Shropshire Star

Crafty day out

Thousands of woollen flowers made in Shropshire are among those that will make a curtain of poppies hanging at the Wonderwool Wales weekend.

Published

The festival with a difference showcases wools and natural fibres with workshops, demonstrations, exhibits and more than 200 stalls.

It will be held at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells over the weekend of April 28 and 29.

Exhibitors include the Flock of Ages company from Montford Bridge which farms Shropshire sheep, Britain’s oldest pedigree livestock breed and sells knitting yarns and knitted items.

From field to fibre is the theme of the event will visitors able to see the sheep, goats and alpacas that provide the wool and yarn for a host of products. There will also be items make from hemp, flax and silk.

A highlight of the 2018 show is a massive Curtain of Poppies. It will be the first chance to see this installation, which combines more than 57,000 hand-made textile flowers, sent in to Wonderwool Wales by groups and individuals from far and wide.

They include about 2,500 poppies created by crafters living in the Ludlow area who worked together to create the flowers.

The special, community initiative, launched at last year’s show, commemorates the end of World War 1. After its first appearance at the show, it will become a travelling exhibition before taking up its permanent home at at the Gower Heritage Centre.

As well as local products there will be stallholders selling yarns or handmade textiles from all over the globe, from Scandinavia to Southern Chile.

Wonderwool Wales’ popular programme of Woolschools encourages others to get creative with wool and natural fibres and there’s plenty more ideas and opportunities provided by special exhibitions, daily demonstrations and have-a- go sessions on the exhibitor stands, regular demonstrations by members of the Welsh Guilds of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers and hands-on activities in the interactive area.