A beaded crochet masterclass, a needlefelted bunny workshop, learn how to knit fingerless gloves or make a woven wall hanging... it's all on the Woolschools line up at this year's Wonderwool Wales. It is taking place at the Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells on April 27 and 28, 2019.
A go-to diary date for fibre fans, craft-lovers and makers from the UK and abroad, the vibrant, annual 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.
Expected to be a sell-out for crochet enthusiasts, the beaded crochet workshop with the 2018 British Craft Awards Crochet Designer of the Year, Jane Crowfoot of Janie Crow, is the show’s first masterclass. Organisers are delighted that Jane has agreed to tutor it. Recognised as one of the leading designers within her field, she is also acknowledged as one of the pioneers of the UK crochet revival.
The pre-bookable Woolschools cover a wide range of other yarn-related crafts for all abilities including:
- Lydia Needle’s class on how to craft a cute bunny
- Fi Harris will be teaching attendees how to wet felt merino wool into a beautiful vessel
- Elizabeth Reed’s learn how to make fingerless gloves workshop using ‘domino’/’mitred’ modules.
- Willow weaver Mel Bastier’s willow wall hanging
- Tina Francis will teach her groups three different bargello stitch patterns
- Sue Blacker will guide students on how to choose fleeces for hand spinning and yarn design
- Freyalyn Close-Hainsworth’s workshop on spinning with a spindle
- Bee Weir will lead a beginners’ braiding workshop.
There’s also a workshop on block printing with Pat Johnson and, thinking ahead, Louise Zlotnicki will inspire participants to create an upcycled, standing wool Christmas Tree!
community project
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 to 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 show offers visitors the irresistible opportunity to stock up on wool and natural fibre products from more than 200 high quality stalls. Plus there’s a wealth of special exhibitions, daily demonstrations and have-a-go sessions and the ever-entertaining Sheepwalk (a woolly take on the catwalk).
Visitors to the 2019 show are also advised to look out for a flock of weird and wonderful woolly seagulls - the colourful crocheted and knitted birds are the result of a community arts project led by Vicky Harrison of Bristol’s Crafting the City.
There will also be a display of some of the thousands of poppies from Wonderwool Wales’ commemorative Curtain of Poppies which took centre stage at the 2018 show and to which knitters, crochet enthusiasts and craftspeople from all over the UK and abroad sent their handmade contributions.
Show tickets and Woolschool tickets are on sale now!
with Jane Crowfoot
with Elizabeth Reed
with Lydia Needle
