My dyeing complements William Morris’ Strawberry Thief What Joy to spin. Moved my wheel into the sitting room and will spend the weekend spinning by the fire; unless it dries up enough to dig over the asparagus bed that is…Hopefully it will be a weekend filled with Joy whatever the weather! The post Joyful weekend appeared first on Spinning School ..read more

Cop26 –  time to shake up the Woolsack. As politicians and campaigners prepare for Cop26 might someone consider the tragic waste of British wool? There are over 15 million breeding ewes in the UK ergo at least 15,000 tonnes of the most exquisitely, versatile, useful, and bio-degradable, environmentally friendly fibre known to man. What is staggering to to learn is that much of this just gets burned! Yes. It gets burned!  By tradition the Chancellor of the Exchequer sits on a woolsack. A sort of diplomatic nod to the esteemed place wool held in the economy – once upon a time. Sadly ..read more

Need or want – in these tricky times I have come to realise the difference between Need and want.  Wilbarston Shop has everything I need. So do supermarkets, but there, the things I need are not as obvious. On display are things I might want, but dont need: e.g. orchids, out of season fruit and veg, dishwasher tablets on special offer…and so on. I buy all these things of course! But these are the things that ‘cost the earth’ in more sense than one. They are not necessities – at least not to me, I now realise. What do I really need? A roof over my head, means of keeping clean and warm, and ..read more

My first pupil from Japan has earned her Long Draw Spinner rosette after only two lessons. A tremendous achievement for a pupil whose first lesson took place just three weeks ago. She has also made the felted fox who My first pupil from Japan has earned her Long draw Spinner Rosette after only two lessons. A tremendous achievement for a pupil who first lesson took place just three weeks ago. She has also made a felted fox who looks very cosy hiding beneath the rosette. She chose an Ashford Joy wheel that folds up  into a strong secure bag suitable for air freight, so that she can take it back ..read more

Dyeing for summer school is priority with only four days to go. Bundles such as this are to help and inspire spinners dyeing their own fibre for sock yarn next weekend. Amazing the difference what a little pot of Ashford dye (£6.40) and some vinegar can make. Sweet Pea Socks – hand dyed BFL – 75% of sock yarn. Knit socks. We will be making luscious socks that will bring joy to the eye – as well as the feet. There’s much more to socks than an luscious yarn…You need the skill to knit them and for this we have professional tuition from Jacqui at Purlwise – Jacqui is to knitting what I am to sp ..read more

Summer School at Knuston Hall for all who love wool – any skill level. Two, three day summer breaks that will feel like heaven. Saturday 27-Monday 29 July and, Wednesday 31 July – Friday 2nd August Three days in which to Learn to Knit from scratch, or Knit socks. Learn to spin Long draw from scratch, Design and spin your own sock yarn. Felt luscious seat pads. Overnight accommodation available for an additional £83 per night which includes evening meal and breakfast. See Events for more details The post summer school for all who love wool – any skill level appeared first on Spinning School ..read more