braided wool coat

I'm in love with the way she made this coat/cloak.  With such care at each stage of the fibre prep made really nice wool to work with and fantastic results.
The cloth is made by braiding the yarn and then sewing the braids together.



I also love how much the lamb has grown from when she started to when she's finally wearing it.  

I always love her videos, and this one is no exception! Thank you for sharing it! Lol, now, I want to try doing something like that!

What I really like about this coat is that one doesn't need special tools like a loom.  Although she does use a needle and crochet hook, these are affordable or easily available second hand.  

Exactly! That makes it very approachable. And for those who don't want to climb a mountain in China, wash, and dye their own wool (while carrying a lamb!), just getting your hands on some nice roving, or spun fiber, this would be a doable project, even in the city.

Wow, I'd never encountered her videos before. These are fantastic. My kids (and I) love them! Anyone know what berry made the beautiful purple color in this video?

I thought they looked like poke berries, but could (easily) be mistaken, though they did fade quite a bit, by the time she was done rinsing, which is one of poke's typical characteristics.

Pokeberry can make that colour.  It doesn't grow here so I don't know how to use it except it likes vinegar somehow.

Very cool. It would make a thicker coat than knitting. From my limited experience with food stuff dyeing, color fades quickly in the sun. But it can be redyed really easily too.

This is what I do to make the most fabulous warm, snuggly and practical winter parker.
I buy a soft secondhand blanket... ideally NZ or Aussie merino wool. It wants good drape and hand (texture or "feel").
Holes in the blanket are fine, just darn with wool, and if moths are suspected, bung it in the freezer for 14 days or so to kill any potential eggs.
Then I choose a parker pattern I like. My favourite is the Landgate Parker by Merchant and Mills. It has a hood, a fairly snug neck with zipper and inserted gusset, and optional pockets and waist drawstring (neither of which I use).
I especially like this pattern because it keeps my neck warm and has a hood, which is really cute when lined with a different fabric.
I SIZE UP, because the blanket liner will add bulk.
Then I construct it in three layers, the top layer which I overlock to the blanket layer, and a thin lawn liner layer for ease in getting in and out of the garment, and extra comfort.
Inserting the liner is a bit of a pain if you are not used to it, but worth it, and you learn a cool new skill for making clothing more comfortable.
Yup, it is the snuggest thing I possess.
I use the same technique to make winter house overalls. Again, fabulously snuggly, comfortable and keep your tum all covered and warm. You don't have to use a blanket for these, tho you can. I use straight NZ merino yardage, buying "seconds" to make it cheaper.
Re the cloak, you will never be able to wash it. It will attract dirt like a magnet and snag like a mad thing. But look pretty for several wears, and use a LOT of expensive carded wool. Yup..... cool but not practical.
Sigh.... I want to attach an image, but no luck. Hugshugs, Janette

That was really neat! I bet it was hella heavy though. I just recently had an epiphany on why we want thin strands for spinning into yarn. I know wool is heavy. I've tried to make kinda a shoulder shrug with my chunky stuff and gosh even with some 4rows done I was like.. never gonna wear this overkill of wool! lol

I've got probably half of what she had in her basket at approximately the same size! I could however do a shoulder shrug thing with her technique. Cool find!

Ps my partner thought those were currants. I don't think pokeberry would survive that nice in that cold.

Like Janette I would prefer sewing some kind of coat from a blanket. And if I would want to wear it on the bicycle (probably I would), I would use the wool blanket as the inner layer and give it a (synthetic) waterproof outer layer.