AROUND THE NEEDLES
Wool for the knitters, felters and crafters
FelinFach Natural Textiles
Traditionally hand-woven blankets, iconic Welsh tapestry blankets, throws, scarves, cushions, and other woollen products. Hand dyed yarn, dyed only with natural botanical dyes at our purposed designed Dye Studio in Pembrokeshire, Wales. Sheepskin Rugs, Welsh tartans and tools and accessories for Crafters and Makers. Workshops and Courses – Learn how to dye yarn and fabrics with natural botanical dyes only. Explore our full range at:
www.FelinFach.com – Natural Traditional Handmade
The Little Orkney Dye Shed
At The Little Orkney Dye Shed we aim to support the use of local wool, with a focus on the fleece of Orkney‘s native North Ronaldsay sheep.
I offer hand dyed supplies from this rare breed along with a range of UK sourced British breed yarns and fibres.
Ideal for the creative maker, please browse online!
www.littleorkneydyeshed.co.uk
Fernhill Farm is a certified regenerative livestock farm with eco-accommodation and event venues on the Mendip Hills AONB. 6000 sheep rotational graze the Mendip Plateau and supply natural fibres, grass fed meats, whilst enhancing biodiversity every step of their way. Visit Fernhill Fibre for fleece and fibres, commissioned yarns, cloth, felts and more.
www.Fernhillfibre.co.uk
West Yorkshire Spinners has been commission spinning British Wool in the UK since 1997. Since the brand’s inception in 2012, we have been carefully building our range of innovative products to excite and enthuse our customers. Regularly launching new collections and collaborations with designers and artists. To find your local stockist head to the stockist section of our website.
www.wyspinners.com
Laura’s Loom
I source fleece from almost two dozen farms within a 30 mile radius of my home in the Yorkshire Dales. I sort the wool in my garden, sample designs on my handlooms, then ‘shepherd’ my wool through a series of mills based in West Yorkshire and the Scottish borders where it is scoured, spun, dyed, woven and finished, eventually returning to me as 100% British wool blankets and scarves. Right from the start I have tried to maintain a tight ‘fibreshed’ and a sustainable ethos. I am proud to be playing a part in keeping our once famous woollen industry alive and relevant for future generations.
www.laurasloom.co.uk
Exmoor Horn Wool
“Wool with attitude” is how we characterise Exmoor Horn sheep. Their fleece produces a soft but robust and hard-wearing yarn for hand knitting, socks and pullovers, ideal for the outdoors.
Exmoor Horn Wool is a farmer-run company dedicated to promoting the breed. The genetic diversity of the national flock is ensured whenever you buy woollen products from a minority breed such as this. Its geo-specific provenance gives your knitting individuality which can’t be found on the High Street.
www.exmoorhornwool.co.uk
Isle of Auskerry
Isle of Auskerry is a family-run business producing a pure wool range of gorgeous rugs, knitting yarn and blankets from their herd of rare breed seaweed-eating sheep. Farmed on the 250-acre island in the far flung north of Scotland the flock live a life free from chemicals and man-made stress.
www.isleofauskerry.com
Ali Sharman Weaver
Ali designs and weaves tweed by hand as well as commissioning short runs
of cloth, seeking to work sustainably by using resources from the
region. Her Howgill Cloth range is inspired by the fells that overlook
her workshop and uses traceable wool sourced from local flocks. The
processes of scouring, spinning, dyeing, weaving and finishing all take
place within a 70 mile radius of her base in the Yorkshire Dales. Ali’s
cloth is designed for clothing, light furnishings and other sewing
projects. You can also purchase her Howgill weaving yarn.
Ali also teaches weaving from her workshop, either 1-2-1 or in small
groups.
www.alisharman-weaver.co.uk
Wit’s End Flock
We are a small farm in the heart of West Wales, we keep a fibre flock of rare and heritage breeds of sheep who grow the most amazing wool.
We produce woolen rugs and cushions, decorations for the home, and crafting wool in bats, roving, yarn and locks. All the wool is hand processed using traditional skills right on the farm.
We also have an adopt a sheep program, where you can adopt one of our wooly stars and if you’re in the area pop in and meet your sheep and the rest of the flock!
www.witsendflock.co.uk
