Prairie Fibre – Full Circles is a group exhibition organized by Jude Haraldson through Prairie Fibreshed.
Fibershed is a nonprofit based in California, that builds regional, climate-beneficial fiber systems by promoting soil-to-soil natural fibers and dyes, regenerative agriculture, and localized manufacturing. It educates, supports community networks, and advocates for sustainable textile supply chains that strengthen ecosystems, local economies, and social equity, while reducing environmental impact and reconnecting people to where their textiles come from.
A group of Saskatchewan fibre artists and shepherds came together to establish Prairie Fibreshed, as part of Fibershed’s affiliate program. Prairie Fibreshed was the organizing force behind this exhibition, alongside the Saskatoon Spinners and Weaver’s Guild.
There are 70 other Fibershed affiliate groups worldwide! All 71 affiliates have the same goal of regional, climate-beneficial fibre systems, education, supporting communities, and advocating for sustainable textile supply chains.
Knitting can be life changing and culture changing, and maybe even save the Earth. Let me explain.
Textiles are taken for granted. Think about every piece of cloth in your life: clothing, towels, blankets, home furnishings. Cloth surrounds us, cradle to grave. Human culture started with making baskets, yarn, and cloth. Now most textiles come from a huge global industry and it’s causing major problems for our world. Constantly changing clothing fashions result in a global waste issue and human abuses. Cheap cloth is largely plastic, made from fossil oil petrochemicals with many Earth-damaging consequences. All very depressing.
The world’s very large problems aren’t going to be solved by handcrafted fibre arts, but you must start somewhere. The Prairie Fibreshed is a beginning for change. We are working to form a local economy and culture involving natural fibres produced, processed, and used in ecologically beneficial ways by Saskatchewan people. This province is capable. We look after our own, and can initiate national changes, as we did with medicare and cooperatives.
So, back to knitting.
The Prairie Fibre – Full Circles exhibition started with a challenge issued to textile makers, artisans, and artists to use only natural materials produced as much as possible in Saskatchewan. The creative responses are in the Saskatchewan Craft Council Gallery (until April 11, 2026). So many people were involved in helping these 24 fibre artists show what they can do. This includes farmers and ranchers, animals, gardeners, fibre processors and suppliers, and fibre artisans sharing knowledge and hard work. Thank you to all involved.
Good little ideas dropped into a small area can ripple out in circles expanding enough to affect the whole world.
Good little ideas dropped into a small area can ripple out in circles expanding enough to affect the whole world.
Circles of influence
Sharing thoughts, knowledge, resources; widening the circle.
Circles start with Earth’s ecological cycles
Soil forming; plants growing food and fibres; life cycles; animals eating plants and producing fibres; people caring for soil, plants, other animals, and each other; remnants of plants, animals, and people decaying to soil; and around again.
Circular local fibre economies
Land; farmers; processors; shops; makers; users; benefiting each other in turn within a local area.
Circles of fibre artisans
Knitting meetups; spinning groups; weaving guilds; felting get togethers; yarn shop project afternoons.
Circles of passing along fibre arts
Skill sharing through generations, teaching children to knit or sew; classes in fibre arts techniques; group meetings to share knowledge and support.
Warm fibre, from a sheep raised ecologically, is shorn, the wool is hand spun and knit into a sweater inspired by heritage and a grandmother’s love of handwork. Craft to change a world.
