Here is a light & stylish cowl handwoven by myself, Fiona on my Saori floor loom, combining alpaca & wool in a loose, fine weave. The alpaca yarn is undyed natural white, interspersed with softly dyed variegated pink. The wool, in the warp, is from Nundle Woollen Mills in northern NSW.
This cowl is worn as a single length with the twist at the base. It sits comfortably around the neck, dressing up simple Tshirts and dresses. It is perfect for fresh summer evenings or to keep the autumn chill at bay.
At Ashculme Textiles we walk gently on this precious earth. I hand weave each piece at my studio in rural NSW, using the yarn from our small herd of Suri Alpaca. The process is mostly here on the farm – after shearing, we clean the fleeces before sending them to a local mill where small batches are washed, carded & spun. I use natural dyes working with rain water that flows directly from the tank and on into the garden after use. In my weaving the designs come as I weave, allowing my fingers to instinctively create as they work.
Alpaca fibre is resilient will keep its shape and softness for years.
Should you need to wash it, do so by hand only, squeezing out excess water by folding it in a towel and pressing down. Do not wring. Dry laid out flat. Not to be tumble dried. Iron with a cool iron, protecting it with a cotton or linen tea towel.
