A 50g skein of organic 100% wool yarn (DK) spun from wool from our flock of Lleyn sheep farmed by us to organic standards for over 25 years. The wool is gently plant-dyed in small batches. This wool is gentle to the environment and to you.

DK thickness, length 100m (108 yards) per 50g and 13wpi. I measure the length of the wool quite conservatively without stretching the wool unduly.

Lleyns are a British breed of sheep, originally from Angelsey in Wales and reputed, in the very distant past, to have Merino ancestors in the mix.

It is a medium soft woollen spun yarn with a good amount of bounce which takes dye and washes well and is lovely to knit or crochet with. It is suitable for making items to wear for all ages: scarves, hats, gloves, jumpers, cardigans, baby bootees, cot blankets, Fairisle knitting, to make dolls, and toy animals, to make phone socks, egg cosies or other items.

I dye the wool in small bathes using organic plants mainly from my garden, a small selection of plant extracts and cochineal (not a plant), without the use of potentially harmful metal mordants. This creates a palette of soft gentle colours. The natural process allows for subtle variations of colour, making each batch and the item you create with it unique.

Plants I used:
Madder, Cochineal, Damson and Rhubarb in different combinations for :
Rosy Glow, Rich Rosy, Rosy, Dusk, Dusky, Dusky Rose, Rosy, Dusky Pink, Rosy Dusk, Cerise, and Lilac
Madder alone or in combination with other plants for:
Orange Terra, Rosy Peach, Pink, Pale Peach, Peach Rose, Peach, Pale Apricot, Pale Amber
Alchemilla Mollis for: Dark Honeycombe, Honeycombe, Olive
Tansy for: Tansy, Pale Tansy
Dock for: Spice and Butterscotch
Walnut for: Walnut, Pale Walnut, Dark Walnut, Very Pale Walnut, Nutty
Weld for: Pale Primrose and Pale Moss
Buddleia for: Buttercup, Sunshine Yellow, Primrose, Grass, Pistachio, Pale Grass
Nettle for: Nettle Honey, Pale Nettle Honey
St Johns Worth for: Lattte, Dark Latte
Dandelion for: Vanilla
Extract bought in based on Cutch for: Cinnamon, Cerise
Turmeric for: Turmeric, Pale Apricot
Indigo for: Grass, Pistachio, Pale Grass

I re-skein each skein, removing any knots and tangles in the process, to make it as easy as possible to wind the yarn into a ball.
The wool washes well. As with all wool gentle washing is recommended, at luke-warm or cool temperatures, either by hand or on a gentle wool setting in the machine, with washing products recommended for wool. Watch the spin speed which has to be very, very gentle for wool.

I hand-dye small batches but if you would like a larger batch of a colour I can dye to order, provided the plants are in stock or/and in season. It usually takes up to a week to dye and dry a batch, but for some colours the process is more lengthy. As batches are not identical the colours can vary somewhat from a previous batch.

I have done my best to show colours as accurately as possible, but it is difficult to accurately reflect colours on digital appliances. If you would like more details on a colour do ask me. I can also take a photo of the skeins you will be sent for approval before posting.

My woolbands are made with recycled paper, outer packaging is recyclable (& made from sugarcane) and for inner packaging I re-use clean packaging or if non available paper, or non-plastic cellophane.