Melissa spends time explaining the origins and research behind her book, Reinventing Wool, focusing on how wool was transformed and marketed in the mid-20th century, the rise of synthetic detergents, mothproofing, Superwash, and the cultural narratives that framed wool as a problem to be “improved” by science.
Dear Spinning Circle,
Today. On Wool n' Spinning Radio. Rachel and Rebecca sat down with Melissa Littlefield to discuss how she got into knitting, spinning, and blogging, and how online and local fiber communities have evolved. Melissa spends time explaining the origins and research behind her book, Reinventing Wool, focusing on how wool was transformed and marketed in the mid-20th century, the rise of synthetic detergents, mothproofing, Superwash, and the cultural narratives that framed wool as a problem to be “improved” by science. We talk about the global dimensions of wool production, the roles of Australia, the UK, and Germany, and parallels with other fibers like cotton. We reflect on the loss of generational knowledge, the impact of convenience and marketing, and the persistence of “natural vs. synthetic” dichotomies. Finally, we touch on the current state and future prospects of the wool industry, the importance of community and advocacy, and the value of longer-form content and grassroots knowledge sharing. Melissa recommends some further reading and resources, and shares where her book could be purchased, which is linked in the shownotes below.
To Melissa, thank you for sharing this journey with us this month. It was an absolute pleasure speaking to you about the book and your research journey. To the larger fibre arts community, this is a must-read book. There are nuggets throughout the book that we can all relate to, from a moth infested fleece to a shrunken article of clothing mistakenly thrown in the washing machine. There are some bittersweet truths about what the wool industry has become and some hope for the future. Whether you use superwash yarn for socks or hardy Down-breeds blended with silk, we are all part of a larger story about industry, science and technology, advancement and tradition. I hope you enjoy the epsiode.
Full episode shownotes available here.
To get in touch with Melissa, here are a few places to check:
Visit Melissa's website @ http://knittingthestash.com
Shop the Flock Farm Yarn Store @ http://flockfarmyarn.com
Watch the podcast: https://www.youtube.com/knittingthestash
Friend Melissa on Ravelry: knittingthestash
Send Melissa a message: knittingthestash@gmail.com