About the Founder

Carol Conway is a textile artist who transforms data into art through craft, and facilitates leadership development in the Irish charity sector, as well as being a coach and yoga teacher. She finds lots of nuggets of learning in these disparate roles. The word for this in Irish is ‘fite fuaite’, which better describes her eclectic skillset than the accepted English translation “ interwoven”!

Wheway Yarns is rooted in the idea of blending two independent elements to create something entirely new, just like the art of knitting and crochet, where separate strands are woven into a unified, meaningful whole. 

The name was inspired by my original working title, Purple Patch, a phrase meaning a period of success or creativity. Although it was already widely used, the phrase remains significant to me. It featured in one of the most thoughtful gifts I’ve ever received: custom-made mugs from my favourite local potter, Brookwood Pottery, each decorated with a symbolic purple patch. 

My return to knitting in 2020 began traditionally, with a handmade baby gift. But when the world shifted during the COVID-19 lockdowns, so did my practice. With time to think and hands in motion, my craft evolved. I began exploring the intersection of creativity and information, using yarn as a medium for creative data visualisation. 

Now, Wheway Yarns tells stories through stitches, transforming data, memory, and emotion into tangible, textured narratives. Each piece is more than fibre and colour; it’s a conversation, a story told through yarn.