A Northumbrian upholsterer and an artist-printmaker are set to launch an enterprise showcasing Cheviot wool in unique furniture and homewares.
Jayne Dods, an upholsterer, and Sara Thomas, an artist-printmaker, plan to unveil their venture, From Ewe, in November.
Their collection will feature upholstery, lampshades, cushions, and other home goods.
Ms Thomas's designs—featuring foraged wildflowers, ferns, lichens, berries, and botanicals—will be expertly printed on traditionally woven fabric.
The duo spent months researching wool types, grades, weights, and weaving and printing techniques to create their first small batch of fabric.
They have already received their first commission for the reupholstery of an old chair from Hexham Abbey.
Ms Dods said: "This means that, in essence, you will be able to trace the fabric on your chair, lampshade or whatever to the flock which produced the fleece for it."
For their first collection, they sourced their wool from British Wool, and plan to use fleece from Jimmy and Claire Walton's Cheviot sheep near Rothbury next year.
She added: “This means that, in essence, you will be able to trace the fabric on your chair, lampshade or whatever to the flock which produced the fleece for it."
Aside from their craftsmanship, the production of the fabric itself passes through the hands of dozens of artisans in England and Scotland.
The pair hope to remind people of the beauty of British wool.
Ms Dods said: "Some British fleece is worth so little that farmers are looking at new breeds of sheep that self-cast so don’t need shearing."
"It’s about a unique product.
"There’s a principle behind it which is important to us, and we hope people will appreciate that in these products."
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