Wool And The Gang Wool Week Competition and Designs

Wool Week 2014 is upon us! The Campaign For Wool, which encourages us to use British wool in our textiles and fashions, is once again running events this week to showcase how green, versatile and fun wool can be.

Eek beanie

The fashion wool company Wool and the Gang is joining in the fun with a competition to win £200 of its yarn. Whilst the yarn is Peruvian, it is made from upcycled t-shirts and the company is based in London. To enter the competition go here. If I don't win I hope you do!

The company has recently become known for its catwalk collaborations with the designer Giles Deacon. Remember the Giles eek beanies as modelled by Cara Delavigne? I recently received one to review (my opinions are my own). Despite having a few years on Cara I love the beanie's fun element. It's big enough to fit all size heads but not too big as to to look enormous on those with smaller heads - instead it slouches at the top.

The yarn is chunky and soft. You wouldn't know it's recycled and its eco credential gives it extra brownie points. To buy ready-made the beanie costs £85 which is, even for a designer item, very expensive. Instead buy a kit for £40 plus P&P and knit your own.

Emoji beanie

Wool and the Gang has designed a couple of patterns especially to celebrate Wool Week. A number
of brands across the spectrum of age,style and taste were invited by the Campaign for Wool to showcase designs that sum up how fabulous, stylish and versatile wool is.

Womenswear brands taking part are: Brora, Christopher Raeburn for Barbour, Daks, Harvey Nichols, Christopher Wijnants, Jigsaw, Jaeger, John Lewis, John Smedley, Johnston’s of Elgin, Pringle of Scotland, Richard Nicoll, Sibling ,Viyella, Caroline Charles and of course Wool and the Gang.

For menswear there's: Austin Reed, Brora, Barbour, Daks, Gieves & Hawkes, Jigsaw, John Lewis, John Smedley, Johnstons of Elgin, Lyle & Scott and Richard Nicoll.

Wool and the Gang's, contribution, an emoji beanie, is a fun beanie with a smiley face design that will be familiar to texters. There's also a sloppy, oversized wool jumper that will be donated to an auction organised by the Rainforest Foundation (UK) for their 25th birthday in order to ensure that rainforests will be still standing for another 25 years.

WATG Campaign for Wool jumper

If you're near Oxford Street London's John Lewis on Thursday at 2pm or 7pm then head to the fourth floor where the Gang will show you how to knit your own Zion Lion beanie or Lil Snood Dog. Everyone who comes along will be given a free Lula Hoop pattern.

For details on other events taking place for UK Wool Week see their events calendar.