Spring sunshine and the temptation of shopping, demonstrations, creative workshops and a fun fashion show brought fibre fans in their thousands to the busiest Wonderwool Wales weekend yet on April 23 and 24.
They left laden down with bags of goodies and ideas for projects which should last them until the next time Wales’ premier wool and natural fibre festival comes to the Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells, over the weekend of April 22 and 23, 2017.
“It was busy, busy, busy – and that’s what fibre fans will be too, ‘til this time next year!” said organiser Chrissie Menzies, reporting that the show welcomed visitors to the area from all over the UK and from abroad, including France and Ireland, to shop from more than 220 stalls.
Exhibitors took to the Sheepwalk (a woolly take on the catwalk) to show off some of the fashions and accessories for sale at the show, as well as examples of garments and other items crafted from their wares.
Packed audiences at the four Sheepwalk shows were particularly entertained by John Macrae, who made up and performed a special jingle and comedy sketch to promote his stall, Wool Zone. At the final show, a wow factor was a massive willow ram’s head, worn by one of the stallholders from Co-create, a collective of eco-designers from West Wales, to collect their prize for best 20ft stand.
The Woolschools were booked out, with attendees keen to learn new skills from tutors who included Liz Beasley, sharing the techniques of mapuche weaving and Sarah Enoch, showing how to create a ‘cobweb’ felt scarflet using wet felting techniques.
There was also the opportunity to learn how to make a lovely little needle felt fish brooch with Jenny Barnett, whose stall showing further examples of her needle felt art was always crowded out with admiring visitors.
There was lots of fundraising for good causes at this year’s show too. Jeweller Lyn Roberts, of Haverfordwest, selling unique sterling silver crochet hooks and yarn tools, used the opportunity to launch “Time for Teal” kits comprising specially-designed knitting patterns and teal-coloured yarn, with proceeds going to Target Ovarian Cancer.
Teal is the colour for World Ovarian Cancer Day on May 8 and Lyn, who is battling ovarian cancer herself, is keen to encourage Knit and Natter groups to get involved and raise awareness and funds.
In a show fundraising initiative, steward Janice Snowball was persuaded to write out and share the pattern for her eye-catching crocheted high visibility waistcoats. She made the first as a present for her daughter, Laura, four years ago and since then they have become a firm show favourite.
Patterns were sold with donations to the Lymphoedema Support Network. As usual, the proceeds from the show’s bag crèche will be donated to St John’s Ambulance.
Show highlights included the magnificent community knitting exhibit Above and Below the Waves. More than two years in the making and the result of a project led by Alison Murray, the nautical nine metre by six metre exhibit combines contributions from more than 2000 people.
Visitors to this year’s show also admired the colourful handiwork of more than 140 knitters and crochet and craft enthusiasts from across the UK whose yarn graffiti decorated one of the halls. Organised by the show’s Jane Veevers, three Knit and Natter Groups from Staffordshire and others including the Bridstow Spinners from Ross-on-Wye, the Border Spinners from Ewyas Harold, the Rhayader Spin A Yarn group from Mid Wales, Builth Crocheters, the Ledbury U3A and the ECHO Group in Leominster created the decorations for the venue.
Showcasing everything from the start to the end of the creative process, there were stalls with everything from live animals bred for their quality fleeces through to fabulous finished fashions and furnishings.
Livestock exhibitors included Bird Farm Alpacas, the Shetland Sheep Society, showing a ewe lamb and wether and illustrating how this breed has fine fleeces in many colours and patterns, Home Farm Wensleydales, who brought a pair of white Wensleydales, a pair of black Wensleydales and a pair of Bluefaced Leicester sheep and Pickwick Flock, showing rare breed pedigree Cotswold sheep, producing high lustre silk like spinning fleeces.
Providing pure heaven for the fibre enthusiast, quality exhibitors also had stands packed with raw and hand dyed fibres, yarn in a rainbow of colours, fleeces, equipment including drop spindles, drum carders, hand carders, spinning wheels, looms and tapestry frames, dyes and dye plants, fabrics and handwoven textiles, felt, felting equipment and felting kits, books, buttons and beads and crochet and knitting accessories and patterns.
There were also stalls selling superb examples of fibre crafts including textile art, felted items and home furnishings and accessories.
Regular exhibitors John Arbon Textiles & Fibre Harvest used the opportunity to launch their new range, Knit By Numbers in 4ply (400m per 100g), an exciting range made in 100% organically farmed Merino and available in 91 shades. Each colour range is available in six shades – going from dark to light - and each colour is given a unique number reference, rather than a name, hence the range being called Knit By Numbers.
For the fashion conscious, Purl Alpaca Designs were showcasing their Journey Collection of stunning knitwear designs for men and women, inspired by the roaring ‘20s. Launched in October, to rave reviews, it was the first time the collection had been seen in Wales.
Meanwhile stallholders selling ready-to-wear fashions included Settlers Stores with their stylish range of tweed clothing; Sophie’s Wild Woollens with distinctive designer knitwear and Mrs J. Pembrokeshire with high quality woollen garments made in Pembrokeshire. Visitors also had a wide choice of stalls selling upcycled clothing.
For more details visit www.wonderwoolwales.co.uk; email enquiries@wonderwoolwales.co.uk or phone 01938 820495 / 07980 913972 / 01873 821205.
Bird Farm Alpacas were one of the livestock exhibitors.
Photo: John Teale.
Woolschools included the opportunity to make a needle
felt fish brooch with Jenny Barnett. Photo: John Teale
Wool Zone’s John Macrae having fun on the Sheepwalk.
Photo: John Teale.
Photos:
Top: A massive willow ram’s head, worn on The Sheepwalk by one of the stallholders from Co-create. Photo: Sarah Evans.
ends
Note to editors:
Wonderwool Wales is the premier Wool & Natural Fibre Festival in Wales. First held in 2006 to promote the market for Welsh wool, the festival celebrates the green credentials of Welsh wool and its versatility as a material for creative crafts, designer clothes, home furnishings and more.
Wonderwool Wales has grown year on year. It covers everything from the start to the end of the creative process – from exhibits of sheep, through raw and hand dyed fibres, yarn for knitting & crochet, embellishments, equipment, dyes and books to superb examples of finished textile art, craft, clothing and home furnishings. The success of the first showcase, a highlight of the Royal Welsh 2006 Smallholder and Garden Festival, prompted organisers to set their sights on something bigger, better and bolder in 2007, when the event doubled in size. By 2008 it had proved such a success that it was decided to run it as a separate festival.
Initially set up with European funding via the Welsh Assembly Government by Glasu, the LEADER+ Programme in Powys, since 2009 it has been run by a small group of part of the original steering committee and who formed Wonderwool Wales Ltd, (a not for profit company), to ensure the show’s continuation.
Starting off by predominantly featuring wool and wool products, the showcase has broadened to include a whole range of natural fibre items, including alpaca, mohair, angora, hemp, flax and silk. The organisers aim to expand the show each year with new ideas, whilst maintaining the standards, ethos and enthusiasm of the festival.
For more information visit: www.wonderwoolwales.co.uk
For more information please contact: Sharon Chilcott, PR Adviser to Wonderwool Wales 01531 671058/07990 765351
No comments:
Post a Comment