Friday 15th March: Wool House at Somerset House

No your eyes are not deceiving you - these are actual sheep in the courtyard of Somerset House.  Just chilling and chewing the cud over what fine specimens they are and what rad wool they produce for our fashions and interiors.  Both can be found within the wings of Somerset House with beautifully installed examples of modern textiles on walls, furniture and floors thematically curated by the likes of Donna Wilson.  To represent the garment industry there are examples of looks from London's own Giles, Richard Nicoll, Jonathan Saunders ...... thru to these Tartan Westwood platforms.  There is a Saville Row special showcase with the tools of the trade out to demonstrate how Norton & Son's etc. execute their fine woollen cloth tailoring.  To see even further back in the process of the fabric construction you can witness a hand-loom at work alongside raw yarn being straightened with carders and spun.  If you fancy getting crafty the events schedule is RAMmmed (pfffffft!) with classes from crochet, lace making, darning, spinning and of course knitting.  The whole Wool Week / Wool House celebration culminates in a Tweed High Tea Party next Sunday 24th so (wool)mark it in your diary ............. especially tomorrow as its the final stint for the sheep holding court - and quite frankly they are too cute to miss.

Check out the whole calender at The Campaign  For Wool here.

(Examples here inlcude a McQueen humming bird tapestry, Anne Kyyro-Quinn cushion and felt wall and Double Helix DNA inspired runner by Cristian Zuzunaga)