orkney, UK (2011) and Hordaland, Norway (2012). The 2013 Conference will be held in the Shetland Islands (UK) over four days in October, to co-incide with the annual Wool Week festival.
The Campaign for Wool UK Wool Week 14 - 20 October
Every year The Campaign for Wool holds ‘Wool Week’ a week long celebration packed with woolly stunts, events, artisan workshops and gorgeous wool fashion. Check out our global calendar to see where Wool Week travels to next!
Bakewell Wool Gathering Bakewell Agricultural Centre, Saturday 19th October (10am-4.30pm) & Sunday 20th October (10am-4pm)
Welcome to the Bakewell Wool Gathering website. The Gathering is a brand new fair for wool enthusiasts, to be held at Bakewell Agricultural Centre in October 2013. It’s being organised by Skeins, who have a wealth of experience in attending and assisting running other wool and craft exhibitions.
EVENTS HELD EARLIER IN 2013
FEBRUARY 2013
Unravel 2013 Farnham Maltings Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th February 2013
Take part in workshops, hear a range of talks, see demonstrations and be inspired by artist commissions. Purchase yarn, buttons and other knitting accessories at the marketplace, solve your knitting quandaries and even enter your favourite item into ‘Best In Show.’
Get your knitting needles and crochet hooks out and join us for two days of knitted fun!
Get your knitting needles and crochet hooks out and join us for two days of knitted fun!
MARCH 2013
Wool House London March 13 - 24 2013
In the world’s largest showcase of wool, the recently renovated West Wing of Somerset House will be transformed into a home made primarily from wool. Seven individual rooms, from the bedroom to the study, created by leading designers, such as Kit Kemp and Donna Wilson, will be exhibited to show how the design community uses wool extensively in their work. Three additional rooms will be dedicated to fashion displays, celebrating the importance of the fibre in today’s fashion industry. Presented by The Campaign for Wool, an artisan in residence will also work on location throughout the period demonstrating the heritage of industry skills to the public.
British Alpaca Futurity NEC Birmingham March 15-16 2013
The biggest alpaca show in Europe! Come and explore the wonderful world of alpacas ...Don't miss your opportunity to see hundreds of alpacas and the products derived from their fleece. Demonstrations on fleece preparation, carding, locker hooking, hand dyeing, needle felting and more ...Fibre Festival
Edinburgh Yarn Festival 16th March 2013 10am to 5pm
A day of yarn and fibre-related fun for all!
Yarn, fibre, buttons, patterns, and everything for knitting, crochet and spinning, from local suppliers and further afield: we've created your perfect Yarn shop in Edinburgh just for the day! Stalls, cafe and classes in a bright and vibrant arts venue not far from the city centre. Find our list of stallholders and designers on our website, and read our blog for profiles of each one.
Dornoch Fibre Fest 16th & 17th March Dornoch, Sutherland
Exhibitors, Demostrations, Master Classes (Fair Isle Knitting with Hazel Tindall from Shetland, Feltmaking with Ewa Kuniczak, Rag Rug Making with Floraidh McPherson)
APRIL 2013
Toft Alpaca Farm & Craft Studio Open Day 1 April 2013 Toft Manor, Dunchurch
Farm tour, Alpaca walking, workshops, Field to Fashion Talk and lots more for the whole family
Wonderwool Wales 27-28 April 2013 Royal Welsh Showground
Join us at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells for the seventh Annual Wonderwool Wales Festival. It's your chance to enjoy a fantastic range of Welsh and British artisan products and an opportunity to meet the wonderful people who made them. A great family day out with hands-on woolschool workshops and events showcasing the best in Welsh and British wool and natural fibres.