Growing in Hannah’s Field

I have ordered some yarn samples online from the companies I mentioned in my previous post, Garthenor Organic Wool and Llynfi Textiles.  Unfortunately the Post Office is striking at the moment so I have no idea when they will arrive – better I’m doing this now though rather than waiting until the exhibition date is around the corner.  I hope that by Christmas I’ll have a fair idea of what I will be making so I can get an order in and start the New Year with New Wool.

The naturally dyed yarn is made near Brecon.  Funnily enough, the dyes she uses come from France and the wool from Ceridigion in Wales - a perfect combination of my own heritage!

Natural dyes behave differently to the widely used chemical versions: washing them as often you would a chemically dyed item will make the colours fade, they are more sensitive to light  and there will always be variations within the yarn and between dyelots. 

I like these properties, whilst some people want something to remain looking the same as the day they bought it, I think it is interesting and part of an object’s story if it ages with you.  The idea of having your favourite childhood bear 40 years later and he still looks as though he never got out of the box, never got cuddles / dribbled on / a limb resewn….to me is so sad.  The wear and tear is like evidence of his personality and life story – without it he is like all the new bears out there waiting to start their life.  Aging is a natural process, why not use natural materials to show it?