APPLETON BROS

Our wool is sold in either crewel (2 ply) weight or tapestry (4 ply). Each of these weights is then sold in either hanks (25 g, which is 55m of tapestry weight or 180m of crewel weight) or skeins (10m of tapestry weight, 25m of crewel weight).

For the last 180 years, the family firm of Appleton Bros has been producing fine quality tapestry and crewel wool. Based until early 2013 in Chiswick, London, near the river Thames, Appletons has moved more recently to the village of Long Crendon in Buckinghamshire, near the historic market town of Thame (see contact details). Although the firm is no longer family owned, the essence of the company remains the same, with the quality of the wool and personal attention to detail being of paramount importance.

Appletons reputation has been built up over generations by selecting the finest English wools from the wool markets in Bradford, Yorkshire, and having them spun in the UK into either 4 ply tapestry or 2 ply crewel wool. Tapestries made from it last generations, and Appletons is particularly proud to have been involved with the recent completion of the world famous Bayeux Tapestry as well as the Prestonpans tapestry and the ongoing Great Tapestry of Scotland (see Appletons Wool in Action).

Appletons wool is dyed to 423 different shades, all of which are available in both tapestry and crewel weights. Some of the colours are the original shades used by William Morris in his designs and still popular today. More modern shades have been developed over the years and a mixture of these are used by a variety of tapestry and rug designers around the world.

Appleton Crewel