Author: Louise Scollay

WOVEMBER WORDS: From Land's End to John O'Groats, a sheepy journey of the British Isles

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Throughout WOVEMBER we will hear from people taking part in the KnitBritish Breed Swatch-along who discovering the unique characteristics of different single breed wool yarns. LOUISE will be here tonight with a post about the SAL –  on how you can take part and how it has spurred participants on to really investigate the yarn they knit with. Ahead… Continue Reading WOVEMBER WORDS: From Land's End to John O'Groats, a sheepy journey of the British Isles

Soft Fell sheep and their fleece #3 : logistics and finances

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In the last week of WOVEMBER we received some amazing contributions which were just too good not to share which is why WOVEMBER will be continuing until Friday. This is therefore not the last post of WOVEMBER! Though the month has run out of days there was just too much good content for us to… Continue Reading Soft Fell sheep and their fleece #3 : logistics and finances

Something Blue: My Not So Secret Yarn Crush on Bluefaced Leicester

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Victoria Magnus is an independent hand dyer and knitwear designer, and the woman behind Eden Cottage Yarns. Based in Yorkshire, Victoria is inspired by nature and her surroundings, and hand dyes all her yarns in her home kitchen. Stocked worldwide, Eden Cottage Yarns specialise in high quality natural fibres, dyed to a relaxing and understated… Continue Reading Something Blue: My Not So Secret Yarn Crush on Bluefaced Leicester

Wovember Words: Shetland Wool Pinafore Dress

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Our finely honed appreciation for wool can bring such joy, especially when we can create something from fleece to finish. Sarah Howard wrote to WOVEMBER to tell us about her own favourite high wool content item. I love spinning Shetland fleece and every year I head for the fleece sales at Woolfest to choose another one,… Continue Reading Wovember Words: Shetland Wool Pinafore Dress

it's never too early to cultivate a love of wool

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Given our earlier nursery rhyme themed WOVEMBER words and ahead of our Friday Night Vi-EWE-ing tonight, aimed at the next generation of wool lovers, Louise thought it might be apt to share with you a great wool educational resource designed for children. The British Wool Learning resource has been created by the British Wool Marketing… Continue Reading it's never too early to cultivate a love of wool

Wovember Words: Baa Baa Black Sheep

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Often the simplest sentiments have deep roots which are neither simple nor sentimental. Let’s look at an old favourite nursery rhyme… Original version: Bah, bah, black sheep, Have you any wool ? Yes, marry have I, Three bags full; One for my master, One for my dame, But none for the little boy Who cries… Continue Reading Wovember Words: Baa Baa Black Sheep

Beyond Merino and Blue Faced Leicester: Top Alternative Breed Choices and Blends in Hand Dyed Yarns

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Here at WOVEMBER we have featured a great deal of wonderful yarns for your knitting and crafting delectation. As well as singing the praises of different breed yarns, we do like to celebrate the skilled people who bring that wondrous skein into our stash too. Today’s post does just that – looking beyond the confines… Continue Reading Beyond Merino and Blue Faced Leicester: Top Alternative Breed Choices and Blends in Hand Dyed Yarns

Pure Wool for Socks (no nylon here folks)

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During WOVEMBER we have already had a little look at which wool yarns are best suited to certain projects. Interested in finding out if there are pure wools which are best suited to socks Louise tasked designer, and author of Sock Anatomy, Clare Devine in finding out. Happily, Clare jumped at the chance to investigate…… Continue Reading Pure Wool for Socks (no nylon here folks)

Chris Dyer: crofting aspirations

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Here at WOVEMBER we recognise the importance of the wool journey and we have been very lucky to have had such insightful contributions looking at sheep farming. In today’s post we look at the experiences of first time crofter Chris Dyer. Originally from London, archaeologist Chris decided to take over a croft in Bressay, Shetland… Continue Reading Chris Dyer: crofting aspirations

The relationship between wool and design

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This WOVEMBER we have looked at how different breed wools should be celebrated for their individual characteristics and how these can really compliment the pattern of your choice. We are very pleased to have designer Karie Westermann discuss her personal relationship between yarn and the design aesthetic.   As a knitter I am drawn to… Continue Reading The relationship between wool and design