Wonderwool returns

Fascinating for fibre fans, fabulous for feltmakers, captivating for craft lovers, marvellous for makers, the annual wool and natural fibre extravaganza that is Wonderwool Wales returns for its tenth anniversary year in April.   

Join fibre fans from all across the UK, and even some from abroad, at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells over the weekend of April 25 and 26. Enjoy special exhibitions, daily demonstrations and have-a-go sessions on many of the exhibitor stands, which all add to the popular programme of Woolschools put together by the organisers, the regular demonstrations by members of the Welsh Guilds of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers, the hands-on activities in the interactive area and a series of felting demonstrations by The International Feltmakers Association.

Organiser Chrissie Menzies said: “With the growing interest in wool, natural fibres and the associated creative crafts, we expect our lively, vibrant show to attract more visitors than ever. Wonderwool Wales also continues to pull in a wide range of stallholders and many of our exhibitors return year after year, converging on the showground from across the UK, and even from abroad. This year we look forward to welcoming Pikku  from Finland with hand dyed batts of fleece from their own flock of Finnsheep.”  

Thanks to the wealth of quality exhibitors drawn the show, craftspeople and makers can shop ‘til they drop at stalls selling fleeces, yarns, spinning and weaving equipment, knitting and crochet products, buttons, buckles and shawl pins, patterns and more. Shoppers will also be able to buy from stalls selling beautiful ready-made hand crafted items, recycled and up-cycled clothing, tempting textile art, needle felt animals, felted stoles, bags and jewellery, rag rugs, designer knitwear and vintage textiles and treasures. Livestock exhibitors will also be there with some of their alpacas and sheep.   

The popular programme of pre-bookable Woolschools, always a highlight of the show, will include drop spindle spinning, free form knitting, making needle felted animals with Jenny Barnett, learning the traditional technique to make Dorset Buttons and creating 3D felt flowers with Mandy Nash.  

With two halls at the undercover show already bursting at the seams with activities and creativity, last year organisers opened up a third hall to fit everything in! Located in Hall 3 will be some of 2015’s “big” attractions, including Alison Murray who brought her Giant Textile

Books to last year’s show and will be visiting the show this year too, with her giant knitted Gingerbread House. The ever-popular Sheepwalk, a woolly take on the catwalk, will be back again, this year also located in Hall 3. The quirky fashion show gives exhibitors the chance to show off their creations and, if previous years are a guide, it is guaranteed to be very entertaining.

Back in Hall 2, another massive visitor draw is The Cardigan for Cardigan, a giant, five-metre wide garment knitted by 300 townsfolk and visitors to celebrate the town’s 900th birthday.

Wonderwool Wales takes place on April 25 and 26 2015 at the Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells, Powys LD2 3SY. Opening hours:  Saturday 10am – 5.30pm & Sunday 10am – 4.30pm.  Tickets cost £9.00 for adults, children under 16 free. On-line booking is available, postage costs apply.

For more details visit www.wonderwoolwales.co.uk; email enquiries@wonderwoolwales.co.uk or phone 01938 820495 / 07980 913972 / 01873 821205.