European Wool Crafting

Craft, /krɑːft/, noun:

an activity involving skill in making things by hand.

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To craft, the worker needs specific materials with which to work, Wool is a natural material and is readily available across Europe. Wool is such a versatile material and there are many ways in which to use it in handcrafts, both traditional and contemporary. Of course, traditionally wool was used in knitting, weaving, crochet, and embroidery. Wool was also used for spinning, dyeing, and weaving by hand, all a family’s household goods and clothing. Needle felting and wet felting with wool is now used in contemporary art as well as fashion. The process to go from “sheep to shawl” was and is a time consuming craft. Modern techniques and manufacturers have greatly reduced the time needed to produce woollen products.

But there is still great satisfaction in crafting with wool by hand. And there is a growing interest in learning handcrafts using local wool as well as making, using, and purchasing products from natural wool.