Maker Spotlight: Woolwala
Maker Spotlight: Woolwala
The queen of sustainable crafting
Woolwala is an Instagram account I recently discovered, and one I thought In the Wool subscribers would be very interested to read about. With thought provoking posts and eco friendly craft tips, I’m very happy to introduce Eshani, the talent behind Woolwala, who was kind enough to sit down and share her thoughts with us.
Eshani’s crafting journey began back in 2018 when she undertook the task of learning to knit, using a blanket kit from Wool and the Gang. She began sharing her new found hobby on Instagram as soon as she started: ‘I first shared it on my personal social and got a really good response, so I started a knitstagram!’ Knitstagram describes an account that focuses on the art of knitting, and that exists within the knitting community on Instagram. Eshani told me that one of her favourite parts of belonging to this community is the inspiration she gets from other makers; if you love project photos and visuals, Instagram is definitely the place to be!
Woolwala showcases many of the wonderful projects that Eshani has made over the years, with a focus on handmade clothing. ‘My favourite things to make in general are cardigans and I prefer knitting with thinner yarns.’ 4ply and double knit yarns are ideal for giving your projects a sleek finish and will ensure your garments don’t look bulky when combined with the rest of your wardrobe. Handmade clothes are also a great way to move towards sustainability, and this is an issue that Eshani feels very passionate about.
The focus of the Woolwala account has recently changed to incorporate more information around eco friendly crafting and living. ‘I have always been interested in sustainability,’ Eshani told me. ‘I studied environmental science at university and felt that I could add to the conversation about sustainable fashion. I was also seeing a lot of unsustainable practises in the knitting world so just wanted to share my take on it!’ Eshani stopped buying new clothes at the start of last year, and has been on a mission ever since to share with others how easy and inexpensive this way of life can be.
I find Eshani’s posts on these particular topics really thought provoking, and it’s great to see makers leading the way in these conversations. Her top tip for sustainable crafting is to ‘buy thoughtfully - this doesn’t have to be sustainable only yarns, it’s more about consuming less. This is the most important part for me.’ To read more tips from the Woolwala account, click here!
Eshani explained to me that one of the main issues of sustainability when it comes to knitting in particular is making items that you will never wear, and making them too quickly. ‘This leads to buying excess yarn and spending hours knitting things that you are only going to wear for Instagram. A big example of this is balaclavas, which I will be shocked if anyone actually wears in real life.’ I found this take really interesting, as the act of making things you won’t wear completely undermines the point of slow and sustainable fashion - that you consume less, create less waste, and make garments that will last you a long time.
It also makes you think about the downside of online trends; jumping on the trend may be fun in the moment, but does it leave you with something you will never use? I’ve seen lots of colourful and interesting balaclavas on Instagram, and while they make for interesting visual art, I would have to agree with Eshani that I’ve never seen people actually wearing these projects in real life.
I wanted to know what the response has been like since Eshani started using her platform to share her opinions on these issues. One thing that makes Woolwala different is that the information does not alienate you or shame you for unsustainable habits; it’s more about guiding you to make better choices, and to consider the lasting effect of the choices you make. ‘The response has been really good. I definitely want to try and make people think rather than guilt trip them.’ I think this is the best approach we can take when tackling these big conversations, as people are more likely to be responsive to new advice if it is shared in a positive way.
Woolwala also offers helpful resources to help you make these changes and stick with them. Eshani recently released a free yarn stash organiser, which you can access by clicking here. ‘The whole point of the stash organiser is that you can plan projects according to what yarn you have,’ she told me. ‘You can check before you apply for test knitting and also for small projects etc. It has really helped me realise how to match projects and yarn better but also, it is just a great way to stay organised!’
Finally, I asked Eshani to share with me her sustainability goals for 2022. ‘I am going to try and use at least 50% of my yarn stash, and stick to my knit list using the yarn I already have. If I need anymore yarn, I am going to try and look at smaller businesses and yarn that is eco friendly.’ This sounds like a great approach for the year ahead, and Eshani’s story has given me a lot to think about when it comes to my own crafting.
Now, to organise my yarn stash…
‘I am just doing the finishing touches and adding some pockets and then they will be good to go! Any leftover yarn I have will be used to make a matching sweater/ top/ cardi.’
