Woollies for winter
Hand-made woollen wonders will be on display and for sale at Stawell’s Winter Woollies Festival at Stawell Powerhouse in July.
The festival, from July 7 to 9, showcases the creativity of Wimmera people who use wool products to create everything from clothing to toys and artwork.
It is also a money-raising event for Stawell’s Eventide Homes and Stawell Neighbourhood House.
Event committee secretary Jenny Greenberger said hats, gloves, mittens, toys, baby clothes, scarves, socks, woollen rugs and other items would be on display.
“It’s in its third year and the original idea was to encourage particularly older people to use their hands to knit and be creative,” she said.
“It provides people with an outlet to either show or sell their products.
“It is a very social and inspiring weekend and showcases the amazing talent of our local people.
“It has grown each year and we have people coming from across Victoria. The message for the average person is that they will have an opportunity to see or buy something quite unique and homemade. If people are interested in selling items we’re accepting work on June 30.
“We will also have demonstrations of felting, latch-hook rug-making, and spinning and crocheting. There will also be fashion parades of items people have made.”
The festival will be open on the Friday from 4pm to 6pm, Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sunday from 10am to 4pm.
Exhibitors can sell their items free of charge but organisers will retain 25 percent of sales as part of the fundraising appeal.
Entry is by gold coin donation and further details are online at www.stawellwinterwoollies.weebly.com.
The Winter Woollies Festival is across the road from an annual model rail exhibition in Stawell’s State Emergency Services Hall.