Are you ready to explore animal fibre (sheep, llama, alpaca, goat, or rabbit) in the Vancouver Island Fibreshed? We are launching a program focused on specific breeds that are farmed in our local communities and which are listed within the Fibreshed’s Producer’s Directory (https://vancouverislandfibreshed.ca/producers-directory/ ). This project draws inspiration from a similar initiative from the US.
How does it work?
The fibreshed has printed passports containing pages for each of the different local breeds. Farmers (or fibre providers) will be issued stickers used to document purchases of a minimum of 100 grams of fibre from purebred animals. These animals do not need to be registered pure bred but must be considered pure bred by the farmer. Consumers who acquire fibre will get signed stickers from the farmer/fibre provider to stick to the corresponding passport page of the selected breed to certify their purchase.
The goal for the participants is to learn what is available within our fibreshed and to try different breed fibres. Initial purchase is intended to be raw or processed fibre (such as scoured, carded or combed, spun, yarn, etc) followed by the participant processing it at least one step further.
Example steps include, but are not limited to:
- Turning raw wool into scoured wool.
- Turning combed wool into yarn.
- Turning yarn into a wearable product.
- Combing or carding raw or scoured wool
- For example, you could scour wool that was acquired raw, or combed/carded to spun, etc.
Will there be a cost?
$20. This covers all costs of the printed passport, postage, and project production.
How do I join the passport program?
Sign up through THIS FORM, submit your fee via e-transfer or cheque, and we’ll send you a passport in the mail! Passports will also be available at various in-person fibre events around the Islands in spring/summer 2026. You can also find passports at our VIFibreshed retail partners. As of May 2026, passports will be available (cash sales only, exact change required) at The Beehive Wool Shop and Knotty By Nature in Victoria and at Tin Can Pottery Shop in Campbell River.
How do I share my work?
Email photos to info@vancouverislandfibreshed.ca to have them shared in our quarterly newsletter. Other options include the #vanislefibre #islandsfibre #islandsfibrepassport and #vanislefibreshedShare hashtags on Instagram, as well as the Vancouver Island Fibreshed Community group on Facebook.
Other Frequently Asked Questions:
Unlisted breed? I’ve found a breed that’s not in the booklet. What can I do?
Is the farmer/producer part of the passport program? They can provide a sticker and hand-write in the breed name. You can print extra “additional breeds” pages below to staple into your booklet.
I’ve found a breed that I’d like to work with, but the farmer isn’t listed in the Vancouver Island Producers Directory yet and/or doesn’t have stickers. What do I do?
Direct the farmer to our project webpage where they can sign up as a producer and request stickers.
I’ve found a breed but the farmer only has raw (unwashed) whole fleeces for sale and that’s not how I’m used to working with fibre!
Each producer can choose what products to sell and many of our island farmers do not process their wool/fibre and sell only as whole fleeces. You could get together with friends in the passport program and purchase a whole fleece to split between the group (ask the farmer for enough stickers for your group). Then you could send your fleece to a custom processing mill for processing into roving or yarn (watch this space for suggestions). You could also seek out an Island fibre broker (Jill’s Fibres, Copperspoon, New Wave Fibre, etc) – the brokers may have purchased fleeces to split or to process.
Downloadables:
Breed study sheets, extra booklet pages
These two documents are intended as supplements to the program. The Additional Breeds pages can be printed and added to one’s passport in the event that you find local breeds that are not mentioned within the passport itself. Feel free to download these sheets and add as many as you like to your passport. The Breed Study Sheets can be used as a template for your projects.