Home / News / Loom technician training at Knockando Woolmill, supported by UKFT’s Young Textile Technician Fund

Loom technician training at Knockando Woolmill, supported by UKFT’s Young Textile Technician Fund

04/02/2025

Trainee weavers Anna Ross (25) and Constance Schimmeyer (33) undertook a loom technician’s training course at Knockando Woolmill, with support from UKFT’s Young Textile Technician Fund.

Knockando Woolmill

Knockando Woolmill is a historic mill producing high-quality woollen textiles, including throws, scarves and accessories. Established in 1784 in the heart of Speyside, Scotland, it is a rare example of a rural district woollen mill that has lasted through the centuries. Today, the mill is preserved and managed by The Knockando Woolmill Trust, a Scottish charity dedicated to its care and legacy.

 

The training course, conducted over three days on site at the mill, focused on Dornier 1989 weaving machines. During this period, the trainees gained great amount of knowledge about Dornier looms and explored the various mechanisms of the machine.

John Mulligan, Operations Director, said: ‘‘The UKFT funding was a pivotal part to enable usto continueour training of the two Loom Technicians and ensuring the 200-year-old legacy of producing high quality woolen textiles atKnockando Woolmillcontinues for generations to come.

 

‘‘Being able to produce cloth in house again will have a positive financial impact for the mill and allow us to expand the product range. It will also allow the visiting public to witness the craftsmanship of weaving cloth firsthand alongside the other historic features of the mill.’’

 

Training at Knockando Woolmill

Anna, trainee weaver at Knockando Woolmill, found the training invaluable at the start of her career, providing her with an insightful experience.

 

“Having Allertex engineer, Colin, up at Knockando to give training on our 1989 Dornier looms has been wonderfully insightful, and a delight to understand the machines in more depth. Having worked on handlooms for a number of years, the transition into mechanical weaving is not a small one!

 

“I feel the experience, knowledge and encouraging nature of Colin was the confidence boost I needed to be able to take on more complex loom tasks. I am just at the beginning of my journey with the mill and this was a pivotal first step in getting Knockando Woolmill producing textiles once more.” 

Training at Knockando Woolmill

Constance also found the UKFT’s fund to be a valuable opportunity for gaining in-depth knowledge about the machine, which has been instrumental in her progress in the industry. She explained:

 

“UKFT’s funded textile technician training with Colin, Dornier’s UK service engineer from Allertex, has truly been a highlight and a fantastic opportunity during our traineeship at Knockando Woolmill. Transitioning from weaving woollen cloth on a mechanical loom – a foot pedal powered Hattersley Mark II loom on the Islands – to an electrical 1989 Dornier rapier weaving machine has been a great journey so far and Colin’s bespoke training has played a pivotal part.

 

Training at Knockando Woolmill

Constance went on:

 

‘‘Located in rural Speyside, UKFT’s funding enabled us to be taught in-house on our two Dornier looms, gaining an in-depth, machine specific understanding and knowledge of trouble shooting common issues going forward. Since Colin’s visit we already have put our newly acquired knowledge to good use/practice and changed a pulley to reduce the weaving speed on one of the looms – exciting times ahead!” 

The Young Textile Technician Fund will cover 50% of the costs of in-depth training for young textile technicians, thanks to the generous support of The Worshipful Company of WeaversThe Worshipful Company of Clothworkers and The Worshipful Company of Drapers.

The Young Textile Technician Fund is now open to businesses applying to train textile technicians under the age of 35. To find out more, email katie.robinson@ukft.org

Want to learn more about the Young Textile Technician Fund? Click on the link below:

Young Textile Technician Fund