
Woolly Wales | dyer, spinner & weaver
Sara John
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Sara John .
12.07.25 | 10.00 - 15.00
Sara is a dyer, spinner and weaver who specialises in native and rare breed sheep wools. She's based on a farm just outside Three Crosses where she keeps her two flocks of sheep. She graduated Carmarthen School of Art in 2018 with a First Class Honours degree in Art and Design: Multidisciplinary, specialising in Fashion and Textiles; continuing her studies, she went on to complete a Masters by Research in Art and Design at Swansea College of Art, graduating in 2024. Her research concentrated on social interactions with woollen textiles, and how it could positively impact people to consume textiles more sustainably; a copy of her thesis can be found on her website.
Sara has been experimenting with breeding dual purpose sheep for 8 years; she has a pedigree flock of Llanwenog sheep, (a rare breed), which is the predominant ecru fibre she uses to then dye into a wide rainbow of colours. Her "Liquorice Allsorts" are made up of around 20 native and rare breeds and cross-breds, and they provide her with a beautiful palette of naturally coloured fleeces in varying shades of browns and greys, which are for sale after shearing time in May/June until stocks last. Recently, she has been experimenting with processing some of the farm's commercial flocks' fleeces, producing a wonderful Welsh Mule DK yarn, and some beautiful Texel fibre.
Sara grows and forages dyestuffs for naturally dyeing some of her wool, and her rainbow brights are produced using acid dyes; she thoroughly enjoys both dyeing methods- creating joy through colour. She uses small mills in England and Wales to have her fleeces processed into fibre and yarns, but she does also process a couple traditionally by hand annually. Her unique hand-spun yarns are produced in such a way that a machine would struggle, ensuring that the skill stays relevant; she prides herself on her un-even, imperfect art yarn that makes the natural characteristics of the fleece sing.










Get in touch
To arrange visiting at other dates and times, or if you have any queries for the artist, please get in touch with Sara via this form.