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Welcome to the Hebridean Woolshed |
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w:[The Big Garden] w:[Find at MultiMap] e:[denise@hebrideanwoolshed.co.uk] |
t: 01878 700828 |
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Much of what I make is for family and friends, but in the small garden shop I sell a variety of yarns and garments - all spun, knitted, crocheted, woven or felted by hand. [Natural hand-spun yarns are also available by post - see foot of this page] I generally spin wool from the many breeds of sheep native to the British Isles, which offer an unparalleled range of colour, feel and durability. However, I also spin Merino wool and other fibres such as dog hair, alpaca, cashmere, silk, and so on. Likewise, most of the natural dyestuffs come from plants native to the islands, naturalised here, or grown in our walled garden or croft, including lichens, flag iris, alder cones, dandelion, blackberry, onion skins, yarrow, marigold and countless others. But I also make use of natural dyestuffs from further afield, such as brazil wood and saffron. Knitted and crocheted garments are made exclusively with my own hand-spun yarns. Woven articles are generally made using highest quality mill-produced yarns such as lambswool and cashmere . A limited number of articles are woven partly or wholly with my own handspun yarns.
For those keen to master the use of a spinning wheel, I provide tuition on a one-to-one basis or for groups of up to four. These workshops are tailored to your requirements, so please call and ask for details. The handspun yarns I sell are generally suitable for hand knitting or crocheting, but may also be suitable for weaving, cross-stitch or other crafts. All yarns are 2-ply in construction, plain spun (ie not having slubs, noils etc), and fairly uniform (though being a hand-made product there will be some local variation). For knitting, these yarns are approximately equivalent to ‘double-knit’, needles for which are normally in the range of 3.75mm to 4.50mm, though this will also depend on the knitting pattern to be made: it is a good idea to make a tension square to be sure. Each skein of yarn is unique, but will typically weigh 65g to 85g. Occasionally ‘half-length’ skeins may be available to make up the required quantity. A hat will usually use no more than one full skein, an adult’s plain pullover might well use 10 skeins, with Fair Isle or Aran type patterns requiring significantly more again: if you’re unsure, please feel free to call and talk it through. Below are examples of handspun natural wools from British sheep breeds - there are countless others. |
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Denise Bridge, An Gàrradh Mòr, Cille Bhrìghde, Uibhist a Deas, HS8 5TT, Scotland - United Kingdom |
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Here at my workshop, in the old high-walled kitchen garden at Cille Bhrìghde (Kilbride), Isle of South Uist, in the Outer Hebrides, I make yarns and garments using natural materials and traditional hand tools and techniques. 
If you’d like to have a go at hand spinning, why not try my beginner’s kit? It comes complete with drop-spindle, a generous quantity of wool fibre, and detailed, easy-to-follow illustrated instructions. I sell these in the garden shop and supply them by post at £15 (including UK postage).
