Ria will be bringing her South West Colour Library project and other natural dye goodies to Fernhill Farm’s Fibre experience on March 16th.

Come to the farm where her wool comes from and immerse yourself in natural fibres, regenerative farming practices and new/old ideas!

The Fernhill Fibre Experience will showcase the Wonder of Wool, with displays of many British wool products, available for everyone to benefit from each and every day.

This one day event will continue to focus on the inclusion of many natural fibres alongside our wool harvesting systems, with a key focus on holistic agriculture. As well as talks and films focussed on reviving natural fibre industries, we will be discussing how to rehabilitate the land with animals grazing in rotation, conserving soils and enhancing biodiversity whilst harvesting replenishing resources that can benefit water, plant and mineral cycles.

2024 will see the newly refurbished Horseshoe Barns as the main hub, with traders, café, bar and relaxed seating situated around our nature pond. Talks and Films, Workshops and Farm Walks will also be available around the farm and fields throughout the day.

This is a continuation of our Farm Open Day, be held at Fernhill Farm during our Spring 2024 Blade Shearing season and will enable you to observe some of the top blade shearers in the Northern Hemisphere do their master craft and choose your fleece as it falls onto the boards in our 4 stand sheep shearing shed.

For more information visit the Fernhill Fibre website.

Ria’s debut book ‘Dyeing Yarn Naturally’ has just been published by The Crowood Press.

To celebrate, we’re having a launch party at No Frills Knitting, and you’re all invited!

Meet the author, buy the book and get it signed! See the colourful yarn samples Ria created in the making of the book, plus learn more about the plants that made them.

Free glass of fizz (alcoholic or non) on arrival.

Entry is free but please RSVP via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dyeing-yarn-naturally-book-launch-party-tickets-620530662917

Ria will be giving a talk about her knitwear practice at Fibre Quest at Fernhill Farm on Sunday 19th March at 2pm.

https://www.facebook.com/events/626681488615575

Soil to soil: a sustainable approach to designing knitwear

Ria is a knitwear designer whose efforts to develop fully traceable and sustainable knitwear have led to her developing a holistic, soil to soil approach to design and making.

 

From sourcing her wool as locally as possible, to becoming an accidental horticulturalist by growing her own plants for natural dyeing, to designing zero waste garments to be cherished, looked after and passed on; in this talk she will take you through her journey, showcase her work and provide some practical tips on sustainable knitwear making.

Ria will have a pop-up knitwear shop at Fernhill Farm’s Open Day and Blade Shearing Tournament.

Come and see the source of Ria’s wool, and learn more about wool handling and regenerative agriculture.

https://www.facebook.com/events/870742297207818

Planning our next Farm Open Day event where your all welcome to join us at Fernhill Farm to watch the sheep being shorn in our lively shearing shed.

World Class Blade shearers will be taking part in this bi-annual tournament to compete with plenty of the best this industry has to offer and help raise the profile of the Benefits of Blade Shearing here in the UK.

Buy fleece fresh off the boards in the shearing shed, as well as finished products made from our wool in our pop-up Sheep Shop - beautiful scarves, blankets, yarn, clothing and more in a range of natural and dyed colours.

Throughout the day wool spinning, peg loom weaving and needle felt workshops will be available from the Fernhill Fibre team, and we welcome all those who use natural resources to promote and create rural activities.

The One-Love-Caribbean-Shack will be here serving up delicious tasty meals, Worleys Cider will bring a bar stocked with award winning ciders, and The Coffee.Box will park up and serve amazing cakes alongside their array of hot beverages.

We shall kept in musical flow throughout the day with the Caribbean Dj, and the infamous Stompin’ Dave will return for a fast and furious flinging around session on the boards when the shearers take their lunch !

Free entry to all – it's a perfect family day out and please do get in contact if you wish to get involved wool@fernhill-farm.co.uk All proceeds are donated as prize money for talented shearers

An online yarn festival.

https://www.facebook.com/yorkshireyarnfest/

https://www.instagram.com/yorkshireyarnfest/

Ria will be virtually at Frome Independent on Sunday 6th December, with plenty of cosy knits that are perfect for gifting! There will be special offers for the day on the market’s Instagram stories.

Find her work in the designer-maker section of the website, and don’t forget to browse the other traders!

Botanica is an online yarn festival celebrating natural yarns. We have a strong focus on sustainability and making our fibre crafts as close to nature as possible.

Ria will be exhibiting kits and yarns here, as well as demonstrating machine knitting. Sign up to their mailing list to find out more: https://www.botanica-yarnfest.com/

Ria will be virtually at Frome Independent on Sunday 1st November, with plenty of cosy knits and gift ideas! There will be special offers for the day on the market’s Instagram stories.

Find her work in the designer-maker section of the website, and don’t forget to browse the other traders!

Ria will be virtually at the September edition of the Frome Independent on Sunday 6th September, with plenty of cosy knits and gift ideas! There will be special offers for the day on the market’s Instagram stories.

Find her work in the designer-maker section of the website, and don’t forget to browse the other traders!

Ria is taking her dye pots on the road for a natural yarn dyeing workshop at The Workshop, Heptonstall, Hebden Bridge.

An introduction to the techniques and methods of natural yarn dyeing, and the vibrant colours that can be achieved through dyeing with responsibly foraged or home grown plants and food waste.

Using a variety of weights of British wool yarn, ranging from super chunky to Ria’s bespoke 4ply weight yarn spun from a single flock in Somerset, we will look at the different ways natural dyes can be applied to yarn to create striking effects.

You will leave with a variety of mini skeins of yarn naturally coloured with a range of hues, suitable for knitting, crochet, weaving or any other fibre craft.

Yarn, materials and handouts are provided but please bring an apron, rubber gloves and a notebook.

Refreshments included.

Secure your place here: https://www.whitehallstudio.co.uk/workshops-1/ria

As part of Frome’s festive late night shopping Thursdays, Ria will be popping up at Frome Yarn Collective with her knitwear, perfect for some last minute gifting!

The Selvedge team brings a curated collection of 50 merchants and makers to Bloomsbury. Our exhibitors sell a range of rare vintage fabrics, covetable haberdashery and skilfully handmade textile treasures. The fair offers the perfect opportunity to meet makers, catch up with old friends, and pick up that special something in preparation for the festive season.

Ria will be at the Christmas edition of the Frome Independent on December the 1st with plenty of cosy knits and gift ideas! She’ll be in the suitcase traders section on Catherine Hill.

Ria will be selling her naturally dyed British wool knitwear and accessories at the new Native Makers Monthly Market @ Tre, Pol & Pen farm shop in Launceston, Cornwall.

Native Makers is a platform for emerging designer-makers, supporting the best artisan craft from across the South West. We'll have stalls from a range of the best local makers as well as tastings from producers across the store.

Ria will be giving a talk on sustainable knitwear design, and also teaching a half day natural yarn dyeing workshop at Stitch Fest South West this year.

For more information and to book tickets, visit their website!

Ria will be selling her naturally dyed British wool knitwear and accessories at the new Native Makers Monthly Market @ Tre, Pol & Pen farm shop in Launceston, Cornwall.

Native Makers is a platform for emerging designer-makers, supporting the best artisan craft from across the South West. We'll have stalls from a range of the best local makers as well as tastings from producers across the store.

Ria will be debuting her new AW 19/20 collection at the Frome Independent on September the 1st. It’s her first Frome market and she’s very excited for it! She’ll be in the suitcase traders section on Catherine Hill.

An introduction to the techniques and methods of natural dyeing, and the vibrant colours that can be achieved through dyeing with responsibly foraged plants and food waste.

After an introductory talk, Ria will lead a walk around the farm learning about common dye plants, gathering some for the dye pot.
Then we will use these plus food waste such as avocado skins to dye cotton and silk cloth a variety of colours, using simple shibori folding techniques to create a pattern on the fabric. We will also bundle dye with petals and leaves to produce a unique and colourful print on silk.

You will leave with a variety of colourful swatches that could be used for craft projects such as a patchwork cushion cover or for handkerchiefs.
All fabric, materials and handouts are provided but please bring an apron, gloves and a notebook.

£40 per person, all materials provided and any profit goes back into supporting Bath City Farm. Book a space by emailing info@bathcityfarm.org.uk

Ria will be showing a selection of her naturally dyed British wool knitwear as part of the private view for Fresh Air Sculpture 2019, at the Old Rectory, Quenington. The show will include other local fashion designers such as Carol Waller and Liz Lippiat.

Alongside current key pieces, Ria will be debuting two new couture dresses inspired by her travels in Australia, knitted with her new fully traceable local wool yarn.

Please contact Ria if you would like an invitation.

Ria will be demonstrating her knitting machine and showcasing her naturally dyed knitwear on the Somerset Art Works stand at Craft Festival from 2-4pm on Friday 7th June.

Along with live machine knitting demonstrations, Ria will have a display of pieces made with her new bespoke local wool yarn and natural dye samples.

Find Ria and the other Somerset Art Work Artists, who will be exhibiting newworks on the theme of ‘Silver’, on Stand MM5.

https://somersetartworks.org.uk/2019/05/somerset-art-works-at-bovey-tracey-craft-festival/

https://www.craftfestival.co.uk/Bovey-Tracey/