Sheep On The Quad Lend A Fleece For UA Museum Demonsrtation

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — “Sheep to Shawl,” March 10 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. outside and inside Smith Hall on The University of Alabama campus, will present the historic technique of weaving raw wool into refined items. Demonstrators from UA’s Museum of Natural History and the West Alabama Fiber Guild will sheer a sheep on site, prepare its fleece for spinning into yarn, and make a shawl for raffle.

This educational family event also features old-fashioned games, stories, and songs throughout the day, and participants can make a Colonial knot doll to take home. The $5 admission qualifies each person for the raffle of the shawl.

The UA Museum also offers “Wooly Workshops” on weaving, twining, spinning, and felting for those ages 10 and older. For more details, call Judy Everett at 205/348-9473.

Anyone interested in learning fiber arts is invited to attend meetings of The West Alabama Fiber Guild on the third Sunday of each month from 2- 4 p.m. at the UA Museum in Smith Hall. The Guild has a unique display on exhibit at the museum through May 25 featuring various types of looms – one dating back to the early 1800s – which reveal the evolution of spinning. They are dressed with yarn for weaving by volunteers and museum staff. Thread balls decorated with colored strands using the Japanese braiding techniques, Kumihimo and Temaari, are also on display.

Operating hours for The UA Museum of Natural History are 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 1 to 4:30 p.m. on Sundays. Admission is $2 for adults and $1 for seniors and children.