Category Archives: Hebridean Woolshed

 

Wool arrived back from the mill

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Well it’s almost a full year since I sent it off for spinning, but at long last the wool skeins have now arrived!  All the wool is worsted spun from selected first clips, and very dark and lustrous. Most is DK weight, some we ordered as Aran weight. About half of the DK will go to pay for Hebridean lambs we bought last year.  We really could do with either more sheep or access to more wool to buy! ‘Trouble up’ mill’ meant they didn’t start our wool until a month or more ago, by which time we were actually … Continue reading →

New studio planned for the Hebridean Woolshed

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We’ve talked it over many times – each time coming to a firm conclusion the opposite or at least diffent to the last time. But now we are definitely and finally decided.  More or less as soon as Jonathan is home for good in a week or so’s time, he’ll start work on a new studio/shop for the Hebridean Woolshed.  The scandinavian log-style garden cabin we put up (it cost us about £1250 all told!) back in 2003 as a general-purpose garden shop really just isn’t up to the job: not big enough, no enough protection from the weather, from … Continue reading →

Knitting needles – Ouch!

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Denise: I’ve now got more details on the wool yarn and needles required for the Eriskay knitting. Needles are very fine – 2 25 and made of rosewood at £18 a pair; and the yarn is an extremely fine multi-ply.  However this is an important investment in a potentially high-value new area of work, and it is good to be learning something new. … Continue reading →

Eriskay knitting

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Denise: Noticed a notice about a course on Eriskay knitting.  The island had its own tradition of family patterns, and there’s very few who know how to knit them, especially the most authentic patterns. Norma Neil from Askernish is going to present the course, with the support of a native of Eriskay.  I’ve signed up for it, and got the information on what yarns and needles I’ll need.