Cornish farmers do their bit for knitting week

Ten Cornish sheep farmers put their fingers and thumbs to the ultimate test last week (Thursday 16 October) when they received a professional knitting lesson as part of national knitting week 2008 (12 October – 19 October).

The farmers, all part of the Devon and Cornwall Longwool Society, had their lesson as part of a tour of the Launceston-based wool mill, The Natural Fibre Company, where their rare breed wool is processed into balls of yarn.

Sue Blacker, managing director of The Natural Fibre Company who organised the knitting lesson and tour said: 'Although the high performance qualities of wool fibre have helped it to maintain its presence against artificial fibres, there has been a fashionable resurgence in knitting within the last year or two. This is both due to the high visibility of woollen garments on the catwalk and helped by the growing popularity of knitting as a craft or hobby, including celebrities'.

She added: 'Some people might think farmers don’t quite have the approach needed for intricate tasks such as knitting, but as a group they really got stuck in and proved they can handle a knitting needle as well as they can tend their flocks. The aim of the day was for them to see the scouring and spinning process up close and for them to see how their wool can be turned into high quality sustainable end products'.

Melvin Britton, sheep breeder and secretary of the Devon and Cornwall Longwool society said: 'I had done some knitting before but not for quite some years. It was great for us to see the workings of the mill and for us to see how the wool from our very own breed can be used for a craft such as knitting. Longwool fleeces are generally used within the carpet industry but it was clear to see that you could easily make some hardwearing warm gloves using the wool'.

National knitting week is an annual celebration set up in 2005 to help inspire a new generation of knitters.

As part of the week, the Natural Fibre Company is also launching a knitting needle and crochet hook exchange. As it is no longer possible to source UK made knitting needles, the campaign aims to encourage people throughout the region to dig out old un-used, odd and spare pairs of needles so they can be recycled to schools, WI’s, residential homes, knitting groups and anybody else interested in knitting.

Sue said: 'We can act as a conduit for people who have probably got needles hidden in the back of a drawer somewhere or who have simply got odd ones from which we could make up a pair. The idea behind it all is to encourage more people to knit - from young people who haven’t tried it before, to an older generation who used to knit but haven’t done so for years'.

Anyone with un-wanted knitting needles that they would like to donate or farmers, small holders and breeders who want to know more about what to do with their fleeces should contact Sue Blacker on 01566 777635 or visit www.thenaturalfibre.co.uk.

For further information telephone Sue Blacker on: 01566 777 635 or email www.blackeryarns.co.uk.

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