Blanket designs for Gather Wool

Gather Wool based in Somerset, UK have recently launched their first range of British Wool textiles for the home. I created four designs for them, all using the two natural colours of the breed without the need for dyed colour.

We collaborated on the first project of this newly established business, which was to use the wool from their own Pedigree Ryeland sheep to produce premium blankets with provenance.

To be able to process their wool cost effectively in bigger batches, they offered to purchase wool of the same breed and quality from other local farms. The wool was processed into yarn by an Artisan Spinning Mill in Cornwall, then handed to me to develop designs for blankets using extensive hand-woven sampling.

Two Yorkshire mills were commissioned to weave the fabric to my specifications in the quantity required for each design, then complete the transition from woven cloth to blankets by specialist ‘finishing’.

The Gather Wool blankets are available directly via their website and through their carefully chosen outlets.

SDC Members Exhibition at Bankside Gallery


Transformations at Bankside Gallery, London 


I will be showing a piece of work alongside over one hundred members of the Society of Designer Craftsmen, as we join together to show the collective skill of our community in transforming material to object.

If you would like to attend the opening event on the evening of Tuesday 14th June please get in touch and I will send you a link to the Eventbrite page.

Honeycomb for Vanessa Arbuthnott

Promotional images from Vanessa Arbuthnott on launching this addition to her collection in Spring 2019.

Introducing new Honeycomb Blankets, created in partnership with woven textile designer Rebecca Connolly.
Representing England, Scotland and Wales!

A TRADITIONAL WELSH TEXTILE WOVEN IN SCOTTISH SHETLAND WOOL

Our Honeycomb blankets are woven in the beautiful wool from the Shetland breed of sheep farmed on the Isle of Shetland. The yarn is processed, spun and dyed on Shetland too. This breed are Britain’s most northerly native sheep providing wool for the Shetland textile industry, whilst simultaneously supporting the rural farming community on these islands. Shetland wool is a world class natural fibre, with a long standing reputation for quality, strength and excellence.

From a traditional honeycomb weave pattern, Rebecca developed a bespoke design in Shetland wool for my blankets.

WOVEN IN BRISTOL WEAVING MILL, ENGLAND 

The next part of this wool’s journey takes it to The Bristol Weaving Mill where it is woven into blankets especially for me. The blankets are a delightful grey blue, very close to our Pigeon colour, with an edge detail of a stripe in either Charcoal, Powder Blue or Saffron.

Ideal as a throw in sitting rooms and in bedrooms too…the honeycomb structure traps air to keep you particularly warm.