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Approach
Originally from the Val d'Azun in the Hautes-Pyrénées, the daughter of a sheep farmer and a painting mother, I've been living in Belgium for a few years now. Ever since I was a child, I've had a passion for crafts (pottery, pyrography, painting, etc.). Very quickly, my heart went out to the arts of yarn and wool, that extraordinary natural and renewable resource. My grandmother taught me to knit, a technique that I've continued to explore as I've grown up!
My years of study and the award of my doctorate in physical chemistry in France meant that I was destined for a career in science, and I continued my research activities in Antwerp, Belgium, where I have since settled with my family. I knit every day, which brings me great joy. A few years ago, I started creating designs, some of which I've adapted into patterns. This creative freedom is really satisfying. And that's not all: I also process wool by hand in my workshop.
It's the day-to-day practice of knitting that has prompted me to think about how the raw material, wool, is processed. Under what conditions is it produced and where is it processed? What happens to the wool of our local breeds of sheep? Far less famous than their Merino cousins, the breeds of sheep reared in our beautiful Pyrenees deserve to be better known too!
Far from the land of my birth, my passion for the arts of yarn and my farming roots quickly caught up with me. As the need to create grew stronger, I decided that setting up my own business shouldn't just be an idea in my head - it should become a reality! So I hung up my lab coat to devote myself fully to setting up my business.
My name is Fanny and after several years in scientific research, in 2023 I founded my company Knitty and Woolly to promote wool from the Hautes-Pyrénées, and to continue in my own way the project my father took part in over 30 years ago, to save and promote the lourdaise ewe!
I'm passionate about promoting the wool of these ewes and helping to raise the profile of this endangered mountain breed. The wool of Tarasconnaise ewes, another local breed, has different qualities and properties, so I thought it would be a good idea to combine them to create a unique blend.
With Knitty and Woolly, I bring you :
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Authentic, natural knitting and weaving yarns, processed in France by the wool industry's traditional craftsmen and women.
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Handmade creations to help you discover wool in a different way, including bracelets woven from hand-spun wool and other textile materials.
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Creative workshops to share my passion for this exceptional fibre with the local Belgian public, and to pass on ancestral skills that help us put our feet up in our fast-paced daily lives.
At Knitty and Woolly, you will find...
Knitting yarns
Azun and Peira yarns are made from 100% wool from the Hautes-Pyrénées, traceable and without chemical treatment (no carbonising, bleaching or superwash treatment). The yarns are made in Niaux in Ariège, in a spinning mill with a fascinating history. To add a touch of colour, I called on the Myrobolan workshop in Creuse to carry out a traditional vegetable dyeing process.
For knitting ideas, visit my blog!
Handwoven wool bracelets
At Knitty and Woolly, wool is also processed by hand, for unique creations in small quantities. Discover the collections of hand-woven bracelets called Pyrenees and Sun in a range of natural and plant-based colours.
To to find out all about how they are made, visit my blog.
Workshops
I offer workshops to share, transmit and introduce you to the many qualities of wool and its uses. Wool transformation process and introduction to knitting will be on the program. The workshops are organized in Antwerp (Belgium).
knitting patterns
I also take great pleasure in imagining and creating knitting patterns. Some have been translated into patterns available on Ravelry. Whether it's collaborating with other designers for the realization of designs, or for the use of Knitty and Woolly yarns in a model, you can send me an email via the contact form.
