WOOLLY WEEEKEND 26th - 28th February 2027

WOOLLY WEEKEND

The transformation of sheep fleece

Understand the basics with growing, harvesting, selecting, prepping and using sheep fleece ready for a multitude of craft activities that include spinning, weaving, knitting, wet felting, needle felting etc

Tuition is provided by our team of experts, that includes Andy as master Blade Shearer and Jen as wool grader and fibre provider, combining British genetics to grow fine, colourful and curly sheep fibres at Fernhill Farm - this session will be held in our purpose built 4 stand sheep shearing shed here on the farm

Expert tuition is also provided from textile graduates, spinning enthusiasts, retired tutors etc whom have enjoyed a life time working with fleece and fibres, where each person shares different skills and all are incredibly knowledgeable about many aspects of wool textile crafts - these sessions run throughout the weekend in cosy barns here on the farm

We are all here to assist, encourage and listen as we progress through the woolly weekends at our own pace - adults welcomed at any stage of their understanding of working with wool as a completely natural, native, real, regenerative fibre

Session 1: Introduction to Sheep (Friday 26th from 1.00pm - 5pm)

Welcome to Fernhill Farm - includes a brief farm walk to see our animals in their natural surroundings, meet our sheep dogs, introduce regenerative principles of land management, discuss British Sheep genetics, followed by a Blade shearing demo in the shearing shed

Jen will show how to follow the shearers around the sheep, removing the second grade fibres, and throwing fleeces onto tables ready for grading. Final grading and sorting will take place inside (Its February) in a warm teaching space, where time is dedicated to discussing fleece qualities and how best to make use of the entire fleece

• What is kemp ?

• Micron and fibre diameter - effect on finished yarns

• Native colours and markings - best of the British Six

• Sheep fleece parts and their subsequent qualities

• Selecting fleeces - Fibre length and strength, identifying weaknesses etc

• Using seconds and waste wool

The final part of this afternoon is the Tuffet Workshop - weaving your own personalised warm and cosy seat pad ready for all your next sessions - involves weaving raw fleece into 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 feel fleece parts, whilst chatting about their own wool journey, ready for the next few days ahead

Session 2 - Pre-processing fleece (Saturday 27th from 10.00am - 11.30am)

• How to deal with your new fleece in a Fernhill Fibre Bag

• Dividing up fleeces ready for processing

• Ways of washing wool, lanolin removal, lanolin rich fleece

• Drying fleece

• Storage of fleece

Coffee and Cake break

Session 3 - Carding & combing washed fleece (Saturday 27th from 12pm - 1pm)

• Tools and equipment, local companies etc all available to assist

• Picking, carding, making rolags using hand carders and carding machines

• Carding your own rolags

• Tops and Sliver - discussion Q&A

LUNCH served in the Horseshoe Barns

Session 3 - Beginners Spinning* (Saturday 27th from 2pm - 5pm)

• Learn to spin Fernhill Tops and Sliver, and your own rolags

• Try your hands on drop spindles, distaff and spinning wheels

• Spin yarns onto bobbins using variety of spinning wheels

• Plying yarns on spinning wheels & spindles

• Bobbins into 2ply skeins using Niddy-Noddies

Practice session in the evening - 5pm - 7pm, followed by the Supper Club

Session 4 - Wet Felting / Play Day - Choice of activities (Sunday 28th from 10am - 1pm)

• Felting - wet felting techniques to make a TRUG with Lesley Hill Textiles

• or as a follow up to the *Beginners Spinning sessions, time is allowed for additional practice, trailing additional wheels, plying into skeins - tuition provided as requested:

Session 5 - Play Day - Choice of activities (Sunday 28th from 10am - 4pm)

• Weaving - have a go on Brinkley, Rigid Heddle and Inkle Looms

• Shear a sheep with Andy - please let us know in advance thanks

• Carding and Combing - making rolags to spin or weave

• Drop Spindles & Spinning Wheels - spin and ply yarns

• 2D picture felting

• Knitting - learn a new skill, enhance your skills with needles

• Crochet - learn a new skill, enhance your skills with hooks

• Giant French Knitting - selection of yarns to create snoods ready to take home

Finish up your craft projects and depart

FYI:

Location: Fernhill farm - shearing shed, Horseshoe Barn or Saloon – both barns are single story, ground floor, heated workshops with lots of space for workshop activities - ramps throughout the barns and easy access parking

Price / day: £360pp - includes the full 5 sessions of woolly activities, use of all our craft equipment, materials for spinning, weaving & felting, one-one and group tuition from 7+ textile experts

Includes access to a range of drinks, home made bakes, two course hot, homegrown lunch and afternoon snacks - all dietary requirements are catered for when pre-booked

What to bring along etc: No previous skills required – welcome to bring own wheel if you wish but not necessary – dress warm for a mini farm tour to the sheep shearing shed, where we encourage you to bring boots for outdoors and slippers / slip-ons for indoor activities

Optional extras:

Onsite accommodation options include our Basement Flat, Loft Apartment and Static Caravan - suitable for individuals and mini groups of friends - please ask jen@fernhill-farm.co.uk for details

Bunk Bed @ £50pp/n

Campervans @ £25/n

Mutton Supper Club - the menu will follow soon

All fees include VAT so please ask if you require a VAT receipt thanks

Any queries, I am here to help thanks jen@fernhill-farm.co.uk