Fiber Facts
Alpaca
24 Micron
Alpaca is an excellent long staple fiber. The Baby Alpaca we spin with comes from the Andes Mountains in Peru and is from the Huacaya breed.
Alpaca, whose scientific name is Lama Pacos, is the most numerous of the four south american camelid species. With a population of approximately 4 million in Peru, representing 75% of the world’s alpacas, they provide the main sustenance for thousands of families living in the higher parts of the Andes.
There are two varieties of alpaca: the Huacayo and the Suri. The Huacayo is the more numerous type in Peru, and represents 93% of the alpaca population. Its fiber is relatively short, crimped, dense, and bulky; it covers almost the entire body, leaving exposed only the face and feet, which are covered with short fur.
Bamboo
3 Denier
The bamboo we use in our blends is bamboo viscose manufactured in a closed loop process. The bamboo plant is sustainable and a versatile resource.
Cashmere
14 Micron
Our cashmere fiber is gathered from Pashmina goats, sourced from the Alashan area of the Inner Mongolia Province, China. Like our Yak fiber, cashmere is considered a “down” fiber — coming from the soft, downy undercoat of the cashmere breed goats. Generally considered warmer than wool on an ounce per ounce basis. Fun fact: Cashmere is 7 times finer than a human hair.
Cotton
4.2-4.5 Micronaire
We receive cotton from the Eastern and Memphis regions of the U.S. Our supplier only purchases top of the crop cotton. We can easily request organic cotton that the same supplier receives from Texas.
Cotton – Mercerized
Mercerization is a chemical treatment that causes the fibers to plump up and then straighten to give more luster than conventional cotton. The yarn is stronger and takes dye more easily. The process was invented by John Mercer in 1834.
Our mercerized cotton is also gassed to remove excess fuzz and lint which results in a brighter smoother appearance.
CS Clima(TM)
19.5 Micron
CS Clima fiber originates from China. It is a cellulosic fiber with an integrated phase change material (PCM). It absorbs excessive heat (from the body or environment), accumulates it and releases it under certain conditions. This allows temperature regulation that gives the user an extraordinary wearer comfort and an excellent microclimate.
Flax – Belgium
100% dew retted flax from Belgium or France using the uppermost part of the plant for finer softer fibers.
Nylon – Cashstyle
2-3 Denier
A fine super soft and bulky nylon giving a cashmere feel to the yarn.
SeaCell™
19.5 Micron
SeaCell™ is produced in Europe. It is a cellulosic fiber derived from seaweed and produced using the Lyocell process. It is the power of seaweed in a fiber. Production takes place in a closed loop with no chemicals released as waste.
Silk – Mulberry
10-14 Micron
Silk fiber comes to us from a trusted supplier from the region of Jiangsu Zhejiang in China. Silk is one of the oldest fibers known to man. Mulberry silk is from silkworms that are fed only mulberry leaves. The silkworm spins a cocoon of silk that our supplier processes into fiber which we use to make our luxury yarns.
Yak
16/20 Micron
Our Yak fiber comes to us from a trusted supplier in China. The Yak fiber is sustainably harvested from the Mongolian region of China. Another luxurious fiber, it has comparable qualities to our Cashmere.
WOOL
U.S. Merino/Rambouillet Wool
21.5 Micron
Our premier, 100% American wool – a true melting pot of Merino breeds! Grown, sheared, scoured, combed in the U.S before being spun into yarn at Meridian for our mill house line. We offer both superwash and non-superwash wool.
Shaniko Merino Responsible Wool Standard Compliant
21 Micron
Our first (and only) completely traceable American branded wool! We offer non-superwash and superwash wool. Grown, sheared, scoured, combed in the U.S. in the Great Basin Region.
U.S. Mercerized Merino Wool
20.2 Micron
100% American wool mercerized in South Carolina at 20.2 micron, but due to processing has a feel of 18 micron. Mercerized wool is superior to Superwash in regards to laundering and smoother hand for next to skin wear. Additionally, the knitted fabrics feel less prickly next to skin because the smooth fibre surface, along with the silicone “lubricant”, allows protruding fibres which might create prickle slide back into the fabric surface on contact with the skin.
56’s Territorial Wool
28 Micron
We receive this wool from Chargeurs. It is from mixed breeds of sheep raised mainly in Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and Colorado. 56’s wool is coarser than our Merino fiber and is a good base for knitting yarns with more structure.
Carpet/Rug Wool
34/35 Micron
We import this wool from a processer based in Yorkshire GB. This wool is naturally colored wool in beige, tan grey, cream and browns from crossbred sheep.
Value Wool
40 Micron
We import this wool from the same processor as the Carpet/Rug Wool. The Value wool has excellent properties for projects that need sturdier yarns. The fiber is coarser and more rigid which allows for more structure and it is very cost effective.
