Made with hand selected fleece from small farms in our local fibershed, each of our single breed wool yarns is designed to work with the character of the wool to maximize it’s beauty and use. Check the tabs on each yarn for description and detail to learn the provenance of the wool, yarn structure, gauge, weight etc and the about this wool tab for information and photos of the breed and fleece.
Icelandic sheep grow a fleece with a long outer coat and a soft under down in one of the widest range of natural colors in the sheep world. Our Icelandic Yarn is a little softer and more refined than traditional lopi, a two ply, semi-worsted spun yarn has a halo from the underdown. Naturally dyed yarns in addition to the palette of natural undyed sheep shades. Will felt extremely easily. This wool does not have any elasticity.
design: 2-ply, semi-worsted spun with both coats together giving it a lovely halo. Will felt extremely easily size: varies between colors: dk to light worsted, 12-13 wpi suggested needles: 5 to 7 (US) length: approximately 130 yards/119 meters weight: varies slightly between colors, 2.25 to 3.25 oz./ 53-92 grams gauge: varies between colors, 5-6 sts. per inch on sizes 5 (US) care: yarn is pre-washed. hand wash warm with NO agitation, lay flat to dry or can be dry cleaned.
fibersource: hand selected fleeces from White Rock Manor, Pine Hollow Farm, Three Bags Wool and Kingsolver/Hopp Farm all in Virginia fiber content: 100% Icelandic wool. Icelandic sheep are one of the oldest breeds in the world. Brought to Iceland by the Vikings in the ninth and tenth centuries, they were imported to Canada in the 1990's. Icelandic fleece is double coated: the long outer coat is called tog and the short down undercoat is called thel. This Primitive type fleece provided many types of fiber for varied uses, ropes, sails and clothing all from one fleece. The primitive genetics also give us many natural colors from white, silvers, reds, brown all the way to black.
Solitude partner Sue Bundy raises Karakul sheep at her farm RedGate, so this is one our favorite wools, and we are one of the few sources of Karakul Yarn. Traditionally used for rugs, this yarn has not been spun tight enough for rug warp, but does great for weft. Same yarn as available in skeins if you want dyed colors.
design: 2-ply, semi-worsted spun with both coats together. Quite coarse, a little hairy and very strong! size: worsted weight, 13 wpi, black is a little heavier suggested use: rug weft yarn, not really strong enough for warp care: yarn is pre-washed. hand wash warm with NO agitation, lay flat to dry or can be dry cleaned.
fiber source: hand selected fleeces from RedGate Farm in Leesburg, Virginia fiber content: 100% Karakul wool. Karakul are possibly the oldest domesticated sheep breed. Rare in North America, Karakul are fat tail sheep native to Central Asia. A Primitive breed, they have a long hair outer coat that protects them from the weather and a softer down undercoat for warmth. They come in a wide range of natural colors from whites, to silvers, reds, gray and black. The fleece is sheared twice a year and has very little lanolin, making it easy to scour. It is one of the best felting wools.
Solitude partner Sue Bundy raises Karakul sheep at her farm RedGate and this is one our favorite wools. We are one of the few sources of Karakul Yarn in the US. It is fabulously feltable, exceptionally insulating and extrememly strong, but, it's quite coarse and has no elasticity. The undyed colors are heathered and beautiful, but it takes dye brilliantly. Traditionally used for rugs, it is also great for hard wearing items, knit-to-felt projects and weaving. The balls are the same yarn as in our skeins and cones, but a smaller amount wound into center pull balls. We made these to create knit-to-felt coasters in two or three colors. Free (maybe…have to consult with the designer) pattern available. Great for accent colors on any Karakul project.
design: 2-ply, semi-worsted spun with both coats together. Quite coarse, a little hairy and very strong! size: worsted weight, 13 wpi suggested needles: 6 (US) or large (9, 10+) for knit-to-felt projects length: Skeins: approximately 130 yards/121 meters; Balls: 30 yards/ 27 meters. weight: 3.2 oz./90 grams (black is heavier: 4.5 oz/127 grams) gauge: varies between colors, 4-4.2 sts. per inch on sizes 8-9 (US) care: yarn is pre-washed. hand wash warm with NO agitation, lay flat to dry or can be dry cleaned.
fiber source: hand selected fleeces from RedGate Farm in Leesburg, Virginia fiber content: 100% Karakul wool. Karakul are possibly the oldest domesticated sheep breed. Rare in North America, Karakul are fat tail sheep native to Central Asia. A Primitive breed, they have a long hair outer coat that protects them from the weather and a softer down undercoat for warmth. They come in a wide range of natural colors from whites, to silvers, reds, gray and black. The fleece is sheared twice a year and has very little lanolin, making it easy to scour. It is one of the best felting wools.
