LOOPY EWES, the brand run by Katie Allen, offers fully traceable knitwear - literally from sheep to sweater! As well as designing and making her hand-crafted product range, Katie also farms the sheep whose wool is used to make each product.
Katie's flock of rare-breed sheep graze on an organic farm in the Cotswolds. She and her husband farm with a regenerative philosophy, where they aim to encourage wildlife habitats and improve soil health as well as looking after the environment. The wool is spun by the Natural Fibre Company, then it is dyed organically before being used to produce machine-knitted garments, homewares and accessories which Katie designs and makes herself. We chatted with Katie to find out what life is like as a shepherd, and why she is so committed to promoting British wool.
How did you first come to be involved in wool production?
"I bought my first sheep about ten or eleven years ago; I was starting an organic smallholding and really wanted sheep to be part of that story - both for their meat and wool. After speaking to local farmers, I was really shocked to hear that there wasn't a value to their wool, and they would bury or burn it that didn't make sense to me with my entrepreneurial head on. I couldn't believe that after all the effort in growing this beautiful fleece, it wasn't worth anything, so I was really determined to do something different with my flock, and to add value to their wool clip."
How difficult did you find the process of learning to be a shepherd?
ãã®èšäºã¯ The Knitter ã® Issue 182 çã«æ²èŒãããŠããŸãã
7 æ¥éã® Magzter GOLD ç¡æãã©ã€ã¢ã«ãéå§ããŠãäœåãã®å³éžããããã¬ãã¢ã ã¹ããŒãªãŒã8,500 以äžã®éèªãæ°èã«ã¢ã¯ã»ã¹ããŠãã ããã
ãã§ã«è³Œèªè ã§ã ?  ãµã€ã³ã€ã³
ãã®èšäºã¯ The Knitter ã® Issue 182 çã«æ²èŒãããŠããŸãã
7 æ¥éã® Magzter GOLD ç¡æãã©ã€ã¢ã«ãéå§ããŠãäœåãã®å³éžããããã¬ãã¢ã ã¹ããŒãªãŒã8,500 以äžã®éèªãæ°èã«ã¢ã¯ã»ã¹ããŠãã ããã
ãã§ã«è³Œèªè ã§ã? ãµã€ã³ã€ã³
Soldian Scarf
This classic textured scarf is knitted using undyed shades of organic Shetland wool
Meet Chloé Elizabeth Birch
This talented designer loves to play with stitches and shapes to create fresh, contemporary knitwear
ON WITH THE SHOW!
Caroline Bawn offers her top tips on getting the most out of your visit to one of the autumn yarn festivals
Focus on...INSPIRING YARNS
Claire Anketell tells Penny Batchelor how the social enterprise business Inspiring Yarns uses yarn skills to promote mental health and well-being
Great reads
Explore the endless possibilities of lace knitting with this fabulous collection of shawls, accessories and garments
Sorting the fleece
Now that his sheep have been shorn, Graeme Bethune has the critical task of selecting the best fleece to turn into yarn
Why Wool Matters
Janine Sterland discovers the story behind The Campaign for Woolâs inspirational new film featuring the Prince of Wales
Reach for the stars
The Fibre Co.âs new autumn-winter pattern collection has been inspired by the wonders of the night sky
Great reads
Filled with colourful designs and fascinating stitch patterns, this book is a treat for sock knitting fans
FRENCH IMPRESSIONS
Along avec Anna is the inspirational brand run by Anna Dervout, and includes designs, yarns and an Exeter-based yarn shop, as Janine Sterland discovers