Working With Wool

"In Raw Material, Stephany Wilkes tells not only her own story, but also that of American wool. What begins as a knitter's search for local yarn becomes a dirty, unlikely, and irresistible side job. Wilkes become a certified sheep shearer and wool classer, working at the very first step in the textile supply chain, ultimately leaving her high-tech job for a new way of life considered long dead in the American West."--Provided by publisher.

A perfect gift book for crafty clothiers, Vedis Jonsdottir's Knitting with Icelandic Wool is an exceptional resource for all knitters looking for new designs or traditional styles with a modern twist to make in this uniquely lightweight bulky yarn known as Lopi. One of the best known types of yarn, Icelandic wool or Lopi is used to make sweaters that have a long-lasting and classic appeal. This 100% pure wool yarn is lighter, warmer, and more water-resistant than yarns from elsewhere, as the long-coated native Icelandic sheep have developed over time to ensure as much protection as possible from the harsh northern climate, giving the wool its special properties. With over sixty-five gorgeous designs, there are patterns for a range of garments for the whole family—from variations on the traditional Icelandic yoked sweaters to smaller projects such as wooly hats, socks, and scarves, to stunning lacy garments and other more contemporary designs—all knit in different weights of Icelandic wool. For all of the patterns complete step-by-step instructions are paired with easy-to-follow lace and color knitting charts, and all the stitches, techniques, and abbreviations you need—including how to work two-color knitting—and more are in the back. Beautifully photographed in Iceland and created in collaboration with Iceland's largest wool manufacturer, Ístex, the book includes a brief history on the emergence of the Icelandic Lopi sweater and the Icelandic wool industry.

Wool introduced the world of the silo. Shift told the story of its creation. Dust will describe its downfall.

Happy-go-lucky meets wool felt appliqué! Enjoy carefree embroidery and colorful wool felt appliqué anytime, anywhere! Admirers of Minki Kim's machine-sewn illustrations will adore her new Zakka motifs in wool, perfect for hand stitching and easy enough for beginners. Sixty-three impossibly cute designs celebrate the best of everyday life, from morning rituals to nature's beauty. Display your work on six heartfelt projects, including a pretty purse, patchwork coasters, and a boxy sewing case. A robust gallery shows ideas for handmade gifts and even more fun ways to decorate your space Hand stitchers, rejoice! Minki Kim's illustrations are finally translated to wool felt More than sixty small, easy-to-stitch designs to embellish your sewing projects Surround yourself with Zakka style with a gallery of ideas, including wall pockets, coin purses, key fobs, tote tags, baskets and drawstring bags, wall art, and covered boxes

"With exotic silks and truly beautiful coloured wools, this book provides an adventure into the wonderful world of wool embroidery. In many designs the embroidered wool is enhanced by metallic threads, the sheen of silk ribbon, and the extra dimension of beads"--Page 4 of cover

The renowned knitter shares her year-long adventure through America’s colorful, fascinating—and slowly disappearing—wool industry. Join Clara Parkes as she ventures across the country to meet the shepherds, dyers, and countless workers without whom our knitting needles would be empty, our mills idle, and our feet woefully cold. Along the way, she encounters a flock of Saxon Merino sheep in upstate New York, tours a scouring plant in Texas, visits a steamy Maine dyehouse, helps sort freshly shorn wool on a working farm, and learns how wool fleece is measured, baled, shipped, and turned into skeins. In pursuit of the perfect yarn, Parkes describes a brush with the dangers of opening a bale (they can explode), and her adventures from Maine to Wisconsin (“the most knitterly state”) and back again. By the end of the book, you’ll be ready to set aside the backyard chickens and add a flock of sheep instead.