We’re building a spinning mill. But the truth is, this story started more than 25 years ago, with a small flock of sheep, a dodgy laser printer, and some yarn sold at the local farmers market. In this first post of our series, we go right back to the beginning - tracing the roots of Garthenor Organic, and the values that still guide us today.
Building our own spinning mill was never about ease - it’s about making yarn that tells a true story. From reviving local industry to controlling every messy, beautiful detail, here’s why we chose to do it ourselves.
It was hot, humid, and filled with fleece. This year’s shearing saw around 50 sheep clipped, two generations in the pen, and a barn full of wool. A joyful, slightly chaotic day, and a reminder that the farming calendar still sets our pace.
A closer look at PetiteKnit’s beloved Novice Slipover, knitted in our Gwlad yarn. It’s the perfect pairing of classic shape and meaningful wool – undyed, marled, and spun right here in West Wales.
Fish doesn’t spin yarn, but he shapes every skein we make. Meet our gill box (or pin drafter, if you like) - a grumpy 1975 machine that aligns, blends and drafts wool into perfectly prepared sliver. He’s loud, fussy with fine fibres, and central to our worsted spinning process.
From scoured fleece to single-ply yarn, this guide explores the key differences between woollen and worsted spinning - and everything in between. Learn how fibre alignment, staple length, and preparation methods shape the yarn you knit with, and discover the role of lesser-known methods like semi-worsted and semi-woollen. Whether you’re a curious knitter or a full-blown fibre nerd, this is your definitive explainer.
From the constant clatter of our own working mill to the eerie quiet of mills long since closed, I’ve spent years listening - to the machines, the stories, and the silences they leave behind. In this piece, I share a few of the places I’ve visited, the machines I’ve rescued, and why I think it’s worth holding onto the noise, even when it fades.
Meet Unruly - a yarn range we didn’t plan, but absolutely love. Spun from happy accidents and mill mishaps, this is wool with a story (and a sense of humour).
Marled yarns are subtle, speckled, and quietly beautiful, and we can’t get enough. Here’s why we love them, and how the Botanical Collection celebrates their charm.
A behind-the-scenes look at how the Botanical Collection came to life - four limited-edition marled shades of Preseli inspired by wild blooms and garden textures.
Choosing yarn doesn’t have to be overwhelming. From weight and fibre to colour, texture, and structure, here’s a simple guide to help you make confident, informed choices for your next knitting project.
A clean, creamy white. The name Rigging was inspired by old sailing ships - the weathered white ropes of the rigging perfectly encapsulate this undyed shade. Not as harsh as bleached, artificial white.
