Woolfest 2012! By Sarah Hatton


It was supposed to be high summer when I made my way to Cockermouth for Woolfest. However, the chaos with the English weather meant that with all the rain I suspect the Lake District may have gained a few extra lakes over the weekend!


Woolfest is held in the perfect setting of Lakeland Livestock Centre and covers pretty much every aspect of wool based craft. It was definitely one of the woolliest days I have ever had!


There were several stands with beautiful livestock, from angora rabbits to alpacas and just about every breed of sheep – Ryeland, Herdwick, Jacob and Wensleydale through to Manx Loaghtan. Once you had finished cooing over the cute animals it was also possible to buy fleeces to dye and spin at home, with demonstrations of spinning and natural dyes to buy, including historically correct dye kits.


The range of yarn and knitting patterns to buy was pretty huge, but not everything was wool with most conceivable fibre combinations being catered for. Vintage haberdashery and fabrics were available and Susan Crawford was there showing her lovely “Coronation Knits” book to coincide with the Jubilee this year. I must also mention Kate Davies stall, her sheep carousel tea cosy must have been the fastest selling product of the whole show!


One of my favourite stalls was selling beautifully woven fabric made from the Manx Loaghtan fleece, you can view it online through Fowlescombe farm store (www. fowlescombe.co.uk). As well as hundreds of inspiring craft ideas there were plenty of great finds for non crafters from animal sculptures and pictures by fibre artists to blankets, badges and ipod covers. All in all, it was a really interesting day out and I would recommend it to anyone in the area next year but I will keep my fingers crossed for better weather!


(Pictures courtesy of Mark Armstrong) 10 - August 2012


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