Win an Elizabeth 30
Ashford Wheels and Looms – the global leader in the manufacture of quality spinning wheels, weaving looms and textile equipment – is celebrating 90 years in business. We are excited […]
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Author: Tina Gill
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Honour Bestowed – Richard Ashford recognised in King’s Birthday Honours List 2026
Ashford Wheels & Looms is proud to announce that Richard Ashford has been appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his contribution to business and the […]
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Processing stinging nettle fibres by hand
Fresh from winning the 2026 Ashford Award designer Belinda Gredig of Mönchengladbach, Germany, shares her guide to processing on of nature’s most overlooked fibres: stinging nettles. In this fascinating practical […]
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Daylight Stars Knitted Shawl
The Daylight Stars Knitted Shawl is a stunning project that takes you from fibre preparation right through to the finished knitted shawl. Blending soft Merino with lustrous Tencel and sparkling […]
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Ashford Artist of the Month – Apr 26 – Linda Norton
This month’s Ashford Artist of the Month is Linda Norton of Mophead, a passionate fibre artist from Queensland, Australia, whose creative journey has evolved from crocheted beanies at local markets […]
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The Ashford Award Winners for 2026
We are delighted to announce the winner of the 2026 Ashford Award is designer Belinda Gredig, based in Mönchengladbach, Germany. With an academic background in fashion design from Central Saint […]
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New Loom Stand Accessory Trays
We are delighted to introduce a new accessory for our rigid heddle weavers. Keep weaving tools close at hand with our new Loom Stand Accessory Trays. While earlier loom stands […]
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Handspun singles as warp yarn: Myth-busting and magic in weaving
One of my pet peeves is something that I see in groups online and hear frequently in the rigid heddle weaving world: the “snap test” threshold. You know the one, […]
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Upcycle weaving thrums and scrap yarns
Don’t throw away those yarn scraps, small remnants and thrums from past projects can become the starting point for something new. Lea Williams of Lea Wild Creative shares a creative […]
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Linked weft colour blocks
Weave a beautiful and interesting table runner using colour blocks and the linked weft technique. Your non-weaving friends will admire it, but your fibre friends will study it a little […]
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Caterpillar Cotton Scarf Kits
An easy, beginner-friendly weaving kit using beautifully soft Caterpillar cotton. Create a stunning handwoven scarf that’s a pleasure to make and wear — perfect as a gift or a treat […]
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New Caterpillar Colours
We are very happy to introduce two new colourways in our popular Caterpillar Cotton range – Twilight and Jungle. Twilight – CC412 Jungle – CC411 Ashford Caterpillar Cotton is a […]
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Pixie Hat Pattern
Looking for a cute, charming knitting project? These Pixie Hats are just the thing! With their rolled brim and a whimsical little “pixie” top that is reminiscent of an acorn […]
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The Royal Weave
This week Princess Kate experienced the joy of hand weaving at Radical Weavers in Stirling, Scotland as part of a royal visit with Prince William to highlight Scottish heritage, community, […]
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2026 Special Order Products
We are excited to announce our 2026 Special Order Products. Designed for weavers and spinners who are serious about their craft and want the very best tools to bring their […]
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Ashford Award 2025 Update – Tukya Foundation
Deb from Sunny Daze Textiles Brings Weaving to Life in Tukya Village Last year, Deb from Sunny Daze Textiles was named a joint recipient of the 2025 Ashford Textile Award, […]
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Weave your own custom shoe laces
We love projects that are both practical and creative, and weaving your own shoelaces is a perfect example. Small, satisfying, and endlessly customisable, handwoven laces allow you to explore colour, […]
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Helix – a Twist on Knitting Stripes Tutorial
When knitting stripes in the round, jogs can be frustrating. So, what is a jog? A jog occurs at the point where one colour ends and the next begins. Because […]
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Ashford Artist of the Month – Nov 25 – Mylena Larochelle
We are delighted to introduce our latest Ashford Artist of the Month — Mylena Larochelle from Quebec, Canada. I had the pleasure of meeting Mylena in person at Knit City […]
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The Squish is real
There is something irresistibly tactile about waffle weaves. Soft, pillowy cells that you just want to squeeze and squish. When woven in wool, the squish is absolutely real. This sample, […]
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New Tabletop Tapestry Loom
Our new Tabletop Tapestry Loom is the product of extensive research and development, created in close collaboration with professional tapestry weavers. Their hands-on testing and expert feedback helped us fine-tune […]
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Vav – Sweden
VAV 25 – 27 September 2025 VAV is Europe’s largest weaving fair and is held every three years in different cities across Sweden. This year Richard and Elizabeth were thrilled […]
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Visit to Skytten
23 – 24 September 2025 Richard and Elizabeth were delighted to visit Skytten in Copenhagen Denmark on their way to VAV. They were very happy to meet our new distributor […]
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Visit to Spinnvilt
22 – 23 September 2025 Richard and Elizabeth were thrilled to visit Spinnvilt in Oslo Norway on their way to VAV. They were very happy to meet their old friends […]
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Customise clothing with needle felting
Needle felting is a fun and versatile craft. While many people use it to make beautiful 3D objects like animals and ornaments, you can also embellish clothing and other fabrics. Add […]
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Undulating Twill – on a Rigid Heddle loom
Undulating – to move in a wave-like pattern.This beautiful design is based on a traditional twill, usually woven on four or eight shafts – but now you can create it […]
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Expand the versatility of your e-Spinner 3
Easily convert your e-Spinner 3 into a high-speed boat shuttle bobbin winder or a quill spindle. Whether you’re prepping for weaving or spinning textured yarns off the point, this clever […]
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New colours – Caterpillar Cotton
We are very happy to introduce two new colourways in our popular Caterpillar Cotton range – Sandstone and Black. Sandstone Black Click image to see the full range of colours […]
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Ken Meehan – 45th Anniversary
We are celebrating a very special occasion – Ken Meehan, our Production and Factory Manager, started with the company as an “after-school boy” on 25th August 1980, 45 years ago. […]
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Ashford Dealer Spotlight – Sheeping Beauty Fibre Arts
Welcome to the Ashford Dealer Spotlight! Where we highlight Ashford dealers from around the world, giving you a chance to learn more about their journeys and businesses. We’re excited to […]
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Linked Warp Scarf
This is another effective and easy technique you can try on the rigid heddle loom. A linked warp adds visual interest and will draw attention when you wear the finished […]
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Snowflakes and tumbling blocks
There’s a certain magic to point threading — one simple sequence that can create stunning, symmetrical patterns. From bold diamonds to intricate designs, it’s like opening a treasure chest of […]
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Let’s talk about setts…
No, not the 90s pop song—sett is a weaving term that’s all about how close together your threads are. If you’re just getting started with weaving, understanding sett will help […]
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Upcycling on your rigid heddle loom
One of the things I love most about weaving is how it brings together creativity, sustainability, and the joy of making something by hand. It is always inspiring to see […]
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The Australian Sheep & Wool Show, July 2025
We had a fantastic time at the 25th annual Australian Sheep and Wool Show in Bendigo, Victoria from July 18–20. The show was a hive of activity, and it was […]
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Congratulations – Skytten, Denmark
Congratulations We are delighted to welcome Maiken Bjørnholt to the Ashford family! Maiken has recently purchased the Skytten business from Linda and Henrik Larsen and has become the Ashford distributor […]
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Denmark – passing the baton
After 23 wonderful years, Linda and Henrik Larsen of Skytten, have sold their business and are retiring as our distributors in Denmark. We are so grateful for their friendship, excellent […]
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The challenge of colour management – Part 2
I have been diving into some colour management techniques in my spinning recently, and I wanted to share one that’s been especially fun and effective! It’s a great way to […]
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The challenge of colour management – Part 1
Hand-dyed fibre braids are irresistibly beautiful — rich in colour, texture, and creative potential. Yet working with them can often feel like a gamble. Those vibrant tones that looked so […]
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Card, Spin and Knit a Cocoon Shrug
This cosy cocoon shrug can be a lovely weekend (or two) project. Try carding your own custom blend of colours or fibres and knit your own today! The pattern is […]
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Child’s Fair Isle Sweater
Who can resist the charm of a Fair Isle sweater? Especially when it’s on such an adorable little one! Knitted with our sumptuous Merino DK yarn, this timeless design is […]
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Ashford Dealer Spotlight – Twilight Fiber and Yarn
Welcome to the Ashford Dealer Spotlight! Where we highlight Ashford dealers from around the world, giving you a chance to learn more about their journeys and businesses. We’re excited to […]
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Knit City Montreal
May 16th – 18th, 2025 Montreal, Canada What a fantastic weekend at Knit City Montreal! We were thrilled to attend this vibrant event alongside our local Ashford dealer, Catherine of […]
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Ashford Dealer Training Canada
May 12th-14th, 2025 Montreal, Quebec Canada Kate, together with Marc from Harmonique Fibre Arts Supplies—our Canadian distributor—hosted a three-day Ashford Dealer Training Workshop in Montreal. With over 20 enthusiastic participants, […]
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H + H Americas
May 7th – 9th, 2025 Rosemont, IL, USA Earlier this month, Kate and James exhibited at H & H Americas, a B2B event for the fibre and textile industry. It […]
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Susan’s Fiber Shop Visit
May 4th 2025 – Columbus, Wisconsin USA Kate recently visited Susan’s Fiber Shop for an Ashford demo day. While Susan was away attending the Maryland Sheep Show, her wonderful team […]
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The Yarn Barn of Kansas Visit
May 2nd-3rd 2025, Lawrence, Kansas USA Kate visited The Yarn Barn of Kansas in Lawrence for the first time to do some staff training and in-store demos. Established in 1971, the […]
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The Woolery Visit
April 29th– May 1st 2025, Frankfort, Kentucky USA Kate had a great time visiting The Woolery, spending time with their fantastic customer service team for hands-on product training sessions. The […]
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Wonderwool Wales
April 26th – 27th, 2025 Builth Wells, Wales, UK Kate worked with David and Kathy of Frank Herring and Sons, our UK Distributor, at Wonderwool Wales hosting a demonstration and […]
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Wingham Wool – Ashford Demo Days
April 22nd – 23rd, 2025 Berkeley, UK Our thanks to Ellie and Tom of Wingham Wool for organising two fantastic one-day Ashford Demo Days. Wingham Wool has been a cornerstone […]
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The Ashford Award Winners for 2025
Due to the high calibre of applicants this year, Elizabeth and Richard have chosen two joint-winners, and James has increased the award to $7000. We are delighted to announce the […]
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