It’s Wovember First, and I can’t think of a better way to kick off our appreciation of wool than by sharing the video that sparked my obsession with wool.
I had been happily knitting and crocheting with all sorts of fibers, natural and synthetic, for over thirty years. I had mixed views of wool. I had been exposed to a lot of itchy wools in my days, so I tended to not reach for it first, though I knew if I needed to stay warm, wool was a good option.
What I didn’t know was that a lot of my mixed views of wool were due to the fact that I didn’t understand it. I didn’t know about micron sizes. I didn’t know how the actual make up of the wool fibers allowed it to both insulate and help regulate body temperature. I didn’t know a lot. So I wasn’t using wool to it’s best advantage.
This video by Roy Kettlewell changed all of that. He clearly explains the qualities of wool and the science behind it in a compelling accessible way. Kettlewell has been working in the wool industry for nearly 50 years. He is a fascinating resource to learn from. After watching this video, I started making better choices about what wool to use in what way, and my unabashed love affair with this amazing fiber began.
The video is long, coming in at about 90 minutes. That’s another reason why I wanted to post it early in the month. Grab your knitting and a tasty beverage of your choice and settle in for a listen. If you don’t finish it in one sitting, you have plenty of time before Wovember ends to pick up where you left off.
(If you’re taking part in the Love Wovember Instagram posting challenge, you may want a notebook nearby to make a few notes for your posts through the month!)
