A KNITTING fanatic has released her debut book after travelling across the country to collect fleece from a variety of breeds.

Debbie Zawinski's tales caught the eye of Wisconsin-based publishers Schoolhouse Press with the book being released at the end of last month.

Debbie, from Oldhamstocks, penned 'In the Footsteps of Sheep' after a series of trips across the country in the summer of 2012.

After collecting the fleece, she transformed it into socks and wrote about her journey.

She said: “I went to Shetland, Orkney, Cape Wrath and the Western Isles, right out to St Kilda.

“Then, I went down to Borders and the Cheviot Hills.

“It is some of the most exciting bits of Scotland.”

The 62-year-old walked and camped for large parts of her journey as she gathered fleece from the country's native breeds of sheep.

Along the way, she met a variety of people, who she decided to knit a pair of socks for each person.

She added: “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.

“I've been writing stories across Wales and other journeys I have made.

“I've pulled together the Scottish ones into a book.”

The 62-year-old runs the Haddington Spinners and Weavers group and has knitted all of her life.

Earlier this year, she finished a six-foot long sock – big enough to sleep in – for charity Mary's Meals.

The charity feeds almost one million of the world's poorest children every day when they attended school.

Now, she is planning a 'Sock Saturday' in Dunbar's Library next Saturday (November 21) to help launch the book.

The author was keen to do something to promote the book, with the event held the day before Scottish Book Week gets under way.

Spinners and weavers will be at the library, while Debbie intends to read excerpts from the book.

Cully Swansen, from the publisher, explained: “From my perspective, the minute I started reading the manuscript, I was enthralled. Debbie has a very distinct voice, and a way of imparting her stories that draws the reader in.

“She is a humble and matter-of-fact person, but tenacious and adventurous, with a warm spirit and an eye for detail.

“Her personality shines through her writing, and it is truly hard to put down.

“The stories she tells and her overall quest-like theme, combined with the beautiful photographs she took, creates a very unique book.

“Not to mention her original sock designs!

“In that sense it is a knitting book, but it is also so much more, and easily accessible to non-knitting readers as a fascinating travel log.”