The Waulking Ceremony
 
Waulking is a traditional Scottish method used to full and soften fabric. The Sunshine Coast Spinners and Weavers have been gathering local fibre and working on a Community Blanket Project for the past year.

We started with La Braun of Happy Chick Farm, Gibsons, BC, here with  Shepherdess, Heidi.

The woven blanket was carried by local Shepherdess, Wendy and many of the proud Artisans who worked on the blanket.

The procession was led by piper, John Webb playing the Skye Boat Song.

The blanket was dampened with water, a little soap and laid flat on the table.

The waulking begins…with rhythmic beating and passing the blanket clockwise until, it is fulled and softened. The traditional waulkers sing Gaelic songs to create the beat. We sang the Skye Boat Song and the fiddlers played on!

Local Shepherd, Lee from Happy Chick Farm completes the circle from Farm to Finished Product,  the Blanket Project….

Fibreshed Team thanks our hosts for the day, everyone who attended and participated, SCWSG members, contributors to refreshments and especially our local Shepherds & Shepherdesses.

Photos by George Smith, Ann Harmer, Lynda Daniells, Merrily Corder and Janna Maria Vallee.

Submitted by Lynda & Merrily.