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, together with Brenda Hamblin. All 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: Introduction to WOOL SCHOOL
Weaving a chunky tuffet seat pad using Fernhill Style Peg Looms - this session is designed to enable a gentle welcome to allow time for participants to see and feel fleece parts, whilst chatting about their own wool journey, ready for the next few days ahead. These create your own personalised warm and cosy seat pad ready for all your next sessions. Can also be booked as an individual workshop - please select Tuffet Workshop at checkout
Session 2 - topics covered include
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 3 - 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 4 - Yarns can then be knitted or woven - tuition provided as requested - this session can also be used as additional time for spinning practice, plying, skeining etc
Session 5 - Felting - wet felting technique to make a bowl shape - this session can also be used as additional spinning practice, plying, skeining etc. Can also be booked as an individual workshop - please select Wet Felt Workshop at checkout
Session 6 - Needle felting 3D shapes - optional 2D pictures - as this is the final session, can also be used to finish up any spinning, plying, skeining etc. Can also be booked as an individual workshop - please select Needle Felt Workshop at checkout
Start and End dates:
Friday 9th @ noon to Monday 12th @ noon
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
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 - see Felt workshop option
Available to book Tuffet Workshop - see Tuffet workshop option
BOOK HERE
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)
We have cosy accommodation here with lots of 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
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