Natural Fibre Weekend

Be inspired by demonstrations & workshops + browse wool, starter kits and gifts

Spinners, weavers, felters, knitters, crocheters and other fibre-focussed crafters are warmly invited to be part of the Natural Fibre Weekend at RHS Rosemoor, Saturday 18 – Sunday19 April. Anyone who’s ever wished they could be more creative will also find plenty of inspiration on how to use sustainable and natural materials practically and creatively in their lives.

Visit the airy Garden Room to discover a new skill, watch live demonstrations, meet specialist textile artists and craftspeople and then browse wool, fibres, crafting materials and equipment, starter kits, books, clothing, bedding and gifts to take home from a wide array of exhibitors.

Due to popular demand, a selection of specialist workshops has been programmed in the Learning Centre especially for the weekend, but be sure to book in advance to avoid disappointment as spaces are limited!

Floral abstracts in Mixed Media, 10:30- 1pm
Enjoy a morning creating a nature-focused mixed-media collage inspired by the garden, flora and fauna, landscapes, and changing seasons. Choose different textiles, woollen fibres, and found objects, and arrange and apply them to create an A4 or A3 abstracted textural piece or a landscape image.

Textile Collage Cards, 2pm – 4:30pm 18 April
Spend an afternoon cutting, sticking and layering different textile materials to make a selection of greetings cards. Emmeline Webb, a mixed-media artist, will demonstrate how to recreate a landscape scene or a simple floral design by arranging and building up the materials. You will be able to make up five cards with your own unique designs.

Crochet Chain of Primroses, 2:30pm – 5pm 18 April
This workshop will teach you how to use your crochet skills to create a primrose flower and turn it into a pretty garland with leaves – the tutor will work with you through the pattern stitch by stitch, including techniques for joining new yarn colours, creating leaves and how to put your garland together.

Carding and Spindle spinning, 10:30am – 1 pm 19 April
Learn to use hand carders to prepare clean fleece, and then how to spin the fibre into yarn using a drop (suspended) spindle. The techniques will be demonstrated by tutor Amanda Hannaford, who will take you through the processes step by step, supporting you as you go.

Floral Fabric Mono Printing, 10:00am – 1:15pm 19 April
Enjoy the use of monoprint and mark making to explore the many patterns and textures that flowers offer and what can be created with them. Tutor Wendy Greaves will guide you through the process of monoprinting to create floral fabrics inspired by RHS Rosemoor.

Introduction to Spinning with a Spinning Wheel, 2:30pm – 5pm 19 April
Learn how to set up a spinning wheel, how it works and how to get it running smoothly in this introductory spinning wheel session. Have a go at treadling, then at drafting fibres using a suspended spindle and finally combine the skills together as you learn to make sound yarn.

Floral Machine Embroidery, 2:30pm – 5:45pm 19 April
During this afternoon workshop you will have the opportunity to work with water soluble fabric, to make 3 dimensional embroidery using free motion embroidery techniques and an embellisher. Tutor Wendy Greaves will guide, demonstrate and support you to make either a single flower or a collection of petals to then bring together into a final form.

The Natural Fibre Weekend co-incides with our Easter Detectives – Who Framed the Easter Bunny? event so there is plenty for all the family to enjoy – there will even be woolly friends, both real and in character costume to meet in the garden!

So add this stimulating showcase of wool crafts, materials, techniques and more to your diary – save time and money on the door by booking in advance.