From Sheep to Shawl

From Sheep to Shawl was a journey through the seasons in 2023 that explored the lifecycle of textiles by engaging with Three Rivers Fibershed (TRF) and encouraging community members to create a shawl made entirely with local fiber, local natural dyes, and local labor.

TRF considers all participants in the soil-to-soil cycle “stewards” of meaningful relationships and the health of our bioregion as we create a thriving local textile economy rooted in abundance, mutual respect, and natural materials. From Sheep to Shawl encouraged our community to gain a greater understanding of the soil-to-soil cycle and its ethical underpinnings, sheep breeds tended by TRF agricultural stewards, and dye plants from our region. By the end of the year, participants formed greater connections with the stewards, animals, and plants within their fibershed and gained a deeper understanding of local textile systems.

resources

• Create your own shawl using entirely local fiber, local natural dyes, and local labor

  • You may choose to start your journey with a fleece, roving, or yarn. Aim to source your fiber and natural dyes from Three Rivers Fibershed stewards or others within your local fibershed region. Consider using natural dyes to add vibrant color to your fiber!

    • Our Regional Fiber Sourcebook is a great resource for finding fiber available from Three Rivers Fibershed Stewards. We are currently working to get it updated with information on all of our current stewards, but is still a great resource for learning about the different fiber products available and find one (or many!) that will be perfect for your own From Sheep to Shawl project! For a complete list of current stewards and links to their websites and social media accounts check out our Steward Directory.

  • Find a pattern or make the Cat’s Paw Shawl with the free pattern available as part of this programming (see below). Your shawl may be any size and may be knitted, crocheted, woven, or felted!

  • Share your progress with us on social media. We would love to see what you’re making! Tag us on Instagram @threeriversfibershed and use the hashtag #fromsheeptoshawl and #threeriversfibershed to share your progress and see what others are working on!

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MAKERS

Six Makers from throughout the Three Rivers Fibershed region created projects in 2023 as part of From Sheep to Shawl. Click on each maker’s photo to learn more about their project and process.