Wool Base Change
A few months ago, we found out that we could no longer source the wool we use to create our Making Tracks and Roots yarn lines. Since supporting American wool growers is something we value, we searched high and low for a domestic alternative, but none were a good substitute for the previous base in these yarns. Then we got ahold of some absolutely gorgeous wool sourced from South America that checked all our quality boxes. It dyed and spun up the same as the previous base, and the yarn was nearly indistinguishable from that made with it (the only difference was a tad more luster). To continue making the high-quality yarn we proudly sell, we decided to switch to this South American wool base for our Making Tracks and Roots yarn lines. We know you’re going to love this new wool. As ever, it’s 100% natural wool with no superwash treatments.
The difference between the two wool bases is hardly noticeable. South American-sourced wool left, USA-sourced wool right.
Gallery
A Close Match
In all photos: South American-sourced is to the left and USA-sourced is to the right.
FAQs
What breed of wool is the new South American base?
The wool is a blend based on quality and micron count, but the predominant breed is Corriedale (yes, the same breed that Peggy and Amanda raise!).
Can I knit the South American-sourced wool together with the USA-sourced wool?
In short, yes for Making Tracks/Lite and no for Roots (but not for the reason you think).
The South American-sourced wool and the USA-sourced wool are nearly identical; the SA-sourced wool has just a touch more shine/luster. However, for solids (like Roots/Lite), due to dye lot variability, we recommend always sticking within the same dye lot within a project.
Will my order contain a mix of USA and South American wool?
We treat our wool bases like dye lots, so within one order you might receive a mix of bases, but not in the same color. For example, if you order 2 skeins of Roots: Paprika and 2 skeins of Making Tracks: Tangerine Twist, the Roots will both be the same source (and dye lot), and the Making Tracks will both be the same source (Making Tracks do not have dye lots).
When will this change take place?
Right now. We have run out of our stockpile of USA-sourced wool, so as colorways are created or restocked, they will be made from South American wool. Some colorways sell through faster than others, though, so you may still see USA-sourced yarn on our shelves for some time to come. See “How do I know if my skein is made with USA-sourced or South American-sourced wool?” for more information.
How do I know if my skein is made with USA-sourced or South American-sourced wool?
For South American-sourced wool skeins, the sidebar of the skein label will state “South American wool”
Will you ever go back to USA-based wool?
We love this new wool, but yes, if our previous wool source becomes available again, our preference would be to source domestically.
Did you make this choice to save costs?
No, in fact, the new wool is more expensive to us than the USA-sourced base.
Collections
These collections will now be made with South American wool. Dyed and spun in Vermont.
