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.
Glowing softness eminates from our airy Border Leicester yarn that has just enough twist to hold it together. Very light lofty yarn, delicate with high felting ability. Choose white or gray for lovely soft cowls, scarves or shawls. Works well held double for bulky but still light, airy projects.
design: 2-ply, semi-worsted spun; lustrous and airy size: worsted weight, 7-12 wpi 1100 yds per pound suggestedneedles: 7 to 15 (US) length: approximately 110 yards/100 meters weight: 2.25 oz./ 64 grams gauge: 5 stitches per inch on size 7 (US) up to 3 stitches pre inch on size 13 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 Overlook Manor, Warrenton, Virginia and Orange Gate Farm, Maurerton, Virginia fiber content: 100% Border Leicester wool. Border Leicester Yarn is a Longwool breed developed in the 18th century in the borderlands between England and Scotland (hence the name). Related by breeding to the Leicester Longwool and Blue-Faced Leicester, it is in the middle of those breeds for softness and has beautiful luster and drape. A very personable sheep, they are clean faced with Roman noses. The white fleece is ivory color.
-design: 3-ply, woolen spun size: worsted weight, 12 wpi -suggested needles: 6 to 8 (US) -length: approximately 185 yards/169 meters -weight: 3.8 oz./ 107 grams -gauge: 4.5 sts. per inch on size 7 (US) -care: yarn is pre-washed. hand wash warm with low agitation, lay flat to dry or can be dry cleaned.
-fiber source: hand selected fleeces from Shepherds Knoll Farm, Phoenix, Maryland and Meadow Brook farm in Warrenton, Virginia -fiber content: 100% Clun Forest wool.
A breed from the Welsh border area of Britain, Clun Forest is a heritage breed in the US. Raised for meat and valued for their ability to grow well on pasture alone, they also grow a high quality, Down type wool that has robust crimp and elasticity. Clun fleece is fairly fine, with a short staple. Biggest problem with this wool can be breaks due to nutritional stress. Check fleeces carefully.
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.
Targhee Yarn is a Fine wool, soft and elastic. Easy to knit, easy to wear, this worsted weight yarn is spun very evenly, has good body and fairly sturdy ply. Not a bit scratchy, it's a good yarn for toddlers, kids and grownup clothes, great for colorwork (small skeins so you can get multiple colors). Sue's favorite cowl yarn.
design: 2-ply, woolen spun; very versatile knitting yarn, light and warm without any scratchiness size: worsted weight, 13 wpi 1125 yds per pound suggestedneedles: 7-8 (US) length: small skeins approximately 110 yards/100 meters; large skeins approximately 220 yards/200 meters weight: small skeins: 1.75 oz./ 50 grams; large skeins: 3.4 oz/100 grams gauge: 5 st. per inch on size 5 (US) care: yarn is pre-washed. hand wash warm with low agitation, lay flat to dry or can be dry cleaned.
fiber source: hand selected fleeces from What Next? Farm in York, Pennsylvania fibercontent: 100% Targhee wool. Targhee is a Fine wool, soft and elastic. The breed was developed in Idaho in 1926, one of the newest in America. Most of the Targhee sheep are in the western range lands in large flocks, they is an unusual breed in the Eastern US.
Tunis is a Medium wool…perfectly named: it is medium strong, medium soft with a medium staple length. Light, fun yarn that looks like a soft spun single, but is actually two pencil rovings softly twisted together. Not super strong, but easy to knit and wear. Good for hats, scarves, throws, vests etc.
design: double twist, woolen spun size: worsted weight, 12 wpi suggestedneedles: 6 to 8 (US) length: approximately 120 yards/109 meters weight: 2.5 to 2.9 oz./70-82 grams gauge: 4.5 sts. per inch on sizes 7 (US) care: yarn is pre-washed. hand wash warm with low agitation, lay flat to dry or can be dry cleaned.
fibersource: hand selected fleeces from Beaucaire Farm in Purcellville, Virginia fibercontent: 100% Tunis wool. Brought into America during colonial times (George Washington had a Tunis ram), Tunis is well adapted to the humid mid-Atlantic region. They are a very beautiful sheep; the lambs are born all cinnamon color (red in the sheep world) and as they grow up, their fleece turns white while they maintain red faces and legs. The wool is Medium: medium soft, medium length and is very versatile wool.
Tunis is a Medium wool suited to many different projects and so is this yarn. A worsted weight, woolen spun, three-ply has great stitch definition. Especially good for cables, choose it for warm hats, mittens, cowls and scarves. Great sweater yarn (or vests, or ponchos or...)! Dyed with natural dyes, this very small batch of less than 200 skeins is completely dyed. This is all there is folks. Hope to do another spin in 2020 or 2021.
design: three-ply, woolen spun size: worsted weight, 9 wpi suggestedneedles: 6 to 8 (US) length: approximately 175 yards/160 meters weight: 4 oz./113 grams gauge: 4.5 sts. per inch on sizes 7 (US)
dyeing: natural dyed, some colors can fade in light especially yellows and greens. Protect from light especially with label on. After making something with the yarn, it can fade naturally
care: hand wash in room temperature water with wool wash plus 1 Tbs. vinegar per gallon of water. Let soak at least an hour, rinse in same temperature water plus vinegar
fibersource: hand selected fleeces from Beaucaire Farm in Purcellville, Virginia and Three Sheep in Barboursville, Virginia fibercontent: 100% Tunis wool. Brought into America during colonial times (George Washington had a Tunis ram), Tunis is well adapted to the humid mid-Atlantic region. They are a very beautiful sheep; the lambs are born all cinnamon color (red in the sheep world) and as they grow up, their fleece turns white while they maintain red faces and legs. The wool is Medium: medium soft, medium length and is a very versatile wool.
