The end of WOVEMBER… almost.

Dear WOVEMBERISTS and comrades, Today marks the end of WOVEMBER… almost. We hope you’ll agree that this year has been a particularly exciting edition of our annual woolly festivities. From this end it’s felt important to discuss issues around mislabeling, provenance, traceability and sustainability and to explore some of the potential solutions that WOOL can… Continue Reading The end of WOVEMBER… almost.

Wovember Words: One-erum, Two-erum, Cockerum

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

photo gallery round up #4

We cannot believe that this is the last photo competition round up of Wovember 2015! Here is Louise with the final round up of images that stood out this week. Do remember that you gain automatic entry to this competition by using the hashtag #Wovember2015 – but sadly you only have one more day! We… Continue Reading photo gallery round up #4

Wovember Words: Pratchett

Thank you so much to WOVEMBER reader KATA, who wanted to contribute a little nod to knitting from the late Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series.   I have been re-reading the Discworld novels and although Terry Pratchett does not seem to have had a soft spot for sheep, there is this episode in Carpe Jugulum: ‘Yeah,’… Continue Reading Wovember Words: Pratchett

Between Producers and Consumers of WOOL…

Today we wanted to try something out here on the WOVEMBER blog and share a conversation between a Producer of Yarn (Jane Dryden of Home Farm Wensleydales) and a Consumer of Yarn (me, Felix, TEAM WOVEMBER MEMBER and WOOLFAN). Jane sent me some of her different hand knitting yarns and I swatched with them, noting… Continue Reading Between Producers and Consumers of WOOL…

Wovember Words: Breed swatch-along – the feel of the fabric

Louise is back with more woolly words as described by participants in the #breedswatchalong. Last time I shared with you some of the words and phrases used by knitters to describe the feel of the ball of yarn as they approached the crafting of their swatch. After casting on and noting observances of the feel… Continue Reading Wovember Words: Breed swatch-along – the feel of the fabric

Tarndwarncoort: birthplace of the Polwarth

We are sure you will agree that today’s posts have given a lot of food for thought.  We have one final bonus post tonight from natural dyer and knitter Julia Billings, AKA Woollenflower. This summer Jules was back in her homeland of Australia to teach natural dyeing workshops at Tarndwarncoort, Western Victoria. This is where the Polwarth… Continue Reading Tarndwarncoort: birthplace of the Polwarth