Wool Month A to Z
Celebrating British wool This October
We continue to celebrate our milestone of 75 years, marking decades of heritage, innovation, and sustainable practices. From farm to finished product, British Wool supports over 30,000 sheep farmers across the UK, producing around 20 million kgs of wool annually, making it one of the nation’s most sustainable fibres. Here’s our A-Z guide to all things British wool this Wool Month.
A – Anniversary
2025 marks 75 years of British Wool, founded to support farmers and promote homegrown fibres. Over this time, British Wool has helped farmers maximise fleece value, fund grading depots, and support innovation across textiles and interiors.
B – Bronte by Moon’s
Bronte by Moon’s is a Yorkshire-based brand producing throws, blankets, scarves, and cushions from British wool. They source 100% UK wool and are certified for sustainable production. Their products showcase how wool blends heritage and contemporary design.
C – Craft Forward
Craft Forward are working with Shaun the Sheep, Campaign for Wool and us to get people knitting, in our latest campaign – Can Ewe Knit it? Help us make cosy, Shaun-inspired blanket squares. These squares will be stitched together to create warm blankets for unhoused individuals across London and beyond.
If you’re in London, why not join us for a special workshop where you can knit alongside the Craft Forward team and help bring the blanket squares together?
Come along to The Mills Fabrica, London, on 28th October 2025 for a cosy, creative session. Entry is FREE, but spaces are limited, so be sure to sign up here.
All the wool for this workshop is 100% British wool, generously donated by West Yorkshire Spinners.
D – Dashing Tweeds
Dashing Tweeds’ “fleece to fashion” approach demonstrates wool’s versatility. They craft garments from farm-sourced fleeces, ensuring traceability and sustainable practices.
Learn more about their process and story in our recent Dashing Tweeds blog.
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E – Ewes
In sheep farming, terminology matters. A ewe is an adult female sheep, usually kept for breeding and wool production. She is at the heart of the flock, producing lambs and providing fleeces each year.
Other key terms include:
- Ram – an adult male sheep, also called a tup in many parts of the UK.
- Wether – a castrated male sheep, often reared for meat or wool quality.
- Hogget – a young sheep in its second year, older than a lamb but not yet fully mature.
- Shearling – a sheep that has been shorn once, typically around 12–14 months old.
- Lamb – a sheep under one year old.
Together, these terms highlight the diverse roles sheep play in British agriculture – from wool and meat to breeding and conservation grazing – and the importance of ewes at the centre of it all.
F – Fur Fabric
Jackson Textiles produces luxurious wool-based fur fabrics for interiors and fashion. Their fabrics combine British wool with cutting-edge design, demonstrating wool’s ability to compete with synthetic alternatives.
G – Grading Wool
Wool grading ensures every fleece is sorted for its best use. The UK operates 8 British Wool grading depots where skilled graders assess fibre length, strength, and colour. We have over 100 different grades and every fleece is graded by hand.
Watch our video to learn more…
H – Hats
Floc Wool makes stylish woollen hats perfect for autumn. Their products showcase wool’s temperature-regulating properties, keeping you warm without overheating. Wool Month encourages supporting brands like Floc who prioritise British wool.
I – Insulation
Wool is a natural super fibre with built-in powers that go far beyond keeping sheep warm. British wool acts as a high-performance insulator, able to regulate temperature, absorb and release moisture, and even trap harmful VOCs (volatile organic compounds) from the air – all while remaining completely breathable.
These qualities make it ideal not only for home insulation, helping to reduce energy bills and improve indoor air quality, but also for sustainable packaging solutions. Increasingly, British wool is being used as a renewable alternative to plastic-based packaging, protecting everything from food to fragile goods. Wool’s versatility proves it’s not just a material of the past, but a natural solution for a more sustainable future.
Thermafleece & TrueWool Home Insulation
J – Jumpers
The wool jumper is one of Britain’s most iconic garments, with roots stretching back centuries. Originally hand-knitted by coastal communities in places like the Channel Islands and the Scottish Isles, jumpers were designed as hard-wearing workwear for fishermen, farmers, and labourers. Each region developed its own distinctive patterns – from the intricate Aran cables to the simple Guernsey knit – which carried cultural identity and practical function.
Today, wool jumpers remain a staple of the British wardrobe, prized for their durability, natural temperature regulation, and timeless style. Made from British wool, they not only celebrate our heritage but also support the livelihoods of farmers across the UK. From classic fisherman knits to modern designs, the wool jumper continues to symbolise both tradition and sustainable fashion in Britain.
K – Knitting
Knitting is more than just creating with wool – it’s a form of mindfulness. For many, the rhythmic movement of needles and yarn provides calm, focus, and even healing. As writer and knitter James McIntosh shares in his story of Knititation, knitting transformed his life, helping him recover his mental wellbeing stitch by stitch.
Whether you’re a lifelong maker or a beginner casting on your first row, knitting with British wool connects you to a tradition of craft while offering the proven benefits of stress relief, mindfulness, and creative expression. It’s a practice that soothes the mind while producing something tangible, warm, and long-lasting.
Read James’s full story here: Knititation – How Knitting Transformed My Life
L – Lochcarron of Scotland
Lochcarron is famous for their tartans and woven wool fabrics. Each product supports heritage crafts and showcases Scotland’s rich textile history while using British wool for sustainability.
Shop their collection of British wool tartan scarves
M – Mending Knitwear
Mending is a timeless craft that extends the life of wool garments while reducing waste. From darning holes in jumpers to repairing worn socks, mending celebrates the durability and longevity of British wool. During Wool Month, we’re encouraging makers to learn traditional techniques and embrace sustainable practices, keeping beloved knits in rotation for years to come.
N – Navy Grey
Navy Grey is a contemporary British wool brand known for its modern, sustainable knitwear. This autumn, they’re hosting a pop-up residency on Ledbury Road in Notting Hill, giving fans a chance to explore their latest collections in person.
Dates: Thursday 4th September – Thursday 16th October 2025
Location: 83 Ledbury Road, Notting Hill, W11 2AG
Opening Hours: 10am – 6pm
It’s the perfect opportunity to see, touch, and shop their wool pieces while celebrating Wool Month.
O – Oubas Knitwear
Oubas Knitwear is a British brand celebrating slow fashion and sustainable craftsmanship. Since 2012, their team has been handcrafting luxury knitwear in their micro-factory on the edge of the Lake District, using 100% natural fibres, including British wool. Each piece is fully-fashioned and hand-linked, ensuring a perfect fit and exceptional quality.
From timeless jumpers and cardigans to scarves, hats, and accessories, Oubas combines modern design with traditional techniques, showcasing how British wool can be transformed into wearable art. During Wool Month, their collections highlight the beauty, warmth, and versatility of homegrown wool, supporting local artisans and the heritage of UK sheep farming.
Website: www.oubasknitwear.co.uk
P – Periodic Table of Sheep Breeds Poster
The UK has over 60 traditional sheep breeds. This educational poster celebrates biodiversity and helps consumers learn which breeds produce specific wool types, perfect for Wool Month learning.
Grab yours today – shop here.
Q – Quilting
Quilting with British wool is a celebration of craft, warmth, and sustainability. From traditional patchwork to modern designs, wool adds natural insulation, durability, and texture to every quilt. Wool fibres are naturally flame-retardant, breathable, and moisture-wicking, making them perfect for heirloom-quality quilts that last for generations.
During Wool Month, quilting workshops and makers across the UK are showcasing how wool can transform simple fabrics into beautiful, functional art, connecting creativity with British heritage and supporting local artisans along the way.
R – Rest
A good night’s sleep starts with the right bedding – and wool is nature’s secret to better rest. Wool fibres naturally regulate body temperature, keeping you cool in summer and warm in winter, which helps maintain an even sleep cycle. Unlike synthetics, wool can absorb up to 30% of its weight in moisture without feeling damp, wicking away night sweats to keep you dry and comfortable.
Wool bedding is also hypoallergenic, resisting dust mites, mould, and bacteria, making it a healthier choice for sensitive sleepers. Studies have shown that people fall asleep faster, sleep deeper, and wake less often when using wool duvets, toppers, or blankets. Choosing British wool bedding not only supports local farmers but also offers the gift of truly restorative sleep.
S – Shaun the Sheep
Our favourite woolly icon, Shaun the Sheep, brings fun and creativity to British wool all year round. This Wool Month, Shaun is helping us celebrate with two exciting campaigns:
- Can Ewe Knit It? – encouraging makers of all ages to pick up their needles and create their own woolly designs, inspired by Shaun and the joy of British wool.
- Design a Christmas Jumper – in partnership with Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper Day, the campaign invited children to design festive wool jumpers, the winning design will be announced soon and the design made into a limited-edition jumper, raising funds for a great cause while celebrating creativity and British wool.
Through Shaun, these campaigns highlight the versatility, fun, and community spirit of British wool, showing that it’s not just sustainable, but also full of personality and joy.
T – Traceability
Every fleece is traceable from farm to finished product. This ensures quality, supports farmers, and guarantees sustainability.
Read more about our traceability scheme
U – Upholstery
British wool is used in high-quality furniture, offering fire resistance, durability, and a reduced environmental footprint compared to synthetics. Wool upholstery is increasingly popular in hotels, offices, and homes.
Cable & Blake
Harris Tweed Hebrides
Camira
V – VOCs
Wool naturally absorbs VOCs (volatile organic compounds) found in indoor air, improving air quality and wellbeing. It’s a natural choice for healthy, sustainable living.
W – Wild Uplands
The Wild Uplands project brings British wool into the landscape with creativity and scale. Wool sculptor Steve Messam has created striking wool installations placed on Haworth Moor as part of Bradford 25 – City of Culture. The project celebrates the natural beauty of the uplands, the heritage of sheep farming, and the versatility of British wool, transforming the moorland into a living art gallery for Wool Month visitors to explore.
X – wool eXchange
We’re excited to announce our 2nd Wool Exchange event at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London, taking place on 27–28 November 2025.
Building on the success of the first event, this gathering will once again bring together farmers, designers, students, and brands to shape the future of British wool in fashion. Expect inspiring panel talks, hands-on demos, and projects empowering students to design exclusively with British wool, just like last year’s debut of RITUALS.
The Wool Exchange is all about knowledge sharing, networking, and innovation, helping to put local, sustainable wool at the forefront of modern fashion and supporting lasting change across the industry.
More information coming soon.
Y – Yoga
British wool isn’t just for clothing – it’s perfect for wellness too. Wool yoga mats and props provide comfort, grip, and natural temperature regulation, making your practice more enjoyable and sustainable.
This October, soulnature is hosting yoga workshops in Cumbria, showcasing how wool can enhance mindfulness, movement, and wellbeing. Wool Month celebrates products and experiences that combine wellness with sustainability.
Z – Zwartbles
Zwartbles sheep are a striking breed, known for their dark, lustrous fleece prized by spinners and crafters. While relatively rare in the UK, they are part of a rich tapestry of British sheep breeds.
In fact, Britain is home to the most diverse number of sheep breeds in the world, with over 60 native breeds, each producing unique wool with different textures, colours, and characteristics. Zwartbles remind us of this incredible heritage and the variety that makes British wool truly special.