Favourite hard-wearing wet felting wools

[lindsay]

Shepherdess Ann’s reply in the bag strap thread about using Finnish wool for a bag sparked a question. What are people’s favourite more hardwearing wool varieties? 

I’m going to World of Wool in about a week’s time and may bring back some different varieties but don’t have unlimited cash or space as I will be bringing it home on the train and my studio is already quite crowded. I’d be interested to know what people recommend.

While I’m talking about visiting WoW - for those of you who are too far away, can I tell you about the deep joy of diving into their huge lap waste skips - one white, one colours? It’s like being a kid in a massive sweet shop! Part of the fun is not really knowing what it is you’ve ferreted out so going by look and feel only. I’ve picked up some lovely colours & blends there. I’m starting to get excited! 

[tracey]

Very jealous about your WOW visit. If I lived within walking distance I would go there and get 100g of wool at a time on a regular basis, I would then feel I wasn't spending much....

[Shepherdess]

I would so love to visit WOW. I am very jealous.

I love Finnish wool for sturdy things. Its not really hairy. Blue Faced Leicester is also very nice to use.

[tracey]

Check if they would let you take a couple of snaps for us to drool over Lindsay! If you tell them that they are for a forum they usually don't mind.

[lindsay]

Jul 9, 2018 6:07:21 GMT tracey said:

Check if they would let you take a couple of snaps for us to drool over Lindsay! If you tell them that they are for a forum they usually don't mind.

Ha, good idea. As you probably know, as a shop it’s not particularly customer focussed - it feels like a big warehouse and I always feel like I’ve accidentally wandered in off the street and am tolerated but am rather in the way of the workers. Not unfriendly but rather indifferent.  Once I get over that though and remember how the system works I could spend hours there. I’d be surprised if anyone noticed me taking photos. 

[lindsay]

Jul 9, 2018 1:20:20 GMT Shepherdess said:

I would so love to visit WOW. I am very jealous.

I love Finnish wool for sturdy things. Its not really hairy. Blue Faced Leicester is also very nice to use.

Thanks Ann. BFL is also a good idea & I think WoW have more colours available than the Finnish - I may have to try both! 

[Shepherdess]

I am fond of the finish greys. but colour is usually what I want. I assume the workers are busy filling orders for those of us who cant make it there.

[lindsay]

Jul 9, 2018 12:58:47 GMT Shepherdess said:

I am fond of the finish greys. but colour is usually what I want. I assume the workers are busy filling orders for those of us who cant make it there.

Yes, absolutely.  It’s definitely primarily an online / mail order business and I do enjoy visiting, it’s just a bit of an odd experience, especially the first time you go .  So worth it though, especially for those big old skips.    

[Pandagirl]

Have fun!