Having kept a few Southdown fleeces back from last summer’s shearing, I was wondering what to do with them. However, following a conversation with the Art Coordinator in the primary school where I work, we decided that I would do a wool workshop with all the pupils. After lots of research and trying different activities out, we decided that:

Reception and Year 1 pupils would make a paper plate sheep,
Year 2 pupils would make a felt flower and have a go at a simple spinning technique,
Years 3 and 4 would make a felt flower and have a go at wet needle felting,
Years 5 and 6 would also make a felt flower in addition to peg loom weaving.

All of the items made would then be used to create a piece of artwork for the school.

As part of the workshop, the pupils learnt about sheep, shearing and how a fleece is processed into yarn used for knitting. They asked lots of questions about ear tags, lambs and wool.

For the practical activities, they used a washed, dried and carded Southdown fleece, in addition to some bought wool tops (these helped the Southdown fleece to felt).

A really lovely outcome from the wool workshop, apart from all the pupils’ work, was the fact that the pupils in Year 1 could remember lots about looking after sheep and that a female sheep is called a ewe and how to spell it!

Here are some of the many comments from the children:

“I really enjoyed the peg loom weaving. I would like to do it again.” Year 6.

“It was really fun layering the wool and choosing the buttons. It was challenging, but great.” Year 3

“Really loved it.” “Very lovely and woolly.” “ I loved it, especially making the flowers.” Year 2

Many thanks to Ryders-Hayes primary school for allowing me to use the photographs.

Lorna Pheasant, Hammerwich Southdowns