Today, I booked the bus to Ashburton, just south of Christchurch. Jenny on the post bus said it would be my kind of place.
It was with a heavy heart that I watch the bus pull away, the one bus a day. Ashburton isn't even in the guide books, but it is the home of Ashford spinning wheels and looms.
So, in my self appointed, one woman quest to discover what happens to 40 million sheeps fleeces every year, I felt it my duty to investigate.
I was not disappointed. Nicola showed me all round the retail part of the enterprise and Libby very kindly took me round the factory where I saw the New Zealand silver beech wood being made into wheels, carders, looms, bobbins, drop spindles, and then wool, both knitting wool and fibre.
I saw some of the merino blended with possum, but it was a bit too expensive.
Possum were introduced from Australia 100 years or more ago for their fur (pelts) but they are now a massive pest in NZ with more than 70 million of them. Because nothing eats them they have grown to be super big possums and they destroy acres of native bush to say nothing of decimating the ground nesting bird population.
There is a huge campaign to try and eradicate them. Their fur is short (compared to sheep) and hollow, so it is very warm. It won't spin on its own, but blended with merino it makes a very soft, warm yarn. But, as I said, it is not as cheap as the pure NZ wool, so that is what I got. For knitting on coaches and in the evenings. I hope to have a jumper to wear home!
Off to Lake Tekapo tomorrow.
It was with a heavy heart that I watch the bus pull away, the one bus a day. Ashburton isn't even in the guide books, but it is the home of Ashford spinning wheels and looms.
So, in my self appointed, one woman quest to discover what happens to 40 million sheeps fleeces every year, I felt it my duty to investigate.
I was not disappointed. Nicola showed me all round the retail part of the enterprise and Libby very kindly took me round the factory where I saw the New Zealand silver beech wood being made into wheels, carders, looms, bobbins, drop spindles, and then wool, both knitting wool and fibre.
I saw some of the merino blended with possum, but it was a bit too expensive.
Possum were introduced from Australia 100 years or more ago for their fur (pelts) but they are now a massive pest in NZ with more than 70 million of them. Because nothing eats them they have grown to be super big possums and they destroy acres of native bush to say nothing of decimating the ground nesting bird population.
There is a huge campaign to try and eradicate them. Their fur is short (compared to sheep) and hollow, so it is very warm. It won't spin on its own, but blended with merino it makes a very soft, warm yarn. But, as I said, it is not as cheap as the pure NZ wool, so that is what I got. For knitting on coaches and in the evenings. I hope to have a jumper to wear home!
Off to Lake Tekapo tomorrow.
Need more knitting details! What pattern? Needle size? is the wool nice to knit?
Posted by: Sue | 01/29/2013 at 04:57 PM
Hi Katie,It is all fascinating!You have really done your research.What a wonderful trip!I look forward to reading more.Love from Kathy.
Posted by: Kathy White-Webster | 01/29/2013 at 06:00 PM
Wool looks fab-hair looks good-even Chris's hairy arm looks good...don't plan to return-we're coming down!! Carole
Posted by: Carole | 01/30/2013 at 05:23 PM
Gosh, naughty possums = yarn potential! Fab! As usual it is us humans who are to blame, though. At least they're doing something about it. I'd love to see what the hollow-haired possum fur is actually like.
Posted by: Tash | 03/15/2013 at 04:19 PM