Of Interest: World Hat Walk – THIS Sunday in Dublin

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_


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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.

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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

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.

Of Interest: Free Activities at European Wool Experience – Tralee

The European Wool Experience, a vibrant, free, family-friendly event, will be at the Meadowlands Hotel, Tralee, on Saturday, 28 March 2026, from 10 AM–5 PM.

Celebrating Ireland’s hosting of ‘European Wool Day 2026’, this special public event, open to all, brings together exhibitors, makers and researchers from Ireland and more than 10 European countries, to connect and create a colourful, welcoming day of creativity, culture, and discovery.

Taking place at the start of the Easter school holidays, it’s an ideal day out for families, friends, individuals or organised groups looking for something creative and different.

Visitors can explore four rooms featuring over 35 demonstrations, exhibitions and interactive experiences, with plenty of opportunities to try wool crafts firsthand, including the following: wet felting, finger knitting, crios belt weaving, spinning, weaving, wool processing and more. Meet skilled makers, discover traditional and contemporary skills, view unique heritage displays, and enjoy a relaxed, hands-on atmosphere suitable for children and adults alike.

Throughout the day, volunteers from Feltmakers Ireland will demonstrate feltmaking, and we will also lead interactive wet felting activities.

In addition to the guild, several members will be sharing their artwork and fibres. These include the following:

Members of Feltmakers Ireland, the Irish Guild for Weavers, Spinners, and Dyers, and the International Feltmakers Association – Region 14, will host a joint exhibition of artwork created with Irish-raised wool.

The guild is grateful to have received some funding from the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland. This helped us purchase Irish-raised wool from Ériu and WoolstoreIE, which members could use in their pieces.

Drop in to the European Wool Experience for an hour or stay and explore at your own pace; admission is completely free.

Where: Meadowlands Hotel, Tralee, Co Kerry, V92DC83

When: Saturday, 28 March 2026, from 10 AM–5 PM

For more information, visit the Irish Grown Wool Council’s website: https://bit.ly/euwoolexp

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


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 Workshops at the 50 Plus Show – RDS Dublin

Promotional poster for The 50 Plus Show, a lifestyle event for older people, featuring smiling adults and event details including dates, location, and activities.

There are several textile workshops on offer at the Senior Times’ 50 Plus Show, taking place in March at the RDS in Dublin. There are more 50 Plus Shows scheduled in other cities later in the year: Limerick, Sligo, Cork, and Galway.

Textile and Art Related Workshops

  • 10:30 AM – Water Marbling (Arts & Crafts Stand). Turn your work on paper into a silk scarf with Asta Jackobson (Asta will also be holding further workshops on the Asta Fashions Stand)
  • 10:30 AM – Weaving Workshop with Seamus Kirwan (Wool Experience Stand)
  • 11:30 AM – Weaving Workshop with Seamus Kirwan (Wool Experience Stand)
  • 12 PM – “Joyful Stitching” with Tamara Fiabane (Arts & Crafts Stand) A mixture of needle felting and embroidery to create a flat piece of art, which can be a sheep, a bee or something of your imagination.
  • 1 PM – Painting Workshop with Dublin Art Classes (Arts & Crafts Stand). Take home a small original painting
  • 2 PM- Wool Spinning Workshop with Seamus Kirwan (Wool Experience Stand)
  • 2:30 PM – Painting Workshop with Dublin Art Classes (Arts & Crafts Stand). Take home a small original painting

When: Thursday, the 12th – Friday, the 13th of March, 2026

Where: RDS Dublin, Merrion Rd, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4

For more information and to register, visit their website – https://seniortimes.ie/50-plus-expo/

Editor’s Note: The Registration is via a calendar app that isn’t as obvious as it could be. To find it, click on the Blue Circle Button (The Pink Arrow is for emphasis). See the images below to find where to click and what the registration form looks like.

Or you can contact the organisers by email to register: brian@slp.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 content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Of Interest: European Wool Day in Tralee, Co Kerry – the 28th of March

The Irish Grown Wool Council and Sharon Wells are excited to announce that Ireland has been selected as the host country for European Wool Day 2026!

Bringing together sheep farmers, designers, makers, researchers, crafters, educators, practitioners and those with a general interest in wool from across the island of Ireland and Europe to celebrate wool’s role in sustainability, circular economies and cultural heritage.


More information at https://lnkd.in/gYMQgRhe and https://ewe.network/ewd2026/

Register: Conference registration bookings at https://bit.ly/EWD26booking

Call for applications to present is open at www.ewe.network/ewd2026/

Co-hosts & Sponsor: Many thanks to the co-hosts, the European Wool Exchange Foundation, Circular Bioeconomy Cluster, Centre for Applied Bioscience Research (CABR), and sponsors, including FutureIslandIsland, and REVEIRE

Additional sponsorship opportunities are available.

Join in celebrating wool, connection, and collaboration at #EWD26 in Co Tralee, Ireland.

Instagram: @irish_grown_wool_council_ @sharonwellsart @ewe_foundation__ 

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.

Education:Year-Long Online Natural Dyeing Course – Natural Dyers and Growers Academy

Jennifer Lienhard of Apple Oak Fibre Works will teach a year-long online course in natural dyeing – a guided, in-depth journey into the science, craft, and history of colour.

The program consists of the following-

  • 12 learning modules released monthly via a private course platform
  • Live Zoom calls, Q&A, and portfolio building
  • Live calls are scheduled twice a day to accommodate students in different time zones. Recordings available after every session
  • Optional in-person intensives and gardening session in August
  • Deep dives into fibres, tannins, mordanting, lasting colours, indigo fermentation vats and sustainability
  • Build a professional portfolio and creative direction for your own studio
  • Course certificate upon completion of the portfolio work

The course starts on the 13th of January 2026.

Monthly topics

  • January — Fibres and their differences
  • February — Mordanting
  • March — Tannins
  • April — Creating blues
  • May — Creating yellows
  • June — Creating reds
  • July — Creating purples
  • August — Secondary colours & modifiers
  • September — Lake making and related processes
  • October — Printing and advanced techniques
  • November — Industry standards & personal project
  • December — Final projects & presentations

Irish residents: receive 40% discount via the National Organic Training Skillnet (NOTS) funding (includes materials).

For more information, visit the NOTS’ website – https://nots.courseco.co/course-detail/1-year-professional-course-in-natural-dyeing-online/?id=76

For individuals living outside of Ireland, visit the Natural Dyers Academy‘s website – https://appleoakfibreworks.com/collections/1-year-professional-natural-dyeing-programme-build-your-portfolio/products/mastering-natural-colour-professional-natural-dyeing-course-2026

There is also a monthly payment plan option – https://appleoakfibreworks.com/collections/1-year-professional-natural-dyeing-programme-build-your-portfolio/products/1-year-professional-natural-dyeing-programme-2026-monthly-plan

Their Instagram: @appleoakfibreworks @naturaldyersacademy

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.

Recap: Feltmakers Ireland at Fibreshed Ireland’s Textile Market

By committee member Loli Cox

On Saturday, the 22nd of November 2025, Feltmakers Ireland had the privilege of taking part in Fibreshed Ireland‘s first Textile Market, which was part of their annual Symposium held the day before.

Fibershed is a global movement that evolved from Rebecca Burgess and Courtney White’s 2019 book, ‘Fibreshed: Growing a Movement of Farmers, Fashion Activists, and Makers for a New Textile Economy.’ Weaver and natural dyer Burgess developed a project focused on wearing clothing made from fibre grown, woven, and sewn within her bioregion of North Central California. In Ireland, our fibreshed encompasses the whole island. The Fibershed movement champions local, regenerative fibre systems—connecting soil, plants, animals, and humans through transparent supply chains and bioregional textile practices.

At the Textile Market, volunteers from Feltmakers Ireland set up a lively demonstration station where visitors could watch both wet felting and needle felting techniques. We talked passionately about the guild’s mission to keep traditional feltmaking skills alive, to celebrate Irish wool in all its glorious variety, and to foster creativity and community through this extraordinarily versatile material.

A special highlight was the chance to promote our beautiful book, ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking’. Copies were available for sale alongside an array of handmade treasures: wet-felted vessels, pocket books and bags, bookmarks, greeting cards, whimsical wool pumpkins, and gnomes—every single piece made exclusively with Irish wool from a rainbow of native sheep breeds.

Visitors loved getting hands-on: touching fleece samples from rare and heritage breeds, feeling the different textures, and discovering how dramatically each type of wool felts. Our display of members’ artwork—landscape wall pieces, sculptures and wearable art—showed just how far this simple fibre can be pushed in skilled and imaginative hands.

A thank-you to the Fibreshed Ireland team for inviting us and for creating such a warm, inspiring event. We’re especially grateful to our own guild members, Margaret and Clodagh, who gave their time so generously and demonstrated with enthusiasm. Additionally, it was also a joy to spend the day alongside our fellow artisans who spin, naturally dye and process Irish wool with equal love and dedication. Vendors included guild members Katarina of WoolStore Ireland, who shared her beautifully processed Irish wool fibre and Juliane of FeltHappiness, who shared her sculptural hats.

Feltmakers Ireland members at the Textile Market. From left to right: Juliane, Loli, Margaret, Sam, and Katarina.

Gallery of Photos

Apologies for not having photos of Liz of the Irish Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers spinning flax or Sandra of Irish Fibre Crafters.

Events like these remind us why we do what we do: to honour the sheep, the land, the makers, and the long story woven into every handful of fleece.

Feltmakers Ireland is already looking forward to the next chance to collaborate with Fibreshed Ireland —here’s to many more days of woolly connection!

Editor’s note: If you missed our book at the Textile Market, you can order it online via our website – https://feltmakersireland.com/exploring-irish-wool-for-feltmaking/

Our book

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.

Recap: Knit + Stitch 2025

Editor’s Note: Earlier in the autumn, the Knit + Stitch organisers donated three pairs of Giveaway tickets to our followers. The recipients did not need to write a blog post, but we genuinely appreciate that longtime member Breda Fay has written one for us!

By Breda Fay

Thank you, Feltmakers Ireland, for the prize of two tickets to Knit & Stitch. I combined the visit with a two-night stay in Moira, County Down.

I was barely in the door of the Eikon Exhibition Centre when I met two of our guild members, Helene and Annika – it was lovely to share a coffee and a chat to catch up on our busy lives. Coincidentally, we had chosen the same workshop.

Breda’s Samples from her Workshops

I attended three very interesting workshops:

  • Introduction to Textured Embroidery with Ruth Hughes – https://wildfloss.co.uk/
  • The craft of making Singleton Buttons with Kat Moleswort (and hearing their interesting history)
  • Stumpwork Leaf Embroidery with Alice Cummins – https://www.bealice.ie/

It was surprising that there was so little about feltmaking. Sandra Coote from Crafts of Ireland seemed to be the only one flying the flag for felt with her lovely display of needlefelting. Feltmakers Ireland always had a stand when Knit + Stitch was at the RDS in Dublin*.

However, it was still very easy to spend money, and I came away with ribbons, threads, fabric, and some books on quilts and the gallery artists.

Quilt Displays

I found the two quilt displays very emotive- The Craftivism for Palestine Quilt project, a 32-country project to raise awareness of the death of children in Gaza, and the SEFF Memorial Quilts display commemorating death in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.

Textile Galleries

There were only three textile art galleries this year:

Each one was inspiring, and each artist was available to discuss her works and inspiration.

The Live Stage provided demos and talks throughout the days. I just needed a sit-down and was lucky enough to hear Anouk O’Connell of Ollanmor speak about Landscape Weaving.

I enjoyed my two days away, spent more money than I intended, but had the opportunity to try some new crafts.

From the editor: Thank you, Breda, for sharing your experiences at the Knit + Stitch Show in Lisburn, United Kingdom. It is wonderful to experience a taste of the show!

* Editor’s Note: Last year, when the event took place in Belfast, Feltmakers Ireland, Feltmakers North, and the International Feltmakers Association staffed a booth generously provided by Knit + Stitch. Because coordinating the staffing was a significant undertaking for our organiser, Jane Fox—who is a member of all three guilds—we decided not to take on a similar commitment for the 2025 show. But we can certainly think about participating next year.

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: Fibreshed Ireland Syposium & Textile Market – This Friday & Saturday

On Friday, the 21st of November, Fibreshed Ireland will gather at The Richmond Education and Event Centre, Smithfield, for their annual Symposium to hear from growers and practitioners who work in line with Soil-to-Soil principles of circularity, compostability, and agroecology.

Speakers

● Jennifer & Tristan Lienhard of @appleoakfibreworks
Katarina Hruskova of @woolstoreireland (Katarina is a member of Feltmakers Ireland!)
● @kathykirwan_theartofnature of the Flax 405 project
● Mary Ann Williams, editor of the book @textilesofireland
● Michelle McCabe, researcher exploring the connections between textile craft and wellbeing with ATU Sligo
● @ryankoenigstudio — 16th-century experimental textile archaeology about the knitted Ballybunion wool cap
● Sarah Babiker — Threads of Story: Woolcraft a Language & Memory between Ireland and the Arab World

Textile Market

Saturday will be an Open Day of craft demonstrations, workshops, shopping opportunities, and community building at Richmond Barracks, Inchicore, from 10 AM to 3:30 PM. Admission to the demonstrations and shopping is free, but each workshop requires a ticket.

Feltmakers Ireland will demonstrate felting with Irish-raised wool!

Local fibres and textiles from a selection of Fibreshed Ireland members will be available: Included are two Feltmakers Ireland members –

  • Juliane Gorman of FeltHappiness will vend her Cyanotype-printed, Irish wool hats
  • Katarina Hruskova of WoolStore Ireland will vend locally raised wool that she has processed.

Workshops

● Upcycling workshop with Eimear Greaney (@upsew.ie), from 10 AM to 12:00 PM
● Aran knitting with @ryankoenigstudio, from 10 AM to 12:00 PM
● Weaving Circle with Lucy Hyland (@ourselfcarerevolution), from 1 to 3 PM
● Movement session for crafters with @aideen.macken, from 3:30 – 4:10 (FREE, with optional donations to support Fibreshed Ireland’s work)

Where: Dublin (different venues each day)

Optional social dinner in @fidelitydublin on Friday, the 22nd of November (book at checkout)

Discounts for students and Fibreshed Ireland members!

For more information and to reserve tickets, visit their website – https://fibreshedireland.ie/symposium-2025/

This event is part of Irish Design Week, & partly funded by the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland. https://www.dcci.ie/whats-on/irish-design-week-2025/

Event: Fibreshed Ireland Symposium 2025

On Friday, 21st November, Fibreshed Ireland will gather at The Richmond Education and Event Centre, Smithfield, from 10 AM to 4:30 PM to hear from a diverse range of growers and practitioners who work in line with Soil-to-Soil principles of circularity, compostability, and agroecology.

They are the following:

  • Jennifer & Tristan Lienhard of @appleoakfibreworks
  • Katarina Hruskova of @woolstoreireland (Katarina is a member of Feltmakers Ireland)
  • @kathykirwan_theartofnature of the Flax 405 project
  • Mary Ann Williams, editor of @textilesofireland
  • Michelle McCabe, researcher exploring the connections between textile craft and wellbeing with ATU Sligo
  • @ryankoenigstudio — 16th-century textile archaeology
  • Sarah Babiker — Threads of Story: Woolcraft a Language & Memory between Ireland and the Arab World

On Saturday, there will be an open day of craft demonstrations, workshops, shopping opportunities, and community building at Richmond Barracks, Inchicore, from 10 AM to 3:30 PM. Admission to the demonstrations and shopping is free, but each workshop will be ticketed.

  • Upcycling workshop with Eimear Greaney (@upsew.ie), from 10 AM to 12:00 PM
  • Aran knitting with @ryankoenigstudio, from 10 AM to 12:00 PM
  • Weaving Circle with Lucy Hyland (@ourselfcarerevolution), from 1 to 3 PM
  • Movement session for crafters with @aideen.macken, from 3:30 – 4:10 (FREE, with optional donations to support Fibreshed Ireland’s work)


Dublin (different venues each day)
Optional social dinner in @fidelitydublin on Friday, the 22nd of November (book at checkout)

Discounts for students and Fibreshed Ireland members!

For more information and to reserve tickets, visit their website – https://fibreshedireland.ie/symposium-2025/

This event is part of Irish Design Week, partly funded by the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland. https://www.dcci.ie/whats-on/irish-design-week-2025/

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.