DISCOVERING the traditional skills of artisans from around the world is one of the best things about visiting Woolfest – one of the largest celebrations of natural fibres.
To be able to watch someone Nordic knitting, spinning or weaving is heartwarming. It’s good to know that these artisan skills are not just alive but thriving in the 21st century.
Alongside these skills passed down through generations, you also find new crafts, new ways to use wools.
Last year I was fascinated by the way needle felting had advanced to create delicate sculptures. Needlefelting was definitely a popular craft in 2019.
I was also delighted to meet traditional wool dyers among the newcomers’ ‘mini-stalls’. Medieval Colours create natural dyes using historically accurate techniques for re-enactment costumes.
Founder of Medieval Colours, Katarzyna is from Poland and has a BA in Archaeology and is now studying a BA in Artefact Studies at University College London. Her studies are deeply connected to her passion for dyeing and have allowed her to develop it further.
She said: “It all started from the love of the historical textile techniques. My first dying experiments were within the field of re-enactment, but as I really wanted to develop this passion and share it with others. I founded Medieval Colours to allow me to explore the natural-dying methods and broaden the scope of my passion.”
I look forward to seeing what I will learn this year from the event as Woolfest2020 opens online due to COVID-19.
Thank you to The Wool Clip cooperative members who organise Woolfest.
By K
- Wooldfest2020 takes pace in six sessions from Thursday 25 to Sunday 28 June, and there is lots more information, including a full schedule of stallholder posts, online at www.woolfest.co.uk.
