This year marks our second annual Urban Fleece Sale at Trillium Park (corner of Malkin and Thornton St).

A unique chance to buy both raw and clean fleece directly from the fibre farmers- Susan and John Russell of Barnston Island.

Wooly Weekend & Urban Fleece Sale 

The Barnston flock is a beautiful small flock of sheep raised especially for their fibre.

Fleeces are Gotland,  or Gotland crossed  with BFL,  Romney, CVM, Charollais, or some combination of the above. Expect to find unique fleeces to spin for  weaving, knitting or felting and dying. Many white fleeces and coloured fleeces, especially the blue tone grey fleeces for which  Gotlands are famous.

Expect two fun afternoons with other local fibre people. Bring a cup for tea, your knitting, spinning- and especially any Barnston flock items you want to show others!

Bring Cash for fleece;  prices range  approx. from $20-$ 30 a pound depending on the quality and breed for raw, unwashed wool. Full fleeces are between 4 to 7 pounds.

Saturday May 2nd 1pm-4pm

 A unique chance to purchase wool directly from the farmers in the heart of the city!

Susan and John Russell from Barnston Island will be present with bags of raw wool unwashed, and limited amounts of washed wool in smaller amounts. 

12.30 – Opening Welcome with T’uy’t’tanat Cease Wyss (Skwxwu7mesh, Sto:lo, Hawaiian, Swiss)

1-1.30pm- auction!

Select fleeces from the farm to be auctioned off by Susan as auctioneer: come to bid, come for the spectacle! Expect minimum bids on these premium fleece in the range of $25/pound

1.30- 3.30 Fleece pop up shop– a selection of washed and unwashed fleece, washed fleece in small bags of 50-100 gms. and new this year- retted Barnston nettles for sale in limited amounts!

2.30- 4pm- Spinners & Mender’s Circle and Textile Show & Swap

 Do you have yarn or unspun roving or fleece you would like to destash, while maybe taking home something that ignites some fresh excitement? Maybe you have left over spun yarn from a project and would like that yarn to find a new maker.  Bring your yarns, notions, and unspun fibre as ‘barter currency’  as well as any beloved but not needed sweaters or hand made garments or WIP’s  you would like to find a new custodian.

The Show and Swap is a free, facilitated event with limited space. Please get a ticket here to participate. Spinners, observers and side-swaps all welcome, please do not leave anything onsite you bring that has not been received by another person. Hosted by Sharon Kallis

Sunday May 3

  12.30-4.30pm

Expect free demonstrations and workshop introductions, spinning and just generally fun community-oriented, fibre-friendly good times.

12.30- Opening introductions and land acknowledgment

 1-4.30pm “Textile Free School’  

Drop in and have conversations with folks, learn new skills and be inspired. Our take on a Free School concept- Many EartHand members are excited enthusiasts in various techniques or topics, here is a chance to meet others and see what people are interested in learning and doing. Expect informal opportunities to assist at various tasks connected with clothing oneself in wool and other local fibres.

If you are curious about EartHand’s membership program, workshops and informal learning pods it’s a great chance to meet many of our community members and get a sense of where to step in and join us!

1-4.30- Weaving Drying Trays and Conversation Circles

Using ash, hazel and willow grown in the learning gardens, the EartHand team will be weaving large  trays for  use when drying washed, mordanted or dyed fleece. Join the circle to see how the trays are made and assist with stripping bark for future programs. 

EartHand is growing lots this year! After a few years of collective reflection this year shows some big growth. Expect time for collective conversations about how EartHand  as a volunteer-driven organization functions and how programs have been shaped to support growing individual member connections and both informal and structured learning opportunities.