Wednesday 12 May 2021

List of UK Independent Wool Spinners, Dyers and Suppliers

 

Name                                                                                                            Find/Events/ Shop                                                 Webpage
Ardalanish - Mill Shop Map https://ardalanish.com/
Ardalanish - Online Shop Online Shop https://ardalanish.com/
Baa Ram Ewe Online Shop https://baaramewe.co.uk/
Birlinn Yarn Company Online Shop https://www.birlinnyarn.co.uk/
Blacker Yarns Map (visits by appointment) https://www.blackeryarns.co.uk/about/contact-us/
Black Isle Yarns Online Shop https://blackisleyarns.co.uk/
The Border Mill - Online Online Shop https://www.thebordermill.co.uk/
The Border Mill - Shop Map https://www.thebordermill.co.uk/
Buachaille - Kate Davies Online Shop https://www.shopkdd.com/
Caithness Yarns Online Shop https://www.caithnessyarns.com/
Cambrian Wool Online Shop https://www.cambrianwool.co.uk/
Cartref Yarn Online Shop https://www.cartrefyarn.com/
Countess Ablaze - Online Shop Online Shop https://www.countessablaze.com/
Countess Ablaze - Studio Shop Map https://www.countessablaze.com/pages/visit-the-studio
Daughter of a Shepherd Events and News https://daughterofashepherd.com/
Doulton Border Leicester Yarn Online Shop https://doultonborderleicesteryarn.com/
Eden Cottage Yarns Online Shop https://www.edencottageyarns.co.uk/
Erika Knight Suppliers https://www.erikaknight.co.uk/
Garthenor Online Shop https://garthenor.com/
Gathered Sheep Yarns Online Shop https://gatheredsheepyarns.com/
Giddy Aunt Yarns Online Shop https://giddyauntyarns.co.uk/
Grey Sheep Co Online Shop https://www.thegreysheep.co.uk/
Highland Wool CIC CIC Project https://thehirsel.com/highland-wool-mission/
The Hollyhock Flock Buying Options https://hollyhockflock.co.uk/
Hooligan Yarns Online Shop https://www.hooliganyarns.com/
J.C. Rennie & Co Online Shop https://www.knitrennie.com/
Jamieson and Smith Online Shop https://www.shetlandwoolbrokers.co.uk/
John Arbon Textiles Visits not possible at the moment https://www.jarbon.com/
Kettle Yarn Online Shop https://www.kettleyarnco.co.uk/
Knockando Woolmill Online Shop https://www.kwc.co.uk/
The Lace Knittery Online Shop http://www.thelaceknittery.com/
Lammermuir Wool Online Shop https://www.lammermuirwool.scot/store/c1/lammermuir-wool-shop-window-buy-our-wool
Laxtons Online Shop https://www.bylaxtons.co.uk/
Lily Warne Wool Online Shop https://lilywarnewool.co.uk/
Nellie and Eve Online Shop https://www.nellieandeve.com/
Northern Yarn - Online Shop Online Shop https://www.northernyarn.co.uk/
Northern Yarn - Shop Map https://www.northernyarn.co.uk/
Peak District Yarns Online Shop https://peakdistrictyarns.co.uk/
R.E.Dickie Shop Currently Closed http://www.britishwool.com/index-2.html
RiverKnits - Online Shop Online Shop https://www.riverknits.uk/?v=79cba1185463/
RiverKnits - Studio Shop Map https://www.riverknits.uk/?v=79cba1185463/
Toft Alpaca Online Shop https://www.toftuk.com/
Town End Yarns Online Shop https://townendyarns.co.uk/
Triskelion Online Shop https://www.triskelion-yarn.com/
Uist Wool - Online Shop Online Shop https://www.uistwool.com/
Uist Wool - Shop Map https://www.uistwool.com/
Wensleydale Longwool Online Shop https://www.wensleydalelongwool.co.uk/?v=79cba1185463
West Yorkshire Spinners Map https://www.wyspinners.com/
Whistlebare - Online Shop Online Shop https://whistlebare.com/
Whistlebare - Farm Studio Shop Map https://whistlebare.com/Studio/
Woolistheanswer Online Shop https://www.woolistheanswer.co.uk/about-us-1

Sunday 2 May 2021

Allotment Update

It is a very slow start to Spring at the moment. Unduly cold, lots of overnight frosts and, it is said, the frostiest April in sixty years here in England. On many evenings we have had to go and cover seedlings and the fruit trees to protect them. 

The little lean-to greenhouse in the front garden has been getting full!


I think the damson tree hasn't appreciated the cold nights and there's nowhere near as much blossom that has "set" than this time last year. Perhaps just as well - there's still some damsons in the freezer! The Conference pear tree might not have as many on either this year, 

However, the apple trees are in full blossom as well as the Comice pear tree. 


This is the Falstaff, which is along the back fence, and gets the sun for most of the day. Last year I picked well over a hundred apples from this minarette tree and it looks to be a good year this year too as long as we don't get any more cold weather. 


This is the Gala apple tree, a reasonable crop last year but with it being very late ripening it has to be netted against hungry blackbirds, some apples aren't ripe until early December! 


This is the Chivers Delight apple tree which is getting overshadowed a little bit by the hazelnut tree at the back of the allotment. However, last year it had the biggest apples it has ever had, a yellow apple much more sweet than a Golden Delicious. 

The rhubarb in the foreground was a division from the main plant a couple of years ago and looks like it is now well established. I have frozen some already from the main plant and will, once I have sufficient, make a rhubarb compote for use with porridge or on bread. 

The potatoes have also needed considerable earthing up this April with the regular late frosts. However, with protection of the broad beans, peas, turnips, strawberries, blueberries and radishes, it looks like we have been able to ensure everything survived. 

The asparagus has been coming up and we have had, I think, three pickings from it now. 


There's been plenty of purple sprouting broccoli, we have around a dozen plants and although I don't like the taste of it one bit (!) the others in the family eat it regularly. There again, there's only two of us that eat leeks, including me, and there's only myself that eats gherkins, but there's always something for everyone in the thirty-five or so varieties of fruit and vegetables that we grow in the allotment, yard and house!