July Toss n Tell – Carding & Blending Wool

We are very pleased to have June from Bilby Yarns come and share her wealth of knowledge with us. June will be talking all things carding and blending. June will be showing us how to use hand carders and a blending board, along with talking about drum carders their use and importantly maintenance.

June will also have a Pop Up shop with her so bring your credit cards and a shopping bag!

June’s Story

I began my textile journey at 16 years of age, sewing my clothes on a Treadle sewing machine and later working with designers in a fashion agency in Perth.  Years later found me living in Nhulunbuy NT on the Gove Peninsula where I learnt to dye wool and weave fleece rugs through a local tutor [Swedish].   Moving to Karratha in the Pilbara I was fortunate to buy a foot loom and was taught multi shaft weaving by an English master weaver.

Before leaving the Pilbara, I joined the HWSDG WA and shortly after arriving in Perth became their Yarn Room coordinator and newsletter editor. It wasn’t long before I met the members of the Melanian Sheep Breeders Society and in 1994 became their City Wool Depot Rep. My ties to the country are strong through my father who grew up at Piawanning [north of new Norcia].

With an available abundance of fabulous natural coloured wool/fleece & using my superannuation as finance, I accepted the challenge of selecting/collecting/buying WA fleece, organising scouring, carding, combing & processing tops and a range of yarns as chemically free as possible. I travelled to monthly spin-ins throughout the country, attended Geelong Wool Fest and Bothwell Highland Spin In.  Many years ago I bought the Ashford Agency for W.A. from Joy & Albert Rosher.  I then found premises in Myaree to house and sell my ever-growing stash! There was one more premises shift before finding the lovely store in Willagee in which I am currently. We love to welcome visitors on Tuesday Wednesday & Friday 11-3 and the first Saturday each month 11-1.