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Autumn 2024 Newsletter
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We can't believe how late we are with this newsletter! We had such a busy summer, but now it's autumn and time to tell you all about what we have been up to.
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Contents
- Acquisition of Weaving Looms business.
- About Toika Loom Studios.
- New! Gist Ode Baby Alpaca 9/4 Nm.
- End of the (Maine) line for Jagger Spun yarns.
- New Lanark Spinning Co. to stop production
- Need a reed?
- Weaving heritage in Newtown.
- Weaving retreats in Mid Wales.
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Acquisition of the Weaving Looms business
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Some of you will know that we created Weaving Yarn Limited and acquired "My Fine Weaving Yarn" from Helen Brotherton two years ago. This year, Helen decided to complete her retirement and we took over the "Weaving Looms" product range including Toika looms, weaving equipment and TexSolv heddles & tie-up.
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Merging the full product range into our business and getting it onto the website took a lot of effort, which is why you didn't hear much from us over the summer!
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We are delighted to be able to offer a one-stop shop for yarn, heddles, stretchers, reeds, shuttles and all the other equipment you may need for your project.
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About Toika Loom Studios
We're the UK's sole official Toika dealer. We can help you to specify your perfect Toika floor loom which is manufactured to order in Finland and delivered to your home address. We recognise that sometimes you need to be able to see and "test drive" a loom to know exactly what you need. To help you do that we have demonstration looms in our Toika Loom Studios in two locations:
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- Here at Weaving Yarn HQ in Llangurig, Mid Wales.
- At Helen Brotherton's home in Lutterworth, East Midlands.
To arrange a visit just email us - [email protected] - and tell us which loom models you would like to see and which location you would prefer.
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New! Gist Ode Baby Alpaca 9/4 Nm
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Some of you asked if we could stock Gist's 100% baby alpaca yarn called "Ode" - and now we have! We fell in love with this luxurious yarn when we test-wove it. It is a 9/4 Nm (metric count) and yields 18wpi. It blooms into spectacularly soft scarves and shawls when wet-finished.
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We have the full range of 13 colours, and a colour card set too. Two colours, Turquoise and Iris, are special editions; when they sell out they will be replaced with new special edition colours, to keep the range fresh. Make sure that you order enough to complete your project!
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Put-up is 250g on cone, approximate length is 562m.
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End of the (Maine) line for Jagger Spun yarns
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Jagger Spun, manufacturers of Maine Line, Super Fine Merino and Zephyr wools have announced that they will be closing the business in early 2025.
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The Jagger family first started spinning in Maine in the 1880s, and the current business Jagger Spun was started in the late 1980s by David Jagger to provide quality yarn for production weavers and knitters.
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Although they haven't set a specific date for closure, Jagger Spun have stopped production and will sell off their remaining stock.
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We have a few colours of their Super Fine 100% Merino 18/2 NeK remaining in stock, plus some 50g cone ends. We will not be able to restock so you should order enough of this yarn to complete your project.
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New Lanark Spinning Co. to stop production
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In other sad news we have learnt that the New Lanark Spinning Co. will stop production by the end of the year. We will continue to purchase and sell their 4.8/2 Nm natural blends and dyed wool for as long as stock is available, but if you want to buy this lovely wool you should do so as soon as possible and make sure that you buy enough to complete your project.
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Need a reed?
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A selection of good quality reeds is essential for stress-free weaving. Many weavers choose a 10 or 12 dpi reed when starting out and then use a conversion chart when sleying for a different number of epi. But choosing the correct reed for your project makes beating more precise when working with finer yarns and is essential for our thickest yarns.
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Toika started making reeds in Finland over 100 years ago. Today they still have master craftsmen producing their "Arctic" standard reeds and "Profile" full metal reeds, the latter for use with fly shuttles. The dents for both models are made from SS430 stainless steel which resists corrosion in a normal studio environment.
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We stock a good range of these reeds from 30cm to 130cm weaving width, in densities of 20 to 100 dents per 10cm (metric sizes) and 5 to 25 dpi (imperial sizes). Longer and custom lengths can be made to order.
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Toika also make a handy reed stand to keep your selection of reeds upright and safe when not in use.
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Please get in touch if you would like us to help you select a reed to fit your loom.
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Weaving heritage in Newtown.
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In our last newsletter we told you about our trip to the New Lanark Spinning Company in Scotland, one of our yarn suppliers. The New Lanark Mill was founded by Robert Owen who was born in Newtown, here in Mid Wales.
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During the summer we visited the Robert Owen museum in Newtown which chronicles his life and work, and also the Newtown Textile Museum which is a short walk away.
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During the 19th century Mid Wales became a centre for production of flannel. Towns like Newtown, Hay on Wye and Llanidloes carded, spun and wove wool in mills powered by river water. Newtown was the largest flannel production centre in Wales by the 1820s and was renowned for the quality of its product.
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The Textile Museum occupies a former mill. The ground and first floors we originally accommodation for weavers and their families, typically 10 to a room. The upper floors, with tall windows admitting plenty of natural light, contained the looms and machinery they used to manufacture cloth. Today you can see some old counterbalance looms and related equipment plus a detailed exhibition about local textile manufacture.
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Pryce Pryce-Jones was a Welsh entrepreneur who created the first mail order catalogue in 1861 listing flannel cloth and other woollen goods such as soft flannel knickers. Customers ordered by mail, and parcels were despatched by rail from his "Royal Welsh Warehouse" in Newtown. His customers included Queen Victoria, the Empress of Russia and Florence Nightingale.
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These days we publish an electronic catalogue and send our yarn parcels by road, not rail, but we like to think that in our own small way we continue Pryce-Jones' tradition of mail order from Mid Wales!
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Weaving retreats in Mid Wales
Some of you may know that we operate out of a barn conversion in Llangurig, Mid Wales. Part of the building contains two small self catering cottages which we let all year round to holiday makers. We are now offering weaving retreats in these cottages where you can escape to spend a short break or a week away with your loom, or with one of ours. You can find out more about our cottages on the Wye View website. Guests enjoy a 15% discount on our yarns and weaving equipment, and of course immediate delivery!
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Thank you for reading
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If you would like to get in touch you can send us email, phone, message us through social media or complete the contact form on our website. See you again soon!
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