Spinning Stories from Somerset’s Fields
An interview with Guild member, Cathy Ainsworth.
When Cathy Ainsworth moved from near Sparkford a year and a half ago she found herself with something she’d always dreamed of since leaving London for Somerset 17 years ago: enough land to finally keep sheep. Now living on the edge of Upton, between Langport and Somerton, Cathy’s days are filled with the steady rhythm of life on a smallholding—caring for her Shetland flock, processing fleece, and, of course, spinning.
“I’ve always wanted to have some sheep,” Cathy says, “and when we moved here, there was enough space. It was brilliant—and we needed to keep the grass down, so it worked both ways.”
Cathy’s love of fibre runs deep. Though she’s long been a knitter, her spinning journey began in London, thanks to a fair in a local park. “One of the tutors from the community college was there, advertising their courses,” she explains. “I signed up and did a City & Guilds in spinning and weaving. Then I went back and did another one, just in weaving.”
The courses took Cathy through the technical and creative sides of fibre arts, though she admits, “the design side wasn’t my strongest point.” But the practical skills stuck, and she’s been hooked ever since.
Learning Curves in Sheepkeeping
Even with plenty of research, Cathy found that raising sheep came with its surprises. “I was really worried about poisonous plants at first,” she recalls. “There was hemlock in one part of the field, so I spent hours clearing it before the sheep arrived.” But, as she soon discovered, sheep tend to be selective grazers. “As long as they have plenty of other things to eat, they’ll usually leave the bad stuff alone.”
Choosing Shetlands: Fleece First
When it came to choosing her flock, Cathy was drawn to Shetland sheep for their fleece. “I was really interested in rare breeds,” she says, “but I realised you don’t always get much fleece from some of them, and they can be quite tricky. Shetlands are smaller and a bit easier to manage—and there were plenty for sale locally.”
Her four Shetlands came from a breeder on the edge of Exmoor who used to show them. “She was brilliant—helped me pick out four sheep with lovely fleeces in different colours,” Cathy shares. Her flock includes a black sheep and two with the distinctive Shetland markings known as katmoget and gulmoget. “They’re either dark on top and pale underneath, or the other way round, which makes the fleece really interesting to work with.”
Cathy’s primary interest was always in the fleece. “A lot of people keep Shetlands for breeding or meat, but I wanted them for their wool,” she says. She now processes the fleeces locally at a small mill in Dorset, where they’re able to handle small-scale batches—just about a kilo at a time. “They’re great because you can choose whether to blend the colours or keep them separate,” Cathy explains. “It’s lovely to see the variation come through.”
There were other surprises, too. “One day, a tree covered in ivy fell into the paddock, and the sheep went straight for it—they loved it,” Cathy says. “I panicked at first, but then read that ivy’s actually a tonic for sheep. Farmers sometimes give it to them intentionally.”
Lameness has been one of the more common challenges. “It’s one of the big health issues to watch out for,” Cathy explains. “And then there’s the timing of shearing—you need to get it right to avoid double cuts and make sure there’s no regrowth in the fleece.”
She’s also learned how different fleece colours can affect processing. “The darker Shetland fleeces are harder to process. They can be a bit shorter and more matted,” she notes. “David at Rampisham mill explained that they sometimes prefer not to work with the really dark fleeces for that reason.”
Spinning Through the Seasons
Cathy’s spinning and weaving are often shaped by the seasons. “My looms are out in a shed, so I can only really use them in the summer,” she says. “In the winter, I focus on spinning and knitting.”
She’s currently working through her collection of fleeces and fibre, aiming to make use of what she has before adding more. “I’ve been collecting fibre for years—ever since I started spinning—but now it’s time to actually use it,” she laughs.
Spinning her own sheep’s fleece has brought new depth to her craft. “It’s lovely having that connection—from the field to the finished product,” Cathy says. And with her Shetlands producing fleece in a range of natural colours, there’s plenty to experiment with.
Advice for Spinners (and Would-Be Shepherds)
For anyone considering getting their own sheep, Cathy offers this advice: “Think about the fleece you want before you choose your sheep. Some colours are easier to work with, and the type of fleece can really impact what you can make.”
She also recommends considering the scale of processing. “If you’re only working with a small amount of fleece, hand-processing is fine, but if you’ve got a few sheep, taking it to a mill for the initial steps saves a lot of time. Plus, the finish is more consistent, though hand-processed fleece has its own charm.”
Cathy’s focus on fleece and fibre is grounded in curiosity and a love of learning—qualities that shine through in her approach to spinning. “There’s always something new to figure out,” she says. “Every fleece is different.”
Guild Stories: Sharing Knowledge, Strengthening Community
Cathy’s fibre journey reflects what makes the Guild so special: people with deep knowledge and experience, quietly working away on fascinating projects. “There’s so much skill in that room,” Cathy notes. “It’s great to share stories—it’s how we all learn.”
If you’re sitting next to someone at the next meeting who has a story to tell, why not encourage them to share it? There’s a wealth of knowledge in our community—let’s make sure it doesn’t go unheard.