18 January 2010

Joint working for Woolfest workshops

The organisers of Woolfest 2010 (June 25 and 26), Cumbria's international celebration of nature's finest fibres, are working with the team at Higham Hall to create two Master Classes in the days before this year's event.

"We have had to re-think our workshop programme for 2010 as the Learning Centre at Mitchell's Lakeland Livestock Centre won't be available this year" said organiser, June Hall of The Wool Clip. " Higham Hall already has a fantastic reputation for its short courses and beautiful accommodation near Woolfest in Cockermouth so this partnership should offer something a bit special for our visitors.

The Master Classes will be led by Galina Khmeleva from the USA and Heather Ritchie from Swaledale.

"Galina is famous for her work on Orenbur lace shawls," said June, "and she will cover two practical aspects of this fine work over the two days: Spinning for lace knitting on Wednesday 23 and Knitting lace shawls on Thursday 24. Visitors can enrol for one or both days and there will also be an evening lecture on the Wednesday evening, which will be open to the public."

Heathe Ritchie from Swaledale is already a familiar name to Woolfest visitors and she has taught and lectured around the world on traditional techniques for making hooky and proddy rag rugs.

"Heather will cover both techniques over the two days," said June, "and this will make a fantastic introduction for a beginner or a source of new ideas and approaches for anone who has already given rag rug-making a try."

"We are really pleased to be working with June and the Woolfest team," said Higham Hall Principal, Alex Alexandre. "We have an established programme of arts and crafts courses and these two wool based Master Classes will make a fascinating addition to our Summer programme."

Booking for both courses is now open and full details on prices, accommodation and other details can be found at www.highamhall.com or by calling the Higham Hall team on 017687 76276.

Notes: The Wool Clip is a Cumbria-based cooperative of sheep farmers, spinners, dyers, knitters, feltmakers, weavers and other wool workers with a thriving shop at The Priest's Mill in Caldbeck. It was set up in 2001 to add value to local wool and to market members' skills and products and members of The Wool Clip established Woolfest in June 2005.

Further information is available at www.woolclip.com or www.woolfest.co.uk.

Further information on the workshop leaders is available online:

www.skaska.com for Galina Khmeleva and Orenburg lace

www.rugmaker.co.uk for Heather Ritchie

Further media information is available from Sally Seed at Stoneleigh Communications on 015396 24732.