No WGW Knit & Natter - Saturday 7th September 2024 at the Barleycorn Inn
Wiltshire Green Woollies
Learn the heritage crafts of Knitting, Crochet, Spinning, Weaving, Tapestry & Artisan Dyeing with us.
Here comes the sun......
Wiltshire Green Woollies looking forward to spring & summer finally arriving
Wiltshire Green Woollies is a specialist heritage yarn craft and furniture upcycling & recycling community project. We are passionate about teaching and passing on the skills of fleece preparation, hand-spinning & dyeing, knitting, crochet and weaving, reutilising and repurposing clothing, household goods and furniture wherever we can.
Our famous WGW Knit & Natter Club is back at our fabulous new venue at 'the Cwtch' (Welsh for hug) at The Barleycorn Inn, 73 Marlborough Road, Collingbourne Kingston. We meet every Saturday morning, between 10am and 12 noon. This is a community event and everyone, novice to the most experienced knitters and crocheters, is welcome to join our friendly group.
Heritage yarn crafts are not only lots of fun, they can be immensely rewarding too! Whatever you create, an heirloom piece for your family, a gift for a loved one or something for yourself, you'll know that you have have crafted a gift that is not only beautiful, but also unique.
All yarn crafts, particularly hand-spinning, knitting and crochet are real stress-busters! Learning these crafts will help you create your own personal 'me-time' where you can leave your work and day-to-day cares behind and just focus, mindfully, on your preferred craft, perhaps in the company of some good friends.
So, if you have you always wanted to learn to knit, crochet, dye, spin or weave, or enjoy rescuing furniture then we definitely have the course for you, and look forward to meeting you soon.
Claire @ WGW
Home spun undyed woollen shawl & hat
What's in store for 2024?
Looking forward to a peaceful & prosperous 2024
As with so many other businesses, small and large, we were nearly destroyed by the government Lockdowns where, like so many businesses, we were prevented from trading. As a knock-on effect, we also lost our beautiful training premises which left us 'homeless' too. Well, its been tough few years, but we are back.
Our website is being redeveloped, and we have just delivered our first knitting and crochet courses for 2024. Most of our courses will be delivered at The Barleycorn Inn in Collingbourne Kingston, as it offers an excellent Bed & Breakfast facility for attendees wishing to stay overnight, and the food is delicious.
Some of our courses will be held in different locations - we are in discussions to hold courses for various museums and summer schools in Wiltshire this year. We will also be offering private lessons, on a 1-2-1 basis at the farm from the spring onwards.
Over the next few days, we will finally be 'stocking' our online Emporium. This will offer knitting and crochet patterns, yarns, equipment and accessories. Additionally, we will be offering artisan jewellery, upcycled accessories, furniture, home furnishings, clothing and objet d'art including antiques, and home decorations.
Another first for us is a community page which will list local and UK based companies and charities. which have really made a difference for us in the last three years. In addition to artisan businesses in the UK which we admire.
New weaving courses coming soon
WGW Knit & Natter Club
Everyone is welcome
Everyone is welcome
Everyone is welcome
The WGW Knit & Natter meets on a weekly basis, between 10 & 12am each Saturday. We are a friendly, informal club and everyone with an interest in yarncrafts is welcome and best of all, this is a free community event.
Where do we meet?
Everyone is welcome
Everyone is welcome
We will be meeting in the Snug Room at the Barleycorn Inn, opposite the Church in Collingbourne Kingston. This is a lovely old country pub and there is a large car park.
What do we do?
Everyone is welcome
What sort of projects?
What do we do? we have a great time, relax and have fun. Bring any of your woolly projects, your woolly WIPs: Knitting, Crochet, Tapestry, Weaving or Spinning along with you, enjoy the company of friends and kick back.
What sort of projects?
What sort of projects?
What sort of projects?
What projects? Any projects: Crochet, Knitting, Tapestry, Spinning and Weaving or any other woolly project. From socks to scarfs, Afghan blankets to filet crochet. Its up to you.
What's the venue like?
What sort of projects?
What's the venue like?
The Barleycorn Inn is a charming country pub, set in the beautiful Bourne Valley. We will have the Snug room called 'The Cwtch' (that's Welsh for 'hug') all to ourselves and after we have finished, people can adjourn to the bar for tea, coffee and a light lunch if you fancy one.
What does this cost?
What sort of projects?
What's the venue like?
The WGW Knit and Natter club meeting is free. Yes, FREE!!!
This is a community event to bring people with a love of woolly crafts together in the heart of our village, for two hours of relaxing fun, friendship and chit chat.
All about me
Claire Lingard-McKay
Claire Lingard-McKay
Claire Lingard-McKay
Hi, I'm Claire and I am absolutely passionate about all things woolly and rescuing and repurposing old wooden furniture . I have worked with wool, and textiles all my life as a hobby, and love designing knitting and crochet patterns and teaching all the heritage yarn crafts.
After I retired from corporate life, I decided that it was time
Hi, I'm Claire and I am absolutely passionate about all things woolly and rescuing and repurposing old wooden furniture . I have worked with wool, and textiles all my life as a hobby, and love designing knitting and crochet patterns and teaching all the heritage yarn crafts.
After I retired from corporate life, I decided that it was time to make my hobby my business and spread my love of yarn craft and furniture recycling to anyone who wants to learn. So in 2012 I set up Wiltshire Green Woollies teaching all aspects of yarn production and textile creation.
In 2017 I expanded into upcycling fabrics, textiles and furniture and started to work with wood after I was given an old, and rather dilapidated tall - boy. This now sits in pride of place in our bed room.
I hold beginners classes, workshops and master classes throughout the year and also design special courses to suit craft groups, schools, and elders.
My work
Claire Lingard-McKay
Claire Lingard-McKay
I love to design knitting and crochet patterns inspired by the beautiful nature and the beautiful Wiltshire and British Countryside.
I use my patterns in my unique knitting & crochet courses, and I have just started to publish some of these as free patterns, for you to download, in our online shop. Other patterns are available to purcha
I love to design knitting and crochet patterns inspired by the beautiful nature and the beautiful Wiltshire and British Countryside.
I use my patterns in my unique knitting & crochet courses, and I have just started to publish some of these as free patterns, for you to download, in our online shop. Other patterns are available to purchase and I am working on my first pattern book which is due to be published in November 2023.
I love to work with British Partners, individuals and bespoke organisations who offer quality products that are environmentally sourced. You can find links to some of our favourite companies and designers below.
Working the Greener Way by design.
Our farm
Claire Lingard-McKay
Our farm
I live in on a Farm in Wiltshire on Salisbury Plain, in Wiltshire. My inspiration comes from the local landscape, places that I visit in and around the UK and the seasonal colours that wash over the countryside.
We are now producing our own artisan hand dyed and hand spun yarn, using our own wool and dyes prepared from plants grown on our farm.
Rocky says....
Welcome to Wiltshire Green Woollies! Don't miss this Saturday's Knit & Natter at the Barleycorn Inn, Collingbourne Kingston!
Rocky @ WGW