‘Lace on display at the Shetland Textile museum in Lerwick. It is breathtakingly beautiful and delicate.’ – Jeni Reid
Lace on display at the Shetland Textile museum in Lerwick
on Author: Felicity Ford
on Wovember Words: St. Blaise, Patron Saint of Wool combers
on While I was thumbing through Sue Blacker’s book, Pure Wool, I came across a reference to St. Blaise which led me to investigate and uncover the story of the Patron Saint of Wool combers… If the yarn is to be worsted-spun, the wool is taken half-carded to a series of machines which align the fibres… Continue Reading Wovember Words: St. Blaise, Patron Saint of Wool combers
Designing a Yarn, Part 1
on After hearing from Sally yesterday about the work that goes into producing wool at the breeding and farming stage, we thought it would be nice to move along the chain to learn how that wool is then turned into a yarn. Sue Blacker of Blacker Yarns and the Natural Fibre Company joins us to talk… Continue Reading Designing a Yarn, Part 1
Two safe pairs of hands
on ‘Two safe pairs of hands. Ella Gordon and Sandra Manson from Jamieson and Smith, the Woolbrokers in Lerwick, admiring a cobweb lace shawl.’ – Jeni Reid
Wovember Words: Nun's Veiling
on Today’s Wovember Words come from an amazing Victorian publication entitled Strawbridge & Clothier’s Quarterly and describe a type of open-weave and delicate fabric made from worsted-spun wool. You can still buy this fabric today, and it is very interesting to discover its use in Summer Costumes for Victorian ladies. I think it’s especially interesting because… Continue Reading Wovember Words: Nun's Veiling
How to use up small scraps of handspun yarn
on ‘How to use up small scraps of handspun yarn – make a very thin scarf. The purple yarn was dyed with logwood. I may have bought the green yarn.’ – Jeni Reid
Washing Fleece with Freyalyn
on Continuing from the wool care posts we did last week, this evening we are joined by Freyalyn who is the amazing force of life and WOOL behind Freyalyn’s Fibres, who shares her method for washing raw fleece. How *I* wash a fleece. There are as many ways to wash a fleece as there are breeds… Continue Reading Washing Fleece with Freyalyn
Ronnie's Rams
on ‘Ronnie Eunson’s Rams. Ronnie is one of the members of Shetland Organics, an organisation promoting organic fleece and wool from the Shetland islands.’ – Jeni Reid
A story about turning into yourself and coming full circle
on One reason for posting here about yarn production, the origins of wool in the landscape and so on is that these articles help recall what wool is and why it is special. However they also reconnect the textiles that we use and wear in daily life to the daily lives of shepherds, shearers, spinners, mill… Continue Reading A story about turning into yourself and coming full circle
Handspun scraps from making a PI Shawl
on ‘Handspun scraps from making a PI Shawl (pattern by Elizabeth Zimmerman) I made the shawl from handspun BFL singles which were dyed by using local leaves and plants. And some onion skins from the supermarket.’ – Jeni Reid