Locals Loving Lavender: A Yarn with Rebecca Muscat, from Three Muscats Fibre Farm

Blog Post Two | 22/03/2025

At Wine Country Lavender, we love connecting with fellow creatives and makers in the Hunter Valley who share our passion for nature, craftsmanship, and all things calming. In our blog series, Locals Loving Lavender, we’ll be 'spinning' stories with community members and visitors who have a unique connection to lavender. From artists to artisans, gardeners to chefs, we’ll explore how lavender weaves its way into their lives, work, and well-being. Stay tuned for inspiring tales, local talent, and a whole lot of lavender!

This week, we’re chatting with textile and fibre artist, Rebecca Muscat, the talented hands behind Three Muscats Fibre Farm, who spins, dyes, and weaves with stunning yarns right here in the Hunter Valley. Rebecca engages with local Hunter region farmers to source high quality sheep and alpaca fibre to have milled into super soft yarn. A portion of the yarn is then available for knitters and other crafters to purchase. The remaining yarn is transformed by Rebecca on her Japanese floor loom, handwoven into luxurious textiles such as clothing and homewares. Rebecca shares how lavender plays a role in her creative process, self-care rituals, and even in keeping her handmade textiles fresh and fragrant!

Rebecca Muscat, Textile Fibre Artist

Meet Rebecca Muscat, Textile Fibre Artist

Handcrafts have been a part of Rebecca’s life since she was a child. Learning to crochet at age eight, many other crafts soon caught her attention. With a degree in Fine Arts, Rebecca has exhibited her art works throughout Australia and also teaches fibre arts to others. Rebecca enjoys spinning, knitting, macrame, dyeing using natural botanicals however weaving has been the one constant.

"There’s something meditative about weaving, I find it grounds me. I try to sit and weave everyday, even if its only for a short time” says Rebecca. "It’s slow, intentional, and deeply connected to nature - just like growing lavender."

Handwoven Beauty, Crafted with Care

Rebecca creates stunning hand-spun and handwoven textiles, with a preference for natural fibres such as wool, alpaca, silk, linen, and cotton. Focusing on sustainable practises and slow fashion, each piece is infused with a love for traditional techniques and a deep appreciation for nature’s gifts.

Rebecca weaving; Prudence guarding the spot!

• What she makes:

  Rebecca creates a variety of textiles including clothing, scarves, large scale textured wall hangings, rugs and blankets. In addition, she blends her own wool care products so others can care for their precious woollens effectively.

• How she works:

  Hand-dyeing textiles using plant derived extracts, spinning her own yarn, working with sustainable materials and sharing her creative skills with others are the things Rebecca is most passionate about.

  
  

A Thread of Lavender in Everyday Life

We asked Rebecca how lavender fits into her world along and beyond the loom.

• Calming the Creative Process: "I use an ultrasonic diffuser with a few drops of lavender essential oil in my studio. The scent keeps me focused and relaxed while I work." (small bottles of lavender essential oil will soon be available at Wine Country Lavender!).

• Natural Fibre Care:

“With my botanically dyed cotton/linen scraps, I sew small sachets and fill them with dried lavender. This really helps to keep my yarns and woven pieces fresh and fragrant without being overpowering. More importantly, the lavender protects them from pesky moths and silverfish - without any harsh chemicals."

• Post-Weaving Wind Down: "After hours at the loom, I love to soak in a lavender-infused bath to ease my tight shoulders and hands. The relaxing qualities of the lavender help me to relax and I find I sleep so soundly."

  
  

Fast Five with Rebecca

1. Favourite fibre to work with? Alpaca, as its 10 times warmer than wool and oh so soft & snuggly!

   
   

2. Tea or coffee in the studio? Coffee, always. Flat white on oat milk please!

   
   

3. Favourite local spot for inspiration? My home. Every day I try to have a spot of ‘paddock therapy’. I love to sit down in the paddocks and just watch my beloved alpacas and sheep grazing. I feel so thankful for the environment I live in and the beautiful animals I get to share it with. Paddock therapy helps me to express that gratitude.

   
   

4. Dream fibre to weave with? Peduncle silk. A rich dark brown silk that is soft yet strong. This is the fibre silkworms spin to attach the cocoon to the plant (*it is possible to produce silk without killing silkworks by allowing silkworms to first complete their life cycle and emerge as moths before the silk is harvested). Fascinating and beautiful.

   
   

5. Lavender in one word? Heavenly!

Lavender and Craft: A Perfect Pair

Colourful fabric handwoven by Rebecca

Just like the soothing rhythm of weaving, lavender helps bring calm, focus, and mindfulness into daily life. Whether you’re crafting, unwinding, or simply making your home feel cosier, a touch of lavender can work wonders.

Ready to use lavender around your home and fibre/linen care? Explore our farm-grown lavender products - perfect for crafters, makers, and nature and home lovers alike. Become our mate via our website, and follow us on Instagram and Facebook for more stories from our wonderful community!

Want to support local businesses in the Hunter Valley when shopping for yarn, looking for handmade gifts, or learning beautiful crafts like weaving and more? Contact Rebecca here, or via Instagram or Facebook.

How do you use lavender around your home and fibre or linen care? Tell us in the comments below!