Workshops at Woolfest 2019

There will be workshops at Woolfest for the first time in several years.  They'll be taking place upstairs at Mitchell's Lakeland Livestock Centre in the "boardroom" and, if all goes well this year, there could be more of them with easier access in years to come. Debbie Zawinski and Liz Reed have agreed to share their skills this year and the atmosphere promises to be creative and fun with plenty of ideas on offer as well as materials.

Places are limited and tickets are on sale in advance from the Buy Tickets Online page of the Woolfest website.

Create a Wee Driftwood Character with Liz Reed

A really fun workshop of relaxed creativity. Only very basic knitting skills are required and along with some wonderful materials to dip into, by the end of the session you will have created your very own Wee Driftwood Character. They can be as prim, funky or quirky as you want them to be, bring along a source of colour inspiration, or just be inspired by the materials available.

Friday or Saturday, 10am - 1.30pm, cost £40 (NB. Additional cost for materials payable to tutor). The early start means that participants need to arrive before Woolfest opens (10am) and present their pre-booked tickets on the door.

Make your own spinning tools from foraged materials with Debbie Zawinski

Using willow, a ball of string and a selection of tools you will make a twiggy spindle, a nostepinne/spinning stick and a niddy noddy. The idea is that spinning is accessible to all and one can make one's own (rustic) tools from simple, readily accessible and found materials. If there's time, you'll also be able to try your hand at spinning!

Friday 3pm - 5pm, cost £25

Stick Spinning with Debbie Zawinski

Learn to spin the 'Feral Spinner' way, suitable for complete beginners or those wanting to learn a new technique. The workshop aims to teach the participants stick spinning and plying, the use of a nostepinne to wind a centre pull ball and how to skein using a niddy noddy. Everyone should progress from fleece to a small sample skein of handspun during the course of the class.

Saturday 2pm - 5pm Cost £40