Old Photographs

We found this photo (click to enlarge) amongst a box full of other photos which had become 'lost' when Fibrecrafts first moved here to Peasmarsh more than 10 years ago.

The photo shows two customers in the showroom at the cottage in Eashing Lane. The lady appears to be buying a locker hook and the gentleman is spinning a thread on the Schacht Matchless spinning wheel. Does anyone know their names?

Over the Sea and Far Away...

But not so far that we couldn't get Mrs Malledent's parcel out in extra fast time! Ordered only yesterday, Mrs Malledent's alpaca/silk tops arrived in Guernsey this morning. Here's what she thinks about us!

Hello all at Fibrecrafts,

It was good to meet you on our visit there in September.

Just had to say a big thank you for my order. I only ordered the alpaca/silk tops yesterday and it arrived this morning! I had a stall at our local coffee morning in aid of Cancer Research UK and I sold a scarf I made in this lovely blend, and I have an order for another one - hence I needed more tops!

I'm attaching a photo of the first scarf, but my photography is not as good as my spinning and knitting!

Thanks again.

Kind regards,

Karen Malledent


Thanks for the (not so bad!) photo Karen

Silk Hanky Spinning

Thank you to Dannelle Frost who took the time to email us regarding our page 'Spinning from a Silk Hanky' which can be found on the web site under Projects.

"I love spinning silk hankies. I read a long time ago that rubbing your fingers with lemon helps the silk not stick to rough spots on your fingers when handling the silk. This really does work! I keep a wedge of lemon in a small bowl right next to me when preparing and spinning the hankies. The oil in the lemon keeps your hands smooth and spinning a breeze. I have noticed no harm done to the silk by the lemon. I have hats created from yarn spun using this lemon method that look just as nice today as when created years ago."

Institute of European Design

We often get positive feedback about our service and we're very grateful that so many of you make the effort to contact us and thank us. This email was sent from the Institute of European Design and we feature it here with two of the photographs that accompanied it.

I just wanted to take a moment to thank you and everyone at Fibrecrafts.com for your help and participation in my Fibre Materials seminar at the Institute of European Design. Thank you so much for the rush service, It was spectacular. The quality of the goods was also excellent and lead to some great projects. Your professionalism and personal attention speak well not only of your business, but of your country. Expect another order from the IED soon, as they have asked me to do the same seminar in Rome.

My heartfelt thanks,
Troy Robert Nachtigall

Another Celebration!

Schacht have brought out a special limited edition of the 8 Shaft Baby Wolf in walnut wood and the Matchless Spinning Wheel in cherry wood to mark their 40th Anniversary.

They're also running a competition 'I made it on my Schacht' (see more, the web site will open in a separate window).

Let us know if you enter the contest as we would love to see what you have created and we will add a link from the Fibrecrafts blog site, Textiles Talk

Louët Celebrate 35 years of trading!

To mark their anniversary, Louët are offering a FREE loom bench when you order any of the following Louët looms: David*, Spring*, Delta*, Magic Dobby, Octado* and Megado or a FREE skeinwinder when you order any of the following spinning wheels: S10*, S51DT*, S75DT* and S15*

The offer applies to any order (for the products specified above) placed through Fibrecrafts. The items marked * are available to special order from FIBRECRAFTS, as are any of the Louët products. Please ring 01483 565800 or email us for further information.

If you would like to know a little more about the history of these quality weaving and spinning products, visit the Louet web site and click on the link 'History' (the page will open in a separate window).

Supplies Visit!

We welcomed Managing Director Richard Ashford and Sales Manager Kate Sherrat during their visit from Ashford, New Zealand in April. The team here at Fibrecrafts enjoyed putting the names to faces before our visitors, along with David Herring (Ashford UK), were taken for a tour of the warehouse by our Managing Director, Ian Bowers.



Photographed here by Richard; David, Ian and Kate are about to take a look at the Ashford spinning and weaving products stored in the warehouse, having just seen the range of equipment on display in our showroom.

Handspun, Knitted and Felted Bag

Chrissie Shepherd has sent us this photo of her hand crafted bag. It is made by first hand spinning dyed wool tops (drafting the colours at random to create the variation in colour), then knitted and finally felted. Chrissie is so happy with her experiment, that she made this comment, 'I am very pleased with the end result and am going to make lots more using themed colours.'

FIBRES: Camel 'Excellent Fibre'

Wendy Smith has very kindly sent us this photo taken at the Cameloid Show held at Ardingly, Sussex at the beginning of May.


Wendy is a member of the Kent Guild of Spinners, Dyers and Weavers and took a sample of our Camel fibre (basket on left) to demonstrate spinning. Wendy says in her letter to Fibrecrafts '...thank you very much for your generosity in supplying such excellent fibre for the demonstration..'

Thank you, Wendy for giving us such great feedback!

FIBRES: A 'Casein' Point - Milk Protein Tried & Tested

Sorry for the pun (we heard you groan)! Anne Cook has kindly sent us this pic of her Milk Protein (Casein) yarn which she dyed in skein using acid dyes.


When she saw it, Susan Litton decided to dye some of the fibre herself (see below). It takes the acid dyes very well, has a good sheen and a lovely soft handle

SPINNING - Manx Loughton Shearling

With Christmas out of the way, Coralie couldn't wait to use her coveted present - a Schacht Matchless Spinning Wheel! With a Manx Loughton Shearling fleece in the shed begging to be carded and spun, Coralie set about producing this delicious singles yarn.

She told us, 'When I've finally finished the spinning, I'm going to have a go at lace knitting. I already have Gossamer Webs but the patterns in Victorian Lace Today are also very tempting!'