This is a great opportunity to catch pretty much all of the Sheep Tales makers at one event. There'll also be many other stall holders, craft demonstrations, workshops and cake! To keep up to date with what's happening visit www.skybluepink-designs.com/st-abbs-wool-festival.html or  follow St Abbs Wool Festival on facebook.

This is what Jennie Howes (who organises the event with her husband Steve) has to say about what's happening at the event as of today 7th February :-

Our move to the Eyemouth Community Centre in Eyemouth proved to be a great success in November - so much so, that we've decided to stay there!  With the extra room for more stalls and demonstrations, workshops, even a cuppa & cake - and somewhere to sit, craft and chatter we feel spoilt.

​Once again the focus of the festival is on local professional craftspeople who we know that you visit outwith the festival - feedback from visitors would indicate that some of you bring shopping lists with you!

Since picking up the baton for organising the festival in 2013 I’ve become aware of the number of outstanding professional craft workers in this region and feel that St Abbs Wool Festival should be about promoting their talents and helping to stimulate long term relationships between us craft workers and you craft enthusiasts, after all, none of us are so far apart that a practical crafting workshop or personal buying trip couldn’t be fitted into a day trip!

Some of us are also part of the Sheep Tales project - click on the coloured text for more information about this - and we get involved in lots of different events in the region.  We know that working as a group helps to raise the profile of all the individual members as well as the general awareness of the importance of the woollen industry to our rural areas, particularly in the north of England and Southern Scotland. 

If you want to know more about anyone, just click on the coloured text in their name (if any) and you will be taken through to their own websites or facebook pages.   I will be posting photos and more information over the next couple of weeks on the St Abbs Wool Festival face book page.

But now for the introductions and in alphabetical order!   There are a couple more stallholders to be announced - keep watching!

Su Boyd, from Big Knitting North, is usually surrounded with the biggest balls of wool you can imagine!  With which, she tells me, you can create something unique for your home (rugs, cushions, pouffe’s) and also for yourself (handbags) everything can be supplied in kit form with 25 mm needles or hook, patterns and your choice of wool, or you can just buy wool and experiment yourself!
The great thing is, that everything knits up so quickly - an inch a row – that you can knit a rug in a few hours …. but watch out your dog (or cat) may take a liking to your rug!!!
Contact her through the Facebook Page - Big Knitting North, follow her on Twitter @BigKnittingNth or for contact details visit her  website www.bigknittingnorth.co.uk

Anna Turnbull from Biteabout Arts is a fibre artist, making high quality, hand crafted items inspired by organic forms, rich colours and textures of nature.  She also creates felt vessels, think pumpkins, fruits and flowers!  She makes wearable items, including bags, hats, lightweight nuno felted scarves and wraps where merino wools are felted into silk chiffon. Pictures of local wildlife and painted with merino, local wools and silk are also on offer.   She also works in willow and sometimes mixes the two media to create the most amazing sculptures!   Anna leads workshops in felting and willow work - see her website by clicking the link above for more details.

Lindsay Roberts aka The Border Tart and Blue Moon Indigo, is trying to turn us all blue!  She says “I use natural indigo to dye a wide range of natural fibre yarns used by knitters, crocheters and weavers.  Some I overdye with acid dyes to produce a range of complimentary shades. I indigo dye wool locks, vintage blanket pieces, pre-felt, silk hankies and wool batts for textile makers. Sari silk offcuts, buttons galore can also be found at the Border Tart's stand.”

Jane & Keith Jackson from Brightseed Textiles will be with us. Jane and Keith are now familiar faces at the St Abbs Wool Festival.  As you know – judging by the number of you clutching them on the way out – they produce a range of high quality greetings cards and giclee art prints taken from Jane’s distinctive and colourful needle felted Harris Tweed “paintings”. Jane’s work focuses on images of well known local landscapes, landmarks and the wildlife that make this region such a popular and special place. Jane’s "paintings" are hand built from layered collages of vintage and contemporary Harris Tweeds and wool yarns, with each piece taking approximately 30 to 40 hours to make. Harris Tweed is a unique heritage fabric that is still hand-woven by crofters in the Scottish Outer Hebrides. 

Jane also runs rag rugging workshops for beginners with fellow textile artist Margaret Kenny under the name of Rebel Rag Ruggers. All workshops run from 10am - 3.30pm & cost £40 per person (price includes all materials needed for the day.)
 
2016 Rebel Rag Ruggers Workshops ​

• 18/2/17 – Embleton Parish Church Room
• 25/3/17 – Longhirst Village Hall Nr Morpeth
• 22/4/17 – Textile Towerhouse Hawick
• 6/5/17 – St Boswells Village Hall
• 11/6/17 – The Hearth at Horsley
• 21/10/17 - Bailiffgate Museum. Alnwick
• 11/11/17 – Gallery 45, Felton

Contact Jane Jackson at brightseedtextiles@gmail.com for further details.

Laura Brittain is a designer, feltmaker and teacher.  Combining creativity and skill and just using soap, water and gloriously coloured wools Laura creates a variety of unique felt pieces. Her work includes handfelted rugs, cushions, pictures, bags and baby bootees. She is also an experienced teacher and has run workshops both at home and abroad.

Marlene Brown sock knitter extraordinaire will be on hand to answer al your questions about knitting on four needles!  She will also have an enormous pile of hand knitted socks in all sizes from the teeniest tiny newborn baby to the biggest man foot you can imagine!  Fingerless mittens in a myriad colours are also available.  Marlene will commission knit for you too - in the yarn of your choice, don’t be shy - ask her for that special pair of socks!

Sandra Nicol & Craig Finlayson from Chandlers, " are delighted to return to the St Abbs Wool Festival in Eyemouth with their selection of hand dyed luxury yarns.”  That’s what Sandra told me over a cuppa recently in her café in North Berwick!
Inspired by the East Lothian coastline & surrounding countryside, Sandra & Craig work with a range of natural fibres, combining semi solid shades with coordinating hand paints. From 20g Minis through to generous 150g Skeins, Laceweight & 4ply through to Chunky... with everything in between ...there's something to suit everyone. 
A small selection of other yarns, craft books & knitting and crochet accessories are stocked in the retail shop where you can also pause for coffee & home baking or top up with delicious homemade soup & savoury scones.  Yes, yes I know it should be about the yarn, but the oaty scones are just delicious!

Cobweb Knitwear, Mavis Clark is our resident Shetland lace and Gansey knitter – two very different disciplines in knitting.  She has travelled extensively in Scotland during the past 12 months, exhibiting and teaching at wool festivals and events. 
In a recent conversation with her, Mavis told me that during the year she had received commissions for a series of Ganseys for which she  provided original designs to suit the customers requirements.  She says “In general I enjoy working in wool and looking into the history and traditions of this medium and I have met some very interesting people doing so.”
 
Mavis has some workshops coming up – see below for details
 
21st January  Workshop at Studio 6 in Felton, Nr Alnwick.
18th February Workshop in Cheviot Centre Wooler 10am- 3.30pm
25th March     Workshop in Cheviot Centre Wooler 10am- 3.30pm
29th April       Workshop in Cheviot Centre Wooler 10am- 3.30pm
 
At these workshops she explores the traditions of Shetland Lace from beginnings to quite ambitious finished products.  You can find out more about these workshops by visiting the Sheep Tales link at the top of this page.  Thank you!

Eve Studd from Cornhill Crafts  is a regular at the festival, usually hiding behind a jungle of plants for natural dyeing. Eve says
“I sell naturally dyed bags and silk scarves, plant dyed fleece, yarn selection packs and supplies, natural dye kits, hand made paper, felt items, dye plants, fabric packs and more.  I also offer workshops in Natural Dyeing, Eco printing, Indigo & Shibori, Peg loom and Brinkley loom weaving.’

Sue Shaw from Ewetreecrafts is a needle felter extraordinaire and many of her pieces are made and displayed with a wry smile – check out the “stand up chameleon” on the facebook page.  I’ll never forget the “Pelican briefs” (you can guess…) which she made for her first wool festival.   You have to be quick though, so if you see it on her stand, then buy it – because it won’t be there if you go away to think about it! 
She has recently started to compile downloadable needle felting instructions/tutorials for various items -available from her Etsy shop.
 She will be holding a needle felting workshop in Wooler on March 4th (for which there are a couple of places left).  She is also holding another workshop at the St Abbs Wool Festival in Eyemouth and I know that places have been going fast, so get in touch with Sue to book!
Examples of her work can be seen on YouTube, in 3 slideshows, 'A needle felted alphabet'  "A felted fantasia'  and finally, "more felted fancies"

Janis Embleton from Flight Weaving, creates beautiful hand-woven items in luxurious yarns, to suit all budgets, from sophisticated silk scarves and wraps for a special occasion, to tweedy wool notebooks and key-rings.  You can commission Janis to make very special fabrics for that touch of exclusivity and individuality. 
Like all of our exhibitors, Janis is passionate about passing on the ancient skill of weaving to others and regularly hosts workshops for both individuals and small groups; classes range from weaving without the use of a loom, very useful for the terrified or complete beginner, to on-loom techniques for novices and improvers.  Fur further information about commission work or weaving tuition, please contact Janis at info@flight-weaving.co.uk

Judith Goodfellow, from Felton in Northumberland, is joining us again this year – she seemed to go down a storm in November - it was her debut event and I think she was surprised by the keenness of visitors to buy good quality yarns!  Judith told me “I'm a local yarn shop specialising in British and Fair Trade yarns in natural fibres, including hand dyed and handspun yarns from local independent producers. I run a regular programme of knitting groups and workshops in my studio.”  You can find out more – and book a workshop - by visiting her website - click on the coloured text above.  You will see that many of our craftspeople are actually holding workshops at Judith's studio.

Karen and Tom Burn from Hunting Hall  Farm are next up.  With their Pure Northumbrian Organic wool knitting yarn from their award winning, wildlife-friendly farm in the north of Northumberland near Lindisfarne.  Karen told me  “This year we are highlighting our 100% Rare Breed Teeswater organic yarn. The wool of our traditional breed Teeswater sheep, highly prized for their long lustre coat, is spun into a luxuriously silky, natural coloured organic yarn, perfect for very special, soft shawls and pure, gentle baby woolies.
 We also blend Teeswater fleeces with the finest wool from our mixed breed flock to create a beautiful organic yarn in a rich palette of colours named to reflect our Northumbrian home. Spun to 4-ply, double knitting and Aran weight by a small family mill, our yarns are certified by the Soil Association through GOTS, the Global Organic Textile Standard.
 With the help of local knitters we've designed unique, easy patterns for some lovely small items knit in our organic wool. Our Wild Hare Beret pattern in Hunting Hall 4 ply is a 3 colour design depicting butterflies and hares to represent all the wildlife of our farm. We also offer knitting kits, prettily packaged with needles, pattern, yarn and all you need to create a wonderful hand-knitted gift. Harry Hare, our knitted hare pattern and wool kit makes a lovely gift for a small child – we have even knit our own Harry Hare Team who sometime help us on the farm.”

Lucy Robertson from Jeanie Bags is a new face at the St Abbs Wool Festival this time.  She makes beautiful, hand crafted tweed bags, which she designs and makes in the Scottish Borders.  She says "they are practical, robust and would grace any well dressed woman - wherever she goes."  ... and I bet you could get loads of wool into some of them! 

Come and see Eta's new wacky wool overs, scarves and wall hangings!  Eta Ingham Lawrie has been exhibiting her beautiful woven hangings internationally and leading workshops and classes for a very long time!  They are always fresh, inspirational and you can’t help but want to touch them!  Eta also makes beautiful “woolovers”, scarves, dolls etc.  She always brings along a loom and weaves during the festival, so come and see her working.  

Jane Hall from Pinkminis was another new face in November, but once again proved very popular with festival goers.  So, she's back again with her beautifully tailored ladies clothing and accessories made in wonderful wool - Harris Tweed, Lovat Mill and Andrew Elliot being amongst the weavers.   The items she makes are highly wearable and practical with a wee edge to make you stand out.  They really are gorgeous!  New this year are some amazing random patchwork Harris Tweed tunic dresses...

 Skybluepink Designs - yes, I’ll be there too!  With my eclectic range of woolly goodies - hand spun yarns in all shades and textures, from lace weight singles to supercoiled necklaces and everything in between; spinning and felting fibres - tops and batts - lots of colours and beautiful natural shades from many different breeds of sheep.  Plenty notions for knitting and crocheting - and you've never seen so many buttons!  I will also be promoting my new workshop schedule, so if you fancy getting up to some woolly fun, just pick up a brochure!

Alice Elsworth from Whistlebare will be with us, selling luxury knitting and crochet yarns from her flock of Angora Goats and Wensleydale Sheep, which rare kept at the family farm in North Northumberland. The yarn is worsted spun in Yorkshire and then dyed by hand on the farm.  Whistlebare also produces original, contemporary knitting and crochet patterns.

Gill Coull from Woolrush is welcomed back into the fold this spring – she actually sold out of her handspun yarns before the event in November and I am sure, has been super busy spinning from dawn to dusk to create a new range.  She describes herself as a hand spinner, dyer, designer and textile artist, selling her own range of hand spun, hand dyed wool yarns, her own original knitting patterns for adults, babies and toddlers, Dorset Buttons and completed garments. She is inspired to create, like us all, I suspect by the natural world – and at all times of the year.
​
George and Louise from Yarn Garden are back with us.  George is an artisan hand dyer of unique colourways of yarn including British wools and wools blended with luxury fibres such as silk, alpaca, or cashmere. As a trained chemist he knows how to properly handle and nurture the yarns, drying them naturally and slowly to protect the fibre structure from damage to maintain the softness of the yarn.
Louise makes sure that the designs to go with the yarns are just perfect and she has a great eye for a good book! Yarn Garden stock a range of high quality books on knitting, crochet and other crafts.

All of the Sheep Tales makers and artisans are taking part in the next St Abbs Wool Festival on Saturday 5th November, when the festival moves to a new and more spacious venue - Eyemouth Community Centre.

​Jennie Howes of Skybluepink Designs who organises the festival says:-

"All of our stall holders live and work either in the Scottish Borders, Northumberland or the Lothians - a distinct geographical region. Since picking up the baton for organising the festival in 2013 I’ve become aware of the number of outstanding professional craft workers in this region and feel that St Abbs Wool Festival should be about promoting their talents and helping to stimulate long term relationships between craft workers and craft enthusiasts.

Some of the stall holders, including myself, are also part of the Sheep Tales project and as such we get involved in lots of different wool events in the region.  We know that working as a group helps to raise the profile of all the individual members as well as the general awareness of the importance of the woollen industry to our rural areas, particularly in the north of England and Southern Scotland. 

In light of this, for this autumn’s St Abbs Wool Festival in November, we have invited the Wool Clip from Cumbria to come across the Pennines, from west to east, as a wool craft cultural exchange.  This group of wool crafters are the longstanding co-operative who organise the well renowned Wool Fest in Cockermouth and, like the Sheep Tales crafters, are absolutely invested in the importance of wool to their region.”

Jenny and the Sheep Tales makers will be posting photos and more information over the next couple of weeks on the St Abbs Wool Festival face book page.

Here is the exhibitor list for November 5th 2016 

Gill Curwen from Bapple and JoJo.  Gill is a rag rug maker working as she says, in “the unusual art of the Standing Wool or Quilly Rug”.  She is one of a very small number of crafters specialising in this technique in the UK, indeed in the world!  She uses only sustainable and ethically sourced materials and transforms them into unique, contemporary items for the home.  

Su Boyd from Big Knitting North is making a welcome re-appearance.  Big Knitting North has, over the last year, established itself in Northumberland selling supplies at local wool festivals, running “pop up” shops in local craft shops, hosting “have a go” sessions for community groups and doing kids (and big kids!!) parties.  So if you would like to run something in your home, community centre, the local pub your craft shop/cafe ...…wherever you want to knit..... just get in touch!   Su says “This is knitting and crochet for the impatient!! It's fun, fast and definitely different…it’s knitting but not as you know it!!”

Anna Turnbull from Biteabout Arts creates delicate and ephemeral hand felted wraps and scarves, hats, bags and vessels.  She also works in willow and sometimes mixes the two media to create the most amazing sculptures!  Anna will be leading a workshop at the festival too - more information in the workshop section below!

Lindsay Roberts aka The Border Tart and Blue Moon Indigo, loves all things blue.  She will be bringing a range of her dyed yarns, from lace weight to chunky, luxury silk and yak, to merino with sparkles.  British wool fibre batts, packs of wool locks, dyed silk hankies and threads for embroidery and crewel work.  Wood, mother of pearl and coconut shell buttons in abundance and bright coloured sari silk scraps and ribbons too.

Bright Seed Textiles - Jane Jackson is a textile artist who makes beautiful and unique needle felted Harris Tweed "paintings" of local scenes and wildlife. Her work is also available in the form of giclee prints and greetings cards. Jane will be demonstrating rag rugging on the day and she runs regular rag rugging workshops in Northumberland and the Scottish Borders under the name Rebel Rag Ruggers.

Laura Brittain is a designer, feltmaker and teacher.  She designs and makes bold and vibrantly coloured hand felted rugs, cushions, bags and baby bootees.

Marlene Brown sock knitter extraordinaire will be on hand to answer al your questions about knitting on four needles!  She will also have an enormous pile of hand knitted socks in all sizes from the teeniest tiny newborn baby to the biggest man foot you can imagine!  Fingerless mittens in a myriad colours are also available.  Marlene will commission knit for you too - in the yarn of your choice, don’t be shy - ask her for that special pair of socks!

Sandra Nicol & Craig Finlayson from Chandlers, a recent start up woolly business in North  Berwick, are also new to the St Abbs Wool Festival.  Both Sandra and Craig have an eye for colour and have started dyeing luxury yarns in a stunning range of naturally inspired colours.  The coast and landscape of East Lothian is evident in their beautiful palette.  

Cobweb Knitwear, Mavis Clark, Shetland lace and Gansey designer and knitter will be taking part. Mavis is part of the Sheep Tales group of crafters and regularly holds workshops to teach this intricate discipline.  Mavis will be holding a workshop at the wool festival - an introduction to Shetland lace knitting.

Eve Studd from Cornhill Crafts is a bit of a whirlwind crafter - she seems to be so good at making so many things!  She will be selling: plant dyed wool, handmade paper, dye plants, eco printed silk scarves, hand woven bags, solar dye kits and peg loom mats. She will also have gift vouchers available for her workshops - the list is very long but includes: weaving on a Brinkley or peg loom, plant dyeing, eco printing onto paper or fabrics, shibori and rust printing…

Sue Shaw from Ewetreecraft will be selling a wide and varied display of her original and humorous needle felted wool sculptures and framed pictures.  

Janis Embleton from Flight Weaving will be demonstrating at her table loom.  Janis creates beautiful hand-woven items in luxurious fibres to suit all pockets, from sophisticated silk scarves and wraps for a special occasion, to tweedy wool notebooks and key-rings.  All of Janis’ fabrics can be made to commission for that extra touch of individuality and exclusiveness.  Janis also holds regular workshops at her studio in Swinton.

Karen Burn from Hunting Hall will be coming back to St Abbs again. Hunting Hall’s Pure Northumbrian Organic wool is a knitting yarn from their award winning wildlife friendly farm.  Spun by a small mill, to 4 ply, dk and aran weights, the yarns are certified by the Soil Association through GOTS, the Gobal Organic Textile Standard.  Alongside the organic yarns, there are patterns and kits available.  New this year is a rare-breed Teeswater undyed creamy white yarn from their flock of handsome Teeswater sheep.

Eta Ingham Lawrie has been exhibiting her beautiful woven hangings internationally and leading workshops and classes for a very long time!  They are always fresh, inspirational and you can’t help but want to touch them!  Eta also makes beautiful “woolovers”, scarves, dolls etc.  She always brings along a loom and weaves during the festival, so come and see her working.  

Natural Born Dyers are another regular face at St Abbs.  Jon says he uses natural dyes to produce a range of colours and shades on high quality yarns and fibres, with the emphasis on using British wool in the core range.  He is also a wood turner and makes wooden tools for spinners and knitters, having designed the “Spurtzleur” which he describes as the easiest spinning tool to use!

Another newcomer to the St Abbs Wool Festival is Jane Hall from Pinkminis.  Jane is an amazing designer/maker tailoress, making ladies clothing and accessories in wonderful wool using, amongst others fabrics by Lovat Mill and Andrew Elliot - from right here in the Scottish Borders and Harris Tweed.  The items she makes are highly wearable and practical with a wee edge to make you stand out.  They really are gorgeous!

 Skybluepink Designs - Jennie Howes sells an eclectic range of woolly goodies and notions for knitting and crocheting.  Jennie will also be promoting her new workshop schedule, so if you fancy getting up to some woolly fun, just pick up a brochure!

Alice Elsworth from Whistlebare will be selling luxury knitting and crochet yarns from her flock of Angora Goats and Wensleydale Sheep, which are kept at the family farm in North Northumberland. The yarn is worsted spun in Yorkshire and then dyed by hand on the farm.  Whistlebare also produces original, contemporary knitting and crochet patterns.

Heather Waldron from Whistletop is a designer and maker of machine knit Fairisle-patterned sweaters.  She began making them professionally over 30 years ago when living on the Isle of Skye.  She says that after moving to the Borders, raising her family took priority, but she began to miss the smell of wool, the sound of the machine and the feeling of creating garments which people would enjoy wearing.  She began selling sweaters again two years ago.  Her garments are made from pure Shetland wool, hand framed on a knitting machine and sewn together by hand.  She makes to order too!

The Wool Clip is an award-winning co-operative, formed shortly after the foot and mouth epidemic in 2001 – to promote and add value to local wool. There are currently 14 members, all based in Cumbria.  They say, "Between us, we grow it, sew it, spin, weave and dye it, knit, crochet and felt it, hook with it, tuft with it and stuff with it. Our work focuses on colour and creativity and our aim is to share our enthusiasm for all things woollen.  Our products are wide ranging from the smallest little brooches and key rings to larger garments and rugs. We have a wide selection of wonderful wool too - either coming from Cumbrian sheep (often our own flocks!) and/or beautifully dyed by members."  

Gilleoin Finlay Coull from Woolrush Yarns describes herself as a craftsman in wool, who is inspired by fibre and the colours and shapes of the natural world.  Gill will be bringing her hand spun yarns, patterns, shawls, accessories, hand made Dorset buttons and Fibre Gems jewellery. 

George and Louise from Yarn Garden create hand dyed yarns in solid, semi-solid and variegated colourways focusing on fine yarns - cobweb, lace weight and 4 ply.  The dyeing process at Yarn Garden is focused on minimal impact on the environment, using non-toxic dyes and mordants.  Yarn Garden also sell kits for knitting, crochet and weaving, plus a great selection of hand picked wool craft books.

The Belford Players will be staging a brand new performance using oral material from the Sheep Tales and Spinning Yarns archive at Ferguson Hall in Belford on Friday 19th August, The Glendale Hall in Wooler on Saturday 20th August and finally at Etal Village Hall on Sunday 21st August. All 3 shows start at 7.00pm and although there isn't a charge for tickets, donations are most welcome. Refreshments will be available at all performances.

The material for this show is taken from the fascinating Sheep Tales and Spinning Yarns archive of over 700 images and 50 hours of oral history recording the memories and lives of shepherds and farming communities rural North Northumberland. The images and oral clips available on this website are only a small selection of the full digital archive, which is preserved in the Berwick-upon-Tweed Record Office.

We have a really fantastic initial line up of local woolly crafters and artisans for our annual Alnmouth Wool Festival:-
 
Janis Embleton of Flight Weaving - Janis' work ranges from stunning silk and linen scarves, wraps and fabric lengths to interior textiles such as cushions, throws and curtain lengths. www.flight-weaving.co.uk.
Laura Brittain works with a palette of vibrantly coloured fibres including wool, silk and alpaca, She designs and makes felt rugs, felt bags, felt cushions, beads and baby bootees.
Anna Turnbull of Biteabout Arts creates unique felt vessels, bags and wearable items inspired by organic forms and the colours, textures and patterns within nature, She also makes traditional and contemporary willow baskets and sculptures. www.biteabout.co.uk 
Alice Elsworth of Whistlebare Yarns  creates soft, lustrous, hand dyed knitting & crochet yarns from her own Angora Goats and Wensleydale Sheep in an array of brilliant colours, Along with a range of exclusive, contemporary knitting and crochet patterns. www.whistlebare.co.uk
Mavis Clark specialises in traditional Shetland cobweb lace knitting and also designs and knits traditional fisherman's ganseys to order.
Jane Jackson of Bright Seed Textiles is a textile artist who creates needle felted Harris Tweed paintings and a range of art prints and greetings cards taken from her images of local landscapes and wildlife. www.brightseedtextiles.com
Jennie Howes of Skybluepink Designs makes beautiful hand spun yarns suitable for knitting, crocheting & weaving. Also spinning and felting fibres; knitting & crochet patterns & kits; wooden buttons; needles, hooks; handmade garments, accessories. www.skybluepink-designs.com
Jon Booker of Natural Born Dyers creates high quality yarns and fibres dyed with natural dyes, extracted where possible from his own home grown plants. www.naturalborndyers.com
Eta Ingham Lawrie makes beautiful woven wallhangings, that are full of texture and colour.  She also makes the most amazing sweaters and cardigans using hand dyed mohair yarns and finished with freefrom crochet.
The North Northumberland Spinners are an enthusiastic group of hand-spinners with a passion for wool; some other fibres too, but mostly wool. They are committed to promoting the increasing popularity of this ancient craft.