Eco-friendly efforts

The bases I use are as eco-friendly as possible. All of my bases are non-Superwash and 100% all natural fibers. It can take longer to dye non-Superwash yarn due to the necessity of careful temperature. Any quick changes in temperature while heating up my dye baths or cooling them down and rinsing yarn could result in felting when it comes to unprocessed, natural fibers. I have developed a process that allows me to preserve the quality of the finished yarn that allows me to offer non-Superwash yarn.

Keeping non-Superwash bright!

I often hear people saying that non-Superwash yarns can’t be dyed as brightly. I feel this is actually a big misunderstanding. When Superwash yarn is dyed, the clear plastic coating on the fibers is being dyed, and this adds a perception of luminance to wool as this transparent layer is gaining color. What I find is that through a thoughtful and deliberate process, non-Superwash yarns can be incredibly brilliant, and I love that their luminescence comes from their fiber type, so all options are available. It’s fascinating how boucle merino carries light and shadow, deepening the appearance of the color it has been dyed, and how a cormo can be incredibly matte. Sheen is only one of many attributes of yarn, and not all yarns need to be extra shiny. With this said, the majority of my yarn is merino, which is a very soft, and very shiny wool.

All natural fibers

Besides limiting my contributions to environmental microplastics by avoiding Superwash, I also avoid any unnatural additions to the fibers I offer, including nylon in sock yarn. While I realize practicality is important, understanding the way yarn is made makes me feel safe using all wool sock yarn. When sock yarn is four ply strong and has high twist, it is designed for socks. Though someday it may fray or develop holes, this is an opportunity to practice the art of mending, which I am very passionate about. If we want a particularly strong sock yarn, we can move away from soft merino and over to sturdier farm yarns, which are often deceptively soft despite their reputation. I love offering varied breeds when I am able to find suppliers. Many boucle yarns have a core of nylon or another nonbiodegradable material, but the boucle I used is 100% merino, down to the core.