Another wondrous post from Jane Cooper telling the story from sheep to sweater of one very special garment! I’ve spent the entire month wearing just one sweater. It’s been a fun way to celebrate Wovember but also a way to fully test the properties of a new knitting yarn. I’d like to introduce Orkney Wool… Continue Reading My Wovember Sweater
Wovember Words: WOOL and electricity
Sheep and WOOL really do get into everything and, if you have purchased a copy of the KNITSONIK Stranded Colourwork Sourcebook you will already know that “everything” even includes a 1930s book about electricity entitled “The Wonders of Electricity”. Published in the 1930s, this book provides fascinating glimpses into the domestic interior of the 1930s… Continue Reading Wovember Words: WOOL and electricity
The Sheep On The Shore and The North Ronaldsay Spinning Mill
This evening we have a gem of a post from Jane Cooper, who will be known to many of you through her amazing work on the Woolsack project and also for the work she does on the Blacker and Beyond and Fleece & Fibre Sourcebook group on Ravelry which celebrates a diverse range of different… Continue Reading The Sheep On The Shore and The North Ronaldsay Spinning Mill
Elizabeth
One more beautiful guest post from Sara Dunham reflecting on a special member of her flock. I buried an old friend yesterday, a Jacob ewe who was at least 16, if not older. Elizabeth. Or as she was called for the last couple of years, Queen Elizabeth. I’m not sure about large flocks, but in… Continue Reading Elizabeth
Wovember Words: sounds and lost sounds
As WOVEMBERSISTS know, I am passionate about how sounds can be used to connect us to the landscapes, people and animals that are ultimately the source of WOOL. I was therefore thrilled to discover that Cathy Lane – composer, artist and one of my PhD examiners – has also been exploring these connections. Cathy Lane… Continue Reading Wovember Words: sounds and lost sounds
WAL entries 2014
Thank you for the wondrous entries you have sent in for the WAL (wool-a-long). If anyone else has got special 100% WOOL projects to share with WOVEMBER, you have until our new extended deadline of WEDS DECEMBER 3RD to get them in! In the meantime, here are some of the wondrous 100% WOOL projects produced… Continue Reading WAL entries 2014
Soft Fell sheep and their fleece #3 : logistics and finances
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
I love it still
‘One of my first handspun projects made from merino tops and spun on a drop spindle. This is a wrap knitted in a slip stitch pattern to show off the changes in the colours. I was aiming for something which looked like Noro yarn. It took forever to make and I love it still.’ –… Continue Reading I love it still
The Golden Hoof
While writing out the words of my song the other day I went on one of my sporadic quests to locate an image of an actual Berkshire Nott. I am obsessed with this sheep breed because it is the one that was locally important where I now live in Reading, Berkshire. It is now extinct… Continue Reading The Golden Hoof
Silkworms: a tale of provenance
I know we normally only write about WOOL on this blog and that WOOL is the key focus for WOVEMBER, so you may be forgiven for wondering what on earth a post about SILK is doing here! But bear with us, dear WOVEMBERISTS, for this is a story of provenance; of trying to understand where… Continue Reading Silkworms: a tale of provenance
