Where there is wool there is a way at show

The Bakewell Wool Gathering event was held at Bakewell Agricultural Centre as part of British Wool Week, which is organised by the Campaign for Wool.

Carole Greaves, the event organiser, said: “The idea is to have as many people selling British wool in as many different ways from raw fleece to finished items.”

There were demonstrations of various wool–related crafts including spinning, weaving, knitting, crochet and needle felting.

Carole added: “The aim has been to let as many wool–related producers showcase themselves and their products .”

More than 900 people attended the two–day spectacular with visitors coming from as far away as Lincolnshire and Wales.

Carole continued: “One couple had travelled 250 miles just to come.”

She added that many requested that it become an annual event.

There were more than 35 exhibitors from all over the country including Somerset, Baildon, Newcastle, Halifax and Cambridge, however the majority were from the surrounding area.

The original concept of the display was to promote wool–related cottage industries in Derbyshire.

Some talented people were discovered as a result of the show, from Jack Button, who makes ceramic buttons to go on finished garments, Turned On The Cut, who make individual drop spindles, and Linda Moss, who makes items from the fleeces of her soay sheep.

Carole said the event was such a success that she has already booked the venue again for an event next year on October 18 and 19.

She said she hoped next year’s show would be bigger and better and hopefully include workshops.