Do you like history and working with wool? Then this weekend is for you! It includes two needlebinding workshops with Dr Carey Fleiner, a talk on Roman women, wool and spinning (super interesting, even if you're not into Roman history), a Q&A with Carey, where you can ask all your questions about wool crafts, plus demonstrations of other techniques. You will spend the weekend with like-minded people and dive deep into the topic of historic wool crafts.

What is included in the cost of the weekend?

• two nålebinding workshops 
• nålebinding needles and material
• handouts
• tea/coffee and light snacks 
• talk on Roman women, wool and spinning
• Q&A with Dr Carey Fleiner (including demonstrations of other techniques)
• admission to the museum

While light snacks are provided, you are more than welcome to bring your own lunch and drink. Mineral water (still), coke, fanta and lucozade can be bought in the museum shop. There are shops and restaurants in Collon village.

The workshops

Both workshops begin at 10am and end at 2pm. They include a one-hour break (or two shorter breaks), the total duration is approximately 3 hours.

Workshop 1 (Saturday): history of nålebinding, various stitches: basic loop, coptic stitch, York stitch

Workshop 2 (Sunday): more history, Oslo stitch; and working on your first project

The workshops can also be book separately:

Saturday https://billetto.ie/e/introduc...

Sunday https://billetto.ie/e/nalebind...

The talk

On Saturday (begin 2.30pm), Dr Carey Fleiner will give a talk on Roman women, wool and spinning. You will learn a lot about the influence the Romans had on wool - from sheep breeding to dyeing, as well as the importance of wool crafting for women in ancient Rome.

(open to all museum visitors)

The Q&A

If you have any questions about historic wool crafts, this is your chance to get a comprehensive answer. Dr Carey Fleiner is very knowledgeable regarding historic techniques and the history of wool. She is not only a lecturer, but also an avid crafter herself.

Time permitting, Carey may demonstrate one or more techniques, such as spinning or sprang.

Visiting the museum

Admission to the museum is included (please note that no refund will be given if you don't visit the museum). If you visit with your partner and kids, who'll be having a look around the museum while you take part in one of the workshop, please let us know before they buy their ticket, as you may be eligible for a discount on a family ticket.

Who is this workshop for?

• Reenactors
• Crafters
• Anyone interested in learning a versatile, ancient wool crafting technique
• Men and women with an interest in wool crafting, knitting, historical techniques or just learning new skills in general (of course you are absolutely welcome, too, if you indentify as neither woman or man)
• or in short: anyone who is interested. :) There are no prerequisites.

Reasons to learn nålebinding

There are many good reasons to learn nålebinding. If you are a reenactor, this is a very useful skill, but even if you have no interest in history, needlebinding is an exciting hobby. You can easily make your own socks, hats and more, and all you need is some pure wool and a needle. It's ideal if like travelling or enjoy crafting while you relax in your favourite café. Many people find needlebinding easier on the hands than knitting. 

About Dr Carey Fleiner

Dr Carey Fleiner is currently Senior Lecturer in Classical (Roman) History at the University of Winchester. Her areas of research include Roman women and entertainment & sport in the Classical world. She learnt to embroider, knit, and crochet as a child, and later learnt spinning, weaving, and nalbinding, studying with eminent textile artisans such as Norman Kennedy, Sally Pointer, and Riita Sinkonen-Davies. She has exhibited & won awards for her work in particular in the United States. She is keen on the history of textiles and techniques of all sorts, especially in the Classical period. In practice, she enjoys cotton-spinning on the charkha, working with exotic fibres and blends, and practicing ancient and medieval textile techniques.

She has demonstrated spinning and weaver techniques at heritage sites including Fishbourne Roman Village near Chichester, England, Butser Ancient Farm, Weald & Donwland Museum, and the Campus Galli in Messkirch, Germany. As a demonstrator she has appeared as a Roman, a 13th-century lady, a 17th-century peasant, a Victorian, and a World War II housewife, amongst other guises.

Do you have any questions?

Don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions about this workshop. Simply send an email to info@living-history.ie or message the Irish Military Museum on their Facebook or Instagram pages.

Staying overnight

The museum has it's own camping site. To book, please email info@irishmilitarymuseum.com. There are also several nice B&B's and hotels in the area. The Boyne Valley is not only full of history, it also has beautiful landscapes and lovely restaurants - perfect for a long weekend. The museum is located just outside Collon village in a quiet area. 

If you don't drive - there is bus stop in Collon village that is served by Bus Éireann (Drogheda - Monaghan) and Collins Coaches (Dublin - Carrickmacross). It's about a 40 minute walk along a quiet road from the bus stop to the museum.