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Kelly’s Tunis is a unique, limited-edition yarn.
Woolen spun from heritage breed Tunis wool, this chunky weight yarn is naturally dyed with indigo, goldenrod, black walnut, and other botanicals. Sturdy but lightweight, you’ll love it for quick hats, and warm sweaters.
Currently on sale, when this small-batch, fully traceable yarn is gone, it’s gone!
Curious about where those gorgeous, naturally dyed colors come from?
Sign up for Flora Adora Fiber’s newsletter, The Sheep Thrills Club. You’ll go behind the scenes to learn about the idiosyncrasies of natural dyes, experience unusual fibers and get a glimpse of the joys and frustrations of natural dyeing.
Join the club to access members-only sales and other fun stuff!
New members receive free shipping on their first order.
Have you worked with naturally-dyed yarn yet?
The hues are softer and more soothing than those from synthetic dyes, but still rich.
Farmstead Worsted is a light, airy yarn that knits up at an Aran/bulky gauge due to its worsted-spun construction. Made from wool from a small farm in Ohio and spun in Vermont, Farmstead Worsted is joyfully and naturally dyed in Ohio by Sharon of Flora Adora Fibers.
Visit Flora Adora Fibers and discover amazing colors from natural materials.
Did you know Pinterest predicts cabbage will be in vogue this year?
Be a trendsetter wearing cabbage-inspired colors of naturally-dyed Donegal Tweed DK. I’ve dyed beautiful purples, pinks and greens to satisfy your craving for all things cruciferous, in yarn form!
Comfort DK may be a workhorse yarn but don’t tell her! She believes her place is on the Parisian runway.
This spunky yarn prides herself on her magnetic attraction to natural dyes. Her colors are clear and rich, while showing off subtle shading nuances.
Comfort DK is especially excited to show off her “edgy” pastels: colors that have a little darkness but still glow, still shout “spring!”
100% wool and non-Superwash, Comfort DK makes a perfect choice especially for accessories such as hard working hats and mittens, and color work. Two skeins will make the modern Merge Hat designed by Emily Greene.
Comfort DK is currently on sale — an affordable way to experience gorgeous naturally-dyed colors.
Limited edition BL/M Fingering is a truly special yarn-custom milled in Michigan and naturally dyed in Ohio.
With its hint of sheen, slight mohair halo and luxurious drape, this captivating yarn is perfect for an indulgent shawl. But the Border Leicester wool and Mohair make it strong enough for fun socks. Which will you pick?
You can mix and match these soft, naturally-dyed solids, speckles, and variegated colors for a unique and imaginative piece of knitwear, crochet or weaving. Whatever you create will be a true original.
Spread your yarn wings and try something completely different!
Brighten up your winter doldrums with cozy, colorful, comfy socks, made in unique, naturally-dyed colors. Think spring garden for your feet!
Aptly-named Comfort Fingering has a homey, woolly texture perfect for socks, but also just right for a new hat or shawl.
Use fun Comfort Fingering minis for contrasting heels and toes, or pick your favorites and knit a spring garden for your feet or head.
If you’re more of a subtle sock person, you’ll love the Merino Cherry Caramel Sock Set. The main skein is milk chocolate brown, lightly speckled with dark rose, and it comes with a matching Old Rose mini skein for a fun cuff, stripes, etc.
Bring some happy colors into your dreary winter. All these yarns are naturally dyed with wash- and lightfast colors, on non-Superwash yarns.
Available Saturday, January 13! The Heritage Wool Collection is custom-milled yarns made with wool from rare and endangered North American Sheep.
Some yarns will be undyed, highlighting their beautiful natural wool colors. Others will be remarkable for their gorgeous natural dyes. All will be small-batch, limited-edition yarns.
The inaugural yarns include:
ROMELDALE/CVM SPORT: Romeldale Sheep is an American fine-wool breed, and the California Variegated Mutant (CVM) is its multicolored derivative. Both the CVM and the Romeldale are unique to the US and are endangered. This yarn is soft, and bouncy and knits up into a cozy, lightweight fabric.
JACOB SPORT: rare Jacobs are a beautiful old sheep breed, distinguished by their multicolored coats and picturesque horns. They are included in The Livestock Conservancy’s list of threatened sheep breeds. The wool for this yarn was specifically chosen for its color and softness and is undyed.
KELLY’S TUNIS CHUNKY: this breed began with a gift of foundation stock to George Washington and nearly became extinct during the Civil War. This yarn has a lovely ivory color, undyed, and gives slightly muted colors with natural dyes.
Romeldale/CVM sport and Jacob sport were used to knit the Polina Pullover designed by Teti Lutsak. Pattern available January 16.
If you’re ready to explore the Wide World of Wool, become a member of The Sheep Thrills Club using the website’s newsletter sign-up. You’ll receive free shipping on your first order. It’s going to be thrilling!
Sheep photos courtesy of Hillside Farm and Oak Creek Farm.
Did you know there are around 1,400 sheep breeds? And that more than 50% of the world’s wool is Merino?
Tunis is one of the other 1,399 breeds. It nearly became extinct during America’s Civil War and currently is on the Livestock Conservancy’s Conservation Priority List — meaning it’s existence isn’t out of the woods yet. With its long history, Kelly’s Tunis yarn is a perfect choice for natural dyes — and for you to start exploring the wonderful world of wool.
This wool has a nice warmth to its color — more ivory or cream — which gives a brightness to yellows and oranges, and a softness to other colors. It’s fairly soft, but some might feel it’s a little scratchy for next-to-skin wear. Its chunky weight makes it perfect for quick, sturdy sweaters, hats, etc. It’s lofty and lightweight courtesy of being woolen spun. (This yarn was spun in Frankenmuth, MI). The sweater shown is Amy Christoffers’ Felix pullover with the gauge adjusted. See the Kelly’s Tunis product page for more pattern suggestions.
Kelly lives near Ann Arbor, MI, and the wool for this yarn came from her Tunis sheep, which were shorn by my brother, Kirk. Kelly no longer has these sheep, so this is a really special, limited-edition batch of yarn in so many ways.
The name Tunis describes the breed’s connections to foundation stock from Tunisia in North Africa. North African sheep, variously described as “fat tailed,” “broad tailed,” and “Barbary” sheep, were imported to the United States as a gift by the Bey of Tunis to George Washington in the late 1700s. They nearly became extinct during the Civil War. Visit The Livestock Conservancy website to learn more about this breed’s interesting history.
If you’re still hoping to fit in a few handmade gifts this season, naturally-dyed Peaceful Worsted is your answer!
This heavy worsted/Aran-weight yarn works up quickly, and is perfect for colorwork hats, snuggly cowls, or a warm Elisbeth headband (one skein makes two headbands!).
Woolen-spun from soft American-grown Rambouillet and Texas mohair adds a dreamy halo. And the soft shades from natural dyes add an extra special touch. This lovely non-Superwash yarn is spun in the U.S. and naturally dyed in Ohio. Visit the Flora Adora Fibers website for more information and pattern suggestions.
