Vancouver Island Fibreshed

The True Cost of Wool - Book Talk - Courtenay
2025-10-02 17:30 - 18:30 (America/Vancouver) | Courtenay Library, 300 6th St, Courtenay, BC, V9N 9V9, Canada
Explore the hidden environmental, social, and economic story of wool with author Anna Hunter, whose book The True Cost of Wool traces fibre from flock to finished garment. Learn how sheep, soil, fashion, and local economies interconnect—and what more sustainable fibre systems could look like on Vancouver Island and beyond.
Free. Drop-in. Books available for purchase and signing.

Thursday, October 2, 2025
Time: 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Library Branch: Courtenay

Courtenay Library event link

Workshop: Breed Specific Yarn for your Fibre Arts Practice
2025-10-02 14:00 - 16:00 | BC
Workshop: Breed Specific Yarn for your Fibre Arts Practice
with Anna Hunter
Each breed of sheep produces a distinct type of wool for knitting and crochet. Understanding the qualities and characteristics of these breeds will inform and accentuate your knitting. Texture, colourwork, cables and drape are all affected by the unique wool breeds.
This workshop will give a brief overview of some accessible single-breed wools and the variety they can offer to your knitting. We will also briefly explore the history and tradition of these single-breed wools.
Thursday Oct 2 from 2 – 4pm
Black Creek Community Centre, 2001 Black Creek Rd, Black Creek, BC
Registration will be via this Sign Up Form. Please do not pay until you have received a response from Fibreshed that there is still space in the workshop. Payment will be via cash at the door or e-transfer by October 1st.
Cost:
$20 for 2025 members of the Vancouver Island Fibreshed
$25 for non-members

Mushroom Dye Class with Amy Crook
2025-09-26 - 2025-09-27 | BC
Join Amy Crook (co-founder of the Vancouver Island Fibreshed) for a Mushroom Dyeing Workshop on Saturday Sept 27th from 2 – 5pm. You’ll learn the secrets of mystical & mycological pigments and dye your own wool to take home.

This workshop is part of a weekend-long festival celebrating the wonders of mushrooms and fungus.

Friday Sep 26th (4-8pm) you can attend the Fall Fungus Feast @ West Park, West Side of Bamfield for Seminars, Potluck, Live Music & Demonstration by artist Amy Crook on mushroom dyed wool processing and spinning. The craft fair will also be your opportunity to support local artists and buy exclusive 2025 Bamfield Fungus Festival merch.

More information at: https://bamfieldfungusfestival.com/

Comox Valley Community Fibre Crafts - Thu Sep 11
2025-09-11 18:00 - 19:30 | Courtenay Library, 300 6th St, Courtenay, BC, V9N 9V9, Canada
Comox Valley Community Fibre Crafts

Drop-In on 2nd Thursdays (Sep 11, Oct 9, Nov 13 … ) from 6 – 7:30pm at the Courtenay Library Multipurpose Room.

Bring your fibre crafts (knitting, crochet, spinning, etc.) and spend time with community members at the CV Community Fibre Crafts evenings at the Courtenay Library. Drop in, no registration needed.

Do you want to learn how to spin sheep’s wool into yarn? We’ll have spindles and fleece you can try working with! Some supplies and mentorship available.

VIF Monthly Meeting - Sept 8
2025-09-08 19:00 - 20:30 | BC
VIF Monthly Meeting, 2nd Monday of every month, 7 – 8:30pm.
Held via Zoom to allow participation from all across our region.
Email info@vancouverislandfibreshed.ca for Zoom link.

Fibreshed at the Saanich Fair 2025
2025-08-30 - 2025-09-01 | BC
Visit the Vancouver Island Fibreshed booth at the Saanich Fair! Find us in the tent with the Saanich 4H Lamb Club near the sheep barns. We’ll have the results of our Vancouver Island Rug Challenge on display!
Sat 9am – 6pm
Sun 9am – 6pm
Mon 9am – 4pm

Fibrations 2025
2025-08-17 10:00 - 16:00 | BC
Fibrations is a free, community-focused celebration of the rich and diverse world of fibre arts — taking place Sunday, August 17, 2025 at William Stevenson Park and the Fernwood Community Centre in beautiful Victoria, BC.
Sunday Aug 17th, 10am – 4pm
​Rooted in values of inclusivity, sustainability, and connection, Fibrations brings together farmers, hand-dyers, weavers, knitters, felters, toolmakers, and educators from across the fibre arts spectrum. Whether you’re a seasoned fibre artist or simply fibre-curious, you’ll find something to inspire you here.
Fibrations Main Page – link to vendors, maps, and more!
1240 Gladstone Ave, Victoria BC
​

Fleece prep for fibre crafts - Galiano
2025-06-16 13:00 - 16:00 | BC
Fleece prep for fibre crafts
Monday June 16th 1-4pm @ the North Galiano Island Hall
Using locally grown fleeces from the Haywood Farm flock we will go though the process of skirting (aka sorting) a fleece into different grades of fibre then clean it in preparation for future crafting, whatever that may be.
These sheep are a cross between Finn / Dorset / Suffolk / Navajo Churro. Raised predominantly for meat this flock is typical of most sheep in the SGI’s, which are larger animals with coarser wool. Traditionally this type of wool would be converted into yarn for carpets and outerwear such as Harris Tweed.
Unfortunately due to the lack of local woollen mills it is cost prohibitive to ship these kinds of fleeces so are often treated as a waste product. However there are lots of things you can do with a single fleece of this quality and we will explore many of them. There will be additional fleeces for sale to take home.
On the weekend of July 12th and 13th we will have another fleece pop up sale and demos using wool from “hand spinners” flocks, as well as a day-long natural dye workshop. The sheep are bred primarily for fibre and typically have a softer, finer staple, better for spinning yarn for apparel or fine felting. There will be Icelandic, Finn, Gotland X, Shetland and Alpaca fleeces available.
The event is part of a series exploring slow textiles at the North Galiano Hall, funding thanks to Galiano Parks and Recreation.
For more details please email Kate at waitingfortheferry@gmail.com

100 Mile Fleece and Fibre Fair 25 May 2025
2025-05-25 09:30 - 15:00 | BC
100 Mile Fleece and Fibre Fair
Join us for the ultimate celebration of all things fleece and fibre at the 100 Mile Fleece and Fibre Fair – a celebration of all things fibre!
Whether you’re a seasoned spinner, curious beginner, or simply appreciate handcrafted beauty, this vibrant market has something for you. Explore a rich array of wool, yarn, felting supplies, hand-dyed fibres, and textile art from talented local makers.

Entry by Donation – All proceeds support charitable programming at the Bradley Centre
Coffee, Tea & Baked Goods available for purchase on site
Free Parking
A perfect day out for makers, crafters, and curious creatives alike!
SUNDAY, MAY 25 TH, 2025
9:30AM UNTIL 3:00PM
975 SHEARME ROAD, COOMBS
ENTRY BY DONATION

Alberni Valley Sheep to Shawl
2025-05-10 10:00 - 15:00 | Arrowvale Farm Port Alberni, 5955 Hector Rd, Port Alberni, BC, Canada
Sheep-to-Shawl
May 10, 10am – 3pm
Arrowvale Farm, 5955 Hector Rd, Port Alberni
Where does wool come from? Join the Alberni Valley Fibre Guild and Arrowvale Farm for a fun and educational day of demonstrations and hand-on learning in which we will follow wool from a sheep’s back, through shearing, cleaning, carding, spinning, weaving and knitting into a wearable item! Drop by for a visit or stay for the whole day.
FREE AND FAMILY FRIENDLY!
MORE INFO www.albernivalleyfibre.ca
albernivalleyfibre@proton.me

Comox Valley Community Fibre Crafts - Thurs May 8
2025-05-08 18:00 - 19:30 | BC
Comox Valley Community Fibre Crafts

Drop-In on 2nd Thursdays (Jan 9, Feb 13, Mar 13, Apr 10, May 8… ) from 6 – 7:30pm at the Courtenay Library Multipurpose Room.

Bring your fibre crafts (knitting, crochet, spinning, etc.) and spend time with community members at the CV Community Fibre Crafts evenings at the Courtenay Library. Drop in, no registration needed.

Do you want to learn how to spin sheep’s wool into yarn? We’ll have spindles and fleece you can try working with! Some supplies and mentorship available.

VIF Monthly Meeting - April 14
2025-04-14 19:00 - 20:30 | BC

Comox Valley Community Fibre Crafts - April 10
2025-04-10 18:00 - 19:30 | BC
Comox Valley Community Fibre Crafts

Drop-In on 2nd Thursdays (Jan 9, Feb 13, Mar 13, Apr 10… ) from 6 – 7:30pm at the Courtenay Library Multipurpose Room.

Bring your fibre crafts (knitting, crochet, spinning, etc.) and spend time with community members at the CV Community Fibre Crafts evenings at the Courtenay Library. Drop in, no registration needed.

Do you want to learn how to spin sheep’s wool into yarn? We’ll have spindles and fleece you can try working with! Some supplies and mentorship available.

Comox Valley Community Fibre Crafts - March 13
2025-03-13 18:00 - 19:30 | BC

VIF Monthly Meeting - March 10
2025-03-10 19:00 - 20:30 | BC

Victoria Spin In - Feb 22
2025-02-22 10:00 - 15:00 | BC
Spin-In 2025 – Saturday, 22 February
Spin-In/Out

February 22, 10 am to 3 pm
First Unitarian Church of Victoria, 5575 W Saanich Rd, Victoria, BC V9E 2G1
Since space is limited, please register in advance using this form. The cost is $20 PAYABLE AT THE DOOR. Please bring exact change.
Bring your lunch and a mug. Tea and coffee will be available. The Red Barn Market is across the road if you wish to buy a lunch. There will be door prizes, Show and Tell, and Equipment and Fibre Destash.
Show and Tell Table
Bring along your latest work to share with other spinners. We will ask you to fill in a short form giving your name and describing your work.
Equipment and Fibre Destash
If you have spinning or weaving equipment or fibre that needs a new home, bring it along. You will be responsible for selling your own stuff so please label it with your name, email, and price. If your equipment or fibre doesn’t sell, you will have to take it home.

Nettle Love Fest - Gabriola - Feb 15
2025-02-15 10:00 - 16:00 | BC
Spend a day immersed in all things Nettle with EartHand Gleaner’s Sharon Kallis!
A rare opportunity to have a ‘delightful tactile experience’ with nettle, meet and talk with fellow bast fibre folx, and leave with new skills and knowledge to continue your nettle and bast fibre journey.
The day will move swiftly, with hands-on time for processing retted stalks and combing, grading and spinning or cordage making and discussions on all the steps from harvesting, retting methods, and yarn characteristics. This day is primarily intended for those with spinning experience, but those interested in soft basketry materials are also encouraged to join.
Bring an apron, old towel, drop spindle and hand carders (if possible), and a potluck lunch offering.
Workshop is limited to 10 participants and costs $120.
Workshop costs $120.

Instructor Bio:
As the founding lead artist of EartHand Gleaners Society, Sharon Kallis, along with the EartHand community, create spaces for shared experiences to relearn reciprocity and empathy with plants and animals.
She says: I plan seasonal activities guided by plants and share my ongoing discoveries through workshops, conversations, and collaborative inquiries. I am honoured to call the unceded ancestral territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations my home. The urban parks straddling Skwácháy̓s—now known as Means of Production Garden and Trillium North Park—are my collaborators in building relationships as I steward these stolen lands.
Her book, Common Threads: weaving community through collaborative eco-art, was published by New Society Publishers in 2014 and is used in many post secondary programs as a model for creative engagement in shared green spaces.
Website: https://sharonkallis.wordpress.com

Comox Valley Community Fibre Crafts – Feb 13
2025-02-13 18:00 - 19:30 | Courtenay Library, 300 6th St, Courtenay, BC, V9N 9V9, Canada
Drop-In on 2nd Thursdays (Jan 9, Feb 13, Mar 13… ) from 6 – 7:30pm at the Courtenay Library Multipurpose Room.

Bring your fibre crafts (knitting, crochet, spinning, etc.) and spend time with community members at the CV Community Fibre Crafts evenings at the Courtenay Library. Drop in, no registration needed.

Do you want to learn how to spin sheep’s wool into yarn? We’ll have spindles and fleece you can try working with! Some supplies and mentorship available.

VIF Monthly Meeting – Feb 2025
2025-02-10 19:00 - 20:30 | BC

VIF Monthly Meeting – Jan 2025
2025-01-13 19:00 - 20:30 | BC

Comox Valley Community Fibre Crafts – Jan 9
2025-01-09 18:00 - 19:30 | BC
Drop-In on 2nd Thursdays (Mar 14, Apr 11, May 9, Jun 13, Jul 11, Aug 8, Sep 12, Oct 10, Nov 14, Dec 12, Jan 9, Feb 13 ) from 6 – 7:30pm at the Courtenay Library Multipurpose Room.

Bring your fibre crafts (knitting, crochet, spinning, etc.) and spend time with community members at the CV Community Fibre Crafts evenings at the Courtenay Library. Drop in, no registration needed.

Do you want to learn how to spin sheep’s wool into yarn? We’ll have spindles and fleece you can try working with! Some supplies and mentorship available.

Comox Valley Community Fibre Crafts - Dec 12
2024-12-12 18:00 - 19:30 | BC
Drop-In on 2nd Thursdays (Mar 14, Apr 11, May 9, Jun 13, Jul 11, Aug 8, Sep 12, Oct 10, Nov 14, Dec 12, Jan 13 ) from 6 – 7:30pm at the Courtenay Library Multipurpose Room.

Bring your fibre crafts (knitting, crochet, spinning, etc.) and spend time with community members at the CV Community Fibre Crafts evenings at the Courtenay Library. Drop in, no registration needed.

Do you want to learn how to spin sheep’s wool into yarn? We’ll have spindles and fleece you can try working with! Some supplies and mentorship available.

Supplies sponsored by the Comox Valley Community Foundation and the Neighbourhood Small Grants Program.

VIF Monthly Meeting - Dec 2024
2024-12-09 19:00 - 20:30 | BC

Comox Valley Community Fibre Crafts - Nov 14
2024-11-14 18:00 - 19:30 | BC

VIF Monthly Meeting - Nov 11
2024-11-11 19:00 - 20:30 | BC

VIF Monthly Meeting - Oct 21 at 7pm
2024-10-21 19:00 - 20:30 | BC
Note: for October, we will meet on the 3rd Monday – Oct 21.
VIF Monthly Meeting, 2nd Monday of every month, 7 – 8:30pm. Held via Zoom to allow participation from all across our region.
Email info@vancouverislandfibreshed.ca for Zoom link.

Cowichan Fleece and Fibre Fair
2024-10-19 10:00 - 16:00 | BC
Vancouver Island Fibreshed will have an information table at the event.
Cowichan Valley Fleece & Fibre Fair 2024
Join us for a glorious gathering of all things fibre: hand-dyed yarn, hand-spun yarn, rovings, woven goods, fleece, knitted fashion, felting & oodles of fibre-lover’s paraphernalia. Fun shopping, tasty lunch and plenty of camaraderie.
A feast for the senses!

Appreciation, learning and camaraderie…
The Cowichan Fleece & Fibre Fair is the oldest fair on Vancouver Island. Each year, hundreds of people attend to purchase everything from buttons and accessories, to clothing, yarn and fibre.
This year’s exciting lineup includes over 30 vendors – many familiar friends as well as new community. Come see what they are all about!

Comox Valley Community Fibre Crafts - Oct 10
2024-10-10 18:00 - 19:30 | BC
Drop-In on 2nd Thursdays (Mar 14, Apr 11, May 9, Jun 13, Jul 11, Aug 8, Sep 12, Oct 10, Nov 14 ) from 6 – 7:30pm at the Courtenay Library Multipurpose Room.

Bring your fibre crafts (knitting, crochet, spinning, etc.) and spend time with community members at the CV Community Fibre Crafts evenings at the Courtenay Library. Drop in, no registration needed.

Do you want to learn how to spin sheep’s wool into yarn? We’ll have spindles and fleece you can try working with! Some supplies and mentorship available.

Supplies sponsored by the Comox Valley Community Foundation and the Neighbourhood Small Grants Program

Comox Valley Community Fibre Crafts - Sep 12
2024-09-12 18:00 - 19:30 | BC

VIF Monthly Meeting - Sept 9
2024-09-09 18:00 - 19:30 | BC
