30/07/2024
Het Woolly Collectief has now been opened since end of April 2024.
A brief update of what's happening in the world of Het Woolly Collectief. Though also to let you know what we do - as when you mention wool, people automatically assume I have 100`s of balls of wool, those long weird needles to knit with, or an odd crochet hook. (that is not the case)
- Saved over 550kgs of wool, donated or bought directly from small to larger flocks of sheep within Belgium. Sadly not all has been good quality and we are working with farmers and shearers to ensure it improves
- Sort, pick, wash, card, and dry wool. I am not a natural dye expert, nor proclaim to be, though we do stock natural dyes sourced directly from organic farmers in India or local dyes grown in Flanders, Belgium.
- We have had teachers come and test run the needle felting machine to plan for next years lessons for students, ran workshops with young and old (see the birds nest in the photo) and warmly welcomed tour groups, one being wool enthusiasts from Brussels.
- One area which still needs further development is working with Industry and Product developers. Wool has the ability to be used in pharmaceutical, packaging, agricultural, automobile, aviation, musical worlds and more (not just insulation, fashion and interior). And of course students.
- For something different - come and join our workshops - sashiko repair and creative workshops, drop spindle spinning classes (spintol), paper making from local Belgium h**p, natural dyeing, furoshiki tyeing for gifts, 3D birds nests (see picture below) and felting (water and needle).
Warmly welcome young, old or inquisitive minds to explore a woolly world of what it can be used for. Wool has a wide functionality ie carbon sequests, nurtures plants, can cook food with it Skiep or simply cushions notes on your piano.
The shop is now stocking items from Urszula Sikorska - non skin hand felted rugs and hangings made in Flanders, Belgium, Skiep, Belgium h**p oil and soap, beautifully hand made drop spindles and a few special sashiko needles and scissors from Japan to name a few items.....
And we do offer repair work for your munched woollen clothing....
