Wool Week Knits

Knitting needles at the ready - Wool Week is here! From 14th-20th October all sorts of events will be taking place to promote the Campaign for Wool, including free fashion knitting workshops at the Oxford Street and Edinburgh branches of John Lewis.

However, if like me you just end up with a tangled mess every time you attempt to knit something, you could always take the opportunity to buy some new winter woolies.

The 'Wool School' initiative has seen fashion and textiles students from around the country competing to have their knitwear designs sold at stores including Topshop, M&S, Brora, Barbour and Jigsaw - so look out for the winning designs inspired by knitwear traditions of the British Isles when they go on sale this week.

As for me, I've just picked out this bright blue and red jumper from the Jaeger Outlet (pictured above, WAS £150, NOW £35)

Crazy About Crochet

As fashion's love affair with the 70s continues, crochet is beginning to experience somewhat of a revival. In recent years the multi-coloured knitted squares have more commonly been seen on woolly blankets keeping your Granny warm than on the catwalk - that is until now...

Ever since I saw the House of Holland A/W 11 show I have been crazy about crochet. I was even inspired to pick up a pair of crochet hooks and give it a go myself - in the hope of producing my own oversized scarf in the style of HoH in time for Autumn. Make a loop and hook it through may sound simple enough, but it definitely takes perseverance. When (or rather, if) I manage to make something presentable, I'll be sure to post a picture.

Wool Week is the perfect time to give crochet or knitting a go. Look out for a class near you, then once you've got the basics down you'll be able to join a Stitch & Bitch group (that's Knit & Natter to the more polite amongst us). Now that really does sound like fun to me - any excuse for a good gossip!

www.campaignforwool.org

Winter Woolies

As it's Wool Week, what better time to think about winter woolies? Whether you are a stickler for traditional aran and fairisle patterns or you favour more quirky knits, there is definitely something wooly out there for you...

Cashmere Knitwear by Uniqlo
Gloves by Paul Smith

Cardigans by Sonia Rykiel
Scarves & Wraps at Asos

Celebrate Wool Week - 5th-11th Sept 2011

It's time to celebrate all things wool as today marks the start of Wool Week. Events are set to take place across the UK to inspire the future use of wool amongst everyone from shoppers to students, industry insiders to artisans.

The campaign aims to break traditional perceptions of wool and show that it has diverse potential. The 'Wool Modern' exhibition in La Galleria on Pall Mall proves just that. Featuring unique pieces by leading designers the exhibition establishes wool as a modern, innovative and avant garde material.

'Wool Modern' is free to the public and runs from 8th-29th September. You'll see work by the likes of Erdem, Galliano and Vivienne Westwood, who praised the versatility of wool:

'Wool is one of the world's great natural fibres, famous for its versatility and comfort - warm in winter, cool in summer.'

The list of benefits goes on and on. Not only is wool environmentally friendly, being a natural fibre which is entirely renewable, sustainable and biodegradable, but it also provides naturally high UV protection. With so many buzz words it's a wonder the wool industry has ever been in trouble. But with competition from so many man-made fibres and faced with the plummeting price of wool, the industry has undeniably suffered. Support the Campaign for Wool and it need never go out of fashion. Now is the perfect time to invest in some winter woolies - or even knit your own!

For more information visit www.campaignforwool.org