Knitting enthusiast collects wool from rare sheep for unique wooly clothing

AN intrepid knitter has released a book detailing her trek across Scotland making SOCKS.

Debbie Zawinski’s account of her foot-warming travels are set to entertain readers after a US publisher snapped up her collection of homespun yarns.

The 62-year-old from Dunbar, East Lothian, travelled to remote parts of Scotland to gather wool from rare sheep breeds.

The dyed-in-the-wool knitting enthusiast documented how she lived in each area, collecting yarn for her unique woolly garments.

Her book, In the Footsteps of Sheep, recounts her journey to remote parts of Scotland gathering wool from rare sheep breeds living in each location.

The sock-mad pensioner also collected natural dyes from the countryside and used them to colour the wool she got from the same area.

Deborah then created a pair of socks using each unique type of wool as a lasting memento of each region she visited.

Her woolly challenge to track down Scotland’s 10 rare breeds took her the length and breadth of Scotland – as far north as Shetland and south to the Scottish Borders.

Debbie, who knitted a six-foot-long sock for charity Mary’s Meals last year, said: “For quite a while I’ve been writing what I call sock stories.

“The idea was when you knit a pair of socks, there is a story in knitting the socks.

“The socks might have a story of their own when they travel but you as a knitter have a story to tell.”

Deborah’s book could prove popular in America where knitting has become fashionable again.

A survey by the Craft Yarn Council found that the number of women aged 25 to 34 who knit or crochet has increased by more than 150% since 2002.

Hollywood stars such as Scarlett Johansen and Sarah Jessica Parker are all said to be keen knitters as is Pulp Fiction star Uma Thurman who was once spotted buying 30 balls of wool in Los Angeles.

British celebrity Catherine Zeta Jones is also a darning devotee and is said to have knitted loads of ponchos and scarves as Christmas gifts.