Gotland Sheep
Well two links both local; I had to go to Hebden Bridge today to pick up my two pairs of glasses. Lillie took me and we had coffee at the cafe she does some part time work for. Afterwards we wandered through the market to get to the opticians, and there was a stall with a man selling wool. I almost did not stop but then went to look over, it was arranged in delicious rows of blending colours.
Now I know without asking that I would be paying at least £12 a hank for them, so would only buy two. But he went into a long history of the wool he and his wife farmed from the Gotland sheep they kept on his farm. He was very enthusiastic but I had to cut him a little short because of my appointment, so here is their enterprise, beautifully coloured wools from the rather soft curly Gotland sheep. It is local wool from Burnley in Lancashire, The sheep are Northern European and produce a fine wool.
It is lovely to see in this country a move away from synthetic yarns to proper natural materials, and we should always use such yarn to knit with. It is expensive but then the farmers have to make their income and for all the hard work that goes into the product. Listen to anyone in the craft industry for a start at how much time they spend on their work, which if counted by the hour would involve far higher costs.
The next link came from Megalithic Portal news, it is about 'Exploring the Ancient burials' above Rochdale. Rochdale is about 9 miles from Tod and the barrows are up on the moors.
my first ever job was in textiles at a woollen mill.... it was fascinating.... unfortunately, like most things, we take the cheaper or foreign alternatives to goods and production these days...... we prefer to throw things away and buy new, innit!!
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