Category: News

Recap: A Woolly Celebration: Feltmakers Ireland -Dublin Fibre Festival 2025

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

By Loli Cox, with additional reporting from Deirdre Carroll

On Saturday, the 18th of October 2025, Feltmakers Ireland took part in the Dublin Fibre Festival at the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) in Dublin.

Opening at 10 AM, a queue formed at the door as excited visitors waited to enter the hall. Throughout the day, a steady stream of attendees arrived eager to view the various crafts, textile materials, and fibre artists on display. According to the festival’s organiser, Mira Isan, over 750 people attended the event.

The hall at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham at IMMA provided a stunning and inspiring backdrop, brought to life by the festival’s vibrant creativity and the presence of Feltmakers Ireland at its centre. Our two tables welcomed visitors to discover the captivating art of felting.

Felting Demonstrated

Siobhan and Irina
Eva, Kelly, Adrienne, and Loli

At our first table, skilled volunteers wove magic with their hands, demonstrating the arts of wet and needle felting. Using wool blended with other natural fibres, they transformed fluffy tufts into sturdy, vibrant fabric through rhythmic kneading and precise needlework. The gentle splash of water and the earthy aroma of wool filled the air, drawing onlookers into the tactile alchemy that binds fibre to form.

Irish Wool Displayed

Panel with samples of wet and needle-felted Irish-raised wool

Our second table was a tribute to Ireland’s pastoral legacy, showcasing ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking’, the guild’s cherished book born from a 2021–2023 community research and wool sampling endeavour, which was led by our former treasurer Annika Berglund.

This lovingly crafted volume explores forty of the island’s sheep breeds, from the silken Cladóir to the hardy Galway, and details the wool’s textures and felting potential. It offers practical wisdom on sourcing, cleaning, and dyeing wool, alongside heartfelt stories of the shepherds who tend these flocks.

A large panel, adorned with felted wool samples, invited touch, revealing each breed’s distinct character—coarse, fine, or delightfully springy.

The festival buzzed with curious visitors, their eyes wide as they watched wool transform and their fingers itching to explore the tactile samples. Many lingered, asking about our guild’s mission to champion sustainable felting and the diverse sheep breeds grazing Ireland’s green hills. The wool samples were a revelation, turning abstract knowledge into a sensory journey as hands traced the difference between a Donegal Horn’s rugged locks and a Wicklow Cheviot’s delicate strands. Conversations flowed, stitching connections between craft, culture, and land.

Artwork Displayed

Eva and Kelly
Adrienne and Loli
Kelly’s samples and amazing tools

Nearby, Feltmakers Ireland members’ artwork sparkled: elegant scarves, cosy gloves, soft slippers, and intricate jewellery like necklaces, bracelets, brooches, and earrings. Whimsical creations also abounded—lush landscapes evoking misty hills, and three-dimensional treasures like cheeky gnomes, plump pumpkins, playful puppets, pea pods, embellished vessels, and mischievous seasonal figures of ghosts, witches, and black cats.

In Summary

The day was a triumph: Several copies of ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking’ found new homes, and a handful of inspired guests joined Feltmakers Ireland as members, eager to dive into this woolly world.

Members Exhibiting

In addition to the guild’s display at the Dublin Fibre Festival, four of our members were vendors at the event: Fiona Leech of @feltathome, Juliane Gorman of @felthappiness, Sandra Reynolds of @sandystitchedup, and Christine Jordan of @roughcirclestudio

  • Fiona
  • Juliane
  • Sandy
  • Christine’s display

Acknowledgements

Many thanks to the Dublin Fibre Festival for including us in this year’s event. We greatly appreciate their efforts in making a fibre festival in Ireland a reality, as well as the help offered by their volunteers throughout the day.

Lastly, a heartfelt thanks to our volunteers—Eva, Kelly, and Siobhan —for their warm enthusiasm and skilful hands, and to committee members Adrienne, Deirdre, Irina, Loli, and Lorna, for their tireless work in sharing the beauty of felting. Together, they spun a day of learning and inspiration, celebrating the timeless craft born from Ireland’s woolly heart.

Join us next time at the Dublin Fibre Festival to explore felting’s endless possibilities!

Visit our website for –

Volunteers Lorna, Loli, Siobhan, Deirdre, and Irina

Event: Festival of Botanical Colours – Co Kerry

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

The Festival of Botanical Colours is a textile event which includes workshops and demonstrations, including the following: indigo dyeing, land art, ink making, Fair Isle knitting, spinning, storytelling, block printing, solar dyeing, pigments, peg loom weaving and more

When: From Friday, the 24th, through Sunday, the 26th of October.

Where: Tech Amergin (arts centre), Spunkane, Waterville, Co Kerry.

Guild member Sharon Wells is teaching two workshops at the festival. The one on ink making is fully booked, but as of today, her workshop this Sunday on Peg Loom Weaving has spots – https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/festival-of-botanical-colours-peg-looming-tickets-1680692940829

For more information and to register – https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/festival-of-botanical-colours-4629633

Their Instagram @festival_wool_cloth

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about the content, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.

Event: Dutch Design Week – Wool (RE)Discovered

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

A bit late, as it is happening NOW, but still of interest: Dutch Design Week has the theme of Wool (RE)Discovered!

The week-long event in Eindhoven, Netherlands, showcases wool’s regenerative potential and reimagines it as a dynamic, living material. From raw fleece in the hands of designers to workshops, demos, and mending sessions, and a variety of talks are scheduled throughout the week.

Dutch milliner and feltmaker Saar Snoek has a workshop on Thursday afternoon on how to felt a whimsical moustache: https://www.neworderoffashion.com/ddw-2025-program/workshop-make-your-own-moustache-using-alpaca-hair

There is a LIVESTREAM with discussions about wool here – https://www.neworderoffashion.com/wool-rediscovered-livestream

For more information about the week, visit the New Order of Fashion’s website – https://www.neworderoffashion.com/ddw-2025-program

Their Instagram @new_order_of_fashion

If you cannot attend in person, there’s an exciting video of the exhibition from visitor Elaine Markoutsas here – https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQBJUu5DXjE/?igsh=MXV1aDQ4cHB3bjQ5bw%3D%3D

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about the content, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.

Of Interest: Upcoming ReStyle Cork Event

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Via our textile friends, Fibreshed Ireland: ReStyle Cork is looking for designers, craftspeople, traditional skills instructors, social entrepreneurs, and artists based in Cork who would like to be part of animating their flagship awareness-raising event for European Waste Reduction Week.

The event will include the following:

  • Workshops
  • Demonstrations
  • Exhibitions
  • Clothes Swapping
  • Stalls/Vendors
  • Repair Cafe
  • Panel Discussions
  • Fashion Show

For more information about getting involved, please contact Theo: 0838110769, theo@environmentalforum.ie


Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about the content, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.

Event: Dublin Fibre Festival 2025 – This Saturday

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Poster for Dublin FIbre Festival 2025

Feltmakers Ireland and 40 other local textile exhibitors will be at the Dublin Fibre Festival THIS Saturday, the 18th of October. This is THE opportunity to touch yarn and fibres in person, attend textile workshops, and watch spinning, felting, and other fibre arts demonstrations! To see a taste of last year’s event, there’s this blog post – https://feltmakersireland.com/2024/10/29/recap-fantastic-day-at-the-dublin-fibre-festival/

The Map and Vendor List

We will be there!

Have you wanted to purchase a copy of Feltmakers Ireland’s book ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking’ but have not had the opportunity? Come to the Dublin fibre event of the year: The Dublin Fibre Festival. In addition, we will have several guild members demonstrating needle and wet felting. These include felting artists such as Eva Salamon @feltedvision and Irina Lampadova @irinalampadova1

  • When: 10 AM to 6 PM.

Feltmakers Ireland Members Exhibiting

Four guild members will be sharing their work –

Admission

Tickets can be purchased online or at the door.

For more information, visit the Festival’s website – https://www.dublinfibrefestival.com/

Their Instagram – @dublinfibrefestival

Of Interest: Bioeconomy Week Ireland – REVEIRE Irish Wool Research – Friday at Maynooth University

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
BioEconomy Ireland Week - Friday, the 17th of October

REVEIRE University College Cork (UCC), the three-year wool research project funded by the Environmental Protection Agency, joins Bioeconomy Ireland Week 2025, for “The Circular Shift: Transforming Waste into a Bio-based Economy”.

The event will explore how research is transforming waste into bio-based value across Ireland, featuring EPA-funded projects tackling textile, wool, agri-food, and urban bio-waste.

REVEIRE will showcase their work on regenerative value systems for Irish-grown wool, contributing to a more circular and sustainable bioeconomy.

  • When: Friday, 17th October 2025
  • Time: 09:45 AM – 2:00 PM
  • Where: Maynooth University, Co Kildare.

The event is organised by Maynooth University and University College Cork, with support from the Circular Bioeconomy Cluster at Munster Technological University.

Free, but booking is required. Register for the event here: https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/school-business/events/bioeconomy-ireland-week-2025-event

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about the content, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.

Of Interest: Seeking Wool Farmers in Ireland for Directory

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland


Fibershed Ireland, in partnership with Ánam Arann, has launched an exciting joint initiative called the Wear The Land Collective — a project dedicated to reviving the tradition of Aran sweaters and celebrating Irish wool heritage in the Northeastern United States.

Together, they’re working to make Irish wool more visible, accessible, and appreciated across the globe.

As part of this effort, they’re inviting sheep farmers to share details about their flocks and add their farms to a growing Irish Wool Directory. This directory will help connect farmers, makers, and consumers who value local, sustainable wool. The directory will be accessible via the Wear The Land Collective website, and you can also choose to also be featured on Fibershed Ireland’s website’s interactive map – https://fibreshedireland.ie/map/

For more information about the project, visit here – https://www.wearthelandcollective.org/

To submit your sheep information, visit here – https://form.jotform.com/252194258673061

Instagram – @fibreshed_ireland @anamarannn

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about the content, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.

Of Interest: Knit + Stitch Show – Northern Ireland – Final Ticket Giveaway

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Join the Knit + Stitch Show in Northern Ireland from the 13th to the 16th of November at the Eikon Exhibition Centre. 

Stock up on quality craft supplies from over 100 exhibitors, explore Textile Galleries featuring world-renowned textile artists, a vast array of workshops, talks & lectures, and more to be announced! Whether you’re a seasoned crafter or just getting started, there’s something for everyone.  Guild member Sandra Coote of Crafts of Ireland will have a booth there!

Where: Eikon Exhibition Centre, Balmoral Park, Halftown Rd, Lisburn BT27 5RF, United Kingdom.

When: Thursday, the 13th, through Sunday, the 16th of November.

How to Enter the Giveaway

★ If you read this on our Instagram or Facebook, LIKE this post and COMMENT – ‘Yes, Knit + Stitch’. If you share the post, your tagged friends must also LIKE and COMMENT to be entered into the Giveaway.

★ For readers NOT using social media, please EMAIL- feltmakersIE@gmail.com and write ‘Yes, Knit + Stitch’ in the Subject Line.

Giveaway Tickets

This Giveaway is the FINAL one, and runs through midnight, Sunday, the 12th of October. We will then collect the names and then randomly draw ONE winner. 

(Please do not enter more than once – ie via entering through multiple platforms. However, you can enter the Giveaway if you have not won previously.)

On Monday afternoon, the Giveaway winner will receive a unique COUPON CODE from Feltmakers Ireland, which she can use to book her pair of free tickets via the Knit + Stitch Show website.

T&Cs: This code is for a pair of Standard Single Day Adult tickets, valid on any day. It is not valid on VIP, Two-Day, or group tickets. Tickets are for entry only; transport to and from the venue is not included.

Please note that the winning ticket must be pre-booked in advance. 

Discounted Entry

If you don’t win the Giveaway, you can still use the code FELTMAKERSIR to save £2 at checkout.

​​T&Cs: £2 off standard adult/concession tickets only. Offer not valid on VIP, Child or group tickets. Offer expires Sunday, the 2nd of November 2025. Booking fee applies.

For more information about the exciting events, textile galleries, workshops, and vendors at the Knit + Stitch Show Northern Ireland, or to book tickets with the above discount code, visit the website using this unique link – https://www.knitandstitchshow.co.uk/northernireland/feltmakers-ireland/

Find and follow Knit + Stitch Shows on Instagram – @knitandstitchshows

This promotional giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed, administered, or associated with Instagram or Facebook.

This Giveaway is now closed. Thank you to all who have participated. Hope to see you at the Knit + Stitch!

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about the content, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.

Open Call: Individual Mobility Grants for Creatives

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Culture Moves Europe offers grants to artists and cultural professionals who wish to develop a mobility project between their country of residence and another Creative Europe country. No specific level of experience is required.

Requirements: One artistic or cultural project to be carried out in another Creative Europe country, with the support of an international partner. This project must align with at least two of the following objectives: learning, creating, exploring, or connecting. 

The call is open from the 1st of October 2025 to the 30th of April 2026.

It is a rolling call, which means that projects will be selected and grants distributed on a monthly basis. There are monies for daily expenses, travel allowances, and more.

There will be two online information sessions in October about the Culture Moves Europe opportunity.

  • Friday, the 10th of October at 10 AM Irish Time
  • Friday, the 17th of October at 10 AM Irish Time.

Here is the link to register: https://goetheinstitut.typeform.com/to/ArdpJSBL

For more information about the programme, visit their website –
https://culture.ec.europa.eu/culture-moves-europe

Their Instagram – @culturemoveseurope

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about the content, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.

Of Interest: The World Wool Forum Webinar – 19th of October

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Shepard and sheep amongst forest at I Casali Del Pino, Rome, Italy - for the World Wool Forum Webinar

The World Wool Forum will bring together international leaders from the design, fashion, interior, and textile fields, as well as farmers, thinkers, and innovators who are doing inspiring work. This live online session will forecast the future of wool fibres, while preserving sheep husbandry, animal welfare and craft heritage.

When: Sunday, the 19th of October, 14:00 – 19:00 Rome CET (13:00 – 18:00 Irish Time).

The first part of the forum will focus on ‘Identity and Place,’ and the second will explore ‘Farm and Future.’ Friend of Feltmakers Ireland, Blátnaid Gallagher, founder of the Galway Wool Co-op, is scheduled to speak about wool during the latter section.

For more information on the schedule and speakers, and to sign up for this free webinar, visit the Forum’s website – https://www.worldhopeforum.com/world-wool-forum

Their Instagram – @worldhopeforum

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.