http://www.goodwoolhunting.co.nz/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.goodwoolhunting.co.nz en-us Tue, 07 Apr 2026 11:30:18 +1200 Rocketspark http://www.goodwoolhunting.co.nz/blog/post/113803/flying-overseas-soon-dont-forget-to-take-your-knitting/ You’ll need a large tote that looks like a good but big hand-bag. This is the one I chose: https://www.goodwoolhunting.co.nz/shop/product/750244/della-q-canvas-tote-bag-38-1x34-3x12-7cm/?variantId=3975892I love it! It has met all my requirements below. It comes with stitch markers, large tapestry needle (don’t take on plane!) and a small wool cutter attached to the inside of the bag. There are zipped and open pockets on the outside of the bag, and also inside.It needs to be big enough to fit... Tue, 14 Nov 2023 19:53:21 +1300 http://www.goodwoolhunting.co.nz/blog/#post113803 http://www.goodwoolhunting.co.nz/blog/post/113798/new-shop-opens-this-friday/ It has been a long time in coming, but finally we have a bricks and mortar shop in the heart of the Wairarapa, New Zealand! I know that Miss Maudes is down the road and has some lovely yarns, but I wanted a shop that is 100% yarn and 100% dedicated to knitters and crocheters. I wanted a shop that is filled from floor to ceiling with colourful yarns and everything that a fibre enthusiast needs to be creative. I also wanted to have a wide range of yarns at affordable prices, available to N.Z. make... Tue, 14 Nov 2023 19:09:20 +1300 http://www.goodwoolhunting.co.nz/blog/#post113798 http://www.goodwoolhunting.co.nz/blog/post/103625/5-questions-in-5-mins-with-rachel-from-gwh/ I hear you have two Master’s degrees. Is that right?I have a Masters of Art History and Theory and a Master of Library and Information Studies. What mediums do you use in your art?I quite like using oil paints or water colours when I am painting. Recently, dyeing yarns is my creative outlet. Especially the precision of creating self-striped yarns. And knitting of course too! When did you start knitting?I started knitting many years ago with my maternal grandmother when I was in prima... Sat, 22 Apr 2023 11:42:17 +1200 http://www.goodwoolhunting.co.nz/blog/#post103625 http://www.goodwoolhunting.co.nz/blog/post/98924/making-the-most-of-dyeing-opportunities/ We've been waiting anxiously for a whole year.  We planted a few varieties of flax 3 years ago. This year we wanted to use the flax pods for dyeing and we wanted the pods to be fleshy. By scratching the pods you get a hint of the colour that will be extracted and these pods gave off a greeny-brown. A small amount of pods extracts a large amount of dye "juice". Three days ago we picked the pods and cut them up. We then put them in a pot, covered with water, to stand in the sun for a few days... Sat, 31 Dec 2022 20:34:59 +1300 http://www.goodwoolhunting.co.nz/blog/#post98924 http://www.goodwoolhunting.co.nz/blog/post/95493/christmas-is-almost-here/ Hello and we hope all your Christmas plans and preparations are coming along smoothly. I just thought I'd pop in, to let you know about some gift ideas for the maker in your life. We have many smaller and inexpensive items: Eucalan wool wash, to care for your lovingly hand-made items. The 100ml bottle is the perfect size for a stocking filler, and inexpensive, too!KnitPro locking stitch markers, inexpensive and practical. Every notions pouch needs a few! We also have the fancier stitch mark... Wed, 14 Dec 2022 20:46:15 +1300 http://www.goodwoolhunting.co.nz/blog/#post95493 http://www.goodwoolhunting.co.nz/blog/post/89082/finished-object--half-of-a-pair-of-socks/ Hello lovely makers, the weather here in Wellington continues to disappoint, but on a positive note I can sit and knit with less guilt! Recently I dyed up some self-striping yarn, which I sold out of. The colourway is called "Hyacinth Bucket", and looks very pretty in a gobstopper ball....... Sun, 02 Oct 2022 10:52:22 +1300 http://www.goodwoolhunting.co.nz/blog/#post89082 http://www.goodwoolhunting.co.nz/blog/post/88888/gingerbread/ Normally Rachel does the blog post, but this week has been very eventful. To start, I took a four night trip to London. Yes, just four nights!! It was a business trip and I had every day packed with meetings and activities. I had booked a day to Keighley to see the team at West Yorkshire Spinners and despite it not being the primary purpose of the trip, it was going to be the most interesting and exciting part. I was keen to get their new Xmas colourway "Gingerbread". Unfortunately, with the Que... Sun, 25 Sep 2022 19:23:46 +1300 http://www.goodwoolhunting.co.nz/blog/#post88888 http://www.goodwoolhunting.co.nz/blog/post/88487/coming-soon-a-new-shipment-of-yarn/ If you love Opal, Scheepjes and Lopi, you will be excited as I am about the yarn that will arrive next week! First up though, we have a new shipment of HOOOKED cotton yarns that arrived a day ago! Be sure to check out the new cottons in our online store. Back to info about what is to come next week...If you are an avid sock-knitter, you will be interested to see the new yarns that we'll have in stock. Opal's Beauty 2 is a little different from the usual Opal yarns, for it has a high quality Edel... Fri, 16 Sep 2022 17:03:13 +1200 http://www.goodwoolhunting.co.nz/blog/#post88487 http://www.goodwoolhunting.co.nz/blog/post/88483/im-baby-knitting/ ...and no, it's not for me! (I'm a bit too old). I'm the third of a family of seven children, and my "baby brother" and his partner are having their baby next month, so I've been a little focused on making as much as I can for the new arrival. So far I've made a cot blanket...... Fri, 16 Sep 2022 15:46:07 +1200 http://www.goodwoolhunting.co.nz/blog/#post88483 http://www.goodwoolhunting.co.nz/blog/post/87771/natural-dyeing-with-household-food-scraps-and-plants/ It's not hard to be, when it comes to dyeing with plants and food scraps. The idea of using the whole plant really appeals to me. When it comes to avocados, you not only get to enjoy eating the flesh, but you can use the skins and pips to make a beautiful dye. We also go through onions, and eat at least one every day. Once I've taken the skin off, I save it and chop and cook the rest. There's no wastage. I love that! Whenever I'm in the garden, I look at the dye potential of everything... Thu, 01 Sep 2022 18:21:30 +1200 http://www.goodwoolhunting.co.nz/blog/#post87771