Tag: Sustainability

Event: A Craftivist Approach to Fashion with Sarah Corbett – Belfast UK

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Meet Sarah Corbett, founder of the global Craftivist Collective, at a talk on ethics and sustainability in fashion and textiles, at the Craft NI Gallery in Belfast.

There will also be an opportunity for a making activity led by Sarah, which will be created in collaboration with Fashion Revolution.

To ensure enough materials for this fun and thought-provoking activity, RSVP is essential by booking your place. If you have any issues with booking, please contact info@craftni.org.

Where: Craft NI Gallery
115-119 Royal Avenue
Belfast, BT1 1FF, UK

When: On the 19th of March at 12:30 PM.

For more information and to book your spot, visit the website – https://craftni.org/a-craftivist-approach-to-fashion/

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.

News: Wool in Ireland Updates

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Irish wool has been the subject of two news articles in recent weeks.

The Dáil recently deliberated on the potential of Ireland’s wool industry, recognizing the need to explore new markets for the product. Pippa Hackett, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), said: “In one sense, the world is our oyster when it comes to wool”.

To read the article, visit Agriland: https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/hackett-the-world-is-our-oyster-when-it-comes-to-wool/

Ten months following its establishment, the Irish Grown Wool Council convened its inaugural Annual General Meeting at the Athlone Springs Hotel on Friday, February 16th, 2024.

To see the re-elected and newly elected members and their working groups, visit the Irish Grown Wool Council’s website – https://irishgrownwoolcouncil.com/irish-grown-wool-council-agm-2024/

Event: Sustainable Fibre Arts Conference 2024 – Canada

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

The Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador, through the provincial Year of the Arts initiative, has the pleasure to announce the Made in Canada: Sustainable Fibre Arts Conference 2024. This conference will feature workshops by fibre artists from around Canada and offer panels and workshops on sustainable harvesting and crafting practices.

There are several wool-related events. Among the sessions are working towards a regenerated wool fibre industry and heritage-based circular economies within the province, along with a hands-on event on processing raw wool, flax and nettle into useable fibre for spinning or other fibre craft.

Among the workshops offered will be foraged plant fibre weaving, animal hide tanning,
papermaking with recycled textiles and flax fibre, and block printing with natural dye
mordants.

Where: Gros Morne National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

When: 19th – 23rd of September, 2024.

For more information, visit their website – https://www.fibrearts2024.ca/

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.

Of Interest: Farming with Nature Q&A -Growing Biofibre with Blatnaid Gallagher

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Farming for Nature will have Irish-raised wool ambassador Blátnaid Gallagher, a sheep farmer from Co. Galway, in their next Q&A session.

Learn more about Blátnaid and how she manages her farm via a live Zoom session.

When: Tuesday, the 13th of February at 8 PM.

To register for the free Zoom session, visit the Farming for Nature website – https://www.farmingfornature.ie/ask-the-farmer-qa-with-blatnaid-gallagher/

Feltuary2024: What’s Your Favourite Book?

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Feltuary

Feltuary2024 is a social media idea created by the Northeast Feltmakers Guild (NEFG). Wet felters and needlefelters can share examples of their work on a different topic or theme each day. You can share on Instagram or Facebook, daily or occasionally. It’s all up to you!

Please use the hashtag #feltuary2024 and tag @northeastfeltmakersguild so that others can find what you have shared.

The theme for the 7th of February is ‘A Favorite Fiber Book’.

What is your favourite fibre book?

Naturally, Feltmakers Ireland has a favourite book – ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking‘, a much-needed book on the subject of felting with Irish-raised wool.

The book includes an introduction by Minister Pippa Hackett, who is herself a sheep farmer. There are chapters on scouring, dyeing, and felting with local wools. Volunteers within our guild sampled fibre from over 40 species of sheep under the guidance of guild member Annika Berglund.

Purchase this book from our website – https://feltmakersireland.com/exploring-irish-wool-for-feltmaking/

Recap: Showcase Wool Talks with Links to Videos

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

At Showcase 2024 in January, the Irish Grown Wool Council (IGWC) presented a series of three panels about the past, present, and future of Irish wool. Presented by Rebecca Marsden
Designer, Materials Researcher & Educator The Wool Hub and Forge Design Factory.

Day One

The first panel covered ‘Wool Chronicles: Heritage & Horizon’ and included –

A recorded video of this first talk can be found on Showcase Ireland’s YouTube channel – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eN0d3W2c6sc

Produces made from wool. The square on the easel is a type of bio tile created by Ulster University.
Organic farmer Fergal Byne, with yarn created from his sheep by Donegal Yarns.

Day Two

On the second day, the theme of the panel was ‘Wool Yarns; From Ewe to SKU’ and included –

A recorded video of this talk can be found here on Showcase Ireland’s YouTube channel – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQ0zbaOyf1k

Donegal Yarns which uses a blend of Irish-raised and imported fibres.

Day Three

The panel’s theme on the third day was ‘Wool Wonders; Different Strands of Innovation’ –

A recording from this day can be found here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=badXx22BpEo

Speaker Ngaire Takano is investigating alternative methods of scouring wool.
A second slide shows an improved flow for scouring.
Dr Tim Yeomans (in the blue shirt) shared about technical advances that could be applied to wool.

Feltmakers Ireland guild member Annika Berglund shared our book ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking’ with the audience.

Annika and The Book.

Lastly, as part of the annual Showcase awards, the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland awarded the knitwear company Ériu, which focuses on using sustainable and circular Irish-raised wool, as the ‘Overall Winner’.

Ériu awarded DCCI Overal Winner of Showcase 2024

Exhibition: Four St Brigid’s Cloaks – Kildare

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Open viewing of four St Brigid’s Cloaks unveiled in St Brigid’s Cathedral, in conjunction with the Brigid 1500 celebrations across the county.

St Brigid’s Cloaks is a community artwork developed by Wool in School, in association with Creative Ireland and Kildare County Council. These four stunning St Brigid’s Cloaks were crafted with an all-encompassing approach to wool heritage and art.

This project, managed by Director Lorna McCormack and lead Artist Michelle Hickey Legge, focused on using locally sourced Irish-grown wool and sustainable resources aligning with the ethos of Wool in School and several of the Sustainable Development Goals 2030.

This contemporary manifestation of St Brigid’s cloak highlights the value of knitting as a creative past-time which is beneficial for the health and well-being of everyone living in Ireland’s community and will create a beautiful backdrop to the celebrations and commemoration of the legacy of St Brigid at St Brigid’s Cathedral in Kildare Town in 2024.

When: the 27th of January, 2024, from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM.

Where: St Brigid’s Cathedral, Kildare.

There is additional information in this news article – https://kildare-nationalist.ie/2024/01/23/kildare-artwork-st-brigids-cloaks/

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.

Event: IGWC Wool Panel Talks at Showcase 2024

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Join the Irish Grown Wool Council at Showcase 2024 for a series of curated panel talks on Irish wool.

Talks will take place on each of the three days of Showcase, 21st – 23rd January (RDS, Dublin), across the key themes of Sustainability, Fashion and Innovation, focusing on the past, present and future for Irish wool. Join us at the ‘Inspiration Stage’ for these talks at Showcase 2024.

Day: Sunday 21st January
Time: 4pm- 5pm
Theme: Sustainability / Authenticity / Traceability Viability

Day: Monday 22nd January
Time: 2pm- 3pm TIME CHANGE -> NOW 12-1 PM.
Theme: Fashion / Design / Homeware

Day: Tuesday 23rd January
Time: 11am- 12pm
Theme: Innovation / Composites / International Best Practice / Products Development using wool

The three panels are made up of different speakers and are moderated by Rebecca Marsden
Designer, Materials Researcher & Educator The Wool Hub and Forge Design Factory

This opportunity is supported by the Design & Crafts Council, Ireland.

Panels and times may change; please check their website for the speaker details. – https://irishgrownwoolcouncil.com/irish-grown-wool-council-panel-talks-at-showcase-2024/

FYI: An Excellent Gift – Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Do you have a knitter or fibre artist in your family? Feltmakers Ireland’s recently published book, ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking’, will make the perfect gift.

The book showcases wool from 40 different breeds of sheep raised in Ireland and provides a detailed analysis of the optimal use for Feltmaking with each breed. The book covers wet-felting and needle-felting techniques, offering readers insight into the distinctions between Merino and local wool breeds. Additionally, valuable tips and tricks for laying out, felting, and fulling with sustainable, local wool are shared. There is also information on dyeing wool.

Additionally, the book includes an introduction by Minister Pippa Hackett, who is herself a sheep farmer.

Feedback from the fibre community has been warm:

This very nice book arrived this morning. I’ve just had a quick look through and I’ve already learnt stuff I didn’t know before now. Every day’s a school day. Well done to all involved, I think this will be a best seller for sure. Thanks for the very very quick delivery. Very well done indeed. 👏👏👏👏👏👏

Seamus Kirwan, on 22nd of June, 2023.

To purchase your copy of the book, visit this page on our website – https://feltmakersireland.com/exploring-irish-wool-for-feltmaking/

Of Interest: Irish Wool for Feltmaking Book featured in Farmers Journal

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

In October, artist and Feltmakers Ireland guild member Annika Berglund was interviewed by Grace Hanna for the Irish Farmers’ Journal. The interview covers Annika’s involvement in the book ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking’ and the guild’s experiences sampling 40 different breeds of Irish sheep wool.

Also included is Minister Pippa Hackett, who eloquently spoke about the paradoxical situation of Aran sweaters and Irish wool.

To read the article, visit the journal’s website – https://www.farmersjournal.ie/life/craft/feltmakers-ireland-the-underutilised-resource-of-irish-wool-786311

Find your copy of ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking’ here – https://feltmakersireland.com/exploring-irish-wool-for-feltmaking/