Irish Fibre Crafters Fleece and Fibre Experience with Sandra King
Get ready for a hands-on, woolly adventure! We’ll start by meeting some of the world’s fluffiest celebrities—various sheep breeds—while comparing the wool they produce. You’ll get to feel the differences in texture and see adorable photos of these woolly wonders. Then, we’ll dive into the journey from fleece to fiber, following the process from shearing all the way to the finished yarn. You'll get to experience carding first-hand, using both hand carders and a drum carder, transforming raw fleece into soft, fluffy fiber.
Next, we’ll spin some magic—literally! You'll watch spinning in action, both on a drop spindle and a spinning wheel, and even try your hand at the drop spindle yourself. From there, we’ll weave some creativity into the mix with a floor loom demonstration, exploring how wool can be turned into beautiful woven, knitted, or crocheted garments. You’ll even get the chance to try a small loom—or possibly a floor loom—yourself! To add a splash of colour, we’ll take a peek into the fascinating world of natural dyeing (a two-day process, but we’ll give you a quick inside look). And the best part? You’ll take home your very own naturally dyed skein of wool to continue your fiber journey!
