2011 was a fantastic year for the "Wild about Wool" project, with many local people taking the opportunity to share their memories of life in the mills, and to pass on their domestic woollen crafts.

Feltmaking and knitting, crochet and pegloom weaving, hooker locking rugmaking, the list goes on and skills we have learnt during the “drop-in” sessions have been staggering.

So what does 2012 hold for the project ?
Here are some of the highlights ....

Wild about Wool – an exhibition of domestic wool crafts at the Colne Valley Museum, Golcar
This exhibition will showcase our Woolly Mill, created in tissue paper for the 2011 Moonraking Festival, and now given a new lease of life, covered in beautiful hand made textiles. There will also be examples from our woolly craft workshops, and a selection of precious handmade blankets, cushions and garments lent by local people, along with tales of their specialness. The grand opening of this exhibition is on Sunday 15th January 2012 at 3pm

To get us into the mood, there will be two "Yarn Graffiti" sessions held at the museum on Tuesday 10th January 6.30-8.30, and Saturday 14th January 1-4pm.

LOOKING FORWARD TO SPRING ...
We are pleased to tell you that Kirklees Museum Service will feature the full "Wild about Wool" Exhibition as the main event in the Community Room in the Tolson Museum, Huddersfield. This exhibition will profile all the reminiscence histories we have collected from local millworkers, the interpretive work we have undertaken with schools and community groups and will also incorporate the crafts work and the Woolly Mill sculpture.
Specialist in community curating, Kim Strickson, is working with us to put together an exhibition which truly reflects the wealth of information gathered, as well as the creative energy put into the project by local people over the last 12 months.
Further information about both the Colne Valley Museum exhibition and the installation at the Tolson Museum will be available early in 2012.

AND FINALLY ....
Following the success of our "drop in" sessions at the Watershed, with people of all ages, a new "Wool Club" will start after Easter, offering you the chance to continue to meet to share ideas and projects once a week, with a regular craft day workshop every couple of months. More details will follow early next year, so spread the word !!

Best wishes for 2012 from all the Wild about Wool Team !!!