A hands-on sheep shearing workshop taking place October 31 to November 2 in Mabou aims to address a skills gap in Cape Breton’s wool industry while honoring the region’s rich textile heritage.
The three-day intensive workshop, held at Andrew MacLennan’s farm in Mabou, is part of the Cape Breton Sweaters Wool Sweater Project led by the Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design. The project takes inspiration from Cape Breton’s rich wool heritage, including the memorable 1970s DEVCO initiative that brought sheep to the island, welcomed to the sound of bagpipes. The current sweater design reflects this history, drawing from DEVCO’s commissioned sweaters based on Mi’kmaq, Gaelic, and Acadian cultures, as well as the four county designs from Cape Breton Woollen Mills at Irish Cove.
Through conversations with local farmers and industry participants, we have learned that limited skills and knowledge in sheep shearing and fleece care can present a challenge. Many farmers either lack experience shearing their own sheep or have difficulty finding shearers when needed.
The workshop will be led by experienced shearer Sarah Nettleton, along with instructors Amber Petersen and Peter Kozier. Friday night from 6pm-8pm will focus on sheep handling and tool discussions. Saturday 8:30am-4:30pm and Sunday 8:45am-2pm, participants will work in stations with groups of four working together in rotations while also learning about fleece care. Participants will work with live sheep to learn proper handling techniques, shearing methods, fleece preparation, and equipment use. The hands-on format ensures participants gain practical experience in a supportive learning environment.
Priority is being given to Cape Breton farmers, we are working to keep costs free or very low to ensure accessibility. The workshop can accommodate 8-12 participants, with each person expected to shear 10-20 sheep over the weekend.
The Cape Breton Sweater Project is looking at all aspects of fiber production and craft, from sheep farming and shearing to spinning, knitting, and design.
Interested farmers and others wanting to support the local fiber industry can contact adrienne@capebretoncraft.com for more details about the workshop.