When I started broadening my horizons in terms of wool breeds, I was surprised how few Welsh breed fibre options were available to buy. I live in Wales, our village is surrounded by fields of sheep, so where is the wool?

When I visited the British Wool grading depot in Newtown, It all became clear!

Wool is sorted by type and not breed!

The carpet industry is by far britains biggest wool purchaser in the UK, so naturally the grading depot is organised in a way to service the carpet industry's needs.

A carpet manufacturer does not care about what breed goes into their 100% wool carpet. They care that the wool is consistent across any carpet line and that includes , the thickness, strength, length, colour, dyeability and many other factors. The breed is irrelevant!

Herdwick being the only exception. Herdwick has no greater redeeming features than the Welsh breeds but has undergone a tremendously successful marketing campaign convincing the general public that it is best. Prior to the marketing campaign Herdwick was one of the least valuable of the white wool breeds. Herdwick sheep do have very cute faces. That is undeniable!

While disappointing that the breeds were mixed at the first stage of sorting and would not be available for sale by breed, I understood the reasoning.

What did and continues to puzzle me is why the

Welsh breed wool, especially the mountain breeds were referred to disdainfully as carpet wool?

Isn't carpet wool exactly what is desired?

Why do the finer less suitable wools command a higher price,

I would understand if it was being sold for apparel but only a miniscule percentage is

Why the obsession with fineness?

Why is quality and fineness used as having the same meaning?

A "quality" carpet would not be limp and wear out quickly!

While I am grateful for the British Wool Board, their hard work for the British farmers and the wool industry and as educators, I am still mystified by the least suitable wool for the British wool buyer is the most expensive and revered?

After this visit I became a passionate promoter of Welsh breeds, I had 5kg each of 10 breeds scoured and carded at a mill in order to make Welsh breed wool available in the form of selection boxes and felting kits to encourage others to take up wool crafts and engage in this wonderful wool. My Niece, Louise Evans translated all the instructions and information into Welsh so that Welsh people could engage with Welsh breed wool in their 1st language, whether that be English or Welsh.

I also choose Welsh breed wool in many of my pieces to show that it has yet more to offer as well the production of the highest quality luxury carpets.