The 5th of November….. that’s when I should have started Wovember. If you haven’t been Wovemberised, it is a month to wear as much pure wool as possible to show your appreciation of the wonderful stuff; to come out in support of the sheep farmers who care for the woolly creatures that produce the wonderful stuff that we so need in order to knit, crochet, sew, spin and weave. They’re often small farmers struggling to make ends meet, and can barely cover the costs of shearing because of the low demand.
BUT it’s been one of those months when I get almost through the month and think ‘what month are we in?, ‘erm November. Goodness me, where did it go?’ So I’m late turning my mind round to this.
Not that my mind is ever rarely away from the topic. Since I have learnt to spin I find myself drawn to pictures of sheep, in all their diversity, wondering about where they were raised (do the cold, wet winters on Welsh hills or the Pennines affect the fleeces differently?), how would the long staple wool of this sheep spin or take up plant dyes, and what nuances of texture will I see in a knitted up garment?
Even if you don’t knit/crochet/weave or craft in any way you can still buy it and appreciate the qualities of wool (warm and cosy, breathable and quick drying) and, well, it just looks different to what we mostly see in the shops. . Probably because so little wool is now to be found in the shops – it’s become a rarity. An age old industry and all the skills and traditions that go with it are slipping away for most, and kept up only by a few.
If you wear all your wool this month only, the chances are that it will probably make you realise how few pure wool items are in your wardrobe compared to anything else. If that makes you think ‘next time I’ll buy wool’, you’ll have to search for it. Unless we make things change: so Wovemberize away!
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| Pure wool accessories |
Open the drawers and pull out your wool. I’m snuggling up under woollen blankets on the sofa this winter.
