Helo! Several friends and I will be traveling to Tuscany in April (spring break for teachers--Hooray!) Many of us are fiber artists (weaving, knitting, spinning, felting)who would love to see meet fiber artisans in Italy. We'd also like to take home fibers--fleece and/or yarn. We will be staying at a villa near Sarteano, south of Siena, and will have cars. Any suggestions on places to visit or shop? Any markets that might sell fleece or yarn?
Thanx!!
elisabet

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kim,

Hello Elisabet! I am a knitter too - well this last year I am more of an owner of wool and needles - not much knitting. I know that Italy is a major producer of wool, but it seems to me to be the more "fancy" or "fashionable" yarns. I have never bought wool in Italy. I did find a small village in southern Switzerland (the Ticino region), north of Locarno - Sonogno I think where they made and dyed their own wool and I got some there. I remember finding some info about fiber in Italy and I will go thru my box of brochures to look for it (we are on vacation now - will do it when I return).

The only thing I can suggest is to contact the woman who runs Chianti Cashmere - a farm in Chianti where they raise Cashmere goats and a special breed of small dog. http://www.chianticashmere.com/

Maybe she is plugged into the fiber network. And maybe someone else has some ideas.

Will you send us a review of your villa rental? And let me know if you find good wool - I am sure I will get back to knitting soon. (We have some good wool producers in northern New Mexico!)

Umbria has a great weaving tradition. There is a local living museum in Citta` di Castello where women weave the traditional geometric fabrics on traditional looms. In addition, my favorite museum here is called the center of popular traditions. It is 2 km from the city walls and consists of a casa colonica furnished as it would have been in 1900 with all the detritus of 300 years of farm life, even the animals! The loft floor is all spinning and weaving gear, because that's what all the girls did for the family living. The local fiber resembles ramie.
There is a yarn store in a shopping mall in an area called Madonna del Latte, the sign actually says Famila. It is walking distance from the centro. They sell yarns and finished knitted goods there.
I've never seen fibers sold in the market, but I'm sure the people at the weaving museum know where to see and buy fibers.

Thanx Pauline and Decobabe. I know that here in Maine, where I live, many small businesses do not have websites and advertise only locally,and so are known through word-of mouth. Probably more so in Italy. Our group is interested in the chianti cashmere, so thanx again. The Umbria museum and yarn store sound great, too!

There is a woman in Montalcino, Chiara Franceschetti, who weaves and sews and sells unique garments--I have a beautiful jacket from her studio. I think she's on the same street as Trattoria del Sciame, or whatever the word for "swarm of bees" is.

There is a little handweaving store in San Casciano val di Pesa. Beautiful mohair shawls, blankets, coats, etc. It's in the tiny tangle of shopping streets right in the center of town.

Thanx all for your ideas! I will visit as many as possible. Today, in Maine, there is a big snow storm...Dreaming of Italy!