A community run woollen mill in Uist has been awarded a grant to help it expand.
Uist Wool on the island of Grimsay spins yarns for knitting and weaving using local fleece.
It was created to revive the islands’ traditional wool industry by providing training and employment.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has awarded the mill a £90,000 grant to help it grow and expand.
The centre specialises in wool from Hebridean sheep, one of the oldest native Scottish breeds.
Grant will help island wool enterprise expand
26 January 2017
Yarns will be retailed exclusively under the Uist Wool brand.
Joanna Peteranna, account manager at HIE in Benbecula, said: “The mill is a welcome boost to the rich textile heritage and economy of the Outer Hebrides which is already well known for Harris Tweed.
“It’s an excellent addition to the tourism offering providing a new and distinctive
experience for visitors including the opportunity to purchase yarns that have a strong
provenance and tangible connection with the islands.”
Mill director, Dana Macphee,
said: “This is an exciting time for Uist Wool as we’ve gradually put all the pieces
together to finally launch the trading element of the enterprise and move into the
recently built wool centre annex at the mill.