The Outer Hebrides may be better known as the home of legends Harris Tweed and Alice Starmore. But now you can add the island of Grimsay to that list. Connected by causeway to North Uist, Grimsay is home to the new Uist Mill and Wool Centre, opened in 2016 with the intention of boosting the industry and economic viability of the Outer Hebrides.
The Idea
Uist’s last spinning mill had closed in 1965. While plenty of sheep were still being raised on the island, their fleeces were being buried or burned for lack of a fair market. In 2008, a wool development group was formed to determine the feasibility of a mill on the island. A visit from one of the founders of Vermont’s Green Mountain Spinnery was so encouraging that plans were set in motion.
Four years later, a mill building was finally built and restored equipment brought in from Scotland and Yorkshire. As a nice community touch (or perhaps recognizing that it was in their best interest to have a mill that knew how to spin good yarn), local sheep farmers donated “learner” fleeces for the mill crew. Finally, in 2016, Uist Wool began spinning yarn commercially.
You know how they say you shouldn’t go to a restaurant on opening night? I’ve waited to explore Uist Wool for the same reason. Mills take time to get up and running properly. With a year of solid production experience behind them, I was excited finally to see what they’re up to. I ordered four skeins from the Uist Wool website. They very kindly sent me two more so I could get a better sense of how they’re progressing as a mill. (Quick verdict? Remarkably well.)
Show Me the Yarn
Part of the beauty of this mill is that, while it isn’t technically a mini-mill, it is set up to spin smaller quantities. This allows them greater agility in their experimentation as well as in being able to take commissions from others in the region.
They currently offer seven “core collection” yarns as well as a good number of what they call “special knit ranges” (i.e. all those fun experiments).
Although the nature of the blends is unique, I should note that you can find similar styles of yarn elsewhere. (Garthenor has superb Shetland, Ryeland, and Hebridean yarns, for example.) What really makes Uist Wool special is the fact that each skein is helping bring sustainable industry to the Outer Hebrides. And I’m not just talking about the jobs at the mill, but all the sheep farmers who now have a viable market for their fleece. When sheep farmers get paid fairly for their wool, they tend to grow more of it, which benefits us all.
Breeds
They say wine has terroir, and so do these yarns. Just as you won’t find mangoes growing wild in Maine, you won’t find any pure Merino here. The breeds on offer are a direct reflection on the geography and history of the island itself. These yarns are from spunky breeds like Cheviot, Hebridean, Jacob, Texel, Zwartbles, Ryeland, and Shetland, all of which thrive on the island. The yarn is so local, they can even tell you the name of the person who raised and sheared the sheep.
Wool geeks take note, the website and yarn labels don’t yet list the different breeds in each skein by percentage. Only the breed names are given. Likewise, the labels don’t list gauge or recommended needle size, just a general weight range (DK or Aran, for example).
Sìth
I started with my personal favorite: Sìth. It’s the perfect balance of substance and airiness, heft and halo. This DK-weight two-ply is a blend of Cheviot and Hebridean.
Mèath
A wild card among the lighter wool blends, this rather dense super-chunky three-ply is a blend of Cheviot and Shetland with, surprise surprise, a dusting of mohair.
Lùb
A true marled yarn, this bulky creation combines a thick strand of dark brown Zwartbles and a fine white strand of Cheviot for a distinctly salt-and-pepper look that’s accented by the difference in thickness of each ply.
Fuaran
A sturdy and supremely well-balanced three-ply, this aran-weight base is a solid blend of Cheviot and Zwartbles.
Canach
I know I said you wouldn’t find any Merino here, but that’s only half true. This tightly twisted tweedy two-ply is made from natural colors of Scottish Merino—a breed developed by crossing Saxon Merino with Shetland sheep.
Breathach
On the softer end of the spectrum, this balanced three-ply combines Shetland and Texel fibers in a yarn that feels sturdy yet airy.
Colors
Color is an interesting quality of all the Uist Wool yarns. Everything is as it grew on the sheep. Many of the breeds farmed locally retain the genetics for color, letting the mill produce yarns in a wide range of colors from cream and silver to tan, dark grey, and a rich, chocolate brown.
Other Specs
The mill’s sweet spot seems to be the DK to Aran range, though there are a few lace and bulky yarns too. Construction is two- and three-ply. Skeins are mostly 100g and tend to retail in the £18 to £20 range.
A Pricey Trip?
I’m not going to lie: Shipping to the U.S. is pricey. On a £72.00 order, I was charged £25, or about US$32. Then again, Expedia tells me that a flight from Portland, Maine, to Benbecula, Scotland, would run me about $2,000 and take 24 hours out, 36 hours back.
But with a quick click and a much smaller chunk of change, I can bring the very wooly essence of the Outer Hebrides to my doorstep and help revitalize an island economy in the process. Which is my kind of yarn.
Lissa | August 31, 2017
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It’s nice to “see” you again, Clara! Thanks for introducing us to this yarn.
Jan Frisch | August 31, 2017
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Love your support for a fledgling mill mixed with a bit of travelogue.
Kathleen Oliver | August 31, 2017
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Looks like a very earthy collection of yarn. I applaud the effort of reestablishing a mill. The challenge for any small farmer is to find a market and purpose for the wool they raise. This is a delightful result for this effort. Hats off to this cooperative spirit.
Kaethe Ko | August 31, 2017
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Clara
I discovered Uist wool just a couple of weeks ago via the KnitBritish podcast, she did a two part interview with them. I decided it was a worthy splurge so ordered 4 skeins each Fuaran and Tir, as well as 2 of Meath. My final purchase was one of their mill woven shawls, Sasta, a beautiful creamy white with a subtle squared check pattern, as a Christmas gift for my daughter in law. Pricey, yes, worth it, Absolutely. My order was 229 and my shipping was only 19.50 and the best part was I ordered it on Monday and it arrived in San Francisco on Friday! I love the fuaran, it has a lot of rebound to the fibre strand, and my swatch is a robust fabric, but much softer than before blocking. I decided to cast on Jared Flood’s Byway, in the wrap size, to honor the heritage of the sea and the yarn. I find it interesting that the yarn has a wonderful scent, almost like a brisk ocean breeze, that is different than the local wools I purchase here in Mendocino or up the coast to Oregon. Oh, I had to order 2 more fuaran to finish my shawl, but it is going to be wonderful for winter camping trips to Yosemite, or walking to work in our “cold” San Francisco winters (!)
Allison Kelsey | August 31, 2017
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I heard that podcast, too! I hope that Brexit doesn’t mess them up too much — I recall that they have a big grant from the European Union.
Dana MacPhee | September 4, 2017
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Hi Allison, our European grants are now historic and whatever emerges from the London-based UK government as a Brexit ‘deal’, have no fear, we should still be able to sell our yarns to our European friends and neighbours!
Denise | August 31, 2017
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What shawl pattern are you using and what website did you order from, please. Thank you
Kaethe Ko | September 1, 2017
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I am knitting Jared Flood’s Byway, it is in his Woolen Book. Here is a link to my Ravelry project
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/snoqualmiesmom/byway
And here is the link to his pattern on Ravelry
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/byway-2
It is a very relaxing and easy knit.
Kaethe Ko | September 3, 2017
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I am knitting the Byway wrap by Jared Flood, it is in Woolens by Brooklyn Tweed. Here is the Ravelry link
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/byway-2
And here is the website https://www.brooklyntweed.com/shop/byway/
It is a simple pattern to knit.
Dana MacPhee | September 4, 2017
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Very impressed by the delivery times from the Outer Hebrides to San Francisco and looking forward to seeing the finished shawl in Fuaran.
Beth | September 2, 2017
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Regarding your favorite, Sith – would you say this yarn a British or U.S. aran weight? I’ve been reading that British aran weight yarn can sometimes be equivalent to U.S. worsted weight yarn. I asked this on this yarn’s Ravelry page as well. Thank you!
Margaret-Rose Stringer | September 29, 2017
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Just brilliant ! – I’d give anything to be able to afford to get my hands on this gorgeous wool; but a combination of factors preclude it … living on the age pension and being in Oz put it out of my reach. [sob !]
Beautiful blog: my compliments !
Virginia | March 5, 2018
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Thanks so much for all this information about the mill and the yarns produced.