Fantastic Fibres at Upper Canada Village

Many different fibres and fabrics, as well as a full slate of related activities and demonstrations, will be on the program at Upper Canada Village from June 4th to 6th, 2010. The time-honoured and popular sheep shearing is back, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on all three days. Visitors will be able to test their ability at hand shearing some of the Village’s own Leicester Sheep at Loucks Farm.

The fleece will be delivered to the water-powered Woollen Mill on site, where it will undergo a series of processing steps that include washing, picking, spinning and weaving. In the mornings, the loom will be powered-up and the spinning jack in the afternoons. Visitors can also see domestic spinning back at Loucks Farm, and learn the secrets of dyeing wool using natural ingredients at McDiarmid House. Authentic wool batts and yarn from Upper Canada Village, as well as quality blankets woven at the Woollen Mill, will be for sale at the Village Store.

NEW this year is a variety of fibre-related demonstrations at the Family Activity Centre. Visitors are encouraged to check out the many different guilds and local groups who are showing off their skills during the weekend. Along with the Ottawa Lace Makers, the Ottawa Knitting Guild, the Ottawa Valley Weavers and Spinners and the Brockville and Thousand Islanders Guild of Rug hookers, people are invited to see an exhibit on the history of knitting and North Gower resident Ann McElroy’s display of felt work (art, hats, vases, etc.). Cindy Jackson who studied at the Royal School of Needlework in London, England, will delight audiences on Saturday, June 3rd at 1:00 p.m. with a talk on “Embroidery: Passion or Obsession”.

Also ahead at Upper Canada Village from June 11th to 13th is the 3rd annual Medieval Festival with full-armour jousting, camel and horse rides, unicycle jousting, belly dancers, stilt walkers, birds of prey, Vikings and a full slate of stage shows, archery demonstrations and medieval weapons of war.

Gabriele Thomas, Supervisor at Upper Canada Village commented “We hope that the enhanced activities and demonstrations will draw visitors back to Upper Canada Village this weekend to explore the many facets and uses of fibers and fabrics. Sheep shearing is always a crowd pleaser for visitors of all ages and we invite anyone who is up to the challenge to roll up their sleeves and give it a try. We are also very fortunate to welcome a number of local fiber artists who display a wealth of talent and passion for their craft.”

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