St Blaise was an Armenian Bishop, a martyr, whose head was chopped off by the Romans around 316AD, after he was tortured with iron combs. He became patron saint of many things, including wool-combers and the wool trade. His Feast Day is 3rd February and it was celebrated by Bradford's woolcombers in the 1700s-1800s with street processions and feasting. Once industrialisation of the wool industry took hold, it seems he was largely forgotten. Now, our Industrial Museum holds an annual Blaise Festival to promote wool crafts. The Guild of Spinners, Weavers and Dyers give demonstrations and workshops and there are stalls where you can buy yarn and knitted goods.
I rather liked the little baby socks. There was a lady knitting them on a fine circular needle and she explained how they're constructed without any seams that might rub a child's feet.
There were small weaving looms; you could make a scarf on one, I suppose, or maybe weave strips that could be joined.
A few ladies were demonstrating spinning, using various types of spinning wheel and even drop spindles, which I don't recall seeing before.
Some of the bundles of felted squares came in gorgeous colours.
Here's Bishop Blaise (with his head!):
Musical accompaniment came from the Hallroyd Brass Band and, later, Bradford Voices Choir, though I left before they performed.
It was all rather fun (though my photos are largely rubbish! Sometimes I have a day like that. 😞 )
It sounds like a fun festival! My Mum would have loved it - she is an avid knitter, rarely spends a day or evening without knitting anything. Her baby socks are as cute as these, and she often makes matching hats and gives them to friends and family when they have a baby, or sells them at craft fairs.
ReplyDeleteThe photos are excellent, very colourful. I wish Tod had a few more museums, though we do have The Folklore Centre down the road.
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