Rossi Conservation is coming back to the Woolly Good Gathering this year! The Woolly Good Gathering is a yarn festival that takes place in Edinburgh every year. In 2025, I gave a talk about protecting textile treasures, the agents of deterioration, and how to maintain the fibre objects we create.
In 2026, I am giving both a talk and a workshop! The talk is “The Science of Textile Fibres”. I will discuss the structures, properties, and production of various fibres to explain why they react the way they do, and how this can be applied to working with them. Why does wool absorb so much water, why is linen so strong, and why does alpaca stretch, but not return to form? Come find our the answer to all these questions and more, as well as how this knowledge can inform your crafting! This will take place on Friday, 17 April at 10:00-11:00.
The workshop is an “Introduction to Spindle Spinning”. This workshop will demystify the world of spinning, and teach beginners the fundamentals of how to spin yarn on a drop spindle. We’ll cover the mechanics of spinning, the myriad types of fibre, plying and finishing your yarns. Students will leave with an understanding of the basics of spinning, a skein of their own hand spun yarn, and the confidence to continue their spinning journey! This will take place on Friday, 17 April at 13:00-16:00.
I look forward to teaching crafters about the science and production of textiles, meeting fellow wool enthusiasts, and maybe picking up a few skeins of yarn! You can purchase tickets to the talk and workshop here. However, act fast! As of writing there are only four tickets left for the spinning workshop!
