Darlene Smith
Welcome to One Wing Wool. All of the patterns on the website have been designed by me. I grew up in Minnesota, got married, and my husband's career moved us around a bit..Indiana, Florida, Wisconsin, back to Minnesota (added our daughter to the equation)..... & now we are all back living in rural Wisconsin and loving it!
I had always been into various crafts but when my mom shipped my great aunt Ruth's Singer Featherweight sewing machine to me while I lived in Indiana in the early 90's, my interest in quilting began. I also quilted throughout my time in Florida, but upon moving to Wisconsin I joined a large quilt guild and that's when I really got into quilting (obsessed, actually). Additionally, I began teaching quilting during this time.
I had joined the Muddy Sheep Wool Club at Rosebud's Cottage in 2003 and that kick started my love of wool. I just love the texture and color saturation of wool, it is so wonderful to work with. The pattern designing came about from a challenge issued during the wool club which involved stitching up a wool project that included a farm animal. I designed a basket liner for my Longaberger Darning Basket that had colorful roosters surrounding the basket on tongues (see the "Basket Liners" page on this site). Many people asked for the pattern, so I created one (and four other seasonal basket liners) and began marketing them. One Wing Wool was born! Many other patterns and kits soon followed and still keep coming.
During this time I also began rug hooking and have thoroughly enjoyed this wool medium. I have designed two rug hooked doll patterns and a few rugs and have hooked a number of mats, stocking, and rugs. I hooked 8' x 3 1/2' runner for my kitchen which is so awesome to have under my feet when I am cooking up a storm. I have been working on a 5' x 8' foot rug for what seems like forever...I can't wait to finish. Just never enough time in the day (I want to work on some seat cushions and maybe some stool covers next). Rug hooked rugs are the best!.
I also hand dye my own wool yardage, that came out of a need to have bulk wool available to me for my kits and to offer yardage to my customers. Plus, it's pretty fun to see what appears in the dye pot after each batch.
On my website and when vending at shows (e.g., quilt and fiber festivals), I offer my patterns, kits, hand dyed wool yardage, small bundles, floss, and occasionally some completed items. Additionally, I speak and teach at quilt guilds, retreats and quilt shops. Contact me if your group is interested in booking a date.
I've also have a Facebook page (www.facebook.com/OneWingWool) to keep my customers and friends updated about projects I am working on for One Wing Wool and my personal projects. Please join in if you have an interest.
I have purchased a building in St. Croix Falls, WI that we are working on renovating for a work/dye studio for me and an occasional retail location. I am hoping to have some fun things happen in that building once I can move into it...but the renovations are moving slowly. I'll keep you posted on that once we get closer to the finish line.
I love meeting people and talking "wool", so if you attend one of the events I am at, please stop by and say hello.
Chat soon, Dar
I had always been into various crafts but when my mom shipped my great aunt Ruth's Singer Featherweight sewing machine to me while I lived in Indiana in the early 90's, my interest in quilting began. I also quilted throughout my time in Florida, but upon moving to Wisconsin I joined a large quilt guild and that's when I really got into quilting (obsessed, actually). Additionally, I began teaching quilting during this time.
I had joined the Muddy Sheep Wool Club at Rosebud's Cottage in 2003 and that kick started my love of wool. I just love the texture and color saturation of wool, it is so wonderful to work with. The pattern designing came about from a challenge issued during the wool club which involved stitching up a wool project that included a farm animal. I designed a basket liner for my Longaberger Darning Basket that had colorful roosters surrounding the basket on tongues (see the "Basket Liners" page on this site). Many people asked for the pattern, so I created one (and four other seasonal basket liners) and began marketing them. One Wing Wool was born! Many other patterns and kits soon followed and still keep coming.
During this time I also began rug hooking and have thoroughly enjoyed this wool medium. I have designed two rug hooked doll patterns and a few rugs and have hooked a number of mats, stocking, and rugs. I hooked 8' x 3 1/2' runner for my kitchen which is so awesome to have under my feet when I am cooking up a storm. I have been working on a 5' x 8' foot rug for what seems like forever...I can't wait to finish. Just never enough time in the day (I want to work on some seat cushions and maybe some stool covers next). Rug hooked rugs are the best!.
I also hand dye my own wool yardage, that came out of a need to have bulk wool available to me for my kits and to offer yardage to my customers. Plus, it's pretty fun to see what appears in the dye pot after each batch.
On my website and when vending at shows (e.g., quilt and fiber festivals), I offer my patterns, kits, hand dyed wool yardage, small bundles, floss, and occasionally some completed items. Additionally, I speak and teach at quilt guilds, retreats and quilt shops. Contact me if your group is interested in booking a date.
I've also have a Facebook page (www.facebook.com/OneWingWool) to keep my customers and friends updated about projects I am working on for One Wing Wool and my personal projects. Please join in if you have an interest.
I have purchased a building in St. Croix Falls, WI that we are working on renovating for a work/dye studio for me and an occasional retail location. I am hoping to have some fun things happen in that building once I can move into it...but the renovations are moving slowly. I'll keep you posted on that once we get closer to the finish line.
I love meeting people and talking "wool", so if you attend one of the events I am at, please stop by and say hello.
Chat soon, Dar
