Midlands Fibre Festival Exhibitors
Republic of Yarnia (ROY) is a family-run indie-yarn dyeing business with Mary as the dyer extraordinaire and Chad serving as the 'jack-of-all trades' and first cheerleader. Mary fuses art and history to create yarn colorways that bring hidden figures to light while also using manuscript images of historical scenes as inspiration. Each colorway tells its own story. The inspiration for most colorways is the clothing that adorns figures, recreating these figures' stories and highlighting lost narratives.
All of Mary & Chad's yarns are carefully and ethically sourced, of the highest standards and quality, and fairly priced, so that crafters have the opportunity to work with luxury yarns without breaking their bank accounts. Republic of Yarnia is also an inclusive small business that supports and promotes marginalized communities, whether they be from various racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, the LGBTQ+ community, and the disability community. ROY supports a number of charities throughout the year, holds raffles for people in need, and creates colorways to raise awareness for oppressed peoples.
Republic of Yarnia is as much about community building as it is about making yarn, and fiber arts provides a way to help connect us all over the world and throughout time.
Fibreshed Ireland is a community-supported movement building networks to craft a regenerative Irish textile system based on local fibre, local dyes & local labour. We primarily focus on advancing the use of our homegrown biofibres: wool and flax (linen), as well as the adoption of natural dyes. We are guided by a vision of biodiverse ecosystems and thriving livelihoods, woven by culturally vibrant Irish fibres. Our main activities include organising networking events, craft and agroecology workshops, knowledge-transfer sessions, and developing collaborative projects with aligned organisations.
Founded in 2022, we're a registered affiliate of the global Fibershed movement. Each affiliate works locally to develop regional fibre systems that help regenerate local ecologies, communities and economies.
Our work is based on four main pillars:
1. Networking — To facilitate collaborative partnerships and verified provenance.
2. Regenerative Fibre & Dye farming — Supporting farmers in transitioning to more resilient, biodiverse agricultural practices to ameliorate climate change.
3. Regional Fibre & Processing — To build equitable, local and collaborative circular bio-economies for resilient rural enterprise.
4. Education, Research & Advocacy — To shift policy, industry practice and public awareness towards reducing textile waste and appreciating our local raw materials.
Fine Leaf Fibres is an online hand-dyed yarn shop based in Cork, Ireland, specialising in small-batch yarns inspired by nature, folklore and the changing seasons. The shop offers a carefully selected range of yarn bases, from everyday favourites to luxury blends featuring fibres such as yak, cashmere, silk and alpaca. Alongside hand-dyed yarn, Fine Leaf Fibres carries knitting accessories and notions, including LYKKE knitting needles, stitch stoppers, markers and other thoughtfully chosen tools for makers.
The focus is on products that are both practical and beautiful to use. Colour is at the heart of the shop, with tonal, speckled and variegated colourways designed for garments and shawls alike. Fine Leaf Fibres is also known for seasonal releases, including festive yarn boxes and Samhain-inspired advents, created with exclusive colourways and carefully sourced extras, offering yarns and tools that feel distinctive and joyful to work with.
Woolstore is a unique, values driven wool processing business located in the heart of the west of Ireland. We process 100% Irish wool including rare native breeds with full traceability from fleece to finished product. With a deep respect for the land, the animals, and Irish craft traditions, our mission is to bring new value and visibility to Irish grown wool by offering local, sustainable, and beautiful wool products and services that support farmers, craftspeople, and the circular bioeconomy.
Already offering core processing services skirting, washing, picking, and carding. The business is now entering its growth phase. The vision is to develop Ireland’s most authentic and innovative small scale wool mill, capable of producing semi worsted spun yarn and finished wool products in house, while also collaborating with Irish artisans to create high end, locally made goods.
Ballyhoura Fibres offers British and Irish sourced fibre and yarn hand-dyed in County Limerick, Ireland. Cierra started Ballyhoura Fibres out of curiosity for the hand-dyeing process and she uses it as a way to experiment with colour. Ballyhoura Fibres brings together the perfect canvas for Cierra's love of fibre arts and the natural world as well as her travels.
The Irish Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers is a voluntary organisation with members across Ireland, welcoming everyone from beginners to professionals. Founded in 1975 by Lillias Mitchell, the Guild promotes weaving, spinning and dyeing through workshops, lectures, demonstrations and a shared equipment library where members can rent spinning wheels, looms and carding tools.
It also supports the use of Irish-grown wool and fair payment for farmers, with members sourcing fleeces locally and demonstrating spinning at agricultural shows to show the journey from fleece to finished textile. You can contact us at hello@weavespindye.ie.
Sharon Wells Art Feltmaking and wool Education. Making felted art and sculptures from Irish sourced and hand dyed wool. Art yarn maker. Teaching wet felting, needlefelting, coiled basket making, peg loom weaving wool processing and dyeing.
Bofin Weaves is a textile business on the island of Inishbofin. Each piece is transformed slowly, thoughtfully and entirely by hand. Bofin Weaves blends inherited family craft with contemporary design creating textiles inspired by the island. Bofin Weaves brings together creativity, sustainability, slow craft and community in every thread.
Feltmakers Ireland Founded in 2003 by Elizabeth Bonnar, Feltmakers Ireland is a welcoming community for anyone interested in wet and needle felting: from curious beginners to experienced artists. We host monthly Sunday Sessions in Dublin and Galway, annual exhibitions in Ireland and beyond, skill-building workshops, including our ‘Basic & Beyond’ series, and masterclasses with international tutors. With over 170 members nationwide, we aim to share skills, inspire creativity, and promote the rich potential of felting as both craft and art. Felt is a fantastic medium: It can be transformed into a painting, a sculpture, a toy, a Christmas ornament, a dress, or whatever you dream of!
As our organisation continues to grow, we are placing increasing emphasis on educating both our members and the wider public about the value and potential of locally-raised Irish wool. We are committed to fostering a deeper appreciation of Irish-grown fibre while supporting local farmers, sustainable making practices, and Ireland’s rich wool heritage. As part of this work, we researched and published 'Irish Wool for Feltmaking,' a book that explores the unique felting qualities of the fleeces of almost 40 sheep breeds living in Ireland.
The Spinning Webb is run by a textiles enthusiast who loves spending time outdoors and in nature. I hand dye Irish & British yarns inspired by my adventures across Ireland. I also hand spin local sheep and alpaca fleeces as well as hand dyed batts that can be used for spinning or felting.
Mrs B Designs I am a designer and maker of wool tweed handbags. My tweed is sourced via independent weavers and mills in Britain and Ireland. All bags are lined with craft cotton in complimentary designs and colours. In addition I create wool embroidery designs which I freehand using a different theme each year. These are added to some of my bags. Fabric offcuts from bag making are used in smaller projects such as small purses, patchwork, pin brooches etc.
Fabulous Fibres is a friendly fibre craft business that brings together a love of colour, creativity and sustainable fibre arts. Based in County Galway, the company offers a beautiful range of yarns, fibres and crafting supplies for knitting, crochet, weaving, spinning and felting. From soft wools and alpaca blends to vibrant hand-dyed fibres, Fabulous Fibres provides materials that inspire makers of all skill levels to create something unique.
Founded by Karen Bowden, the business is built around a love for creativity and community. Alongside its carefully chosen products, Fabulous Fibres also runs workshops, classes and creative events that encourage people to learn new skills and connect with fellow crafters. Sustainability is at the heart of the brand, with a strong focus on natural fibres and environmentally conscious crafting practices.
Known for its warm customer service and welcoming atmosphere, Fabulous Fibres has become a popular e-destination for fibre enthusiasts looking for inspiration, quality materials and a supportive creative community.
Sound of Spinning began in 2024 out of a simple frustration — we couldn’t find the kind of spinning fibre we wanted to buy and work with ourselves. Since then, we’ve been hand-preparing and hand-dyeing fibres in small batches, using Irish wool alongside a mix of unusual, imported, and luxury fibres chosen for their texture, softness, or simply because they work beautifully together.
Some days we are drawn to quiet natural colours and sheep breeds in their own shades, other days it’s bright colours, strange blends, and “what happens if we try this?” energy. We like fibre that feels alive in your hands and makes you want to start spinning, felting, or creating straight away.
Everything we make is created with spinners, felters, makers, and curious fibre people in mind — from soft, smooth blends to textured batts full of character. We care about good fibre, interesting colour combinations, and the pleasure of making things slowly by hand.
Too Fabulous Art & Crafts Originally from the Italian Alps, Tamara draws endless inspiration from nature through the many crafts she passionately loves. A few years ago, she left corporate life behind to follow her dream of working with her hands again, reconnecting with the traditions and creativity of her ancestors. She first discovered needle felting, then naturally moved into knitting, crochet, and spinning vibrant, colorful art yarns. Every piece she creates is completely unique & never makes the same thing twice.
Alongside creating, Tamara also loves sharing her knowledge with others. Teaching and connecting with people brings her as much joy as making itself, and her workshops are filled with creativity, laughter, and a warm sense of community. She believes handmade crafts carry stories, personality, and emotion, and she loves helping others discover the satisfaction of making something with their own hands. Whether spinning yarn, felting wool, or simply exchanging ideas over a cup of tea, Tamara brings curiosity, humor, and heart into everything she does.
Markree Wool Craft My business is based on using Irish brown wool and alpaca, buying the fleece directly from local farmers and processing it , starting with washing. Each fleece is individually processed and assessed before deciding on what I will do with it. The best quality wool is then dyed using either natural or acid dyes and often blended with alpaca/silk before spinning. Coarser wool is usually acid dyed and felted to make bags/slippers My yarns are all soft and wearable
SoulScapes I create felted textile pieces inspired by the colours and textures of landscapes across the island of Ireland. I work with sustainable local wool, my own small‑batch hand‑dyed fibres, and selected dyed wools to build layered, tactile surfaces. My practice focuses on thoughtful making, strong material provenance, and a contemporary approach to traditional woolcraft. I also develop accessible workshops that encourage people to explore wool, colour, and landscape in a hands‑on, calming way.
Wee Yarn Designs Debbie McCann is the designer/maker behind Wee Yarn Designs, establishing the business in 2013 after a career in textile design and later, fashion retail and marketing.
Debbie graduated from the Ulster University, Belfast where she studied Fashion & Textile Design, specialising in Constructed Textiles. She designs and creates hand knit accessories, with ranges for adults, children and babies.
In 2015 Debbie discovered the Dorset Button…. she soon became hooked and as well as designing a range of Dorset Button jewellery and artwork, she now facilitates workshops in this fascinating, heritage craft. She also offers a variety of button making kits. More recently Debbie has been researching the Yorkshire Button and has incorporated this design into her range.
Debbie uses a contemporary colour palette for her knitwear based on the use of yarns such as merino, silk, cashmere, and alpaca, she also uses hand-dyed yarn sourced from a local dyer based in County Down for her button designs.
Debbie’s hand-crafted accessories exhibit a clear contemporary edge while still acknowledging use of traditional hand-crafted skills.
Chasing Dreams Felt Art is a small business offering needle felting and wet felting workshops for all skill levels. Passionate about sharing traditional felting techniques, we create unique felted wearables, artworks, and fun handmade pieces while inspiring others to explore their own creativity through fibre art.
Create With Ewe Hi, my name is Sandra, and my studio is located in the west of Ireland, where the wild landscape and coastal beauty inspire my handmade woolly creations. Through texture, colour, and careful craftsmanship, I create unique pieces that celebrate warmth and creativity. I’m a fibre artist working with sheep’s and alpaca wool since 2019, creating handcrafted pieces inspired by natural fibres and traditional techniques.
Creinagh Knitwear is an independent Northern Ireland knitwear brand creating one-of-a-kind and small batch pieces in colourful merino wool. Designed and made by textile designer Creinagh Townsley, the collection combines over 28 years of experience in textiles with a love of colour, craftsmanship and slow fashion.
Each piece is created from cone to cloth in the studio, using high quality merino yarns to produce contemporary sweaters, wraps, ponchos and accessories that are designed to be expressive, comfortable and lasting. Alongside the bold colour-led knitwear, Creinagh also creates eco-printed textiles using leaves, flowers and natural processes to produce beautifully organic patterns and subtle tonal variations.
The work celebrates individuality, sustainability and the tactile beauty of natural fibres. Rather than following fast-moving trends, Creinagh Knitwear focuses on thoughtful design, carefully considered colour combinations and wearable pieces with character.
Rooted in traditional textile skills but with a modern artistic approach, the brand appeals to people who value originality, craftsmanship and clothing made slowly with intention.
The Wool Nest is an online store selling a curated collection of yarns, kits, tools and accessories for anyone who loves to knit and crochet.
Joanne Foley Felt Artist I am a Galway-based textile artist working mainly with felt and natural fibres. Using Irish and merino wool, including native Galway sheep wool, I create textured portraits and nature-inspired pieces inspired by memory, connection, belonging, and the beauty of the natural world.
Originally trained in ceramic design I’ve always loved exploring texture, colour, and surface. Felt-making allows me to blend fibres much like paint, building soft layered pieces that feel both personal and expressive. Some of my portrait works include strands of hair or fur from the subject, creating deeply meaningful keepsakes and lasting connections.
Alongside my own practice, I have worked for over twenty years as an art educator in community, recovery, prison education, and inclusive arts settings. Creativity, connection, and the restorative nature of making are at the heart of everything I do.
At the wonderful Midland Fibre Festival, I’ll be sharing original felt artworks, portraits, and nature-inspired textile pieces, along with information about commissions and my creative process.
Professional Memberships
• Feltmakers Ireland (Guild Member)
• Fibreshed Ireland
Native Yarns grew out of my passion for wool. I have been hand spinning and weaving for a number of years now but when my next door neighbour was throwing away his beautiful wool common sense told me I couldn't hand spin it all. I tracked down a mill in my native Yorkshire and the yarn adventure began. I sort the wool thoroughly, taking only the best to the mill, in collaboration with my mill man I decide on the best yarn weight for each fleece type (I work with three small farms now) and when I get the yarn home again, I dye it using only OekoTex 100 certified dyes.
My colour inspiration comes from the Antrim Hills around me, from flowers in the garden, and I even have a couple of colourways that pay homage to my Yorkshire roots. I only use native breeds and now have Hill Cheviot, Jacobs and a Jacobs x BFL in my ‘flock’. With hard work and passion, I add value to the wool and through a profit share I help three small hill farms remain viable.
Crisal grows from my exploration of traditional natural dyes and foraged colour on natural fibres.
My work is grounded in using ethically sourced, sustainable materials and in supporting the resurgence of natural dyeing. On a personal level, I see my practice as an ongoing collaboration with the land. Everything I make is shaped by care — for the materials, for the environment, and for the slow processes that bring colour to life.
The Spindle Tree is dedicated to creating beautiful wood turned pieces for artisan crafters. Using premium materials, both locally grown and reclaimed, we design spindles and fibre tools that are not only functional but also works of art, tailored to enhance your spinning experience. Whether you are a novice or a seasoned expert, we aim to meet your unique needs while fostering a deeper connection with the ancient art of spinning.
Discover the joy of transforming raw fibre into beautiful yarn with a spindle that is as unique as the yarn you create.
Olga's Own Craft Studio I have a brick and mortar shop as well as an online business in Ballincollig, Co. Cork. I sell good quality natural and sustainable wool and yarn.
We run workshops and classes. Community and inclusiveness is very important to me. Handmade and individualistic is our aim. Creativity is everything.
Liz Walsh Textiles is an Irish textile brand creating thoughtfully designed accessories for knitters, crocheters, and fibre enthusiasts. Working with beautiful Irish linen and heritage fabrics, we produce hand-printed project bags, yarn buckets, and notion pouches that combine practicality with timeless design. Each piece begins with our original artwork, which is carefully hand printed using environmentally friendly water-based inks.
We are passionate about preserving and celebrating Ireland’s long linen tradition, incorporating high-quality Irish and deadstock linen wherever possible. By using deadstock fabrics and small-batch production methods, we help reduce textile waste while giving new life to exceptional natural materials. Our designs are inspired by craft, nature, and everyday Irish life, creating accessories that are both functional and distinctive.
Made for knitters and fibre folk who value quality, sustainability, and craftsmanship, our products are designed to accompany creative projects for years to come. At the heart of our business is a commitment to supporting slow making, natural fibres, and the rich textile heritage of Ireland. We believe that well-made tools and beautiful materials enhance the making experience, bringing joy to every stitch and project.
Rough Circle Studio is a sustainable, biocircular, creative venture that unites sheep farming, textile arts, and education. Founded by designer-turned-sheep farmer Christine Jordan who has three decades of design experience behind her, it reflects a progression from product, furniture and kitchen design, through culinary entrepreneurship and new product innovation, back to designing and working with natural materials.
In 2020 she researched the interconnectivity between rural life, agriculture, craft, design and tourism. This return to design and nature, while raising rare breed sheep on her small farm, inspired a new focus on textile production. Hands-on experimentation with the flock’s wool sparked the vision for Rough Circle, turning her former cookery school cottage into a vibrant wool and textile studio.
Today, Rough Circle Studio offers immersive workshops in sheep care, wool processing, and textile arts, inviting visitors to experience the whole process from pasture to finished product. With sheep grazing just outside, it celebrates the harmony of art, agriculture, and sustainable living, highlighting the beauty and value of natural materials.
Yarn Tales Crafting Co. has been decades in the making. Five years ago, I was delighted when the stars aligned and I finally took the plunge to launch my website. Since then, I’ve thoughtfully grown the business, carefully choosing festivals and corporate markets where I can share and sell my work, while also offering a curated selection of the beautiful yarns I use in my own creations.
Every piece I create is unique and handmade by me in Celbridge, Co. Kildare. I work exclusively with the finest luxury yarns, but the story behind the yarn is just as important to me as the finished piece. I care deeply about where the fibre comes from, how it is dyed, and the welfare of the animals that produce it.
Over the years, I’ve curated a carefully chosen collection of exceptional fibres (though some might call it a yarn hoard!). Rather than using them immediately, I wait until a particular yarn inspires a design that feels right. For me, every piece tells a story—and that story always begins with the yarn.
Olannmor Fully self taught I’ve been sharing my passion for handmade fibre crafts since 2017.
Through chunky knits made with roving wool, designing knitting and weaving kits and teaching workshops I have realised weaving is my true passion. There are no rules or patterns to follow; I make what comes to me as I stand in front of my loom.
I only work with natural materials like wool, cotton, jute, silk and velvet. Combining these in a complementary colour palette makes a woven piece come to life. I love playing with different techniques, shapes and sizes; each piece is truly one of a kind.
Offering these materials and what I’ve learned in weaving kits and workshops is amazing. Seeing how other people use what you’ve put together is fascinating and something I’ll never get tired of.
The Murphy Leaf Our focus is to encourage people to be sustainable by using quality vintage fabrics and accessories that are durable and last much longer than the cheaply mass produced fabrics and accessories of nowadays.
Pop Out Priojects is a design-led craft studio based in Sligo, on Ireland's wild Atlantic coast. Founded by Maeve and Aran Pudney, we create contemporary weaving kits built around the Rocket Loom: our own patented frame loom that takes the complexity out of hand-weaving, so beautiful results come quickly and easily. Our popular weaving kits are made with premium natural materials and designed to be completed in stages, so a beautiful finished piece is always within reach, whatever time you have to give it.
Rooted in slow, screen-free making and Irish craft heritage, Pop Out Projects sits where modern design meets traditional fibre craft. Everything is designed and made in our Sligo studio, with sustainability and provenance at its heart.
We bring colour, texture and the real satisfaction of making something by hand — for seasoned makers and complete beginners alike.
Claire Heffernan Art I am an artist based in Westmeath specializing in textile art and natural dying and eco-printing.
My work used upcycled and salvaged materials to create art with natural and found materials. I utilize leaves, flowers and other plant material from my surrounding area to dye materials and to encourage people to connect with their local environment and to ruminate on where colour comes from.
I am passionate about a circular economy and aim to ground my practice in circular systems
Sandystitchedup My name is Sandra Reynolds aka @sandysosew and @sandystitchedup.
I’m a textile artist from Dublin working with many disciplines. I studied textiles and embroidery and also teach classes in needle felting and embroidery . I’m inspired by colour and love using strong vivid shades on my work. My felt work depicts bold, bright shades in both landscapes and streetscapes .
I have designed a range of embroidery kits of well known Irish scenes. They’re a fun kit ,suitable for beginners and improvers, containing everything to get started in this enjoyable craft.
ARDFINNAN is the heritage brand name of the historical Ardfinnan Woollen Mills and the name of the place where it hails from.
As a 6th-generation Mulcahy family brand it aims to raise awareness of the value of Irish wool and the distribution of Ardfinnan knitting patterns which have been restored from the family collection.
The present Mr Mulcahy had set about the revival of the brand since the age of 12 and crafts his own range of artisan handwovens and knitwear.
