Wool and Fiber Show

I’m Lacy Gray with Washington Ag Today.

Every year during the Puyallup Spring Fair the Shepherds' Extravaganza showcases local and national sheep breeders, wool growers and craft vendors, and this year’s April 10th through the 13th event is not to be missed. Shepherd’s Extravaganza workshop coordinator Amy Wolf talks about the workshop lineup.

WOLF: Our workshops include classes for spinners and knitters and those interested in sheep. So we have a shearing class if you’re interested in learning how to undertake the art of shearing the sheep on a stanchion, and then we have a couple of classes that are around how to spin wool from the beginning part when you buy it raw to the finished product of actually making yarn.

Wolf says there will also be fiber demonstrations on drum carding, Navaho weaving, rug hooking and hand dying yarn, and she herself will be teaching a class on the art of making wet felt for different projects. Attendees can visit any number of craft booths that will be offering finished wool and fiber related products, take a class on sheep nutrition, or purchase used equipment or available livestock. And back again will be the always popular wool waulking demonstrations.

WOLF: That is the ancient art of blessing of the wool. In Medieval times in Scotland there was a way in which fiber was blessed after it was taken from the loom - after it was woven. And then it was blessed and the town would sing songs and then the weaving was ready to give away or be used in some venue.

Tomorrow Wolf will talk in more detail about the fascinating art of waulking wool. For a schedule of events visit shepherds-extravaganza.com.

That’s Washington Ag Today.

I’m Lacy Gray on the Ag Information Network.