Wool Twisting Machine to benefit Island crafter's

by Tweed Textiles in Isle of Harris

Wool Twisting Machine to benefit Island crafter's
We did it
On 13th May 2016 we successfully raised £12,483 with 362 supporters in 56 days

It's happening, The Wool twister will be coming onto Harris and we will be producing Hebridean Landscape Yarns thanks to your support.

by Tweed Textiles in Isle of Harris

 New stretch target

Thank you for all the support and your pledge to help get this far, 3 days to go.

 

 

 

 

On 21st April I spoke to Carloway Mill where I can buy the yarn, I need to buy in bulk so any extra funds raised will go towards the purchase of a job lot meaning I can buy loads of different colours and make up unique batches of wool. Photo taken on my visit to Mill. It would be great to have this many sacks of wool heading back over the Clisham..

 

 

We're Overfunding with 21 days to go before the end date and with all your help we have smashed the original target,  and for that thank you to all the backers, I never thought I'd be saying this "Our next goal should you wish to join us is £15000"  but saying that we are more than thankful that our original target was met!   Overfunding means that once the machine has been ordered (on 13th May)  and paid I can start getting the yarn organised ready for producing a range of Hebridean Landscape Yarns and this can happen sooner than I thought,  For all those who have said they are coming to the island on holiday we'd love for you to visit us, You could choose your own colours and get them twisted on the machine making your own unique lot of wool.  You can then take finished wool home with you or we can get it knitted up for you.

 

Thank you all.   Happy Knitting!

 


                                                                                          WELCOME   

 When someone says "bobban socks" do you know what they are?

 


I'm sure that every household on the islands in days gone by had some in drawers whether it was handknitted for the fisherman or the crofter?   Bobban wool is a by-product.  By this I mean it's main purpose is for weaving Harris Tweed only for years I and many others knit with it,  Once I decide how many threads to use,  then twist it, wash it to get rid of the oils and it knit's up beautifully.  Not to be worn next to the skin as it can be coarse, it softens after washing..  It is 100% pure British Wool. So I am asking for you to help us to get a wool twisting machine on the Western Isles.  At the moment we are currently sending the wool we use for our Hebridean Knitwear all the way to Cornwall to get plied and twisted, when it's ready it has to make it's long journey back to the Isle of Harris, then onto the needles,  just think of the milage when the wool is already spun and dyed on the island!!!   This is the wee machine I currently use to twist small batches that are needed quickly or perhaps not so quickly when it can only do 150g at a time and very time consuming.

 

From Bobbans to my wee twisterthen onto the needles.

 

 

                                  The Agteks Direct Twist machine would possibly be the best machine for twisting.  The finished product would then be the truly Hebridean, where all the process has been done on the Hebrides.    For generations mums and grans on the islands have been using this wool to make beautifully finished sweaters, bobban socks,  hats and anything else they could knit,  they did not have access to these big machines so everything was done by hand and spinning wheel. 

Every jumper that I knit can take between 40-80 hours to knit by hand, and roughly a day or so to get the wool ready with the wee machine below,  with the Agteks Direct Twist sufficient amount of wool can be twisted within minutes, It will be able to produce a 2ply, 3ply up to 8ply chunky knitting wool.  Can you imagine what could be done if other fancy yarns were also plied with it?  I would hope that other folk on the island who use Harris wool might get their wool twisted by us.

Whatever funds I raise will go towards this project and in return for funds I am offering rewards, please bear in mind that all the rewards I am offering are made by me and will come to you from the Isle of Harris.  There may be a delay in getting rewards out but they will reach you.  As the project is running until May if you are pledging for rewards then please do pop me a message and let me know what you'd like as I'd like to start sending rewards out as soon as, You can follow my Facebook page or twitter for up to date messages regarding rewards.

 A massive thank you to all my pledgers.

 I will not be charging any postage on my rewards regardless of where you live, whether it be next door in Harris or in the USA, it is merely a thank you for believing in my project and helping me get closer to my target.

 

 

 

 

Rewards

This project offers rewards in return for your donation. Please select a reward below.

£1 or more

£1 Reward

Massive thank you for your donation, every penny helps, thank you for following my project.

£2 or more

£2 Reward

Massive thank you for your donation, every penny helps, thank you for following my project.

£3 or more

£3 Reward

Massive thank you for your donation, every penny helps, thank you for following my project.

£4 or more

£4 Reward

Massive thank you for your donation, every penny helps, thank you for following my project.

£5 or more

£5 Reward

Thank you You will receive a personalized Harris Tweed Keyring, Heart or Rectangle shape

£10 or more

£10 Reward

Thank you You will receive a Harris Tweed coin zipped purse

£10 or more

£10 Reward

A contribution for international shipments of wool.

£15 or more

£15 Reward

Thank you You will receive a pair of Hebridean Wool "Bobban Socks" Hand knitted by me or Hip Flask with Harris Tweed cover

£20 or more

£20 Reward

Thank you You will receive a Harris Tweed Clutch Purse made in your choice of colour.

£25 or more

£25 Reward

Thank you You will receive 1 Kilo Hebridean Wool in your choice of colour or Harris Tweed lined scarf with embroidered initials.

£25 or more

£25 Reward

You will receive a piece of Harris Tweed cloth 150cms x 50cms, colour of my choice from my stash.

£35 or more

£35 Reward

For international pledges who wish to pay part shipping for their 1 Kilo of wool, So for this pledge you receive 1 kilo of hebridean landscape wool and your donation for shipping which is much appreciated.

£40 or more

£40 Reward

Thank you You will receive a Personalised Embroidered Family Tree Harris Tweed Cushion Cover

£50 or more

£50 Reward

Thank you You will receive 2 kilos Hebridean wool in your choice of colour

£60 or more

2 of 3 claimed

£60 Reward

You will receive 3 x 150cms x50cms pieces of Harris Tweed cloth, colour of my choice from my stash

£100 or more

£100 Reward

Thank you You will receive a Hebridean Wool Jumper - Hand knitted to your size.

£250 or more

£250 Reward

Thank you You will receive 3 Hebridean Wool hand knitted jumpers in fisher rib or stocking stitch pattern

£500 or more

£500 Reward

Thank you You will receive 6 Hebridean wool jumpers - hand knitted to size requirements.

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