In moving out to the country, it means there is no local wool shop within cooee. Very literally. I’m used to accessing great bricks and mortar yarn shops – either locally, CBD or within reasonable driving distance. Here,  it’s a bit different and the internet is your friend – fortunately I’m highly familiar with online purchasing.

That being said, I still love a visit to a yarn shop or purchasing directly and after a little exploration, I’m delighted at what I’m finding. It appears I’ve landed in the centre of The Alpaca Universe, with many wonderful alpaca breeders who provide fibre and yarn as well. Apparently this is a great alpaca area and I’ve found the breeders here to be highly organised and professional.

One of the Alpaca producers, Marlyn Alpacas, breeds, mills and sells their own yarn which is quite stunning and available in a range of plys and colours. They obviously know and love their flock well and can name the alpacas by the colour of the yarn. It’s such a treasure to have this producer as a neighbour that breeds, shears and then mills and distributes such high quality yarn. Many other breeders also offer their fibre for sale which is highly valued in an area well populated by experienced spinners.

Whilst for Sydney-siders it may seem a considerable distance, once in the country  you get used to country driving. Blackheath is a nice trip to take for the day considering other attractions such as a great nursery, the antiques centre, coffee shops and a great butcher … let alone an extra drive into Leura for chocolates at Josophans. But the big attraction has to be The House of Wool at Blackheath which stocks indie yarns that are beautifully dyed. I know all too well how easy (and often cheaper) it is to buy standard commercial brands online, but to see, feel and purchase direct such lovely yarns always will be exciting for a dedicated knitter.

Needless to say, I’m not suffering too much from access to good yarn in the country. Nor am I buffered from temptation.