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: 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

• Storage of fleece, yarns etc

  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

• Beginners Spinning - yarn onto bobbins using variety of spinning wheels

• Plying into hanks, skeins and balls

Session 4 - as a follow up to the Beginners Spinning session, time is allowed for additional practice, change of wheels and when enough yarn is ready, plying into hanks, skeins and balls - tuition provided as requested

Session 5- Felting - wet felting technique to make a bowl shape / trug - 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 17th @ noon to Monday 20th @ 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: £60pp/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 option

Available to book Saturday 18th sessions 2 and 3 - see Saturday option

Available to book Sunday 19th - flexible sessions - see Sunday option

Available to book Tuffet Workshop - Friday 17th 1pm session 1 - see Tuffet workshop option

Available to book Wet Felt Workshop - Sunday 19th 1.pm session 5 - see Wet Felt option

Available to book Needle Felt Workshop - Monday 20th 9.am session 6 - see Needle Felt workshop option

We have cosy onsite accommodation here with various glamping options to choose from - accommodation can be be pre-booked - please see www.fernhill-farm.co.uk for details

If you are willing to share - please select Bunk Bed option at £50/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