I’m very very excited to finally be able to tell you about the project I’ve been working on for the last few months.
As regular readers know I’m not just passionate about knitting, I’m also passionate about Dartmoor and about British wool. In autumn last year, I was toying with designing knitting patterns more seriously when my passions collided and I came up with the idea of creating knitting kits using the wool from sheep that graze on Dartmoor.
I discussed my requirements with the wonderful Natural Fibre Company and they helped me compile a shortlist of breeds that would be suitable for the accessory kits I wanted to produce. After much discussion I put in an order for them to spin me a batch of Ryeland yarn from sheep that graze at Walkhampton. They dyed it in two colours and also kept some in it’s beautiful natural creamy white colour.
While the yarn was being spun, I started designing patterns for the ideas in my head. But I had to wait until it was finished to swatch it, write up patterns and create prototypes. After this, I sent the patterns out for test knitting and set about sourcing the rest of my product as locally as possible.
I had hoped to get launched for just before Easter. Of course nothing goes as smoothly as you hope, but at the end of the March I reached the point where I thought I was all but there. Then I was struck by flu, which left me unable to think straight for a few weeks, so I was unable to make final checks and orders that needed 100% attention for quite some time. After I was better, a couple of printing hiccoughs delayed me further. But finally, this week, I managed to bring everything together and my kits were finished.
Along with the appropriate amount of yarn, each kit contains everything you need to create the item in it, the wool is 100% grown on Dartmoor and everything else sourced from British companies.
The intention is that they’re sold as a gift products in local gift shops. Yesterday I took my first batch to Kooky Nook in the courtyard of The Museum of Dartmoor Life in Okehampton. I was absolutely delighted by the very positive reception they received.
My new venture is very small and local, but it does mean a few changes to the blog. I need to set up a website for The Dartmoor Yarn Company – so I’m going to make this blog part of that website. However, I’m very much going to remain me. I love blogging and all the friendships I’ve found through it. So my blog will continue very much as it is. If you follow me, I’ll keep coming through to your feed or email as usual. However you may notice a few minor changes and new pages – which is why I’m blogging about what I’m up to today, but not showing you my kits too well. Once I’ve set up a page to show what’s in them, I’ll share that too.
Off now to drive around Dartmoor enjoying the scenery find other shops around Dartmoor who would like to sell them.
This brilliant Bekki! The yarns and packaging looks great! Wishing you all the very best with your new venture.
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Thanks Bessie. Glad you like the look of it. They’re going down well with everyone I’ve shown them too so far. So hoping it stays that way.
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Be Blessed Bekki!
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Thank you.
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Congratulations Bekki, what a great idea! I love the packs they look amazing. Can’t wait to see the developments you mentioned. Wishing you every success!
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Thank you. I need to make a product page ASAP, so shouldn’t be long until I can show you more. Unfortunately we finally ironed out the printing challenges as my daughter arrived to be here for two weeks and they’re both here this weekend, so a bit of a balancing act going on!
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How exciting Bekki. I thought the name of your blog always sounded a bit like a company name and now I see your cunning plan was there all the time. I can’t wait to see the finished items knitted up from the kits. Will you be doing mail order on your website – I’d love to be one of your first customers.
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Thank you. I clearly am Baldric to your Black Adder 😉 I will be doing mail order, but I’m working on getting things out locally first off. And thank you for such a lovely compliment – I’d love you to be one of my first customers 🙂
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It’s the perfect thing for you to sell in local shops isn’t it. Dartmoor is a big tourist area and people – or crafty people or people who know crafty people – will be delighted to find a souvenir that is both useful and so particular to the area. Good thinking Baldric. I wonder which one to start with – maybe a sheep. (Don’t worry I have a UK mailing address – i.e. my husband – so you won’t have to go all ‘international’ if you don’t want to). I’ll be rooting for you.
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Thank you so much. Yes that was definitely my thinking, Dartmoor is a very much a tourist area and therefore hopefully a good souvenir. I do love my sheep – but of course you can’t go having favourites amongst you babies 😉 Good old husband 🙂
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How exciting Bekki and congratulations!
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Thank you!
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Absolutely fantastic. Congratulations and well done!! I totally love the idea, specially the local yarn. The colours are just perfect. I am so glad you made the decision on such beautiful and natural colours.
Your packages look super cute, and I know I would have been the first to grab a baggie if I was in your part of the world.
Have lots of fun with the venture, I know you will do so well.
🙂
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Well done you! A great venture – I hope it is a real success!
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After a long absence, I browsed happily around on your blog and delighted to see your new adventure!!! Good luck , it looks absolutely brilliant!! xo Johanna
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Hi Johanna, So lovely to hear from you. I have been missing your posts. Glad you like the plan – I’ll be doing a bit of website revamping over the weekend, so you’ll be able to see inside the bags soon too 🙂 xx
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Wow! Congratulations. Well done on what you’ve achieved thus far and fingers crossed for the future! Kits are all the rage so I’m sure they’ll fly!
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Thank you! I do hope so – or I’ll be doing and awful lot of grey, blue and cream knitting!
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What a fabulous idea Bekki – congratulations on achieving your goal and best wishes for great success!
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Hi Pauline. Thank you. Fingers crossed.
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Wonderful! A great idea…here’s to much success!
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Thank you! 🙂
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This is wonderful! I am so excited for you!
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Thank you! 🙂
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A really great idea and love the packaging Wishing you many happy sales in your new business venture 🙂
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Thanks Caren 🙂
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Well done Bekki! They look fabulous, wishing you every success! 😃🎈🎈
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Thank you 🙂
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Bekki! Congratulations!!! What a wonderful idea and product! Best of luck with this endeavour! 👏
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Thank you 🙂
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Very best of luck with this wonderful project.
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Thank you! 🙂
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Congratulations on your venture, it all sounds very exciting!
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Thanks Jem! 🙂
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Wow, they look great Bekki, I’m sure they’ll sell really well! Good luck!
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Thanks Linda. Fingers crossed.
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Congratulations! People will love it! 🙂
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Thanks Ruthie
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Well done Becki…..wonderful idea, I can feel a Christmas present idea for my mum,X
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Hi Sally. Thank you x
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This is wonderful, Bekki. I’m so pleased for you and wish you every success. xxx
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Thanks my lovely xxx
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Reblogged this on Binty's Farm and commented:
Love this yarn!
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Super excited for you, Bekki. I am looking forward to following along and watch this venture of your’s grow. I only wish I lived even remotely near by to be able to purchase one of your kits.
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Thank you 🙂
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Congratulations! THis is a great idea, I hope it serves you very well. 🙂 Love the colors…
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Thank you. Fingers crossed. Glad you like the colours.
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How exciting – every good wish and the best of luck with your new venture! 🙂
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Thank you!
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Hi Bekki, that’s fantastic! I love the idea of local yarn, sold locally! I hope it all goes really well for you. Will you be selling online or just locally? Have a great week. ☺
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Hi Sharon. Thank you. Planning to sell on line – just making getting kits to shops the priority and working on the website and online sales when I can fit it in (and get my head around it). Eldest home for two weeks as well. You have a great week too x
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Hi, how exciting for you! The kits look fab and great job with the packaging too. Will look forward to following your progress. Fab job!
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Thank you. Fingers crossed. It’s all a learning curve 🙂
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Fantastic! Great gifts for birthdays but also a brilliant buy for tourists wanting to take an authentic memento home. Wishing you loads of success!
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Thank you. Just need to get them out there now.
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Oh this looks wonderful. try and get it into the Shops at Dartington. and then I can walk down an pick one up next time I’m at my parents place. I think I’m going to be down next weekend. :p
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Thank you. Dartington’s a great idea and I’ll definitely give them a try, but think next weekend may be a bit of a tall order 🙂 Have had so much trouble with printing and they finally got it right just when I hardly have any time to approach people!
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Brill idea and best of luck.xx
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Thank you! 🙂 xx
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Good for you I hope it goes well 🙂
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Thank you 🙂
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Congratulations on your new venture Bekki! I’ve only just seen this post. Such a great idea and I love the packaging and whole concept of your ‘Datrmoor Yarn Company’. Good Luck with it all and I look forward to seeing your business grow 🙂 xx
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Thank you. Fingers crossed. Initial response is going well 🙂 x
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Those pre packaged bags are awesome!! And those colors i love!
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Thank you 🙂
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