Woolness and me: Past, present and future in wool

Hazel Smith, Mill Manager at Uist Wool, is here today to talk about her love for wool and how much wool wellness she gleans from working in the industry. Hazel wrote a longer article for us last year on her work at the mill, and the incredible yarns they make that tell the story of… Continue Reading Woolness and me: Past, present and future in wool

WOOLNESS & THE LAND: Yuli Sømme 2017

This evening’s post comes from Yuli Sømme with whom Paula Wolton has worked since the outset of the One Hut Full project. In these short texts she explores the many ways in which she works with wool to help us better connect this material with its origins in the land. Feet Felt “We’re going to… Continue Reading WOOLNESS & THE LAND: Yuli Sømme 2017

yarn that tells the story of Uist

This week our theme is centred on wool empowerment. Earlier in Wovember we heard from Dana MacPhee, director of Uist Wool, on the project’s inception and setting up their mill. Today we are pleased to welcome mill manager Hazel Smith to give her personal account of her involvement with the project.  Uist Wool. Our name, I believe,… Continue Reading yarn that tells the story of Uist

Journey of a wool yarn #2

Earlier in Wovember Louise spoke to Joy McMillan, from The Knitting Goddess about her plans to design a 100% Yorkshire wool yarn. In conversation with Louise and Joy was Claire Tunney, of Fourways Dorsets, whose fleece was going into the yarn. You can listen to their interview here. An important part of the process of creating… Continue Reading Journey of a wool yarn #2

Oi și lână în România – sheep and wool in Romania

Today for our EU Wovember Words post we are in Romania where the word for sheep is oaie, and the word for wool is lână. To begin with the sheep (info from this report); In Romania there are two autochthon native breeds: Turcana, named also Zackel (“mountain peasant”, “Romanian”) or Walachian (“Romanian”), is the sheep… Continue Reading Oi și lână în România – sheep and wool in Romania

Ovelhas e lãs portuguesas – the work of Rosa pomar

Today our EU themed Wovember Words is travelling to Portugal where the word for sheep is ovelha, and the word for wool is lã. We are taking all our inspiration and some of our quotes for this post from Rosa Pomar. Rosa has been documenting and researching the sheep breeds and textile traditions of Portugal for… Continue Reading Ovelhas e lãs portuguesas – the work of Rosa pomar

Uist Wool

Dana MacPhee, director of Uist Wool, is here today to talk about the development of their mill and training programme. The Uist Wool Mill will spin local and other fleece for local craftspersons and for selling outwith the islands. The project seeks to help to revitalise this traditional island industry through creating employment, training and workspaces and… Continue Reading Uist Wool

Estonian Native Sheep

For Wovember Words today we are in Estonia! When team Wovember member Felix traveled there in 2012 for a residency, she discovered the wondrous organisation Hea Villa Selts (Facebook link) which translates loosely as The Good Wool Society. This is a coalition of shepherds and wool-workers working to understand and teach the best ways to… Continue Reading Estonian Native Sheep

Q&A with Rare Breeds of Canada Shepherds: working at the (literal) grassroots to maintain rare breeds

Nancy MacMillan is an avid knitter with an interest in Rare Breeds and working with wool straight from the source. Pam Heath is a Shepherdess whom Nancy first met at the Ottawa Knitting Guild some years ago. Pam is a wonderful resource for all things Rare Breeds, and she and Elwood Quinn kindly agreed to do… Continue Reading Q&A with Rare Breeds of Canada Shepherds: working at the (literal) grassroots to maintain rare breeds