Would you like to join me on a visit to the Wool House exhibition at Somerset House in London?
Lots of pictures (!) : I wanted to try and capture the true flavour of the exhibition for you : enjoy 🙂
As you may already know, the Campaign for Wool launched the Wool House exhibition as the world’s biggest ever celebration of Wool, exploring interiors, crafts, fashion and all aspects of this wonderful natural fibre. Wool House offered a window on the way in which wool can inhabit a space, with leading interior designers demonstrating use of wool fibre within their work across individual rooms. You can find out more about the exhibition and the Campaign on the Campaign for Wool website.
Come and take a peak inside…
A dramatic black and white themed entrance hall greeted us including a life sized crochet bear created by Shauna Richardson. Aren’t Shauna’s crochetdermy skills amazing!?
Look at this beautiful Hummingbird Wallhanging designed by Alexander McQueen:
The corridor linking each themed room contained this stunning 100 foot wool runner designed by Cristian Zuzunaga:
This Modern Room was created by Anne Kyyro-Quinn:
In contrast, the Natural Room was created by Josephine Ryan:
Every home needs a wool corner like this one, a cosy nook with a feature chair, maybe a table for books and some favourite things to make it a bit special…
Look at those gorgeous vintage welsh wool blankets…..
I completely fell in love with the Nursery designed by Donna Wilson:
Look at these amazing Wall Hangings by Claudy Jongstra:
Welcome to the Craft Room : a place to meet and enjoy workshops being run by Rowan Yarns, the Sublime design studio and Debbie Bliss, and watch spinning demonstrations.
When we arrived, great fun was to be had with both young and old enjoying the chance to learn to knit and crochet. We were thrilled to be able to have a go at hand spinning yarn on a drop spindle:
We admired the many beautiful yarns on display and mood boards created by the designers:
This stunning granny squares throw made from Rowan Purelife Renew, designed by Marie Wallin and featured in Rowan’s Purelife Home brochure inspired my daughter to start a little crochet project on the train home (more about this later..)
You can read more about the Rowan Purelife British sheep breeds yarn range and accompanying brochures here.
I instantly recognised examples of Anna Wilkinson’s work; have you read her book Learn to Knit, Love to Knit?
The weaving room:
We just managed to fit in a brief visit to Liberty of London before our train journey home….
Haberdashery delights – Liberty Tana Lawn:
And swooning over Rowan Yarns of course! :
Finally, a walk through snowy London and some knitting (for me) and crochet time (for Miss E) on the train journey home:
Check out the fabulous Edmund the Easter Bunny pattern available for free on the Rowan website: a very portable little one ball knitting project just right for train journeys as were the Granny Squares crocheted by Miss E in Rowan Pure Wool DK.
Are you feeling inspired to bring wool into your life and home?
As an ambassador for Rowan Yarns I’m looking forward to sharing my passion for yarn, knitting and crochet with you. I’d love to hear from you via my blog or my Knitandpurlgarden Facebook page – I hope to hear from you soon!
Claire