on Today’s Wovember Word comes courtesy of Louise Spong of South Downs Yarn, about the counting words used by Sussex shepherds. The following extract comes from Shepherds of Sussex by Barclay Wills (originally published in 1938), who regales the following story: He [the farmer] told me that one job was ‘telling’ the sheep. The sheep were allowed… Continue Reading Wovember Words: One-erum, Two-erum, Cockerum
on Last night we heard from Louise Spong about The South Downs, Southdown sheep, and South Downs Yarn. You may have seen a few glimpses of the beautiful palette that the yarn is available in. Louise only uses natural dyes, and she is indepted to Jenny Dean, who is her mentor and partner in crime in… Continue Reading Louise Spong and Jenny Dean on Natural Dyeing
on As part of our focus on small producers, Wovember Team Member Tom met up with Louise Spong, founder of South Downs Yarn and Jenny Dean, expert natural dyer, and visited Graham Langford, one of the three shepherds that own the Nepcote Flock of Southdown sheep. Cup of tea warning: make a brew and get comfy,… Continue Reading Louise Spong on Tracing Provenance
on As an amuse-bouche for tonight’s post with Louise Spong from South Downs Yarn, we hear from her about a very special shepherd’s crook. With Louise’s natural curiosity, it was not enough to just know about the hook. She actually made one herself! So, here’s Louise, on the Pyecombe Hook: Ah, therein lies a tale or… Continue Reading Wovember Words: Pyecombe Hook
on Dear Wovember Readers, we have another evening with Ian Tait, who runs IST Crafts. Yesterday we heard from Ian in his own words, but tonight we’ll feature a new edition of a Q&A originally posted in the the Ravely Spindle Candy group. I feel Ian’s approach to spindle making, and his use of materials really resonates with… Continue Reading Ian Tait on Making Spindles – Part 2
on As this is the last working day in Wovember, this will be the last Wovember Words post. Today I’d like to share Felix’s, Kate’s, and Tom’s Personal Favourite Top-Three Wovember Words Winning Entries, and also the most favourite word selected by Wovember Readers. But first, here’s a recap of all the Wovember Words we heard… Continue Reading Wovember Words #21
on Dear Wovember Readers, tonight’s post and tomorrow’s post will go back to the Working With Wool theme, as we managed to get a last-minute contribution from Ian Tait, who runs IST Crafts. When I started out with spinning, I learnt on a drop spindle, and I didn’t get on with the cheap spindle I had… Continue Reading Ian Tait on Making Spindles – Part 1
on Today’s Wovember Words is a small excerpt from German writer Thomas Mann’s 1924 novel The Magic Mountain. It’s been a long time since I read this last, but I still remember the scene where a young Hans Castorp visits his ailing cousin Joachim Ziemssen in the Swiss International Sanatorium Berghof. Hans is initiated in one of the many rituals surrounding the lives… Continue Reading Wovember Words #6
on Today’s Wovember Words is brought to you by a member of the Wovember Ravelry group. She goes by the Ravelry name Corvid and is superstar glove knitter; do check out her project page if you’re a Ravelry member! Winding Wool, by Robert William Service. Winding Wool She’d bring to me a skein of wool And… Continue Reading Wovember Words #5
on The last triad of a trio of Oxford English Dictionary entries, as selected by Wovember friend Liz Ashdowne. This time we move from lamb to crone. lamb-ale, noun (see quotation). 1781 T. Warton Hist. Eng. Poetry III. xxv. 129 Lamb-ale is still used at the village of Kirtlington in Oxfordshire, for an annual feast or celebrity… Continue Reading Wovember Words #4