26/10/2025
Been back in Carcoar now for three weeks and it has taken some time to unpack the wool, patterns and memories away.
Scotland was amazing and house sitting is certainly the best way to see a places that are not in those travel books. Fettercairn had a distillery at the end of the road. East Calder had a water wheel for milling oats, Glasgow had history and new outstanding architecture, saw the Kelpies whilst driving up to Edinburgh. Oh and of course tractors, tractors on the roads travelling round doing their daily tasks was a little fun for us to see so we started a tractor count. One day we saw 18 tractors. Busy season autumn having to prepare for the harsh winter to come.
Then onto Shetland for the Shetland Wool Week 2025. Seven days of workshops, talks, tours and “teas and cake” around the various islands via a wonderful ferry service.
I attended the 25 Shades from One Colour Pot, Whittling a Shawl Pin and Turning a Heel the Shetland Way. That class I met Alison Rendall, who was the most generous tutor with her time and knowledge even though it didn’t relate to the workshop. She knits, like so many Shetlanders, without a pattern and then writes it down to sell afterwards – amazing talent.
The last day, Saturday, was the was the Shetland Makers Market. This was held in the high school in Lerwick . Exhibitors for the Shetland Markers Market are local makers who sell their unique Shetland wool creations at the market such as The Woolly Thistle, Jamieson’s, Uradale Yarns, Laxdale Yarns and Langsoond. These and many others were at the Makers Market and all can be bought on line and posted to Australia.
Well I may sound a little “boastful” but I can really say that our River Yarn Fibre Festival is up there with the best. Other that tours around the island and talks on local culture and language River Yarn has the best tutors and wool producers in Australia if not the world.
Next year’s Festival is being held on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 April in Carcoar. We’ve added a few new workshops such as “Learn to Knit”, “Lacemaking Intermediate” and “Persian Tiles”. Tickets have been selling well even though we are 5 months out.
Hop onto your computer and go to Workshops — River Yarn Fibre Festival - 11 & 12 April 2026 to look and BOOK!!!
