St. Marys Museum to host inaugural Sheep to Shawl event

On Saturday, June 10, the St. Marys Museum, in collaboration with wheelwright Reed Needles, is presenting Sheep to Shawl, an event designed to showcase traditional skills and provide entertainment for all.

Under a tent in the southeast corner of Cadzow Park, teams from area weaving and knitting guilds will demonstrate the process of transforming raw wool into a wearable garment. The steps include carding and spinning to produce skeins of yarn that can be woven or knit. At some similar events, this process is timed but for this first-for-St. Marys event, the emphasis will be on showing how the process works and allowing spectators to try hands-on activities, including using a spinning wheel.  Three teams have officially entered as participants: London District Weavers and Spinners, Huron Tract Weavers and Spinners and St. Marys Sit-N-Knitters.

June 10 is also the official 2017 World Wide Knit in Public Day. The St. Marys event is registered as an official KIP; visit www.wwkipday.com for more information. Anyone with a knitting project underway is invited to come to Cadzow Park and take part in this internationally-celebrated day.

Another highlight will be sheep shearing demonstrations that will take place in a nearby penned area. A professional shearer will show how this skill is performed. Vendors have been invited to set up booths to sell knit goods and crafts so that visitors can take home souvenirs.

The activities, rain or shine, are scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. and will run until mid-afternoon. Admission is by donation, with proceeds supporting the activities of the St. Marys Museum. For more information, call the Museum at 519-284-3556 or email museum@town.stmarys.on.ca.

- 30 -

Contact

Brett O’Reilly | Corporate Communications & Events Manager
519-284-2340, ext. 432 | boreilly@town.stmarys.on.ca