The city of Briswool from above.
This year Wool Week takes place from 6th to 12th October 2014. To help kick start the celebration, Contrary Life brings you a trio of quirky free wool-themed events taking place this weekend…
Briswool
When: 4th & 5th October 2014, 11am – 5pm
Where: M Shed, Bristol
£: Free
What is it?
This weekend visitors to M Shed can see the amazing knitted city of Briswool in all its woolly splendour. Guests will be invited to explore this unique city creation, spot the famous local landmarks and make their own woolly additions.
The city of Briswool, which has been organised by Paper Village Arts, has been a 12 month project. The project has taken dozens of volunteers to knit, crochet and sew all the woolly models representing Bristol, from pubs to tiny bicycles. Visitors should be able to spot knitted landmarks including the Clifton Suspension Bridge, Bristol Zoo and the M Shed cranes.
More info: www.bristolmuseums.org.uk
Wool Ride
When: 5th October 2014
Where: London
£: Free
What is it?
The Wool Ride will take place on Sunday 5th October 2014 with 300 wool-loving cyclists taking over Central London for a one-of-a-kind experience. The Wool Ride is an interactive 13.4 mile cycle event scouring the streets of London to create awareness about the incredible versatility of wool in fashion, furnishings and everyday life.
A host of wool activities are planned on route, with The Campaign for Wool’s partner retailers supporting with creative window displays and engaging in-store activities for everyone to enjoy. Starting and finishing at Potters Fields, the Wool Ride will transport those participating through the famous sites and attractions of central London. Passing through London Bridge, Buckingham Palace, Westminster, Knightsbridge, Park Lane and Regent Street. A focus on key destinations will be prominent throughout the ride, especially areas made famous for being advocate users of wool such as the iconic Jermyn Street.
Potters Fields will become a creative focal point of wool and textiles with demonstrations and talks on The Story of Wool: A Good Yarn, and Sheep Shearing: From Source to Scarf, complete with a pen of sheep to create the story. To keep everyone refreshed and energised, a marquee will be erected offering seating, food and beverages. A stage will host live music, a bicycle duo performance, speeches and prize giving.
More info: www.campaignforwool.org/events/wool-ride
Glastonbury Wool Festival
When: 4th October 2014, 10am – 5pm
Where: Glastonbury, Somerset
£: Free
What is it?
Glastonbury Wool Festival will be held in the Market Square and along adjacent pavements, with stalls and events for visitors to enjoy.
There will be sheep and alpacas, sheep shearing, knitting and spinning, and blanket making. The official Glastonbury Festival Stall will have scrumptious sheep and shepherd shortbread biscuits, as well as knitted sheep. Other stallholders will have a range of British wool and alpaca products.
Children, aged 3 years and over, can try their hand at giant French Knitting. Glastonbury Wool Festival is aiming for a Guinness Book of World Records’ length of giant French Knitting to be done in a day. Visitors can learn a new skill and take home a real French Knitting bobbin.
The festival’s traditional sheep run will begin at 10am, helping to raise funds for their kindred farm animals, racing each other to the pen in the square. Visitors will be able to buy a ticket for a donation of 50p and select their sheep’s colour. Each sheep will wear a knitted coloured collar and the winning collar wins. There will be prizes for the winners.
All the proceeds will go directly to the Somerset farmers who were badly effected by the floods this year.
More info: www.glastonburywoolfestival.co.uk