Recently, while travelling around Cornwall, England, I had the fantastic opportunity and privilege to visit The Natural Fibre Company, a British Woollen Mill. I had the pleasure of meeting the Blacker Yarns Team and even enjoyed a private tour of the mill. It was a truly interesting and fantastic experience that I am delighted to share.
About company
The Natural Fibre Company is located in Launceston, Cornwall, in the southwest of England. They specialize in working with a wide range of fleeces, including wool, alpaca, mohair, as well as plant-based fibres like linen, bamboo, and nettle. They are the only company in the country that spins both types of yarns, woollen and worsted, under the same roof. Additionally, they provide services such as scouring, carding, woollen and worsted spinning, and finishing.
To learn more about The Natural Fibre Company and wool processing you can watch the video at the following link:
For more information about the team, please follow the link
Company’s Values and Innovations
As a traditional British Mill, the company sources almost everything locally from the UK supporting small local businesses. All stages of production, starting from scouring to spinning of yarn made under one roof, which help to reduce the carbon footprint. The company is dedicated to recycling most of their waste, with only a minimal amount ending up in landfills.
In addition to producing high-quality fleece and yarn, The Natural Fibre Company provides advice to local businesses, collaborates with textile artists, and helps develop new products.
Innovation and experimentation with different types of fibres in interesting and important part of business. They actively explore plant-based fibres and alternative materials to replace nylon and synthetic fibres in yarn compositions. This includes developing durable yarn blends using bamboo, Himalayan nettle, hemp, dog hair, and even human hair.
Yarn Range
“We create the finest natural yarns for your dreams and inspiration...” – Blacker Yarns
Blacker Yarns specializes in producing a diverse range of yarns using fleece from various breeds of sheep, including some that are rare or unique. They offer a wide range of options, starting from undyed natural shades to vibrant and colourful varieties. They draw inspiration from different sources for their yarn collections. For instance, they have ranges influenced by tales and poetry, such as their "Folklore" line. Additionally, they have collections inspired by the beautiful nature of Cornwall, such as their "Woodland" range. Surprisingly, they even have a yarn called "Shetland Coffee range" that inspired by their love for coffee.
Visit to the Mill and meeting Blacker Yarns Team
As mentioned earlier, I had a fantastic opportunity to visit the Mill and meet the lovely Blacker Yarns Team. This small group of people shares a passion for their craft and a common goal of creating high-quality yarn. Supporting indie knitting and crochet designers, Blacker Yarns offer project kits for wide range of garments and accessories through their online store.
Huge thank you to Kamila, the Brand Manager, for making my visit possible! Her main responsibility is expanding the Blacker Yarns range of products, working closely with designers and customers as well as managing social media and blogging. During my visit, I had the privilege of getting a sneak peek at a new yarn that will be released later this year. I am eagerly looking forward to it!
Have you ever heard of dog hair yarn before? I knew that some people try spinning yarn with their pets' hair and even knitting socks, but I had never seen it myself. Below is a photo of a skein made with a blend of 40% dog hair and 60% Blue Faced Leicester. It is lovely and soft, and the dog hair used was saved from groomers, preventing it from ending up in landfills.
I am excited to try out this beautiful yarn and provide a review for you soon. It's truly thrilling!
Ginni not only assists with processing and preparing yarn orders but is also a talented knitter and knitting designer. You can appreciate her beautiful work by visiting her Instagram page and finding her designs on the Blacker Yarns website. One of her recent designs is the Shepherd hat, shoes, and mittens set, for which the project kit is available here.
Ryan is Spinning Team Leader and he is in charge of spinning of one of my favourite yarns, the Pure Shetland Coffee Range, which is available in both fingering and DK weight. I have recently designed a new unisex sweater for children and adults using the Pure Shetland DK yarn. The knitting pattern for this sweater will be released in autumn.
It was an interesting visit filled with valuable information, enjoyable conversations, and plans for future projects and collaborations. I will keep you updated with more news soon.
My designs and collaborations with Blacker Yarns
By the way, you can read about my knitting designs made with Blacker Yarns following the links below:
Knitting patterns for those designs are available from Ravelry and Lovecrafts
You are also welcome to join my Facebook knitting group to share your work and get some help with my patterns.