Since 2018, I’ve been exploring several breeds of sheep with the aim of better understanding them and using their wool in specific textiles. Each type of wool has unique properties depending on the group it belongs to and the specific breed. I wanted to test and put into practice the different types of wool found on our territory to explore their distinctive characteristics.

The hands-on, comparative workshop I’m proposing will enable participants to discover the 4 main types of wool from 4 different Québec breeds, in their preferred textile discipline, whether knitting, crocheting, weaving or felting. At the end of the workshop, each participant will be able to identify the different types of wool, their applications, how to use them for different textile projects, as well as the main differences between the types of wool found on our territory and their transformation.

In the discussion that follows, we’ll compare results and build on our learning together to learn more about the different distinctive characteristics of wools according to sheep breed, as well as the important issues involved in processing them. Through practical, hands-on learning, everyone will be able to deepen their knowledge and explore the richness of our textile heritage through indigenous sheep breeds.

An initiative from : 

Canadian-Brazilian Marcelo Ribeiro Martins has been living on an island in Lac Saint-Pierre, close to nature and Quebec’s major cities, since 2008. Passionate about textiles from an early age and curious about nature and simplicity, he decided to take his hobby to the professional level and as a tool for social engagement.

Marcelo, a spinner, is also a knitter, crocheter and weaver from time to time. He shares his enthusiasm and passion for fibers and Spinning on his weekly web-series on social networks, as well as on his YouTube channel where he presents his work in his professional workshop: Makeloo Studio. He also coordinates textile activities at Centre des Textiles Arts des Îles, a community textile center in Lanaudière where he has also been teaching the community and young people about the fiber and wool cycle since 2018.
He shares the values of community work, local products and links between artisans and regional producers to promote art, culture, health and a circular socio-economy.

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