The Wool
Wool That Honors Land, Animals, and Hands
As a natural dyer, I believe the quality of color begins with the quality of the fiber. I source untreated, non-superwash wools that reflect my values: responsibility, traceability, and beauty that lasts. Every base I work with is chosen not only for how it performs in the dye pot, but for how it supports people, animals, and ecosystems along the way.
Shaniko Wool Company
My original and longest-standing yarn partner is Shaniko Wool Company, based in Maupin, Oregon. Their wool comes from 10 family ranches in the American West, and is 100% RWS-certified (Responsible Wool Standard), ensuring high standards for animal welfare, land stewardship, and social responsibility.
This wool is exceptionally soft, strong, and smooth—perfect for garments worn next to the skin. It’s grown, scoured, and spun in the U.S., making it a truly domestic yarn with a traceable story from ranch to skein.
Woolkeepers® | British Bluefaced Leicester
My newest yarn base comes from the Woolkeepers® program in the United Kingdom—a transparent supply chain that puts farmers first. Woolkeepers offers stable pricing to growers, supports biodiversity and ethical grazing, and ensures that more value stays in rural communities.
This base is spun from 100% British Bluefaced Leicester (BFL)—a silky, durable wool known for its natural luster and low pilling. With its 4-ply high-twist structure, this BFL is equally suited for fine sweaters and no-nylon socks. Its long fibers take natural dye with luminous depth and clarity.
Why It Matters
Whether it’s grown in Oregon or the Cotswolds, the wool I choose reflects a shared ethos: one of respect—for the sheep, the land, the farmer, and the final maker. These are fibers that hold both story and substance.
Merino/Rambouillet / photo used with permission, Shaniko Wool Company
Bluefaced Leicester / Alamy Stock Photo