WHAT IS WEST WOOL?
West Wool is a new yarn brand designed and produced by Malia Mae Joseph & Stephen West, owners of Stephen & Penelope in Amsterdam.
We are eager to share our fiber fascinations with you as we design yarns and patterns, and collaborate with our favorite makers along the way. As West Wool grows and expands into new directions, we aim to stretch your imagination and invigorate your senses with the wonders of wool. West Wool is a new direction in knitting where texture meets colour.
OUR THREE YARN BASES
Our passion for quality wool in fresh modern colours resulted in three yarn bases to satisfy the cravings of fellow yarn connoisseurs. The extensive color range represents our passion for sophisticated neutrals and subtle shades combined with playful colour pops to bring a dynamic quality to your knitting. Our palette is ideal for colourwork whether your inclinations guide you toward classic stranded knitting, graphic stripes, or plush brioche stitch.
See below for gauge information and descriptions of our three bases: Tandem, Bicycle, and Glowhair.
BICYCLE & TANDEM: OUR WORKHORSE YARNS
To create our ideal workhorse yarn bases - Bicycle and Tandem, we chose a foundation of 90% Falkland Merino, which is renowned for its softness and purity. To this we added a dash of 10% Texel, a classic Dutch breed whose generous staple and crimp characteristics lend airiness and extra durability without impacting the yarn’s overall next-to-skin softness.
Both Bicycle and Tandem are created with the same unique blend of Falkland Merino and Texel. By blending the 32+ micron Texel with Merino, we’ve created a blend with exceeding loft and character. Thicker fibres like those in Texel wool don’t compress easily, creating more space in the spun yarn which means more air can get in. More air means more warmth, and taking full advantage of one of the best properties of wool. Blending the Merino with a more robust yarn that has a bit more bite to it also means this yarn will be more suitable for cables and colourwork like Fair Isle, mosaic, and brioche knitting - while still remaining soft to the touch.
90% Falkland Merino
Merino sheep on the Falkland Islands are raised in a more rugged and cool environment than their Australian cousins. The maritime climate on the islands has no marked wet and dry season. The sheep naturally needs no pesticide dip, and no mulesing is practiced. The raising of sheep on the Falkland Islands is a vital livelihood for the farmers, and can be seen as an organic undertaking, though is not certified as such.
Because of our connection to the origins of the wool clip, we know our wool is merino in quality, but can be from merino sheep very slightly crossed with Polwarth. Crosses from the Falkland Islands are approximately 1/8 Polwarth to 7/8 Merino; and are bred for wool, and not for meat. (Polwarth is a cross of 1/4 Lincoln and 3/4 Merino). Our Falkland Merino fibers are on average 23 micron and have a staple length of 80-100mm.
10% Texel
Texel are a breed of sheep that originated on the Dutch island of Texel, the largest of the Wadden Islands off the coast of the Netherlands in the North Sea. Texel sheep outnumber people on the island! The exact origin of the breed is unknown although it is thought to be a cross of multiple English breeds. The sturdy Texel is primarily bred for meat and makes up seventy percent of the Netherlands' national flock.
Wool from Texel sheep is 32 microns or higher, is thick with lanolin before scouring, and has a staple length of about 80-150mm. Texel fibers have a helical crimp which give them extraordinary loft and compression resistence. In addition to giving the yarn a touch of its own distinct personality, it has a practical function as well. The open space that the Texel provides allows the soft merino fibers to nestle in all directions without impacting the yarn's softness. Our Texel wool comes from white Texel sheep, but not from the island of Texel itself.
GLOWHAIR: OUR MOHAIR SILK BASE
Our Glowhair yarn base comes from Angora goats farmed in South Africa. Like wool, mohair is a natural, renewable resource whose fibers provide a warm and soft yarn, perfect for hand knitting. Lightweight and versatile, mohair is extremely breathable, naturally regulating moisture and heat.
Glowhair has a fantastic halo (the fibers that hover above your knitted garment) making for great textured knits, and added softness. The fibers range from 23-27 microns with a quite long staple length of 100 to 150mm.
WHERE CAN I FIND WEST WOOL?
West Wool is available at Stephen & Penelope in Amsterdam, and in their online store. You can find West Wool at some upcoming yarn festivals as well!
