Local WOOL and BAMBOO 3 Ply “African Violet” Variegated Yarn, Worsted Weight 78/22% Blend, 4+ oz, 236 yards

This worsted weight yarn is a blend of 78% wool from 2 local farms and 22% bamboo top to add softness and luster. Wow, this is a winning blend. I’m not kidding on that. Not only was the wool very nice that went into it (over 50% was lambs wool- the softest wool most sheep will ever grow), the mill that washed and spun it into this fabulous yarn knocked it out of the park. The breeds represented in the wool are crosses of Corriedale, Romney, Dorset and French Merino. Oh yes, lots of nice wool in this. It would be nice as a sweater or in color work because 3 ply yarns are rounder and have excellent stitch definition. The overwhelming comment from customers is how soft it is.

This was hand dyed in our exclusive “African Violet” colorway at Point of View Farm (while I was watching over the Point of View Farm sheep in the pastures- bonus of being a farmer and not just an indie dyer). It is various tones of pinky purple achieved by using 4-5 different dyes (and combinations of them) that are set with white vinegar and/or citric acid. It has lots of depth and variations. Shades of light purple. It is subtle and soft. Would make a nice baby garment, I think.

A bit of history: The shepherds/ farms I bought this wool from are neighbors of mine and I wanted to help them by making yarn out of their wool clip, so I bought it! I figure the best way to support farms and shepherds you like is to buy their products. They are happy and so am I. So, I bought their wool and then, since I am a certified US wool classer, I classed and graded it for this project handful by handful. I’m picky, aka bit obsessive, when it comes to sorting wool. It took some time to select only the nicest fleeces or parts of them to send to the mill. My sorting table looked like a wool bomb went off (more so than usual anyway).

Then, I personally drove it to a mill in NY and talked with the mill owner/ operator about this yarn I wanted to make to honor the farms. I had some ideas but, mill operators know their machinery and I wanted to be sure what I wanted was within the mill’s capabilities to produce. It is delightful to see the finished result (that takes some time by the way- usually at least 6-9 months).

Due to overwhelming demand we have made these skeins a whopping 4+ oz each and 236 yards (that is 215-216 meters). Most actually measure a bit more….because we all like a bit more yarn when we are playing ‘yarn chicken’ toward the end of a project. You receive ONE skein per quantity ordered. The photos with multiple skeins are so you can see more yarn. Ahhhh, more yarn yardage. Enjoy.