The Fibre Forge was created in late 2019 and is based in Hamilton, Ontario.
The Fibre Forge and Hamilton Fibre Market effectively created themselves when three fibre-obssessed Hamiltonians just happened to cross paths at the Ontario Alpaca Spring Show in the spring of 2019.
They discussed the Hamilton fibrescape and agreed that although Hamilton had many fibreartists and many indie dyers, there weren’t many outlets for community gatherings and vending opportunities. Being three individuals who love to organize and love fibre, Lorraine, Mel and Amanda jumped in head-first to fill this gap!
The Fibre Forge was born!
YOUR FIBRE FORGE COMMITTEE
Each of your committee members come from a different background and their fibre passion each grew from a different place. As a result, your Hamilton Fibre Market Steering Committee is made up of spinners, dyers, farmers, knitters, crocheters, and felters!
Amanda Hyde’s experience in the fibre world began with a simple granny square crochet lesson in 2011. A decade later, she enjoys knitting, spinning, working with raw fleece gathered from her brother-in-laws farm and dyeing fibre and yarns into dark and saturated colourways! She is the owner of Stitch Noir and lives in Hamilton, ON with her partner Ben and her big-dog-in-a-little-body pup, Oberon.
Melinda Ramsay is a co-owner of Lickety Spit Fibre Farm, a sheep and alpaca farm devoted to natural fibre and sustainability. She is an enthusiastic member of the Upper Canada Fibreshed, the organizer of LandMade, an ag-educator and a passionate advocate for embracing natural fibres. Melinda takes every opportunity she can to share her love of wool and encourages everyone to make in public.
Lorraine Bissell
Bio to come