on Some of you may remember that last year during WOVEMBER we featured a Q&A with Marion Woolcott about WOOLFEST? WOOLFEST is organised by The Wool Clip – a co-operative of 15 members who share the work of running a shop through which they are able to sell their woollen goods. The Wool Clip – photo… Continue Reading Pam Hall on Growing Wool…
on It seems that every member of Team Wovember has a soft spot for Magnus and Justyna Holburn’s Foula Wool. Kate has designed a hat/tea-cosy knitting pattern called Tea Jenny. Tom is working on a men’s Fair Isle cardigan knitting pattern, to be launched later in Wovember, and Felix is a general admirer and desperate to… Continue Reading Foula Wool Q&A
on Staple: “wool grows on the sheep in definite locks as distinct from the way in which hair grows, for example, in a cat. These locks are the staple, a word which, during our long history, has symbolised the power and dignity of the wool trade. We may be sure that, in whatever setting we may… Continue Reading WOVEMBER WORDS #18
on As we will see in tonight’s post about somebody who does not have to ‘close the gap’ between growing wool and wearing wool: “Without a thorough knowledge of his raw material, a craftsman cannot do good work because he understands only imperfectly the reasons for his actions. Few craftsmen have the privilege of using a… Continue Reading WOVEMBER WORDS #4
on We mentioned Deb Robson in our recommended reading for WOVEMBER post, and in “Growing Wool in pictures by Susan Gibbs“. If you have not yet seen The Fleece and Fibre Sourcebook we suggest you check it out at once! And if you ever have the chance to attend one of Deb Robson’s workshops, you will… Continue Reading Deb Robson on Growing Wool…
on A self-professed yarn-based craft addict, Kate Woolwinding submitted this post – and another, to be revealed later in the month! – as an entry to the WOVEMBER competition! Kate is a freelance writer and editor living on a windy Welsh hillside not far from the sea, and here are her words on Growing Wool. You… Continue Reading Kate Woolwinding on Growing Wool…
on Sheep have been bred in Britain for a very long time indeed – for their fleece, their milk, and their meat. It may come as no surprise therefore, that: “The words used to describe sheep of different age and sex vary in detail up and down the country. Lambs are EWE lambs if female; if… Continue Reading WOVEMBER WORDS #3
on Sue Blacker with her sheep, photograph © Sam Morgan Moore Sue Blacker is well known to wool enthusiasts as she has a hand in the whole fleece to garment process from start to finish! In running The Natural Fibre Company she works with many woolgrowers who get their fleeces spun there; as a knitwear designer… Continue Reading Sue Blacker on Growing Wool…
on If you usually think of breed-specific wool as that gorgeous skein of Merino in your favourite colour at your local yarn shop, then think again. Lincoln Longwool Sheep, picture submitted to Wovember2011 Gallery by Helena Callum “The usual classification of our [British breed] sheep into MOUNTAIN, LONGWOOLS and DOWNS, is that which emphasises the character… Continue Reading WOVEMBER WORDS #2
on WOVEMBER readers may remember this prize-winning photo, taken by Helena Callum last WOVEMBER? In writing about the sheep photos submitted last year, TEAM WOVEMBER were uncertain about what type of sheep this was, but luckily Louise Fairburn – shepherd to the Risby Longwool Flock – recognised the photo in Helena’s photo as one of her… Continue Reading Growing Wool in pictures by Louise Fairburn