Reflections on Fibrations 2026

There was something magical in the air at Fibrations this year, an electric energy of joy and wonder, curiosity and whimsy. We were graced with a beautiful blue sky, a breeze with that hint of autumn chill, and some warm pockets of lingering summer. There were more visitors than ever exploring the fibrous wonders, many of whom were attending a fibre festival for the very first time, and it was delightful to see so many familiar faces again.

Seeing all the handmade apparel on the field is one of our favourite parts every year, and we loved having the folks from the Of Course She Did podcast join us to highlight your talents with the Red Carpet Runway. We also had another special guest, fibre arts vlogger Kevin Yee, who is just as lovely in person! If you didn’t make it to Fibrations this year, check out Kevin’s video coverage on YouTube to relive the day vicariously.

We were also thrilled to host a wide variety of vendors this year, ranging across the wild world of textiles. We tried to bring in a little of everything, with a mix of returning favourites like Gauge Dye Works, Flax to Linen, and Deep Blue Dyeworks; lovely new vendors like Watson Wheels, who brought handmade spinning and weaving tools, or Applemere Heritage Farm, with gorgeous naturally dyed yarn from locally raised sheep; and of course, the local fibre arts guilds, whose demonstrations at Fibrations make the event truly come to life. We were also very excited to welcome Up a Creek Farm for the first time as they continue their journey to establish a fibre mill here on Vancouver Island.

Expanding to a three-day event this year gave us the opportunity to highlight fibre arts in new ways, and we were especially inspired by Sarah Thornton’s talk at the film screening on August 14^th. Sarah works closely with the Vancouver Island Fibreshed and is passionate about revitalizing local fibres, which feels more important than ever right now with tariffs and transportation costs on the rise. It encouraged us to think differently about Fibrations 2027, especially how important it is that events like this prioritize and create space for local fibre producers.

The workshops on August 15th were also a big hit this year, every workshop was completely sold out! We saw some beautiful creations from students, and it seemed like a fulfilling day for everyone. We will definitely bring workshops back next year, including some fun new opportunities to learn different fibre arts.

Fibrations is proudly run entirely by volunteers every year and we want to highlight one special volunteer as we close out this year. Bobbie Williams, former president of the Victoria Handweavers and Spinners Guild, has volunteered with Fibrations for 10+ years, and has been a key part of what makes the event wonderful every year. Bobbie masterminded the site plan, coordinated volunteer activities, helped with the raffle, and perhaps most importantly, wrangled Ryan during the planning process. As she leaves us this year to enjoy retirement, we want to express our deep gratitude for everything she has done for the festival. Thank you, Bobbie! We hope you get to sit back, relax, and fully revel in Fibrations next year.

As organizers, after months of planning and many unexpected changes, curveballs, and sleepless nights, in the hairy final days before the event we asked ourselves, “Will we do this again next year? Do we need to take a year off?” but of course Fibrations was so wonderful, we are already eagerly planning for next year. This community is incredibly vibrant, hopeful, and supportive; it is our privilege to create space for you to gather and celebrate your shared passions.

See you in 2027! Save the date: Sunday, August 15^th, 2027.