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 materials from our region.
Participants are encouraged share their experiences via social media using #VIFibreshed and #VIFChallenge and in the Vancouver Island Fibreshed Community Facebook group, or via email to info@vancouverislandfibreshed.ca – we’ll share some of your photos and stories in the next newsletter and on blogs on the VIF webpage.
For September through December 2024:
- Research Rare Breeds! While many of the sheep on Vancouver Island are kept primarily for their meat and are crossbred with many different breeds, some of our farmers are maintaining pure bred flocks of rare breed sheep. Take some time this season to learn about a rare breed sheep (like the Cotswold pictured above) and the farmers that raise them. You may find Heritage Livestock Canada and Fleece & Fibre to be helpful resources, and of course, our Producers Directory shows who raises the breed you chose!
- It’s time to put all your new skills together into a project. What about making a hot pad or trivet from local fibres to use during your holiday celebration feast? Are you a knitter or crocheter? What about a felter? Can you dye your fibres first? Do you remember Christi’s blackberry vine dish scrubbie (profiled in the December 2023 newsletter)? Does that inspire you to use foraged fibres to weave a little hot pad? Or maybe you will use quilting techniques to repurpose some thrifted fabric. We’d love to see what you come up with!
Keep an eye on our website and social media channels for more inspiration as the season progresses. Please let us know how things work out! Share your work via email (info@vancouverislandfibreshed.ca) or social media (#VIFibreshed and #VIFChallenge). Our Facebook group is open to all. Selected submissions will be posted in future blog posts.