A yarn worth spinning
WHEN the Wellington Merino farmer drops into your shop to see a finished product containing the wool he farmed, you can’t get much more ‘local’ than that.
For Yummy Yarn and Co owner Robyn Hicks, it means a lot to be able to offer yarn born and raised just up the road.
“It’s called Great Southern Yarn. Every part of it is produced in Australia and not one process is done overseas, and it’s a single source product ethically and sustainably produced in Australia,” she told Dubbo Photo News.
The Merino comes from the Wellington property, Mount Bodangora, and is mixed with 50 per cent Alpaca from Orange, where the two are spun at the Adagio Mill.
“It’s 50 per cent wool and 50 per cent Alpaca. The colours are amazing. It’s dyed here in Australia and the lady who is producing this owns a shop over Newcastle way, but I wanted to sell it too because it’s a local product. It’s such an important feature now to buy local,” Mrs Hicks said.
The production of the Great South Yarn is specifically designed to support local industry, and not use unnecessary chemical processing, and be sourced from farms that are known to guarantee there is no cruelty or exploitation of people or animals.
“Being able to buy Australian-made is important to a lot of people,” she said.
“Working with yarn to knit or crochet is definitely not just for older people.”
The sustainability doesn’t end there however, and the return to crafts which bring people together is an important element to Yummy Yarn and Co.
“Oh, no it’s not just for older people. I’ve got a couple of really young customers. One of them is in their early 20s and she’s an avid knitter and crocheter. I love it when younger people come in because they can be fearless in doing stuff. With the internet now, if you get stuck on something you can look it up or Google it or Youtube it.
“We do Social Saturdays around 10am on the last Saturday of the month. Anyone can come, you don’t even need to know how to knit or crochet. Come and be inspired, have a cup of tea and connect,” she said.
In a world waking up to the impact of industrially-produced clothing, making your own pieces is a positive step for the environment. Mrs Hicks is also keen to see less clothes thrown away when they could be simply mended.
“Mending too, is so popular. People are turning it into an artform in itself. We do have to start doing that again. We can’t keep going the way we’re going,” Mrs Hicks said.