Baa Ram Ewe Introduces Own Stranded Colourwork Wool Range

The new year brings three more shades for baa ram ewe's British wool ranges Titus and Dovestone DK, plus the launch of Pip Colourwork, 25g balls of wool in 15 shades meant for Fair Isle and stranded colour work designs. Each ball costs £3.20 plus P&P.

Pip Colourwork image courtesy of baa ram ewe

The company says that the name Pip comes from a traditional method of sheep counting in Swaledale, North Yorkshire. Pip is baa ram ewe's fifth own-brand yarn, and Pip means five after Yan (one), Tan (two), Tether (three) and Mether (four). 

We haven't had the chance yet to test knit the Pip range but on its website baa ram ewe describes the wool as 'soft and squishy yet with enough grip to bind the shades together'.  It recommends four patterns from Isabell Kraemer on Ravelry to knit with the range. 

Titus image courtesy of baa ram ewe

The three new Titus and Dovestone DK shades are North Sea, a deep blue; Nidderdale, an emerald green; and the 'does what it says on the tin' shade Muck - an earthy brown. 

Titus has increased in price to £17 per 100g skein due to the rise in the popularity of the Wensleydale fleece and a seventy per cent increase its wholesale cost: great news for the British wool industry but not so much for customers. Baa ram ewe says it has tried to keep the price of its yarns as low as possible.

Other British stranded colourwork wool ranges

If you want to try out stranded colourwork this winter there are plenty of British wool ranges to choose from. They all consist of 25g balls or skeins.

• Erika Knight's British Blue Wool is spun from Bluefaced Leicester fleece and comes in 17 shades. Each ball costs £4.20 plus P&P from mcadirect.com
• Jamiesons of Shetland's has a multitude of shades in its spindrift and DK range at £3.15 a ball
• Fenella is a 2ply yarn that knits up to a vintage 3ply tension. It was created by British designer and historian Susan Crawford for stranded colourwork patterns and costs £4 a skein plus P&P.
• Foula Wool comes from the Scottish island of Foula, west of the Shetland Islands and all the seven shades are natural. Each DK ball is £3.95 plus P&P but you can also choose from lace or jumper weight.