YARN IS HERE!
Read below to learn more about our fiber!
We believe great yarn begins with happy sheep.
Why Shetlands?
They are a small, hardy breed from the sparse Shetland islands of Scotland. Their tiny size means we can sustainably keep 2-3 times more sheep on our land, and thus offer a wider range of colors and textures in our yarn.
Naturally colorful
Shetlands come in a wide range of natural colors, from jet black to bright white, and every shade in between.
By dyeing over top of the natural colors, you can create a range of rich, complex hues that is hard to achieve with just dye alone on white wool. When we do dye, we use Greener Shades dyes, which are free of metals and healthier for us, our farm, and our watershed.
If you are planning a large project and want to ensure your color is consistent, be sure to purchase all the yarn you might need at one time. This is true for our natural colors as well as our dyed hues. The same sheep might be a slightly different shade from year to year based on her age and diet. Next year's yarn might be very similar, but we can't guarantee that it will be identical.
Versatile wool
Shetlands are known first and foremost for their wool. The breed offers several distinct textures and fleece types.
Most of our flock have a double coat of soft, fine undercoat and a longer, more durable outer coat. We blend them together for yarns that feel soft to the touch but are more durable for garments that are going to see some wear and tear. These fleeces are used in our Shetland Sock and Shetland DK yarns.
A few of our sheep have only the softer, shorter undercoat, known as a "kindly fleece." These fleeces are used in our Shetland Light yarn. We have had our fleeces micron tested, and these fibers average between 21-25 microns, making them ideal for next-to-skin garments.
Locally grown, from sheep to skein
Our sheep turn grass into wool, and once it's shorn we send it to Round Barn Fiber Mill in Illinois, just on the other side of Lake Michigan for spinning. They do great work with Shetland fiber and can accomodate our small batches and long fleeces. Sometimes we offer a blend of different types of wool in our spinning fibers, such as Merino or Border Leicester. We source those wools from nearby farms. Our dedication to local fiber makes our yarn a great choice for folks interested in slow fashion and sustainability.
Shetland Light
Our Shetland Light yarn is a lofty, luxurious 2-ply light fingering-weight yarn. Spun with wool from our "kindly fleece" sheep, it is our softest yarn. It is ideal for next-to-skin garments like sweaters and scarves. Folks are usually surprised when they feel it - many compare the texture to Merino or Ramboulliet.
Shetland Light comes in 350yd/65g skeins.
Colorways include natural Oatmeal, Grey, Diesel, November, and Holly Berry.
UPDATE November 7, 2022: New colorways added to the shop!
Shetland Sock
Our Shetland Sock yarn is a light, 2-ply fingering-weight yarn. Spun with both the soft undercoat and slightly coarser outer coat of the Shetland fleece, it has a soft handle but at the same time is rustic and hardwearing. It is ideal for socks, lace shawls, haps, and Fair Isle colorwork.
It pairs excellently with other fingering weight Shetland yarns you might have in your stash, including Elemental Affects, Jamieson & Smith Jumper weight, and Jamieson's of Shetland Spindrift.
Shetland Sock comes in 350yd/75g skeins and 115yd/25g minis.
Colorways include Heathered White, Huron, Pine, Rust, Purple Martin, Shoal, and Dusty Lilac.
Limited quantities of hand-dyed skeins are still available on our Etsy shop.
Shetland DK
Our Shetland DK yarn is a plush, rustic DK weight yarn. Like our sock yarn, it is spun with both the soft undercoat and slightly coarser outer coat of the Shetland fleece. Its 3-ply structure makes it great for cables and other textured knits. It is ideal for sweaters, hats, and Fair Isle colorwork.
Shetland DK comes in 250yd/100g skeins.
Colorways include Heathered White, Natural Black, Rose, Woad, Sage, and Straw.
Moorit coming soon.
Available on our Etsy shop.
Shetland Bulky: Coming in 2023
We're working with our mill to bring you a new bulky yarn from our double coated Shetland fleece. We can't wait to see how it knits up! Anticipated Spring of 2023.
Bellwether Core: Coming in 2023
We're excited to be offering corespun yarn in 2023! It's made of our Shetland wool wrapped around a strong cotton core. This ultra chunky yarn is designed with rug weaving in mind, but it's great for anything that requires a thick, ropey yarn. Anticipated Spring of 2023.
Gotland Bulky: SOLD OUT
This limited run of bulky weight yarn is spun with 70% wool from our single Gotland sheep blended with 30% US Merino wool. It's a 3-ply yarn with the luster and drape of Gotland wool, combined with the loft and memory of Merino.
Spinning fiber & more
Occasionally we have roving, locks, or raw fleeces available for spinners and felters. Please contact us if you would like to reserve some wool from our next shearing!