02/10/2026
September Side Quests part 2
with .p__ and beloved friends I've not seen in person for seven years.
Pics
1 One of my postcard kids in the wild, by Carol at Skipton Stitchers
2 The lovely Bev wearing one of my patchwork brooches
3 Me and ma ladies in front of some portaloos, pic by Dara
4 The very fabulous with Birmingham inspired yarn collections
Notes from a Vegan at Yarndale.
I am vegan and do not use wool or any material taken from any being, this is not going to change and is non-negotiable in my life and work.
However.
I acknowledge that other people have different approaches to sustainability and animal welfare in textiles to me, and those approaches are not always in direct opposition to each other.
I DO NOT enjoy spending time in an auction mart where animals are bought and sold, filled with stalls of animal fibres being bought and sold.
BUT, a building the size of an aircraft hanger, filled to the rafters with talented, creative people (mostly women), sharing the joys of their craft with each other - that is some powerful stuff. Two things can be right at the same time.
Vegans and wool wranglers may not agree on everything but we also have lots in common. I recognised the care taken in the selection of materials, the slow, rhythmic work, the satisfaction of creating a beautiful, useful item to last a lifetime for yourself or a loved one and the utter joy of sharing your passion with like minded people.
Yes our views are very different but the vital conversations about how we are going to keep this planet and all of its inhabitants alive are for all of us and very welcome here.
