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A place for students, teachers, and artists to explore all things fiber!

05/23/2025
Wool waulking, is a traditional Scottish process of finishing and strengthening newly woven woolen fabric. It featured in Outlander season 1 and guess what? Some of the awesome ladies from that scene will be again at this year's Outlander Day in the Highlands! It's happening on June 10th at the Highland Folk Museum from 11 am to 4 pm. Come and give Waulking the Cloth a try, just like Claire did. But don't worry, we promise there won't be any p*e involved! Wool waulking is a significant cultural and social activity, often carried out by women in the Highlands of Scotland. The process involves a group of women coming together to work on a large piece of freshly woven wool fabric, typically a tartan or plaid. The purpose of waulking is to shrink and thicken the fabric, making it softer, warmer, and more durable. The waulking process begins by soaking the fabric in a mixture of water and urine, which contains ammonia and helps remove impurities from the wool. The wet fabric is then stretched across a long table or trestles, and the women gather around it. Using their hands, the women rhythmically beat, knead, and rub the fabric while singing traditional Gaelic songs. This collective effort not only helps shrink and tighten the fabric but also helps meld the individual threads together. The songs sung during waulking are known as waulking songs and have a distinctive rhythmic pattern that aids in synchronizing the work. As the fabric is worked, it gradually becomes denser and softer, and any excess water is squeezed out. The waulking process requires strength and endurance, as it can be physically demanding, but it is also a social occasion for women to come together, share stories, and bond. Once the fabric has been thoroughly waulked, it is rinsed, stretched, and left to dry. The end result is a beautifully finished piece of woolen cloth that is suitable for making garments, such as kilts, plaids, or other traditional Scottish attire. In "Outlander," wool waulking scenes often showcase the sense of community and cultural identity among the Highland women. It serves as a reminder of the rich Scottish heritage and the importance of preserving traditional crafts and practices. #OutlanderDay #waulking #scotland #outlanderdayinthehighlands #badenocwaulkinggroup #Outlander Inverness Outlanders Highland Folk Museum 05/18/2023

Wool waulking, is a traditional Scottish process of finishing and strengthening newly woven woolen fabric. It featured in Outlander season 1 and guess what? Some of the awesome ladies from that scene will be again at this year's Outlander Day in the Highlands! It's happening on June 10th at the Highland Folk Museum from 11 am to 4 pm. Come and give Waulking the Cloth a try, just like Claire did. But don't worry, we promise there won't be any p*e involved! Wool waulking is a significant cultural and social activity, often carried out by women in the Highlands of Scotland. The process involves a group of women coming together to work on a large piece of freshly woven wool fabric, typically a tartan or plaid. The purpose of waulking is to shrink and thicken the fabric, making it softer, warmer, and more durable. The waulking process begins by soaking the fabric in a mixture of water and urine, which contains ammonia and helps remove impurities from the wool. The wet fabric is then stretched across a long table or trestles, and the women gather around it. Using their hands, the women rhythmically beat, knead, and rub the fabric while singing traditional Gaelic songs. This collective effort not only helps shrink and tighten the fabric but also helps meld the individual threads together. The songs sung during waulking are known as waulking songs and have a distinctive rhythmic pattern that aids in synchronizing the work. As the fabric is worked, it gradually becomes denser and softer, and any excess water is squeezed out. The waulking process requires strength and endurance, as it can be physically demanding, but it is also a social occasion for women to come together, share stories, and bond. Once the fabric has been thoroughly waulked, it is rinsed, stretched, and left to dry. The end result is a beautifully finished piece of woolen cloth that is suitable for making garments, such as kilts, plaids, or other traditional Scottish attire. In "Outlander," wool waulking scenes often showcase the sense of community and cultural identity among the Highland women. It serves as a reminder of the rich Scottish heritage and the importance of preserving traditional crafts and practices. #OutlanderDay #waulking #scotland #outlanderdayinthehighlands #badenocwaulkinggroup #Outlander Inverness Outlanders Highland Folk Museum

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Of Sheep and Wool: How Modern Artisans Revived the Kyrgyz Art of Felting 11/09/2022

Of Sheep and Wool: How Modern Artisans Revived the Kyrgyz Art of Felting In Bishkek, felt artisans are utilizing ancient, nomadic techniques once almost lost under Soviet rule.

Textile artists: the pioneers of a new material world 11/06/2022

Great overview of textile artists…

Textile artists: the pioneers of a new material world These contemporary textile artists are weaving together the rich variety of fibre art in new ways

I’ve found extraordinary joy in knitting. Here’s why | Maeve Higgins 11/01/2022

https://amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/oct/31/knitting-extraordinary-joy-heres-why

I’ve found extraordinary joy in knitting. Here’s why | Maeve Higgins Knitting is a fantastic way to fight anxiety, keep one’s mind occupied and fight fast fashion

Ancient Korean silk paintings get a mind-bending contemporary spin 10/25/2022

https://www.cnn.com/style/amp/hun-kyu-kim-korean-art/index.html

Ancient Korean silk paintings get a mind-bending contemporary spin At once amusing and grotesque, Hun Kyu Kim's paintings reimagine ancient artistic techniques that he spent almost a decade mastering.

Cumbrian woman spins 1.1km of yarn on Wainwright's 214 peaks 10/23/2022

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cumbria-63344183.amp

Cumbrian woman spins 1.1km of yarn on Wainwright's 214 peaks Susan Denham-Smith used a traditional wooden wheel to spin yarn at each summit over three years.

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Explore Fiber is a collaborative community showcasing & promoting fiber as a fine art material.

Three Art educators, Lisa Mittler Bradford, Christine Miller, and Jeanette Thompson, who are also devoted artists that work with fiber, have joined forces to create an initiative to bring contemporary fiber arts lessons into art education curriculum.

Our initiative fosters a collaborative network that provides:


  • quality lessons using fibers as a fine art material

  • videos for inspiration and tutorial support

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