The newest Quill & Quiver yarn collection, The Glass Floats Story Collection, is inspired by traditional fishing net floats made of recycled glass. Hailing from Norway, Japan and later the U.S., glass floats are highly sought after by beachcombers and antique collectors alike due to their vibrant colors and unusual story. Read the full story on our blog.
Glass fishing floats were first commercially manufactured in Norway in the mid 19th century and were widely utilized to support fishing nets for the prolific stockfish fishing industry in the Lofoten Islands of Northern Norway. Prior to the invention of the glass float, fishing nets were supported by wood or cork buoys, which would eventually become waterlogged and sink. In Japan, the floats are called ukidama which translates to “floating ball.” The Japanese started manufacturing glass floats around 1910 and many dislodged floats have been found along the Pacific Rim, including on the west coast of the United States and Alaska, after a long voyage across the Pacific Ocean. American companies began manufacturing glass fishing floats in the 1930s and 1940s, during a time when the U.S. was looking for alternative sources for many European and Japanese manufactured goods before and during World War II. Collectors look for variations in shape, color, and seal marks, all of which reveal clues about the age and origin of these unique objects.
Shop the collection here.
We have story collections (mini skeins) in sport and worsted bases, as well as full-size skeins in both bases. If the colorway you’d like is out of stock, you can submit a custom order here.