Knitter of The Year Award - Prize Day Out at West Yorkshire Spinners

Do you remember voting for me in Knit Now Magazine's Knitter of The Year Competition ? 

Thanks to the votes of hundreds of lovely supporters and followers - I was a chosen as a Winner -  in the 'Online Innovator' category. 

It really was wonderful to be recognised in this way. 

The prize was a Day Out at West Yorkshire Spinners - and that day was yesterday! 

I thought you might like to read all about it ! I had such a great day. 

West Yorkshire has been associated with the British wool spinning industry for many years, but sadly most of this industry is long gone. 

Against his background, West Yorkshire Spinners (WYS) was formed in 1997 and has twice expanded to bigger premises due to their continuing growth. 

It is one of the few remaining worsted spinning mills, producing hand knitting brands based in the UK and still developing and manufacturing yarns in-house. 

Since 2012, WYS have been building a brand and a range of knitting yarns for knitters, crocheters and other crafters to enjoy. 

Our Prize Day Out started with a very warm welcome from a small team from Knit Now magazine and WYS . Over coffee we enjoyed a presentation from a member of British Wool (formerly the British Wool Marketing Board). British Wool is owned by approximately 40,000 sheep farmers in the UK. They collect, grade, market and sell British wool (on behalf of producers) to the UK and international wool textile industry. Wool graded through the British Wool system is quality assured and can display the distinctive logo of the shepherd’s crook and Union Jack - a mark that consumers can trust. 

We learned about the regions of the UK that rear sheep for wool production, and the finest breeds for different types and styles of finished wool product. The UK has more breeds of sheep than any country in the world – over sixty different breeds cared for by more than forty thousand farmers on hills and lowlands all over our countryside.

WYS are proud to use British Wool

WYS is a family-run business - and truly believe in quality and innovation. Richard (the father) is the Managing Director, and Peter (his son) is the Sales & Marketing Director. They are both truly focused and passionate about the work they do. 

Peter explained the ethos of the company and gave a small presentation about WYS and the processes in the mill that turns treated fleeces into knitting yarn. Because they produce in-house, they have control over the processes and this allows them to develop unique top-quality wool products. 

The itchy, scratchy wool of my childhood has been replaced with smooth lustrous wool that is lovely to knit with and to wear. 

Peter introducing us to the processes carried out at WYS

Lunch provided an opportunity to meet and chat to the other winners - I was delighted to meet some fellow crafters who I follow on-line but have never met!  ~ Linda from Blue Light Babies ( a wonderful charity group based close to me in North Yorkshire); Christine (Winwick Mum) - a fellow blogger who loves knitting socks; Helen (Yarn Fairy), Karie Westermann - a wonderful knitwear designer, to name just a few. 

Christine  - Winwick Mum  -
with her socks in her own range of WYS colours

After lunch we went on a tour of the mill buildings. It was wonderful to see all the machinery at work - and to follow all the processes as the wool 'tops' were drawn through, carded (combed) multiple times to straighten the fibres, spun as a single thickness of yarn, wound onto cones, checked for uneven areas or unwanted vegetable matter, and then twisted from single ply into different thickness of yarn (3ply, 4ply etc) 

Richard explaining 'tops'  - the start of the process

Drawing

Spinning

Winding

Twisting

7kg Cones - ready to be wound into balls

After dyeing and finishing, the yarn is at last would into balls, labelled,  

then packed into boxes for distribution to knitters and crocheters like you and me

The buildings are very modern and efficient !  

Noisy at times, but so clean - I was really surprised by that ! 

With a cup of tea / coffee to revive us, all the Knitter of the Year winners were presented with a certificate from the team from Knit Now magazine. 

Liam and Kate presenting certificates

Here's mine! 

Oh - and a 'Goody Bag' too!  With some magazines, a pair of wonderful socks and some yarn which I simply can't wait to knit up into something fabulous! 

I wish I could have taken you all with me to enjoy the day too - after all without your votes I would not have been chosen as a winner!  

A big Thank You again to all of you who took the time to vote for me. 

And a very big Thank You too to the teams from Knit Now and West Yorkshire Spinners for hosting such a great day.  I enjoyed every minute of it! 

Liam & Kate from Knit Now       and      Peter and Richard from WYS

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