Knit Kit: Bear in British Rare Breed wool
Knit your own gorgeous Bear with your choice of rare breed, naturally coloured wool sourced from small farms in the North of England.
Includes:
50g ball of wool, woollen spun in Aran weight in brown, grey or white
30g of polyester stuffing
black embroidery thread
pattern
You will need 4mm needles and a tapestry needle.
This makes the perfect gift for loved ones who love knitting and appreciate British wool. Suitable for beginners, Approx. 28 cm tall.
Choose from three colours and breeds:
Brown: Rare Manx
100% Manx Loaghtan wool from the flock at Well-i-Hole Farm, Saddleworth, and Raskelf Rare & Heritage Breeds, North Yorkshire. Both are small, family run farms with a passion for preserving rare breeds. Manx Loaghtan are an ancient, hardy breed with horns, originally from the Isle of Mann. Loaghtan means mouse-brown in Manx. Their wool is considered to be very soft, making it perfect to wear as a hat or other accessory.
White: Woodland White
100% Whitefaced Woodland wool from the flock at Temple Newsam Home Farm in Leeds. A rare breed centre home to oldest breeds of farm animals in the country. Whitefaced Woodland are a hardy hill breed with distinctive horns originating from the Pennines, previously known as Penistone sheep after the Yorkshire town. Wearable wool for most people, and takes dye very well.
Grey: 80% Whitefaced Woodland wool, 20% Shetland wool
Whitefaced Woodland wool from Temple Newsam Home Farm blended with grey Shetland wool from Lambwath View Flock, Hull giving a gorgeous grey shade and added softness.
The Peg Loomer is part of the Northern England Fibreshed - a group committed to utilising and promoting the use of fibres grown and processed within the North. This wool is 100% traceable and has not (yet!) left the North of England. It was spun at Halifax Spinning Mill, a small Yorkshire mill working tirelessly to ensure that processing small batches of breed-specific British wool can be viable.
Buying British wool is a highly sustainable choice, with a vastly reduced carbon footprint - no shipping from the other side of the world! Choosing wool over synthetic fibres means no micro-plastics released into our environment. It also supports our local farmers to preserve rare, native breeds.
Patterns are designed by Jacinta Bowie, a knitwear designer who lives down the road from the Saddleworth flock, and is passionate about utilising British wool.
If you would like to knit this bear but don't need the kit, you can choose to buy the wool and receive the pattern for free via PDF - see my other listings.