Blog
Women shearing?
The growing shortage of shearers in Portugal is a real problem, one that affects small producers in particular. To underestimate the importance of having professional training courses such as the one we ran last May, and the impact that people of any gender can have in addressing the problem, is a failure of judgement.
Shearing School 2026
Our training is centred on the Bowen technique, the most widely used professional shearing method in the world. The focus is on teaching the choreography with precision: just as in a dance, the Bowen technique requires learning positions and movements in a specific sequence, which is what allows us to optimise the removal of the wool as a whole fleece, the comfort of the animal, and that of the shearer.
From sheep to knit
These samples were knitted during last weekend's intensive machine knitting course, using hand-spun yarn made from campaniça wool from Vale de Gatos blended with the alpaca of Juliette Spierings' neighbour.
Horns, eyes, tongues and fleeces: a devilish introduction to felting
This year we started a new educational project in Vinhais, also focused on training educators from the municipality who can later go on to run educational activities for all types of audiences.
The first session was dedicated to Felting.
GUR, from illustration to loom
Today was a day to visit GUR — to pick up our new piece to bring home, and to see first-hand how Célia was getting on with her new Louet Jane loom, which she has been using since last November!
Sheep of Portugal
Este é o nosso novo poster, dedicado às Ovelhas de Portugal! Criamos esta peça para ajudar a valorizar cada uma das nossas raças ovinas autóctones, ensinando um pouco mais sobre a incrível diversidade das suas lãs,
It's a job of opening doors
In Vinhais, when we began our work, we observed an interesting situation. On the one hand, local festivities related to Caretos had been growing in popularity, attracting new people from the community to participate. On the other hand, local weaving had been in decline for many years, which led to the absurd situation of needing new costumes, but having no fabric.
Between Vinhais and Podence, careto costumes are made
Returning to Vinhais makes us think about the work we did there between 2022 and 2023, the fantastic group of people we had the opportunity to teach, and what came of it. Two of those people were Sofia Pombares and Sandrina Fernandes.
Saber Fazer returns to Vinhais
Good news: in 2026, we will return to Vinhais to teach weaving, felting, and wool working!
Manel of craft and music
Did you know that our warping posts and tapestry looms are made here in Porto by Manel Toga? We have been working with Manel for over 10 years, since the time he worked at Missom (where he also made our Portuguese spindles, which are still in high demand!).
From wool to colour, a guide for educational activities
It is not easy to design educational activities for all contexts and ages, we know! But if you have been following us, you may have noticed that lately we have been focusing on ‘teaching to teach,’ or in some way contributing to increasing the number of educators in the areas of crafts throughout the country.
For the Churra Algarvia sheep breed
The outlook for Portuguese wool is not great, as we know, but every now and then we see light at the end of the tunnel when we learn that more and more initiatives are being organised to promote local wool. One such organisation is Algarchurra, an association created by Carolina Sousa and Rita Guerreiro a few years ago, which has been conducting research and promoting the Churra Algarvia sheep and, of course, its wool.
Let’s learn machine knitting
In November we will be holding our first Intensive Machine Knitting Course, taught by Maria David Castro, which will be a course with certified professional training hours.
The return of our flaxseed to the National Portuguese Seed Bank
Last September, we made a brief visit to return almost 5 kg of Galego flax seed from our 2024 production.
Linen and the group of Senhora do Monte
These lovely ladies are Elvira, Helena and Fátima, and they are part of the Santa Maria do Monte women's group in the municipality of Arouca. Last week, they came to Saber Fazer to learn how to use their new spinning wheel, which will help them spin the linen they produced this year.
Visiting Os Casares and Espacio Vilaseco
It was the last days of summer, which in parts of the north-west of the peninsula already feel like autumn, when we finally visited Os Casares, an incredible space in Ribeira Sacra, in the heart of neighbouring Galicia.
Behind the warp
A few shots of Guida while she was weaving her piece for the ‘Intertwined Gestures’ exhibition, which reminded me of other times when I spent more time photographing workshops and their inhabitants, and less time in front of the computer.
Shearing the saloias
It was shearing day for the Saloias of Casal da Freira. As you already know, we like to work in partnership with Marty and Susana O'Connel whenever possible. Perfectly shorn fleeces. Well skirted and sorted, this year with a little help from Guida Fonseca and Pedro. We never get tired of seeing the satisfaction on the producers' faces when they see their animals' wool really valued.
About Saloia sheep and the saloias from Casal da Freira
This year we wanted to find a Saloia sheep producer who was aligned with our values and with whom we could collaborate not only in the purchase of wool, but also in other initiatives that we have been developing in favour of Portuguese wool. That producer, Mr António Cardoso from Casal da Freira, came to us, and very well, through Guida's hand.