Woolfest was born at a liquid lunch just after Christmas 2003, when the Wool Clip members had gathered to celebrate a good year and do some forward planning. I had dreamt for years of creating a really big show celebrating wool & spinning & dyeing & knitting & all things associated with this wonderful part of the textile world. I suggested the idea at the meeting and to my surprise (and shock), they decided to take it on. The Wool Clip, I should explain, is a group of about 15 to 18 (it varies) women who came together after foot & mouth to form a co-operative to market wool & mohair products made locally. We have a shop at Priest's Mill in Caldbeck. The members are all sheep farmers, textile artists, knitters and spinners. We work together, use our common sense and get on with what needs doing. Decisions are made by concensus, and often with much hilarity, and we share the load of minding the shop and other work as needed.

So Woolfest was born, with a vision consisting of a mixture of the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival in America and Potfest here in Cumbria. We decided that the venue had to be very big, bright, airy & agricultural - a place to relax and enjoy a day out, leisurely doing lots of learning, looking & shopping for just about anything to do with natural fibre or textile craft. After checking the legalities and taking lots of advice, we set dates for the first show, Woolfest 2005, and the planning and work began. So many decisions and discussions - going after funding to help with the first show, organizing workshops, lectures, the Spin In, the animals; finding and convincing nearly 100 enterprising stallholders to take us on trust and come along. How many loos? would there be enough parking? food? - what about insurance? security? first aid? It was a very sharp learning curve. The result of all the work and worry was a show to remember. The overwhelming verdict was 'Great! When is the next one?'

So 2006 saw another Woolfest, with improvements, additions and some streamlining. We read all the questionnaires you fill in and try our best to take on board everything we can - some things (like the weather!) are beyond our control. This year, we have a marquee to give more seating for the restaurant and, on Friday evening, a venue for the 'Hogg Roast' - a barbeque with roast local lamb - and the Spin In afterwards. Everyone goes home tired but happy. There never seem to be enough hands to do everything. No one is paid - all the work is done by Wool Clip members, their husbands, children, parents & friends; and the members of the local Eden Valley Guild of Weavers, Spinners & Dyers. If you are desperate to volunteer, we would love to have you - please talk to us at the Information Desk. We could especially use some strong, energetic help.

Thanks for coming - we hope you've enjoyed it all. Come back next year!

Carolyn Rawlinson, The Wool Clip