Digits & Threads wordmark logo.
Events, Quebec, Virtual Tourism

Virtual Tourism Time Machine: Twist Fibre Festival

24 February 2021
Image description: White Digits & Threads ampersand logo.
By Digits & Threads
Bookmark This (0)
ClosePlease loginn

Sponsored in part by:

Ad description: Cover of the book Sheep, Shepherd & Land, and the words, "THE book about Canadian Wool, by Anna Hunter. Photos by Christel Lanthier. Buy now."

Ad description: The words, "The socks you knit won't last forever, but you can make them last for years and years. Shop now." Also featuring the cover image of the Sock Mending Guide.

Indulge in a virtual visit through time and space to the 2019 Twist fibre festival in Quebec, the last time the festival was held in person before COVID-19 made large gatherings impossible. We can practically feel the sun on our faces and smell the wool all around. Enjoy.

Bienvenue à TWIST!

In 2019, more than 25,000 visits were counted over the course of the four-day festival, with attendees coming from all over Canada, the United States and Europe. Click to see the photos full-size.

Photo of six women in a room with a table of yarns on the right; four of the women have a wooden spinning wheel in front of them.

Alanna Wilcox is an expert spinner from Rochester, New York. Here, she is teaching “12 ways to spin a yarn.” Photo: Sebastien Lavallee

Six people outdoors where a plastic sheet is on the grass, with two buckets of blue liquid on it. Two women wearing gloves have their hands in one of the vats; another person is holding indigo-dyed fabric.

Dyeing with Indigo workshop. Photo: Sebastien Lavallee

Five women wearing hats, standing behind three women squatting bethind cardboard cutouts of sheep that say "TWIST" on them.

Anna Mathis is a fibre artist from the Maritimes. She taught a workshop on making a felted hat. Photo: Sebastien Lavallee

A woman holding yarn wearing a microphone, in front of about a dozen seated audience members.

La Capitaine Crochète demonstrates how to make crocheted scouring pads. Photo: Sebastien Lavallee

A man films seven women spinning on spinning wheels while a seated audience, in the foreground, watches.

The WOOLYMPICS!

The fastest spinner, the fastest knitter, and the knitting obstacle course were some of the competitions. The event was filmed live and projected on screens inside the marketplaces. Each contestant had 10g of yarn to spin. The winner was the one who was able to make the longest yarn in the shortest time. Photo: Sebastien Lavallee

A dog herds sheep into the middle of a dirt field as a woman watches.

Sheep herding demonstration. Photo: Sebastien Lavallee

White sheep, up close, through a blurry wire fence in the foreground.

Shropshire ewe from the Rare Breeds Canada showcase. Photo: Sebastien Lavallee

Light brown sheep, up close, through a blurry wire fence in the foreground.

Shropshire ram from the Rare Breeds Canada showcase. Photo: Sebastien Lavallee

A crowd of shoppers at a booth labeled "Pure Laine."

Pure Laine Etc. is a local yarn store in Saint-Sauveur Québec. Their booth won 1st prize. Photo: Sebastien Lavallee

Two women speaking with a vendor in a booth displaying yarn.

Riverside Studio, from Wakefield, Québec, is a favorite at the festival for her hand-dyed yarns. Photo: Sebastien Lavallee

In the foreground, people examining roving; in the middle ground and background, a busy marketplace.

We miss being able to touch, feel and even smell the fibre… Photo: Sebastien Lavallee

Image description: People shopping in a marketplace.

La Maison Tricotée, from Montréal, Québec is one of 130 vendors at the festival. Photo: Sebastien Lavallee

Image description: In the foreground, two tables with four and two women sitting, respectively; in the background, people waiting in line or speaking with vendors.

Under the Big Top, attendees enjoy snacks from local food vendors. Photo: Sebastien Lavallee

Image description: Four people stand in conversation.

The founder of the Twist Festival, Amélie Blanchard, in conversation with fibre designers Maxim Cyr (aka Max the Knitter), Amélie Laberge, and Maude Levasseur. Photo: Sebastien Lavallee

Image description: people in conversation or shopping at a vendor's table.

Shopping and sharing with friends. Photo: Sebastien Lavallee

Image description: Two women sitting and knitting, with a third, on the right ,speaking into a microphone.

Sylvie St-Jacques (left) international freelance journalist and avid knitter, alongside Amélie Laberge (right) recorded “knitting stories” from many festival goers for a podcast project. Photo: Sebastien Lavallee

Image description: Woman in the centre and on the left smile while spinning wool.

Spinners at work in the WOOLYMPICS. Photo: Sebastien Lavallee

Image description: People sitting in Adirondak chairs in a circle, in a large tent with paper lanterns overhead.

Julie Desjardins (aka ACCROchet),center, held a crocheter meetup at the end of the day. Photo: Sebastien Lavallee

Image description: A man looks at fleece as a vendor watches. In the background, fleece on a table and a group of women.

Rare Creeds Canada strives for the conservancy of certain breeds of sheep. Photo: Sebastien Lavallee

Featured Image Credit: Sebastien Lavallee

Digits & Threads Is a Member-Supported Independent Online Magazine

The articles, tutorials and patterns we publish about Canadian fibre and textile arts, crafts and industry are made possible by our Armchair and Studio Members.

Join Today
Image description: White Digits & Threads ampersand logo.

About Digits & Threads

Digits & Threads editors.

Related Posts

Archive Deep-Dive: From BC to Newfoundland

Archive Deep-Dive: From BC to Newfoundland

by | Aug 22, 2023

Digits & Threads launched in the first fall of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it was a balm during lockdown and the dark days of winter to virtually explore all that’s going on in fibre and textiles across the country. Over the years, we have continued to publish articles that are rooted in place, and we hope you enjoy these visits as much as we have. Here’s the full list!

Fibre Week in Olds, Alberta

Fibre Week in Olds, Alberta

by | Aug 2, 2023

[Open Access] Reader and contributor Michelle Boyd takes us along on a visit to Olds Fibre Week in Alberta, highlighting notable vendors and sights.

Common Threads: Volume 20, August 2023

Common Threads: Volume 20, August 2023

by | Aug 2, 2023

[Open Access] Our August 2023 roundup of fibre and textile arts and crafts in Canada. Explore the latest exhibitions, news, and events, including a report on the craft industry in Newfoundland and Labrador, and upcoming classes on the Sunshine Coast.

Get 10% off!

Join our mailing list to get special Studio Membership pricing! PLUS hear about new Digits & Threads content and community news.

Subscription success! Well done, you.

No spam, not ever.