The art and craft of Woolcraft lies in the skill of sourcing, creating and using the yarns involved.  Starting with the fleeces both Penny and Charlotte from Woolcraft Wales lay out the entire fleece and sort the wool ready for the first wash.  After drying the fleece the wool is pulled or formed into rolags ready for spinning. Charlotte uses a double band spinning wheel for all her spinning.  Penny uses a wheel as well, but is also skilled at hand spinning onto a drop spindle.  If you meet them they are happy to demonstrate these ancient techniques.  The yarn created is only a single ply and two strands are spun together to create a skein.  This is then washed and dyed.  Penny's interest in dyeing grew, along with her garden, but as yet both Charlotte and

Penny use commercially produced but natural dyeing processes.  Products such as onion

skins, turmeric and log chip produce the rich colours they love to create their garments

with.  To produce one undyed skein usually takes half a morning – after all the

preparation is done.

Following the dyeing process the wool is wound off ready to use in either

crochet or knitting or weaving designs as shown elsewhere.  The colours,

all being natural dyes, blend beautifully together – which is shown

particularly in the "baskets" which are made from short length leftovers

(no wastage here!) and yet the colours blend attractively.