This project has been, and will continue to be, a Work-In-Progress! Two Vancouver Island fibre artisans – Bobbie and Karla – have combined their talents to create something special – a rug woven entirely of fibre grown or harvested from…
This year, we are hosting a local rug challenge. Our goal is to demonstrate the use of local fibre to produce quality rugs, made using any technique you like. Vancouver Island has many sheep breeds that produce strong or coarse wool, and these fibres are particularly well suited for floor coverings.
In many ways, the most sustainable textiles are the ones we already have. Join Bobbie as she begins working through The Sustainable Closet Audit guidebook from Fibershed.org, re-examining the clothing she owns, and planning for future purchases or projects to…
For one of our Fall Skill-building Challenges, we encouraged you to learn about rare breed sheep. Many sheep producers in our area raise mixed breed sheep, crossing different breeds to encourage different characteristics for meat production or temperament. Some farmers,…
Continuing on from our Summer 2024 challenges of sewing and working with raw fibre, we now have some final challenges for Fall. We’d love you to take on these challenges to learn new skills and become more comfortable sourcing your…
While I do love the natural whites, greys, and browns of undyed fibre, sometimes I like to add some colour. In this piece, Amy Crook gives us an overview of how to dye fibre with a common roadside weed –…
Continuing on from our Spring 2024 challenges of sewing and working with raw fibre, we now have some new challenges for Summer. We’d love you to take on these challenges to learn new skills and become more comfortable sourcing your…
No part of a sheep’s fleece needs to be waste. The dirty bits when it’s first sheared make great garden mulch. Then you can comb or card the best parts for spinning into yarn. And then, if you are Bobbie,…
We already have a lot of textiles on Vancouver Island, most imported from outside our region. While we don’t currently have commercial fabric production here, our closets and thrift shops are a great source of materials just waiting for creative…
Are you seeking inspiration for the VIF Winter challenge of re-purposing a textile? Read this story below by Bobbie Williams, weaver and spinner and all-round champion of wool, to see how she took cotton scraps and old clothing and made…