Pembrokeshire is a hot spot for all things woollen
Winter woollies trail
Pembrokeshire has a growing community of talented individuals ready to clothe you head to toe in the most decadent wool they can get their hands on.
Most of it Welsh, some of it local and all of it created right here in Pembrokeshire.
If you want to stay toasty jump on the Pembrokeshire woollies trail. It will keep you warm for years to come.
Homegrown in Pembrokeshire
Perched on the cliffs between Saundersfoot and Tenby is a story about a farmer and a designer in pursuit of sustainability. Dotted around Richard Reed’s farm are a flock of sheep that provide local designer Anna Felton with a steady supply of wool for her homegrown enterprise Monkstone Knitwear.
Anna creates small-batch knitwear and homeware. Made to last, with a considered design and sustainable.
Hand Crafted in Pembrokeshire
Susie Lincon has been making sheepskin boots in the beautiful little market town of Narberth since 1979. For over thirty years a steady flow of warm, woolly boots has been making the procession out the door and across the country, to adorn frozen feet from John O’Groats to Lands End and beyond.
Your boots will be tailor-made for you. Your choice in length, colour and style. Simply pop into the shop or give Susie a ring for a treat that your feet will thank you for, for years to come.
Carys Hedd started Wench Wear upcycling clothing with the intention of keeping old woollen clothes out of the landfill and giving them a new lease of life by transforming them into designer labels.
What started out as a clothing range quickly became a training enterprise, with Carys now offering workshops on upcycling to help you create your own designer clothing from your long, loved woollens.
Sian O’Doherty textile designer
Sian O’Doherty is an award-winning textile artist and designer creating beautiful and unique knitted fabrics for garments, accessories and interior styling. Her textile designs reflect the rich cultural heritage of Wales as well as the spectacular and varied landscapes. Sian hosts a variety of workshops in textiles and also works with other creators to bring a wide range of courses to her workshop near Saundersfoot.
Based in a loft in St Davids, Rosie has a passion for wool and British heritage style. Working in British wool and tweeds, Rosie design scarfs from the warps and wefts from the British textile mills. Designed for a contemporary lifestyle, the snoods use volumes of fabric to create discrete secure pockets for phones and cards.
Made Well in West Wales
We have two working woollen mills with two extraordinary designers in Pembrokeshire.
There has been a mill at Tregwynt since the 18th century when local farmers would bring their fleeces to be spun into yarn and fine wool blankets. Henry Griffiths bought the mill in 1912 and it has been in the Griffiths family ever since.
Today the beautiful colours and innovative designs of Melin Tregwynt can be found in hip hotels and designer stores around the world. You won’t find them on the high street, so a trip to their shop on the Pembrokeshire coast is a must if you want to treat yourself.
Anna and Tom are the latest custodians of the oldest working woollen mill in Pembrokeshire, Solva Woollen Mill, which has been in operation since 1907.
This is the only mill in Wales specialising in flat weave carpets and is a fascinating place to visit. Their rugs adorn Price Charles’ Welsh residence at Llwynywormwood, stately homes in the USA and Landmark Trust properties up and down the country. The place to go to furnish your floors.
If our collective of woollen designers has inspired you to create then we have two more places for you to explore before you leave Pembrokeshire:
Janes of Fishguard is Pembrokeshire’s leading wool and craft shop and will provide you will all the yarn you can handle. After making your woolly purchases relax in Jane’s cafe with coffee and cake.
Penbanc Fabrics, Newport
Penbanc Fabrics is bursting at the seams – this place is a treasure chest of fabric with a massive selection that will keep your creative side going for months.
We hope we have whetted your appetite for all things woolly and made in Pembrokeshire!