Woolly Weekend at Shepherd's Cross
Last Weekend in April
Thursday, Friday and Saturday
April 22, 23 & 24 2027, 10:00 am - 5:30 pm
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Annual Summer "Make Over" or Haircut for the Sheep & An Authentic Sheep-to-Shawl Event
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Did you know that sheep must be shorn every year?  Sheep grow a nice long winter coat, and in preparation for the heat of the summer, the shepherd lovingly and laboriously gives them a shearing - a haircut.  They would suffer heat prostration amongst other ailments if they were not shorn each year. In giving the sheep a shearing, the shepherd demonstrates his love for the sheep. Did you know that sheep can be shorn standing or sitting?  We shear our sheep "sitting."  Sheep naturally relax when in the sitting position.  This is the way sheep are shorn all over the world, and throughout history.  This reminds us of our Lord Jesus, in the reference from Isaiah 53, "Like a sheep before the shearers is silent, so the Lord went to the cross on our behalf." 
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  • See the shearing every 30 minutes on all three days.
  • Experience the shepherds and shepherdesses shearing. This is not a speed competition, but the work of real, working, caring shepherds.
  • Watch as the wool is shorn from the sheep (a simple haircut!), and is washed, spun, and woven into usable products - a shawl or other wool product - right before your eyes.
  • This is an authentic sheep-to-shawl event, one of only a few such events in the world, in which the first wool shorn during the weekend is actually made into a finished product that same weekend.
  • Woolly Weekend will proceed even in the event of rain
  • Demonstrations throughout the day include spinning wheels, carding, weaving on looms, felting, drop spindling, knitting, crochet
  • This is our Easter event.
  • Enjoy a peaceful respite at the farm - hang out and watch the sheep graze
  • Farm Museum, Silo, Wool Mill, Bible Garden, Shepherd's Shop & Farm Animal Barn petting area will be available
  • Children's Activities - include wool sheep making, weaving, games & coloring, woolly sheep take-home craft.
  • Fiber Working Short Courses - learn drop spindling (11-11:30 daily), needle felting (1 -1:30 daily), hand carding (3 - 3:30 daily) or weaving (4 - 4:30 Thursday only). Please click HERE or link below, call or email to pre-register.  Short courses fill quickly.
    • $25 per Short Course only - Drop Spindle, Needle Felting, Carding or Woven Bookmark
    • $45 Drop Spindle, Needle Felting or Woven Bookmark Short Course plus the Following 
      • Drop Spindle Short Course with Kit: Includes one Shepherd's Cross Drop Spindle (participants choice of size) and one wool batt plus roving ($20 value)
      • Needle Felting Short Course with Kit: Includes one small felt board, various colors of roving, one bag of wool bundle and three needles ($20 value)
      • Woven Bookmark Short Course with Kit: Includes one cardboard loom, warp, and various colors of yarn for weaving ($20 value)
    • $79 for Hand Carding Short Course with Take Home Kit: Includes the following: One pair of hand carders (seconds), and fiber for carding (dyed and natural colors) (value $62) 
    • All class fees are non-refundable. Class fees can be applied to a different course.
  • Fiber Arts Demonstrators: 2 shifts are available: 9:30 - 2:30 or 2:00 - 5:30
    • Demonstrate your favorite fiber art - spinning, weaving, felting, knit, crochet or whatever you love to do.  
    • Demonstrators may work on their own projects or be a part of the Sheep to Shawl Team
    • Email, call or drop by to volunteer to demonstrate and/or join the Sheep to Shawl Team
  • Suggested donation of $5 per person
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