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I'd like to present my first collection of handwoven bracelets from local wool from the Pyrenees. These bracelets are unique pieces of jewellery, reflecting the local terroir and combining pleasure and eco-responsibility as far as possible. These bracelets can be worn all year round and can be combined with all types of clothing and textiles. What's more, the neutral colours can easily be combined with many of the colours in your wardrobe.
This collection, which I've named Pyrénées, is the fruit of a great deal of thought and hard work in my studio. Let me tell you the story.
Wool
Wool, at the heart of the Knitty and Woolly story, is the main raw material for these jewels. It's wool that I harvested in the Val d'Azun in the Pyrenees, where I'm originally from, from lourdaises and tarasconnaises ewes. I wanted to show the full potential of these wools in handmade creations, particularly the wool of the endangered lourdaise ewe.
The wool is sorted by hand and then sent to the Filature de Niaux in Ariège to be washed. I then take the wool back to my workshop in Belgium, where I live, and transform it into yarn. The wool is natural and has not undergone any chemical treatment.
Making the weft thread
There are several stages involved in making these woven bracelets. First, the wool has to be transformed into yarn! To do this, I first card it by hand, then spin it on a spinning wheel. It's quite a long manufacturing process, to obtain small quantities of unique yarn. Whether it's the number of strands, the thickness or the spinning parameters such as tension and twist, I carried out several trials to create the ideal yarn for weaving these bracelets. Research and development, so to speak!
Inspirations et couleurs
For this first collection, I wanted to create bracelets in raw, natural tones, inspired by the natural colours of nature in the Pyrenees. These raw tones, in shades of ecru, grey and dark brown, refer to the colour of sheep, mineral materials such as rock and slate, and the earth.
The different colour tones are obtained by mixing dark brown fleece wool with ecru wool. This enabled me to create a range of greys to enrich the palette of natural colours offered by the sheep. Each yarn created is unique and authentic.
Traceability
As with the production of Azun knitting yarns, the question of the traceability of raw materials was essential. That's why I chose a warp yarn from the Fonty spinning mill in France. It's a 100% wool yarn, fine, soft and strong at the same time, which I really appreciate for my weaving.
As for the finish on these bracelets, I opted for classic jewellery clasps. I love the finish given by the metal. The clasps are gold- or silver-plated, and made in Europe.
The sizes
Each bracelet has a lobster clasp and a small forçat mesh extension chain that can be used to vary the size of the bracelet. Each length is indicated in the bracelet description.
I can also adapt to your needs. If the proposed sizes do not suit you, we can discuss together the creation of a made-to-measure bracelet. Don't hesitate to contact me by email at knittyandwoolly@gmail.com or via the contact form, I'll be happy to help!
Packaging your bracelet
Each bracelet is first protected by a sheet of silk paper, which is recyclable and contains no chlorine or acid. The bracelet is then packaged in a European-made box, made from FSC-certified natural cardboard and water-based glue. These boxes contain no foam, which I don't find useful here. The boxes are therefore recyclable, but the main idea is that you can reuse them to store your bracelet or other items of jewellery. Finally, each box is slipped into an organic cotton pouch that you can also reuse to carry all sorts of little things. I really like these pouches, which can easily be slipped into a toiletry bag, for example. I also use them to store my knitting accessories!
You now know the story of these handwoven wool bracelets and how they are made. I hope that my approach has spoken to you and that these values mean something to you.
See you soon!
Fanny from Knitty and Woolly
Choosing a woven bracelet created by Knitty and Woolly means :
-adopting a little piece of the Pyrenees, wherever you are
-giving yourself or a loved one a unique piece of jewellery, handmade with passion, that has meaning and tells a story
-Treat yourself or others while understanding the manufacturing process and the raw materials used in the product.
-support craftsmanship and my commitment to the wool sector
Advice on caring for your bracelet
What should I do if I get a stain?
Wool is an exceptional natural fibre with many properties (see the Wool properties page on my website). One of them is its ability to be self-cleaning and extremely dirt-repellent. It doesn't retain stains like other materials.
If for any reason a stain gets on your bracelet, you can follow these recommendations:
Soak the bracelet in cold or even lukewarm water (but not warm, and possibly with a mild soap-free detergent or a detergent compatible with wool), and rub very gently with your finger to remove it. Rinse with clean water, without rubbing.
-Spin-dry the bracelet by sandwiching it in a towel and pressing it gently, without wringing it.
-Dry your bracelet flat.
Other tips for looking after your bracelet
-It's best not to shower while wearing your bracelet. The combination of hot water and rubbing will cause the wool to felt. Soaps such as shower gel could also damage it.
-As with other items of jewellery, avoid pulling hard on it to avoid breaking the fasteners or deforming it.
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