Kremke Soul Wool

Britta and Carsten Kremke nearly named this brand Slow Wool, after the Slow Food movement – which tells you most of what you need to know. A yarn only joins the range if the knitting of it is a pleasure in itself. No finger-thick quick-knits. No synthetic-heavy blends.

Britta has knitted since she was eight, in her mother's yarn shop in Hamburg, and by twenty-one she was the youngest yarn-shop owner in Germany. She still personally tests every product that carries the name.

What they're after is fine, soft, natural yarn at a fair price – combinations that simply aren't made elsewhere, filling the gaps the big brands leave. All their wool is mulesing-free, their mohair is certified to the Responsible Mohair Standard, and there are vegan and recycled yarns for anyone who'd rather not use animal fibre at all. Which makes sense when you think how long one piece takes. Ten hours? Fifty? Every one of those minutes may as well be a pleasure.