Craft

A Yarn From North Ronaldsay was set up to provide an outlet for the fleece of the communally farmed North Ronaldsay sheep. The company uses the main workshop attached to the new lighthouse to spin the fleece into high quality yarn, using machines specially made for cottage industry use. There is also a felting facility and it is hoped that even the waste obtained can be used for making insulation and other material, so all the wool can be utilized.

By vistiting the workshop, you can see how the island’s unique sheep wool goes from the raw product, clipped from the sheep in the summer months, to the finished product right here on the island. There is a range of beautiful woollen garments, fabrics and furnishings for sale in the adjoining shop.

The wool ranges in colour from white through to black, with various fawn or moorit shades.

Through the company, the habitants of the island are able to sustain a tradition and to preserve an ancient flock.

The wool is sometimes/used to be(?) dyed the East Indian dyewood salvaged from a 265 year old shipwreck.

Contact:

A Yarn From North Ronaldsay
Mrs Jane Donnelly
Sangar,
North Ronaldsay,
Orkney.
KW17 2BG
SCOTLAND
Tel. (01857) 633242
Email: northron.yarn@btinternet.com

Posted at 02:26 PM