Bobbin to Wakefield Museum!

This Saturday Wakefield Museum reveals a special new garden made entirely from wool. Using knitting and crochet techniques local knitting groups, Wakefield’s Wool ‘n’ Stuff and Flock to Ossett as well as other talented individuals have come together to produce a beautiful and colourful array of flora and fauna. The garden includes a vegetable patch, a variety of flowers and even an apple tree. 

Patterns from the museum collection have helped to create a woolly garden!

Come and see if you can spot the squirrel in the case!

Local knitting groups have been busy creating a woolly garden!

The woolly scene is inspired by Wakefield’s textile manufacturing past. A patchwork of woollen industries since medieval times from selling to spinning and dyeing has shaped the town and the city is still spinning yarns today. Garments based on patterns in Wakefield Museum’s collections will also feature.

The garden is casting off a week of woolly wonder for National Wool Week, including a whole week of special school sessions in the museum, exploring the Victorian textile mills in Ossett.

Sirdar knitting pattern from the museums' collection

Special Event!

Wednesday 16^th October 

(5 - 7.30pm) 

Textile artist, Jane Howroyd, will be demonstrating drop spinning and medieval fingerloop braiding in Wakefield Museum, with opportunities to try it out for yourself – a spin-class that won’t get you sweaty! No need to book, just drop in.  

Our curator will also be on hand to show some wool-inspired objects from the collections - including some rather amazing knitting patterns which may inspire you to get knitting (or just make you giggle!).

All of these activities were inspired by our work with the West Yorkshire Textile Heritage Project.