Why the Sheep Show Matters to Makers of Hand Dyed Yarn: My Reflections
- bombedyarns
- Jul 24
- 5 min read
The Australian Sheep and Wool Show has wrapped up for another year. I had the adventure of taking a car full of hand-dyed yarn and knitting kits, from my little yarn studio in Hobart, alllll the way to Bendigo!
On the trip home, with a much lighter load, I reflected on my experience as an indie yarn dyer. The conversations I had, the people I met and the dyeing community I value. So I thought I’d pop some of these musings into a blog!
If you have any questions about the Sheep Show, please pop them in the comments below and I’ll get back to you!
The Sheep Show
Every July, thousands of wool lovers, farmers, breeders, makers, and curious visitors head to Bendigo for the Australian Sheep and Wool Show – affectionately called “Bendigo” or “Spendigo” amongst the yarny community! It is held over three days at the Bendigo Showgrounds, it's one of the largest events of its kind in the world! Think of it as a big, bustling celebration of everything to do with sheep and wool – from the paddock to the finished woolly product. There were other fibre offering animals like goats as well!
I’ve been lucky to have a stall at the Sheep and Wool Show for the past three years. It’s a staple in my annual calendar and each year I look forward to it. I am challenged to produce new colourways, to see old friends, meet new ones and be inspired by my dyeing peers.
Hand Dyed Yarn - My Process
For the dyers who present at the show, it is the biggest event of the year. So the preparation starts months ahead.
I listen to and think about what our community is drawn to and what is inspiring them. This takes courage because I need to trust myself, follow outlandish and colourful ideas and play with colours at the dye vat.
I ask the questions… What colours have customers been asking for and interested in? Are there favourite bases people hope to see again? What patterns are trending in the community? I genuinely love seeing my customers and community connect with a yarn colour I’ve created. Tick! I have fulfilled their wants and needs.
It’s not just about following the demand. This process is equally about the joy I feel when creating. I’ll play, experiment, make mistakes, tweak the recipe and do it all over again to ensure accurate reproduction of the colour. Slowly, slowly, the collection starts to come together. It is a fun process when I give myself enough time to do it!
As the Sheep Show draws closer, I lay the collection out on a table, in the order I would like to display them on the racks. This helps me to see if there is a colour missing, colour clashes or if something feels off. This may lead me back to the dye vat, or sometimes there is a colour I have dyed previously, but have put away for a special occasion, that can make its debut!
Bit by bit, the final collection is born!
Reflections on the 2025 Sheep Show
If you were unable to make it to the show and would like a taste of the 2025 Sheep Show, I recommend checking out this visual article by the Guardian (which features yours truly!). It gives you a real feel of the event.
Keep that in mind as you browse some of my personal reflections on this year's Sheep Show.
Us dyers are a pretty clever bunch!
I don’t get a lot of spare time to wander around and enjoy the sights of the Sheep Show. But in the few moments I do, I prioritise a quick zip around the yarny sheds. And I’m always swooning! The way dyers see colour and how they balance them. What they mix and how they mix it. Shades they use and tones they highlight. Often I recognise colours the dyer has used. But what they do with them and the various strengths to show the colour off is really impressive! What also stands out, is the incredible variations of each dyer's style! You could almost see a skein and make a good guess who has dyed it.
The Sheep Show feels like an antidote to fast fashion.
At a time when fast fashion is rife and we are disconnected from who makes our clothes, let alone where the fabric comes from, these sort of events are a comfort for me. It’s a reminder that fashion can be slow, thoughtful and connected to people. I find comfort knowing others also value this sentiment.
At the show, every step of the production chain to wool-based fibre and fabric is represented and celebrated:
Sheep and farmers
Shearers and wool classers
Scourers, mills and processors
Spinners and weavers
Yarn dyers
Designers, pattern writers and textile artists
Educators and students
And everyone in between!
People from all walks of life.
How amazing to have an event that brings together such a diverse range of Australians for the love of sheep and wool! From seasoned sheep farmers to inner-Melbourne knitting enthusiasts, to families out for a day of fun. There’s something quite grounding about being part of a community that spans so many backgrounds and experiences, but shares this common woolly thread. It leads to lots of great and varied conversations at the stall!
When it comes to hand dyed yarn, there is always something to learn
Constantly there is something I discover that emphasises how important events like these are. From sheep genetics, fibre quality, farm environments, woolen mill dramas, why certain parts of fleece are better suited for different purposes than others, Tasmanian Merino value etc etc and so on. Events like these allow the industry to do what it does. The networking, discussion of ideas and meetings of people all create opportunities for ‘betterment’ in all parts of the fibre industry. It really deserves the support.
If you didn’t go to the Sheep Show, I hope you can make it next year! If you’re a yarn-lover, it’s a pretty special event!
Sailing, Sailing, Sailing
I love living in Tassie. It’s a great place and we have a really unique lifestyle, craft and making scene down here. There is plenty of inspiration to draw from! However, that Bass Strait can be a blessing and a curse. It keeps Tasmania the special island it is, but argh, it makes it an expensive trip whenever we want to bring our yarny goodness to a mainland event. There is the added expense of needing to get (and return!) on the Spirit of Tasmania. You need to book well in advance, because those places book up quickly. I learned this year, I had to take my car rather than the van, which required significant adjustment for me.
What’s up next for Bombed Yarns?
I came straight from disembarking the Spirit of Tasmania to unload and reset up the studio, and am straight back into it. There is a lot happening here for the rest of the year!
I have begun dyeing for our special Saturday studio opening on the 2 August to showcase the yarn I took to Bendigo. Come along to the Bombed Yarn Studio (16 Smith Street, North Hobart), from 10:00-2:00 to check them out! After this event, we will release the new colours onto the website for the world to see!
Did you go to the Sheep Show? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
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