Last updated at 19:53, Thursday, 28 June 2012

Thousands of people attended the two-day Woolfest celebration held near Cockermouth.

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The festival, at the Lakeland Livestock Centre, took place last Friday and Saturday.

Around 160 stalls were set up to sell wool and other items, and crowds watched demonstrations including spinning, basket weaving, needle felting and a piece of art being created by weaving together dyed wool, herbs and flowers.

Lana Norman, of Kirkhouse Farm, Setmurthy near Cockermouth, was spinning wool and had some of her Herdwick sheep on display.

She said: “It’s a chance to meet up with like-minded people. My aim today is to encourage people to use British wool.”

Emma Wigginton, 50, of Pardshaw, near Cockermouth, who was selling knitted bags and brooches, said: “There’s been a great atmosphere. It is a brilliant opportunity to meet people.”

There was a talk by John Thornley, chairman of the Campaign For Wool, and Eden Valley Arts had a display of knitted pom-pom sheep.

The event was organised by The Wool Clip, based in Caldbeck, which is a co-operative of women involved in wool and mohair farming, dyeing, knitting and weaving fabrics and garments.

There were a variety of sheep at the event, including Herdwicks, Wensleydales and a primitive breed Manx Loaghtan.

Shopper Will Wright, 76, of Keswick, said: “It’s nice to see the community so involved.”

Marion Woolcott, one of the organisers, said: “There are people from all over the world who have stalls here today and who have come to visit.

“We’re hoping to exceed our target of 5,000 visitors, which was what we had last year.”

First published at 19:24, Thursday, 28 June 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk