Tag: Textile Events

RECAP: Feltmakers Ireland shares Wet and Needle Felting at the Midlands Fibre Festival

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

By Mary O’Rourke

A busy indoor market scene with a large crowd of people browsing stalls filled with handmade goods and crafts. The venue features bright lighting and a modern design.
The Midlands Fibre Festival 2026
A busy crafting fair taking place indoors with numerous vendors displaying handmade goods. People are engaging in shopping and conversations, and a large screen in the background promotes social media support for the crafting community.
Another photo of the hall at the Radisson Blu Hotel

On Sunday the 11th of October 2026, five members of Feltmakers Ireland (Elizabeth, Eva, Deirdre, Elaine and myself) represented the Guild at Midlands Fibre Festival at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Athlone.

Felting Demonstrations

We had a lovely, successful day and met lots of interesting people, all of whom expressed a huge interest in wool, felt, and feltmaking. We demonstrated both wet felting and needle felting on the day. People, as is usual when we demonstrate, were fascinated by the process and asked many questions, which were expertly answered by the team.

Two women at a crafting table, one smiling and working with wool, while the other is focused on shaping a felted pumpkin. The booth is decorated with colourful craft materials and displays.
Deirdre and Eva
A woman sits behind a table displaying handmade crafts, including felted bowls and framed artworks, at an exhibition. She is wearing glasses and a blue shirt, with a beige cardigan draped over her shoulders.
Mary at the table
Two women engaged in craft activities at a market stall, with one smiling and holding a felted item while the other prepares materials.
Elaine and Elizabeth
A woman demonstrating a craft activity at a stall, with two visitors attentively watching. The stall features various handmade items and decorations, and there are additional vendors visible in the background.
Elaine demonstrating
A woman creating crafts at a market stall, surrounded by handmade items including felted sculptures, colourful yarns, and decorative bowls. Another woman is seated in the background, observing the display.
Elizabeth’s work
Two women engaged in crafting activities at a market stall. One is working on a felting project, while the other rolls wool. Various handmade felt items, including colourful owls and decorations, are displayed on the table.
Deirdre and Eva
A woman crafting felted figurines at a craft fair table filled with colourful handmade items, including pumpkins, owls, and a whimsical puppet.
Eva’s Work – @feltedvision
A display of various handcrafted felted items, including whimsical figurines, pumpkins, and owls, arranged on a table at a craft fair.
Our display
A display table featuring handmade felt items, including a felt bowl and various small felt decorations. There are framed artwork pieces depicting landscapes and trees, alongside promotional materials and a schedule for upcoming workshops. A woman in a blue top is seen in the background, engaged in a crafting activity.
Elizabeth and Dee’s work

Needle Felting Workshop

We also ran a workshop where six ladies learned to needle-felt a flower brooch in just 90 minutes. They each completed their piece and took home a brooch they made themselves.

A woman wearing a striped blue sweater with a red felt flower pin is sitting at a table, looking down at her hands with a smile. A clear bag containing colourful materials is placed on the table in front of her.
A smiling woman with curly hair is sitting at a table, wearing a grey long-sleeved top with a vibrant felt flower brooch. She is in a setting with stalls in the background, indicating a market or fair.
A woman smiling while wearing a dark brown sweater adorned with a large pink flower brooch, sitting at a table with craft materials in the background.
A woman with glasses seated at a table, wearing a grey t-shirt adorned with a large pink and orange flower. She has long hair with beads and appears to be in a casual setting.
A smiling woman wearing a pink sweater with a felt flower brooch, seated at a table with strands of wool and a crafting tool.
A woman with shoulder-length hair, wearing glasses and a green and white striped top, sits at a table. She has a large purple felt flower pinned to her shirt and is looking to her right. A clear bag with purple craft materials is placed on the table in front of her.

Our Book

A scenic view of sheep grazing in a green field with mountains in the background, accompanied by various felted wool creations including bowls and decorative items.

Interest in our book “Exploring Irish Wool for Felt Making” was high, and several copies were sold.

Three people joined Feltmakers Ireland on the day, with several others expressing interest.

Thank you!

It was a great day, and we must thank Chad and Mary, the Midland Fibre Festival Organisers, and their team of volunteers, all of whom were lovely and very willing to help us in any way they could.

Next year’s Festival will be Sunday, 23 May, 2027, back in Athlone!

Exhibitor Display at the Festival

A display of fashion garments including a pink dress with gold stripes and a grey knitted sweater on mannequins. A grey dress with red accents is visible on a table alongside various artistic items.
Display of some of the Midlands Fibre Festival participants – includes Mary’s tunic (on the table) made with Lena Archbold and Dee and Eva’s pieces, along with fibre from guild member Katarina Hruskova of WoolstoreIE and pink tunic from guild member Karen Bowden of Fabulous Fibres.

The Instagram for the organisers: @midlandsfibrefestival

Volunteer Eva’s Instagram: @feltedvision


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 content-related questions, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.

Of Interest: Textile Takeover – Ulster Folk Museum – This Saturday

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
A webpage screenshot featuring the Ulster Folk Museum logo and the title 'Textile Takeover' in bold red text.

Explore textiles and sustainability at the Textile Takeover at the Ulster Folk Museum. Shop vintage, learn how to repair clothes, watch weaving and spinning demonstrations, try embroidery and learn from fashion and textile experts.

Guild member Katarina Hruskova of Woolstore Ireland will be there to share about Irish wool.

Fibreshed Ireland will also be at the event, representing another part of Ireland’s growing textile and fibre community.

When: This Saturday, the 10th of October, 11 AM to 4 PM

Where: The Ulster Folk Museum, 153 Bangor Rd, Holywood BT18 0EU, United Kingdom

For more information and to book general admission tickets, visit their website: https://www.ulsterfolkmuseum.org/whats-on/textile-takeover

Their Instagram: @ulsterfolkmuseum @fibreshed_ireland
@niembroideryguild
@tadf_insta
@woolstoreireland @repaircafeni. 

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 content-related questions, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.

Of Interest: Instagram Giveaway of 2 Tickets to Midlands Fibre Festival

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Promotional graphic for a giveaway of two free tickets to the Midlands Fibre Festival, featuring participation steps and a map of Ireland with festival branding.

The Midlands Fibre Festival is VERY soon! Want to join us?

Feltmakers Ireland is giving away two tickets, with two winners, each receiving one ticket. We will select the winners at random at 10 PM on Thursday, 8th of October 2026, and contact them via Instagram DM (direct message).

In order to be included, please do the following:

  1. Follow our Feltmakers Ireland Instagram Page – https://www.instagram.com/feltmakers_ireland/
  2. Like and Share the Instagram Post
  3. Tag a Friend in the comments of the Instagram Post

Note: This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram.

We Will Be There

At the Midlands Fibre Festival, Feltmakers Ireland will demonstrate and share the wonders of feltmaking.

Several of our members will also exhibit their artworks and/or sell fibre-related supplies.

When: Sunday, the 11th of October, 10 AM to 6 PM

Where: Radisson Blu Hotel, Northgate Street, Athlone, Co. Westmeath, Ireland, N37 A8X9

For more information about the festival, visit their website: https://www.midlandsfibrefestival.com/

Their Instagram: @midlandsfibrefestival

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: Flax to Fibre Event This Saturday – Co Dublin

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Promotional flyer for a community event in Dún Laoghaire, inviting participants to learn how to transform flax into fibre and save seeds for next year. Includes details about the date, time, and location.

Join the first Interwoven Neighbourhoods‘ community meitheal to learn how to transform flax into fibre and how to save seeds for next year.

FREE – all are welcome.

Interwoven Neighbourhoods is a project that catalyses local communities to plant, tend to, harvest, craft with, save seed, and learn from a patchwork of flax meadows that will support local biodiversity.

Their pilot programme will begin in Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, and will be run for a year through a series of four seasonal workshops, or meitheals.

By collectively celebrating flax as a versatile crop that can easily be grown in many private and public gardens, Interwoven Neighbourhoods aims to weave together an active local network of neighbours, strengthening social cohesion across generations, social classes, and cultural backgrounds

Interwoven Neighbourhoods is a project by @fibreshed_ireland, in collaboration with @ediblebray and I Am a Forest. Supported by @green_kite_community through @communityfoundationireland.

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: Seam Collective – Sept Textile Love Challenge

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Textile by @helenmacritchie

Every September, Seam Collective, a contemporary textile collective in the Southwest UK, holds an online creative challenge to draw attention to textile artists. It is fun to see what other fibre artists share, and all are welcome to participate.

There are daily hashtags, along with #SeptTextileLove and #SeptTextileLove26

Additionally, there are weekly and monthly planners on their website, plus information about the group and its members: https://seamcollective.org/category/septtextilelove/

Their Instagram: @seam_collective

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: Flax Meitheal Harvest Celebration – Co Tyrone

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Tickets are now available for the annual Flax Meitheal Harvest Celebration, on the weekend of 22rd-23st of August.

Fibreshed Ireland is once again partnering with Mallon Linen, Linen Workers CIC, and PlayThinkBrink to bring a weekend of presentations, panel discussions, craft demonstrations, a farm visit, music, and poetry.

Come learn about the history of linen production on this island, the present solutions & challenges, and help shape a regenerative, equitable and joyful flaxen future!

The event format combines a conference, a workshop, and a flax-harvesting party.

The first day in An Creagán will be more conference-style, with presentations and workshops throughout the day. It will finish with an evening of music, poetry, crafting, and craic. The second day in Mallon Linen will be a working day of harvesting flax.

When: the 22nd – 23rd of August

Where: An Creagán, 186 Barony Rd, Omagh, Co.Tyrone, BT79 9AB, Northern Ireland, UK

Mallon Linen Farm, 105 Pomeroy Rd, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, BT80 9EY, Northern Ireland, UK

For more information, visit Fibreshed Ireland’s website: https://fibreshedireland.ie/the-flax-meitheal-harvest-celebration-2026

Instagram: @fibreshed_ireland @ancreagan @mallonlinen @playthinkbrink


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: Craggaunowen Culture, Craft & Textile Fair – Co Clare – This Sunday

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

The Craggaunowen Culture, Craft & Textile Fair features local and national artists and craftspeople as they demonstrate age-old skills, including spinning and weaving, blacksmithing, leatherworking, basket weaving and felting. Amongst the artisans and crafters, two of Feltmakers Ireland’s members will be sharing their work: Katarina Hruskova of Woolstore Ireland and Sandra Marschall. Guild friends, Malú Colorín and the Irish Guild of Weavers, Spinners, and Dyers, will also be there!

When: Sunday, the 12th of July, 10 AM – 5 PM

Where: Craggaunowen Castle & Crannóg, Craggaunowen, Kilmurry, Co Clare, V95 AD7E

For more information, visit their website – https://www.craggaunowen.ie/events/cultureandcraftfair/

@craggaunowen.ie @woolstoreireland @sandraotte1973


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 content-related questions, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.

Of Interest: Shearfest 2026 – Irish Wool Fashion Show – Co Galway

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Promotional poster for Shearfest 2026, featuring events such as the Provincial Sheep Shearing Championships, entertainment acts including Derek Ryan and Michael English, and activities like a jiving competition and wool expo. Located at Mountbellew Mart, Co. Galway.

SHEARFEST 2026 welcomes the Provincial Sheep Shearing Championships to Mountbellew, Co. Galway, for an unforgettable weekend of skill, excitement, and family fun.

In addition to the shearing, there will be sheepdog demonstrations, Irish dancing, a craft village, trade stands, the Queen of the Wool competition, pony rides, food trucks, alpaca walks, bouncy castles, children’s amusements, the Irish Wool Experience, a Fashion Show, an animal petting zoo, face painting, an interactive magic show, cookery demonstrations, and pedigree and rare sheep exhibits. 

Feltmakers Ireland guild member Linda Costello of @galwaylambs is helping to organise a fashion show and display of wearables made with Irish Wool. If you are interested in getting involved, contact her directly on Instagram.

When: Bank Holiday Weekend – the 30th and 31st of May, 20206

Where: Mountbellew Mart Grounds, Ballygar Road, Mountbellew, Ballinasloe, Co Galway, Ireland H53 HW98

For more information, visit their website – https://shearfest.ie/

Their Instagram @shearfestmountbellew

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: World Hat Walk – THIS Sunday in Dublin

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Poster for the World Hat Walk event in Dublin, with details including the date (10th of May), time (2 PM), and location (Stephen's Green), featuring a bowler hat graphic.
Map illustrating the World Hat Walk event on 10 May 2026, featuring 100 cities across over 30 countries, marked with red icons.

On Sunday, the 10th of May, Dublin will once again tip its hat to one of the most charming international gatherings of the year.

The World Hat Walk returns for its third annual celebration, and this will be Dublin’s third year joining cities around the globe in taking part. What began as an idea in London has grown into a worldwide event, with more than 100 cities across over 30 countries preparing to step out in style.

The only requirement is simple: wear a hat.

It can be hand felted, sewn, inherited, borrowed, handmade, or bought that very morning. Grand or understated, dramatic or whimsical: every hat is welcome. The spirit of the day is simply to celebrate creativity, individuality, and the quiet delight of seeing a park full of people who decided that ‘naked heads’ would not do.

This year’s Dublin Hat Walk will also include a few friendly hat competitions, kindly judged by artist and illustrator Louise Boughton.

Categories:

  • Most Fun Hat
  • Most Elegant Hat
  • Most Irish Hat
  • Largest Hat
  • Smallest Hat
  • And perhaps a few surprise categories!

When: Sunday, the 10th of May

Where: Meet at Fusiliers’ Arch, St Stephen’s Green, Dublin, D02 HX65 at 2 PM. At around 2:15, we will proceed to the centre of the park. Afterwards, if there is interest, we may gather at Peaches, located on the northeast corner of the park.

There is something wonderfully old-fashioned and unexpectedly joyful about a Hat Walk. It asks very little, but a stroll transforms an ordinary Sunday afternoon into something memorable. A hat becomes an invitation to conversation, to laughter, and to the kind of happy shared spectacle that we all could use a little bit more of in our lives.

For anyone curious about the global scale of the event, an interactive map of the participating cities can be found on the Hat Community website – https://www.hatcommunity.com/world-hat-walk-directory

The logistics of these various city walks have been gracefully organised by milliner Tatiana Ashakova of Beretkah – https://beretkah.co.uk/world-hat-walk

Some of the Instagrams associated with the event: @dublin_hat_walk_ie @worldhatwalk @hatcommunity.official @louiseboughton_


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: European Wool Experience –Less than 2 weeks away – Tralee

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Promotional poster for the European Wool Experience featuring various wool crafting activities, including handling wool, colourful yarn, and knitting.

Join us for the European Wool Experience — a free public event celebrating wool, creativity
and craftsmanship on Saturday, the 28th of March at the Meadowlands Hotel, Tralee, Co Kerry.

Feltmakers Ireland will be taking part in European Wool Experience 2026. If you’ve been hoping to pick up a copy of our book Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking, we will have copies available on the day.

Our volunteers will also be demonstrating feltmaking techniques, and visitors will have the opportunity to join a hands-on wet felting activity using Irish-raised wool from Ériu and WoolStore Ireland.

The wool used for these activities has been partially funded by the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland.

The European Wool Experience will be a unique day, where wool comes to life through hands-on demonstrations, exhibitions, research displays and interactive experiences from makers, artists, educators and innovators across Ireland and 10+ European countries.

Whether you’re discovering wool for the first time, visiting with family and friends, or already passionate about fibre crafts, this is a wonderful opportunity to see traditional skills alongside contemporary practices — and experience the incredible versatility of this natural material.

  • Meet makers
  • Watch live 35+ demonstrations
  • Explore exhibitions and displays
  • Try wool crafts like felting, weaving, spinning and much more in a welcoming, relaxed environment

Drop in anytime — admission is completely free, and everyone is welcome!

WHEN: Saturday, 28 March 2026 | 10 AM – 5 PM

WHERE: Meadowlands Hotel, Tralee, Co. Kerry, V92 DC83

Short Video

For more information: https://irishgrownwoolcouncil.com/free-fringe-ewd26-event-interactive-wool-demonstrations/ and https://ewe.network/ewd2026/

Groups of 10+ can book in advance via ewd@ewe.network (subject: Group Visit)

Note: The European Wool Day 2026 Conference, which runs parallel to this event, is a ticketed
event. Currently, the conference capacity has been reached, but one can apply to be on a ticket waiting list here – https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/european-wool-day-2026-conference-ireland-tickets-1977521531133?aff=oddtdtcreator


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 content-related questions, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.