As part of a new strategy to expand and strengthen our links with local businesses, community networks and new and emerging creative talent from across the region, in September 2021 we reached out to the academic team at Falmouth University. Our intention was to stimulate some new conversations and to see how we could work together. What emerged following a series of online and email conversations with Hannah Maughan, Senior Lecturer and Sally Ann Gill, Course Leader of Textile Design was an exciting industry-based project that we developed for second year students from the BA (Hons) course in Weave, Print and Mixed Media specialisms. The project brief that we created invited the students to create a narrative and design concept for our limited edition 2022 Birthday Yarn collection.
The students were presented with the brief and began working on various elements and considerations of the design such as reflecting on our connection with the local environment, surroundings, heritage and strong affiliation with Cornwall as well as adhering to our core values. It was also important to create a new colour palette with between 5-10 dyed shades plus a natural version and to choose a suitable name for the range and come up with design ideas for the ball bands and marketing and product information. The work formed part of the students’ autumn term at University, taking place from October to December 2021, and they presented their final design concepts during a selection process to us in January 2022.
We were delighted with the levels of enthusiasm that the students showed and their engagement with the project, and we have been extremely impressed by the overall standard of work produced. We had a difficult decision to make as we loved each student’s concept, each one was delivered and produced to an extremely high standard and ultimately, we chose Alice Jackson’s Folklore themed design concept which we placed into production in early 2022.
We are thrilled to launch the Folklore range on 23rd September to celebrate our Blacker Yarns birthday. Based on Alice’s design we have blended Grey Shetland, Cream English Merino, and Light Grey North Ronaldsay to create a wonderful woollen spun collection, available in 4-ply and Double Knit. The natural shade is a soft silver which we have then dyed our colour palette over, each colour has been designed and named after the playful passages in Cornish Folklore.
The folklores of Cornwall uncover a whimsical, lesser-known history passed from generation to generation through tales, poetry, songs and stories. From the blood of Bolster the giant on the cliffs at Chapel Porth to the gardens of the small people at Logan Rock. The Folklore collection steps into this forgotten mystical world to inspire our latest range of yarns. We hope you love it as much as we do