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 that includes Christine Rice and Lesley Hill and 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 everyone as you all progress through the wool school at your own pace - everyone is welcome at any stage of their understanding of working with this wonderful natural fibre

Includes a Blade Shearing demonstration by Master Shearer Andy Wear and Wool Grading activity by Jen Hunter - in our purpose built 4 stand sheep shearing shed here on the farm - timing depends on the weather for this activity

Session 1: Introduction to WOOL SCHOOL (Friday 7th from 1.00pm)

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 (Saturday 8th from 9.30am)

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 fleeces

• Sheep fleece parts and their subsequent qualities

• Using seconds and waste wool

• Storage of fleece, yarns etc

  Session 3 - topics covered include (Saturday 8th from 2pm)

• 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 - Yarns onto bobbins using variety of spinning wheels

Session 4 (Sunday 9th from 9.30am) - as a follow up to the Beginners Spinning sessions, time is allowed for additional practice, trailing additional wheels and when enough yarns are ready, plying into hanks, skeins and balls - tuition provided as requested

Session 5 (Sunday 9th from 2pm) - Felting - wet felting technique to make a bowl shaped TRUG - this session can also be used as additional spinning practice, plying, hanking etc. Can also be booked as an individual workshop - please select Wet Felt Workshop at checkout

Session 6 (Monday 10th from 9.30am) - Needle felting 3D shapes or 2D pictures - as this is the final session, can also be used to finish up any spinning, plying, hanking etc.

Needle Felting workshop can also be booked as an individual workshop - please select Needle Felt Workshop at checkout

Start and End dates:

Friday 7th @ noon to Monday 10th @ noon - Feb 2025

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: 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 8th sessions 2 and 3 - see Saturday option

Available to book Sunday 9th - flexible sessions - see Sunday option

Available to book Tuffet Workshop - Friday 7th @ 2pm session 1 - see Tuffet workshop option

Available to book Wet Felt Workshop - Sunday 9th @ 2pm session 5 - see Wet Felt option

Available to book Needle Felt Workshop - Monday 10th @ 9am session 6 - see Needle Felt workshop option

We have rustic, cosy onsite single use accommodation units (Basement or Static Caravan) plus various bunk bed and glamping options to choose from - accommodation can be pre-booked www.fernhill-farm.co.uk

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

BYO campervan - please select Van option at £25/n/van at checkout

We have recently added Mutton Club suppers to these weekends which have become a fabulous addition to these social weekends and details shall follow soon when dates and menu is confirmed with the chef - these are optional extras

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