Our Story

the community photograph

The sheep they breed and the wool they provide have always been important to the people of Swaledale. Here in one of the most beautiful areas of Northern England the tradition of hand knitting in local wool goes back over 400 years to the days of Queen Elizabeth I. It was Elizabeth who set a new fashion by wearing hand knitted stockings and, with demand increasing, every family in the Dale - men, women and children - became involved in knitting woollen stockings. By the end of the 19th century however the lead mines were gradually closing and changes in fashions together with the arrival of knitting machines ended most of the Dales hand knitting trade.

Sheep shearing photograph

In the early 1970's the people of Swaledale revived the art of hand-knitting and Swaledale Woollens cottage shop was opened in Muker, a picturesque village in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Today there are over 30 people knitting from their homes and producing a unique range of quality woollen knitwear. The wool provided for the knitters is mainly from Swaledale sheep, but use is also made of the different shades and textures provided by the nearby Wensleydale breed and Welsh hill sheep. Some of the wool is dyed to provide beautifully harmonious country colours.

The Swaledale, Wensleydale and Welsh wool are spun at the only remaining traditional worsted Woollen Mill in Bradford. Then it is dyed in to soft country colours and delivered to Muker. Real horn buttons are used on many of the garments. Kathleen takes it to her team of conscientious knitters then collects it when the ladies and gentlemen have knitted or crocheted it into garments.