UK Tag

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The United Kingdom of Wool: Kate Davies, Rachel Atkinson, and Ysolda Teague Make Yarn

Once the backbone of the British empire, wool has declined in value so much that it's being buried or burned by farmers who pay more to shear a sheep than they can get for its fibers. Three people in the UK are trying to change

May 3, 2016

Kettle Yarn Co. Baskerville

I first heard about the Exmoor Blueface sheep from John Arbon back in 2010 when I was in London for Knit Nation. This relatively new breed is the result of a cross between Exmoor Horn (a hill breed from north Devon) and Bluefaced Leicester sheep. The UK

February 9, 2016

December in London: A Knitter’s Odyssey

I've always dreamed of seeing London in December. When I heard news that Pompom was having a Christmas party and pop-up indie yarn market in London, I decided to use this party as an excuse to cross the pond. I reached out to friends and colleagues,

December 17, 2015

Travels

Erika Knight British Blue Wool

Erika Knight is the consummate knitwear designer. Teacher, lecturer, and author of countless books, she's been a fixture in the much-vaunted Rowan designer line-up for years. Not only does she know her technique, but she knows her yarn too. After years of paying her dues,

August 28, 2014

Toft Ulysses DK

At the 2010 Knit Nation market in London, the British yarn scene was just beginning to expand from big brands to smaller, more local producers. John Arbon Textiles had skeins of British wool spun at their own mill, and Renaissance Dyeing had French wool they'd sourced and naturally dyed by

July 3, 2014

Blacker Yarns Pure Bluefaced Leicester Lace

What is the best yarn for lace? And what is lace, anyway? Your basic knitted fabric—stockinette, garter, ribbing, and the likes—is all about filling space with fiber and creating something cohesive. We knit those fabrics out of plump, well-rounded multiple-ply yarns, and we're happy with the

March 13, 2013

Baa Ram Ewe Titus

The UK has a vibrant textiles history. Most argue that the fortunes of the British empire were, in fact, based on the wool trade. Somewhere along the line, between globalization and our quest for softness, this trade faltered. Today, Britain's wool manufacturing industry is hurting, as

October 4, 2012