Highland Folk Museum’s annual celebration of woollen crafts is taking place on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd July.
The event showcases the work of local craft groups and organisations from across the Highlands. Visitors will be able to get hands-on, and try out a variety of different crafts, such as spinning, crochet, knitting, and weaving on a variety of small looms.
The Museum’s outstanding collection of woollen and textile items includes some contributed to the V&A Dundee’s Tartan exhibition. Other textile craft items not normally on public display will be on show in the Church.
Helen Pickles, High Life Highland’s Curator at the Highland Folk Museum, shared: “We’re absolutely delighted to be hosting our fourth ‘Woolly Weekend’. The event is a fun day out for visitors and crafters alike, with plenty to see and do across the whole site.
“The full wool celebration stretches across Highland Folk Museum’s one-mile site, from sheep shearing down at Aultlarie Croft to the traditional textile crafts up at the Township.
“In addition to the returning demonstrators and groups such as Speyside Spinners, Bunloit Woolery, and the award-winning Badenoch Waulking Group, we’re delighted to welcome along for the first time the ‘Highland Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers’ who will be sharing their skills and crafts with visitors on Saturday 1st July.
“Visitors can also drop into the church to see some historic items from our collection such as dye samples, carding combs, and finished tartans and tweeds. We encourage visitors to contribute to our community bunting intended for display at future ‘Woolly Weekend’ events; come along and knit or crochet a triangle to add to the bunting.”
In addition to crafts and demonstrations across the open-air museum, a trophy recently donated by sheep farmer Campbell Slimon on behalf of the Laggan Heritage group will on display, awarded to the winner of the ‘Laggan Local Sheep Dog Trials’.
Helen continued: “Campbell will be around to talk to visitors during the weekend about shepherding life and the sheep dog trials. He’ll be based in the Shepherd’s Bothy, which was originally used to shelter shepherds in bad weather – but we hope the sun will shine for ‘Woolly Weekend’ this year!”
The event is supported by local groups such as the Speyside Spinners, Not the Rural Institute, and Newtonmore-based textile workshop Learn & Create.
Steve Walsh, High Life Highland’s CEO, concluded: “High Life Highland is proud to be collaborating with crafting groups from across the Highlands, in a community effort to celebrate and share a prevalent part of Scottish culture, one that remains at the heart of Highland living today.
“Following the recent success of ‘Outlander Day’ on June 10th, I have no doubt that Highland Folk Museum’s ‘Woolly Weekend’ will be one to remember. I hope every visitor comes away having learned something new and had fun with it along the mile-long way.”
Highland Folk Museum is managed and maintained by High Life Highland, and uniquely, is Britain’s first mainland open-air museum. There are over 35 historical buildings onsite to explore and discover how people in the Highlands lived as far back as 1700s.
There is no charge for the ‘Woolly Weekend’ or the museum, but donations play a vital part in helping to improve the experience of the area and the Highland Folk Museum is grateful for any contributions towards this.
Donations are accepted in person at the museum by cash or card, and there is also an online donations portal available for use at any time by using the following link: https://high-life-highland.myshopify.com/collections/donate/products/hfm-donations
The event will run between 11am-4pm each day, with certain activities running on a set schedule, such as sheep shearing and waulking. More information and timings will be available at the event and on social media, and museum staff and volunteers will be on hand throughout the weekend.
