One of the questions I’ve been thinking about recently is surprisingly simple:
What makes you choose one wool over another?
As I’ve become more involved in Scottish wool production, I’ve realised that producers and makers don’t always look at wool in the same way. Farmers might think about breed, fleece quality and resilience. Mills consider how a fibre behaves during processing. Designers look for colour, drape or stitch definition. Makers often have entirely different priorities again.
So I’m curious.
When you’re choosing wool, what matters most to you?
- 🐑 The breed
- 📍 Where it came from (provenance)
- ☁️ Softness
- 🎨 Colour
- 💰 Price
- 🌱 Environmental impact
- 🧶 Durability and performance
- 💚 Supporting local farmers and mills
- Or perhaps something else entirely?
There isn’t a right or wrong answer. One of the things I love about wool is that every fleece has its own strengths. A beautifully soft fibre isn’t always the best choice for a hard-wearing sweater, just as a robust hill breed might create a wonderful weaving yarn even if it isn’t next-to-skin soft.
Understanding what makers value is becoming an important part of my research into Scottish wool. The more we understand each other, the better we can connect the right fibres with the right projects, while celebrating the incredible diversity of wool produced here in Scotland.
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
What matters most to you when you choose wool, and why?
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