We trailed this idea as a pilot project with the 3 interns here during covid and now we are ready to offer it to students and textile learners etc too. You can read about their experiences here
Harriet’s Experience
Ellie’s Experience
The Fernhill Fibre Farm WOOL SHOOL
Aims and Objectives: Understand the basics with selecting, prepping, washing raw fleece ready for a multitude of craft activities that include spinning, wet felting, needle felting etc Yarns can then be knitted or woven Topics covered include sheep breed qualities, what is kemp, microns and fibre diameter, native colours, fibre length, fibre strength, fibre weaknesses, sheep fleece parts, using seconds and waste wool.Progressing into ways of washing wool, drying fleece, lanolin removal, lanolin rich fleece, picking, carding, making rolags, spinning rolags, yarn onto bobbins, plying, hanks, storage etc
Ways of wet felting, using part felted fleeces to make rugs and needle felting 2D pictures and 3D shapes Possibilities to progress into natural and acid dyes
The course will also include a Giant French Knit workshop making snoods and peg loom rug weaving if requested
There will also be an opportunity to Blade shear a sheep
Start and End dates: 6th–28th October 2021 and March / April 2022 TBC
Day(s) of the week: Every Wednesday in October 2021
Times and locations: Fernhill Farm 10-4pm in the Saloon –ground floor workshop space with ample parking, kitchen-diner and lots of space for workshop activities
Price / day:£50pp/day (or £12/hour if participants can only make certain times)Includes room hire, hot drinks and tuition withactivities –please BYO lunch
No previous skills required –welcome to bring own materials, wheels, spindles etc if you wish –dress warm for a farm with sensible shoes
Maximum number we can accept / day: 6-9/day –spaces are limited and booked on a first come first served basis –can book all days as a package or just one day, a few hours etc
To book or for further information please email jen@fernhill-farm.co.uk