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    Wool and Weaving

Who could imagine that there are so many different breeds of sheep in Cumbria?
Who would believe that wool could come in so many different colours, thicknesses, and even shapes?

Herdwick (Old Lamb), Hebrideans (Cinder and Feugh) and a Wensleydale (the mighty Ethel)      Ann is a member of the Eden Valley branch of the Guild of Spinners, Weavers and Dyers, and works with fleeces from Cumbrian-reared sheep, every breed with its own intriguing and sometimes challenging characteristics — shiny long fibres of black Zwartbles; tough, light or dark grey 'kemp-y' fibres of Lakeland's most famous breed, the Herdwick; the soft and 'clotted' fleece of Charollais; dreadlocked Wensleydales; the kinks of the Blue-faced Leicester and the warm black softness of Hebrideans ...

After sorting, the fleeces are washed and dried, then carded to align the fibres; the resulting 'rolags' are woven on a peg-loom. Depending on the thickness and spacing of the pegs, the finished product can have either a chunky 'rustic' look and feel, or can be finer and tighter in appearance.		      White Blue-faced Leicester and Herdwick fleece
Ann's rugs, wall-hangings, table-mats, seat-pads and even PVC-backed garden-kneelers and 'sit-upons' for those necessary rests when out on the Fells, are sold at Percy House Gallery in Cockermouth, The Gin Case at Mawbray, High Head Sculpture Gallery at Ivegill and other outlets including craft fairs.
Black-and-white chequerboard rug (Charollais and Hebridean)      Seat pads or cushion covers, woven on a circular loom from Swaledale and Herdwick wool      Seat-pads woven from white Blue-faced Leicester wool.
Adult Herdwick (from Dopey) edged with white Swaledale; two-colour fringe      Bedside rugs? Try the softness of white or black Blue-faced Leicester wool.

A durable rug for the kitchen? Try the robust roughness of Herdwick or Swaledale wool.

Looking for a present that has a 'Lake District feel'?
Furnishing your holiday cottage?
     Herdwick and Charollais, geometric pattern; with felted black Hebridean decoration.
Table-mats; white Jacob or Charollais wool, co-carded with dyed Merino wool; felted Merino trim      Perhaps you would like to have something woven from the wool of your own sheep?
Then email Ann to discuss your requirements.
Commissions are readily undertaken — and prices are very reasonable!
(Prices of rugs shown range from £40 - £90) 		     Zwartbles rug
©2003 Ann Lingard. Design by ARDUS          Home • Fiction • Radio, talks and conferences • Parasites, science and countryside