Fernhill Fibre WOOL SCHOOL
Understand the basics with harvesting, selecting, prepping and washing raw sheep fleece ready for a multitude of craft activities that include spinning, weaving, knitting, wet felting, needle felting etc
Tuition is provided by the expert team we lovingly invite here known as Christine Rice and Lesley Hill. Both are incredibly knowledgeable about all aspects of wool textile crafts and are here the entire time to assist, encourage and listen to every one as you all progress through the wool school at your own pace - everyone is welcome at any stage of their understanding of working with a natural fibre
Session 1 - topics covered include:
Sheep breed qualities and Hybrid Vigour - supporting literature available
What is kemp, microns and fibre diameter - effect on finished yarns
Native colours and markings from the Shetland and Coloured BFL and Romney Rams
Fibre length, fibre strength, fibre weaknesses - when selecting fleece
Sheep fleece parts and their subsequent qualities
Using seconds and waste wool
Session 2 - topics covered include:
Ways of washing wool, lanolin removal, lanolin rich fleece
Drying fleece
Picking, carding, making rolags using hand carders and carding machine
Spinning rolags, yarn onto bobbins using variety of spinning wheels
Plying into hanks, skeins and balls
Storage of yarns
Session 3 - Yarns can then be knitted or woven - tuition provided as requested - this session can also be used as additional spinning practice, plying, skeining etc
Session 4 - Weaving a chunky tuffet seat pad - using Fernhill Style Peg Looms or natural or acid dye workshop if requested - this session can also be used as additional spinning practice, plying, skeining etc
Session 5 - Felting - ways of wet felting, using part felted fleeces to make rugs or making a bowl shape - this session can also be used as additional spinning practice, plying, skeining etc
Session 6 - Needle felting 3D shapes - optional 2D pictures - this session can also be used as additional spinning practice, plying, skeining etc
Start and End dates:
Block 1 - Wednesday 9th @ noon to Saturday 12th @ noon - see orange timetable
Block 2 - Saturday 12th @ 1pm to Tuesday 15th @ noon - see green timetable
Day(s) of the week: Week days and Weekend options
Times: Arrival and departure days allow travel in daylight hours, starting / finishing at lunchtime
Full days are 9am - 4.00 pm with practice session in the evenings
Location: Fernhill Farm in the Saloon – ground floor heated workshop space with ample parking, kitchen-diner and lots of space for workshop activities
Price / day: £40pp/session - Includes room hire, hot drinks, together with wool ingredients, use of appropriate kit hire and tuition – please BYO lunch - please note some specialist materials may be extra should you wish to purchase these when here onsite
What to bring along etc: No previous skills required – welcome to bring own materials, wheels, spindles etc if you wish but not necessary – dress warm for a farm with sensible shoes - your own food provisions for each day
Maximum number we can accept / day: 6-9/day – spaces are limited and booked on a first come first served basis
How To Book:
Available to book the 4 day package - see 4 day options - Block 1 or Block 2
Available to book 1/2 day to suit your own schedule - see 1/2 day option
Available to book 1 day or multiples of 1 one to suit your own schedule - see 1 day option
Available to book Needle Felt Workshop - am or pm session Saturday 12th - see Felt workshop option
Available to book Tuffet Workshop - am or pm session - see Tuffet workshop option
Full list of workshops with dates and times - see timetable - contact us with your preferences thanks
Accommodation can be also be pre-booked - please see www.fernhill-farm.co.uk for details of farm accommodation options
(please note - dates showing as booked online as all beds are now reserved for the wool school participants - even though we shall only have 10 spread out across the 30 bed options)
We have cosy accommodation here with 30 beds to choose from - these are mostly double bunk beds in shared rooms / glamping arcs
It’s highly likely you shall have your own space and toilet and shower in a big barn on a self catering basis with plenty of social spaces for everyone - please select Bunk Bed option at £42/n at checkout
Also as some have requested to BYO camper van, we have added this as an option too - please select Van option at £20/n/van at checkout
BOOK HERE
WOOL SCHOOL
Extra materials can be purchased on site - have a look what we have here www.fernhillfibre.co.uk/shop
For more details please email jen@fernhill-farm.co.uk