Solit de Wool! Thank you from Rhinebeck 2021

by Kim Pierce November 03, 2021

Kim's appreciation of our fabulous customers after Rhinebeck 2021

continue reading →

Maryland Sheep & Wool special colorway: "a shot in the dark"

by Gretchen Frederick April 24, 2021

From concept to sketch to letting loose on the dye tables...wanted to share the process with you of creating our special colorway for Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival 2021.

A shot in the dark

continue reading →

Fundraising results from Virtual Public Knitoxication 2020

by Gretchen Frederick April 22, 2021

It was another good Public Knitoxication. Thank you to the Fiberists for thinking up this great event in the first place...and hosting for three years now!

continue reading →


Weld week! Do you love yellow/green?

Weld week! Do you love yellow/green?

by Gretchen Frederick August 04, 2020

my experience growing and using weld for natural dye. One of the best and most light fast of the local yellows, it's easy to grow if you can get seed and plant at the right time. Following is how I harvested and dyed yarn and roving.

continue reading →

Maryland Sheep & Wool goes virtual and we will be there!

Maryland Sheep & Wool goes virtual and we will be there!

by Gretchen Frederick April 11, 2020

The Virtual Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival is May 2 & 3rd! We will be at the warehouse doing (possibly not very good...) live videos about some of our yarns and our specials for the weekend. 10% off with the code mdsw2020 plus free shipping.

continue reading →

How do you best learn?

How do you best learn?

by Gretchen Frederick February 10, 2020

We learned by buying wool and visiting farms for Solitude Wool. Farm Field Days are our way of sharing that opportunity with you. Besides...it's just fun!

continue reading →


Shave 'Em to Save 'Em Challenge    #se2se

Shave 'Em to Save 'Em Challenge #se2se

by Gretchen Frederick February 05, 2019 1 comment

continue reading →

Three new partners join Solitude Wool

Three new partners join Solitude Wool

by Alex Krupski March 06, 2018

Solitude Wool is celebrating our three new partners by offering 5% off for each partners: 15% total on all our yarns, fibers and patterns for the week of March 11th through the 17th. Beginning with an Open House on Sunday at the warehouse in Purcellville and ending on the 17th at the Fibernate Farmers Market in Falls Church, Virginia and all week for online sales (use code congrats!).

continue reading →

It was a really good day! Open House at Solitude: natural dyeing

It was a really good day! Open House at Solitude: natural dyeing

by Gretchen Frederick September 20, 2017

A big thank you to everyone who came to our Open House on September 10th. You guys were GREAT! Kathy Reed was our roving photographer (officially Solitude Wool’s Chief Knit Knut) and she captured many of you who pitched it and picked, plucked, smooshed, stirred, strained, dipped and admired.

continue reading →


long time marinating: let’s do a Solitude swatch along!

long time marinating: let’s do a Solitude swatch along!

by Gretchen Frederick August 28, 2017 5 comments

This is what we are about: touching, trying, learning and appreciating wool from different breeds of sheep. After playing with the swatch along idea for years, we finally have the team and format to get it out of the "wouldn’t it be cool" stage and into your hands. But why swatch different breed’s yarns?...

continue reading →

wool is great! please use it.

wool is great! please use it.

by Gretchen Frederick March 29, 2017 1 comment

We love wool! This little company, Solitude Wool, grew out of our desire to encourage small farms around us who were throwing out such interesting wool of interesting breeds by proving we valued it. We buy their good wool for about double or triple the market price. After ten plus years, we have only bought a teeny amount of wool by industry standards, yet I think it helps.

continue reading →

the woolen-worsted continuum: semi-woolen Corriedale & Targhee 2 ply

the woolen-worsted continuum: semi-woolen Corriedale & Targhee 2 ply

by Gretchen Frederick December 15, 2016 1 comment

ITS COLD OUTSIDE! We need woolen spun yarns. I wanted to talk about two of our yarns that are semi-woolen spun at two different small US mills and how they are slightly apart on the woolen-worsted continuum. But, I didn't know why...

continue reading →


what is it about woolen spun yarns?

what is it about woolen spun yarns?

by Gretchen Frederick November 29, 2016 8 comments

This is the season for woolen: warm, insulating yarns that are light in weight and cozy. But...you ask, what makes a yarn woolen? The short answer is woolen yarns are spun with fibers opened up, but going all which ways to trap air inside the yarn. They are lighter in weight, but warmer than worsted spun yarns. They tend to hold a shape, are not "hard wearing" and they can pill... but they are great for hats, blankets...sweaters, warm woolen mittens and other of my favorite things.

If you want a bit of a longer explanation...read on.

continue reading →

Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival: May 7-8

Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival: May 7-8

by Gretchen Frederick April 15, 2016

continue reading →

Wed, April 6th, Presentation to Waterford Weavers Guild

Wed, April 6th, Presentation to Waterford Weavers Guild

by Gretchen Frederick April 03, 2016

continue reading →


April 8,9 & 10: Northern CA Handweavers Guild Conference

April 8,9 & 10: Northern CA Handweavers Guild Conference

by Gretchen Frederick April 03, 2016

continue reading →

Speaking to Potomac Fiber Arts Guild Sat 3/12 & Fiber Farmers Market Sun 3/13

Speaking to Potomac Fiber Arts Guild Sat 3/12 & Fiber Farmers Market Sun 3/13

by Gretchen Frederick March 03, 2016

continue reading →

Sue Burke and the Karakul bucket bag

Sue Burke and the Karakul bucket bag

by Gretchen Frederick November 12, 2015

continue reading →


Farm Field Day: Tunis! Sunday September 13th, noon to 4 pm

Farm Field Day: Tunis! Sunday September 13th, noon to 4 pm

by Gretchen Frederick September 01, 2015

continue reading →

Solitude Jacket wins Knitting Daily KAL vote

Solitude Jacket wins Knitting Daily KAL vote

by Gretchen Frederick July 12, 2015

continue reading →

breed of the week: Border Leicester and last markets until spring

breed of the week: Border Leicester and last markets until spring

by Gretchen Frederick December 18, 2014

continue reading →


Breed of the Week: Montadale & Leesburg and Falls Church, VA markets Saturday 12/13, Dupont Circle, DC market Sunday 12/14

Breed of the Week: Montadale & Leesburg and Falls Church, VA markets Saturday 12/13, Dupont Circle, DC market Sunday 12/14

by Gretchen Frederick December 12, 2014

continue reading →

Breed of the week: Karakul, baby lambs and Tinkerbell to the mill

Breed of the week: Karakul, baby lambs and Tinkerbell to the mill

by Gretchen Frederick November 21, 2014 1 comment

continue reading →

Breed of the week: Dorset (and our Dorset sock yarn)

Breed of the week: Dorset (and our Dorset sock yarn)

by Gretchen Frederick November 13, 2014 2 comments

continue reading →