Wool and Willow

Coracle-making Workshop

julia — Sat, 11 May 2013 19:50:19 +0000

Last weekend Wool and Willow hosted a coracle-making workshop on the banks of the Thames between Wallingford and Cholsey, with expert willow workers, Pippa Scott and Rob Ritchie. Sixteen people worked in couples to make eight beautiful traditional crafts. It was a wonderful weekend of learning new skills, comraderie and fun. On Sunday afternoon we ended with a visit to the river to launch one of the ready made coracles Pippa & Rob had brought with them to enable everyone to get a feel for sailing this ancient style of vessel, still used in various parts of the world including Ireland and Wales. Each participant got the chance to sit in the coracle on the water, learn how to paddle in a ‘figure of eight’, go a few yards up the mighty Thames and then return to the safety of the launching deck. A great time was had by all – so Wallingfordians watch out – you may spot these intrepid sailors as they navigate the river this summer! We’ve decided to run another course next year after this success, so get in touch if you want to find out more.

A Good Vintage!

julia — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 20:05:11 +0000

We were privileged to have the vintage knitting designer and historian, Susan Crawford, with us for the day on Saturday (23rd March 2013). Touch and go as the weather was up to all sorts of tricks! However, Susan made it from the frozen North and 26 of us convened in the morning for a fascinating talk about Susan’s life in vintage design, the research & writing of the two volumes of A Stitch in Time, and ending with us being allowed to paw and pore over the knitted garments she’d brought – and even try them on! It was absolutely riveting – she was so knowledgeable and generous with her expertise.

In the afternoon, 14 of us reconvened for a vintage knitting workshop, working with Excelana, Susan’s own yarn brand – a beautiful, subtle vintage colour palette in 4-ply and double knit from British breeds & spun in Devon by John Arbon Textiles. The participants started knitting a vintage style tea cosy specially designed for the occasion by Susan.

The whole day was punctuated by lashings of tea, coffee, cakes and cucumber sandwiches using authentic vintage china. What a great day! We’re hoping to lure Susan back again next year – watch this space!

VINTAGE KNITTING DAY – 23RD MARCH 2013

julia — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 16:26:11 +0000

We are really excited about our forthcoming Vintage Knitting Day with Susan Crawford, vintage knitwear designer and co-author of “A Stitch in Time” next month. We are inviting anyone who’s interested to learn more about vintage knitting style and its current popular revival to join us on on Saturday 26th March either in the morning for a talk & booksigning by Susan or the afternoon for a workshop, also with Susan, ending with lashings of tea and cake in vintage style! See more details on our events page.

Christmas & New Year opening/closing at Wool & Willow

julia — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 20:56:03 +0000

Christmas Eve, Monday 24th December Open 10-1
Christmas Day, Tuesday 25th December Closed
Boxing Day, Wednesday 26th December Closed
Thursday 27th December Closed
Friday 28th December Closed
Saturday 29th December Open 10-4
Monday 31st December Closed
Tuesday 1st January Closed
Wednesday 2nd January Closed
Thursday 3rd January Open 10-5

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

Christmas is coming!

julia — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 19:49:16 +0000

Our shop is full of lovely gift ideas for Christmas – hand made knitting baskets, hand knitted decorations, knit kits for all abilities,gift vouchers - to name but a few. Next weekend [1/2 December] the shop will be open on Saturday AND Sunday 12-4pm, for Wallingford’s special Christmas Fayre. We will also have a stall at the Goring Christmas Fayre that weekend teaming up with local weaver, Irene Wrigley, who is selling her gorgeous hand-woven scarfs, carfetiere cosies & other items using some yarns from Wool & Willow.

SALE!

julia — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 12:33:06 +0000

Our Sale is currently on with substantial reductions on discontinued yarns & patterns

BUTTONS GALORE

julia — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 20:29:52 +0000

It’s raining…buttons! We got a fantastically colourful & varied order of buttons – including ceramic, wood, metal, shell – arriving at Wool & Willow a couple of days ago. And we hope people will pop in to sift through the selecion & find exactly what they need to embellish their knitting – or any other piece of craft work.

Easter 2012 Newsletter

julia — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 11:56:13 +0000

WOOL &WILLOW NEWSLETTER – EASTER 2012

Beginners Knitting Course

The next beginner’s class starts in May. Four places remain. See website for details.

Summer Yarns

People
are coming to the shop and exclaiming that there is a lot to do in the garden
at this time of year and therefore the knitting is being put away for the time
being. However, at Wool and Willow we would say that once you’ve done an hour
or two of gardening, what better way to relax than with a cup of tea and your
knitting on a garden bench! With this in mind, we invite you to come to the
shop and see our beautiful range of summer yarns. The Debbie Bliss Collection (Rialto
Lace, Eco-baby and Amalfi) has some particularly lovely patterns to go with the
yarns and her spring / summer magazine [now in stock] is full of inspirational
ideas for the season.

Willow Workshops

Making Willow Wigwams for Beans & Sweet Peas – 23rd June, 10am-1pm , cost:£30 including materials & refreshments

Making A Willow Shopping Basket – 23rd.June 2.30-5.00pm +24th June 10am-4.30pm, cost: £80 incl. materials, refreshments & light lunch on the Sunday

[NB: cost if booking for wigwam & basket courses: £100]

See website for booking instructions

Sock Knitting Day

Learn the basics of sock construction & knit a pair of baby socks on this day workshop with Alison Smart on Saturday 29^th September in Wallingford. Cost: £45 including lunch and materials. For more details and booking form go to www.woolwillow.co.uk .

Lace Knitting Day – We are delighted to be hosting this Introduction to Lace Knitting workshop with International Designer, Anniken Allis, on Saturday 13^th October in Wallingford. Cost: £50 including lunch and materials. For more details and booking form go to www.woolwillow.co.uk .

New Products

We are happy to have some new British rare breed yarns in stock including Cotswold
DK, Hebridean /Mohair 4 ply and lace weight Shetland.
Our local spinners and dyers, Catherine Carr [Wallingford] and Tanya Marsh [Henley] have been working hard on some beautiful new spring fibres for special one off
projects.
We are also very pleased to have some lace weight pure undyed alpaca from Checkendon in 100 gram skeins: perfect for your lacy summer shawls.
Another new local product in the shop are hand-crocheted chokers by Nikki Small of
Watlington .Made with Fair Trade Manos del Uruguay yarn, they are unique and
stylish.

HAPPY EASTER!

Three places left on Wet Felting Workshop

julia — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 18:32:10 +0000

We’ve just taken delivery of some wonderfully colourful merino ‘tops’ [see below] for our felting workshop coming up on Saturday 31st March. The workshop is ideal for anyone who is intrigued by wet felting techniques and would like to find a way into this exciting artform. Wool and Willow has 3 places left on its workshop; so get in touch swiftly to secure your day. Cost is £45 which includes all materials, refreshments & lunch. You will get to take home your finished work of art to impress your friends & family! Go to Events page for further details.

British Wool – Special Promotion!

julia — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:35:38 +0000

As you may already know, Wool & Willow is passionate about Britain’s beautiful wool. To celebrate this, we are making February a special month: during this time you can select from our exclusive range of British and local yarn at a generous 20% discount. Come in and get yarn for your Woolsack cushion for the Olympic athletes.