Are you a farmer with wool to sell but unsure how to get it to market?
Join us at Willow Creek Farm Preserve on September 16th from 1:00pm to 5:00pm for an immersive, hands-on afternoon exploring the journey of wool from sheep to finished textile.
This educational event is especially designed for fiber producers who want to learn how to properly prep, market, and sell their wool—whether you’re just getting started or looking to increase your income from fiber.
Also open to artisans, designers, and anyone interested in supporting regional textile systems.You’ll gain practical tools, make valuable connections, and leave with a better understanding of how wool can play a vital role in the growing local fiber economy.
What You’ll Get:
Insight from experienced industry experts on
How to get high quality fiber from your herd
How to prep your fiber for processing
How wool is graded
Understanding what quality fiber you have and the uses for each grade of fiber
What designers are looking for when sourcing wool
See how wool fiber is processed in a fiber mill
Take home a packet of resources including fiber pricing template
Regional processor and mill contact list
Event Highlights:
Farm & Mill Tour + Sheep Fiber Care
Melissa Smith from Willow Creek Farm Preserve will guide us through her mill, sharing expert insights on how Willow Creek produces their high-quality fiber.Wool Grading & Use Cases
Learn how wool is graded and what different types can be used for—from insulation and pellets to fine yarns. Presented by a professional shearer and educator, Marisa Smith.Panel Discussion
Hear from key players across the wool supply chain, including:Leah D'Ambrosio, owner and designer of Wol Hide
A representative from a regional fabric mill
Melissa Smith from Willow Creek Farm Preserve
A marketing specialist
Q&A + Networking
Connect with other attendees, ask questions, and explore opportunities for collaboration.
You’ll also enjoy light refreshments from local vendors (sponsorship opportunity available).
Meet the Panelists:
Leah D’Ambrosio
Leah D’Ambrosio is the founder and designer of ethical knitwear label Wol Hide. The brand focuses on making strong sustainable connections driven by a desire to create quality, timeless pieces. Supply chain transparency and partnerships are at the core of the brand’s philosophy of producing well crafted goods with a story of origin and process. Wol Hide produces sweaters and cut & sew garments fully domestically from seed to shirt with artisan crafted sweaters and accessories produced in Peru.
Leah founded Wol Hide in 2015 from her love of sculpting textures and forms through knitting. This was backed by a strong desire to produce garments ethically and with low chemical processing, honoring the integrity of the materials and the producers. A graduate of Drexel and Philadelphia University, Leah studied merchandising and textile design where she got her start working with large and small brands in both industries. Leah lives and has a studio in the Mt. Airy neighborhood of Philadelphia.
Rachel Higgins
Rachel Higgins, a passionate advocate for circular fashion, brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the sustainable fashion movement. Armed with a Bachelor of Science in Fashion Design & Merchandising from Drexel University and a Master's Degree of Professional Studies in Business of Fashion from LIM, she is well-prepared to drive change in the fashion industry.
Rachel's journey began with the creation and successful sale of her own children's clothing brand, demonstrating her entrepreneurial spirit. Her dedication to fashion education led her to a teaching position in the Design & Merchandising Program at Drexel University, where she imparts her insights and passion to the next generation of fashion professionals.
In addition to her role at Drexel, Rachel plays a crucial part in the Philadelphia fashion community. She leads the Sustainability Committee for the Philadelphia Fashion and Garments Task Force, contributing to sustainability initiatives in the local fashion industry. As a co-founder of PA Fibershed, she is instrumental in advancing sustainable and circular fashion practices, making a lasting impact on the industry and the community.
Marisa Smith
Marisa Smith is the textbook definition of 'fell down the fiber rabbit hole'. Starting with knitting and crochet as a child, escalating to spinning and weaving, then finally ascending to a part-time sheep shearer, full-time fiber enthusiast, she spends the time she's not actively elbows deep in wool or shearing thinking of ways she can cram more into her already busy schedule.
Marisa Smith
Melissa Smith is the co-owner of Willow Creek Farm Preserve (WCFP), her family’s 135-acre certified organic farm in southeastern PA. Raised in the suburbs and trained in physical therapy, Melissa started her career in health care but quickly pivoted to farming in 2002.
As lead shepherdess, Melissa uses holistic practices and rotationally grazes her herd of 170 Shetland sheep on 32-acres of dedicated pasture year-round, yielding 700 pounds of raw wool annually. WCFP was reimagined as a “farm for spring” in late 2022, with an emphasis on flowers and fiber. She established more than 1,000 peony plants and now grows 10,000+ specialty tulips to share the joy of flowers with the public every May, along with her sheep, lambs and wool products.
A Mini Wool Mill was added in 2023, providing a pathway for the WCFP born, shorn, milled & spun line of wool products transforming fiber on-site from fleece to skein. Melissa finds learning the art of small-scale yarn production and light textile manufacturing to be a rewarding challenge.
**Space is limited—reserve your spot today to take part in this one of a kind educational event!
*Discounts:
Active members of the Pennsylvania Sheep and Wool Growers Association are eligible for a discount to this event. If you need to renew or haven’t joined yet, you can sign up here.
*Please note that a discount code may be used for one ticket per PSWGA membership.
PA Fibershed members can find a member discount code for this event in the Member Hub Calendar.
Please note that all ticket purchases are non-refundable. However, tickets may be transferred to another individual if you are unable to attend.
We kindly ask that any ticket transfers be communicated to us prior to the event.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please contact us.