Kilgrimol Heritage Crafts

Come and join local Living History enthusiast as she brings to life crafts from the Northwest’s Heritage. Demonstrating the slowly vanishing skills that went into producing our clothing using natural materials.

Inspired by Heritage Crafts Red List

Starting in Autumn we will take an adventure spanning 10 sessions.

Sessions will be led by our local Living History enthusiast Heather (They/She) or by a visiting artist.

What we’re making

September

Natural Dyes Currently Viable

We know that fabrics, leather and woods can be dyed with natural dyes, but you would be surprised at what can be obtained from the world around you!. Guiding you in this fascinating world of colour and using hand dyeing techniques discover something can revitalise your wardrobe, or be used for your textile creations

October

Drop Spindle and Nalbinding: Endangered

This session we will be introducing the Heritage Crafts that are endangered in the UK. We shall then be working with wool from once it has been processed ready for making into fiber using the drop spindle.

Once you have your thread where now? Let me introduce one of the oldest techniques for garment making, Nalbinding. Referred to as working with the wool all you need is your fiber and a needle for the ultimate carry craft.

November

Wet Felting. Make a hat or purse Currently Viable

Its the season for needing to keep warm in a hurry, no talent for knitting let me show you wet felting and you can make a hat, mittens or socks in a few hours. You can be cosy in no time.

December

Yuletide themed Mini Looms Currently Viable

Weaving is a rewarding craft to use all that fiber you have made from tlocal fieldwalking gathering fleece.

2025

January

Leatherwork Make a Viking Pouch Currently Viable

Making a simple item introduces leatherwork techniques which will hopefully inspire you, like myself, to make your own slippers, purse or belt when you can’t find the style you want, in your size.

Please be aware we will be working with an animal byproduct and utilising Vegetable Dyed Leather not Chromium tans. See Ethical information listed.

February

Pigments Endangered

(Local artist confirmed)

Always wanted to make your own pigments, me too. Today I take a break and enjoy a lovely local guest artist introducing the ancient pigments made from natural materials to use in your crafting projects.

March

Block Printing Endangered

Well we enjoyed making the pigments lets now make some art or print onto fabric and make our own tote bag or cushion.

April

Coiled Straw Basket Making Critically Endangered

Basketry is a hard skill to master for those with hand issues, but it is very popular and currently viable. Now to introduce its more accessible ancestor the coiled straw basket. This is a lovely basket that you can be confident you can use for daily use or in the garden as a skep for the bees.

May

Summer Hat Reed Plaiting Critically Endangered

Blackpool Donkeys would be nothing without the iconic straw hat, let me show you this wonderful Critically endangered craft and make a useful item for daily wear.

June

Ti’s the season…

Bast Fibers – The Humble Nettle Endangered

Love them or hate them the Nettle has had a major influence in the textile industry in the UK, prized for its fibers from cordage to beautiful weaves.This weed is now proving popular in the sustainable textile market, you may even have items from its cousin with no sting Ramie.

We’ll supply

• All materials and tuition
• Hot/cold drinks and tasty snacks

Book Here

Access

Important physical access info:

Please note that this session is upstairs. We are in the process of installing a lift, however due to unforeseen delays this is now due to be completed later in the year. The event space is up a single flight of 14 steps then you go around the corner and there are two small steps. Once you’re upstairs there’s a loo. You shouldn’t need to come downstairs for anything until the end of the activity.

If you can’t do the stairs and need to be on the ground floor, please let us know 10 days before the session and we will move the activity.

You can

• Email us using the ‘contact organiser link; or
• Send us an SMS text/WhatsApp message on 07957 602790.

If you have additional access needs (e.g. large print, BSL interpreter, level access) please let us know by emailing (using the contact organiser button/link) or sending us an SMS text/WhatsApp message on 07957 602790.

GETTING HERE

• Tram & Train to Blackpool North Station
• Bus:
  • No 6 or 18 bus to Topping St. 
  • No 3, 3a, 5c, 6, 18 to Church St (Stanley Buildings)
  • No 5, 5a, 5b, 6, 7a, 14 to Talbot Rd
• Driving: The closest pay and display car parks are on East Topping St and Talbot Road multi storey. There is also parking at the nearby Sainsbury’s supermarket, please make sure that you check the terms before you use the car park.