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Sophie's Wild Wollens
THE SHOP ON THE GREEN
Dent Nr. Sedbergh Cumbris LA10 5BG
The Shop On
The Green |
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Isolated until
recent times, the remote Cumbrian village of Dent is still
referred to by locals as "Dent Town" - the sole village in
tiny, secluded Dentdale. Sturdy grey and whitewashed cottages
hug the edges of the narrow cobbled streets, their low roofs
heavy with dark stone slabs - a scene more reminiscent in
spirit of a Cornish fishing village than the western-most
fringes of the Yorkshire Dales.
Spinning galleries were once a common feature of houses in
Dent, where the hand-knitting industry prospered in the 17th
and 18th centuries. Whole families would take up their needles
- women, children and menfolk too! - and as they walked to the
fields or tended the sheep the needles would flash at a
phenomenal rate. Their speed and skill was such that Robert
Southey wrote, "They er terrible knitters e' Dent" (i.e. very
fast!)
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When Sophie
Schellenberg moved to the village a few years ago she was
unaware of its reputation for knitting. But she needed a job
and, although she had no formal textile qualifications (and
couldn't hand knit a stitch!) she had always been interested
in colour.
Undaunted, she taught herself to use a knitting machine, began
designing patterns and now runs her internationally-successful
business, 'Sophie's Wild Woollens', from her combined shop and
workshop overlooking the green.
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Sophie produces a range of co-ordinated designer knitwear
using intricate techniques, subtle 'country' colours and fine
luxury yarns including silk and chenille. A jacket brought
back from a Thailand trip inspired her first collection of
tunics, jackets, jumpers and skirts in Merino lambswool with
panelled gussets in rich shades of blue, yellow and red. Other
lines are inspired by the flora and fauna of Dentdale -
sophisticated yet amusing 3-D designs incorporating foxgloves
and poppies, sunflowers, sheep dressed in fairisle waistcoats
and even a Queen bee with her workers buzzing round a hive.
Alpacca waistcoats come in natural shades of grey, brown and
cream, whilst elegant Merino wool coats edged with sumptuous
piping and brocade are sent to shops all over the world.
You can often see Sophie at
work, pressing and labelling garments and covering buttons
with beautiful yams. She is helped by a team of home knitters
scattered around Cumbria and the Dales, but all the finishing
is done in Dent.
Somehow she also finds time to hunt out the unusual gifts and
crafts which are also on sale in the shop: wrought iron work
forged by a local blacksmith, elegant silver jewellery. The
selection is constantly changing but there's always a tempting
choice of quality cards and soft toys and natural soaps.
Opening times:
Daily, all year round, from 10 a.m.
Please telephone before making a special journey in winter.
Telephone: (015396) 25323.
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