Italian and German Yarns!
My Sister Knits has an absolutely stunning new yarn!
It’s from the Italian region of Biella, 50 miles from Milan. Among world-renowned fashion houses, Biella is known for world-class wool. This area has been producing wool for 800 years! In the beginning, the inhabitants discovered that it had an abundance of fresh, clear water that is the basis for all that Biella has become. Water was all-important for washing fleece and powering the mills. This allowed Biella to grow into a center for textile production. To this day, the area is valued for artisan production and innovative craftsmanship.
Biella, Italy
Enter Cardiff Cashmere! This company, started in the 80s by a family of entrepreneurs from Biella, only produces cashmere. They found the best cashmere fiber on Hircus goats from the highlands of Inner Mongolia. Their soft, fine undercoat is combed at the beginning of summer, eventually becoming Cardiff cashmere.
To qualify for this luxurious yarn, the fiber needs to be no more than 15.5 microns which is finer than Merino wool, have a staple long enough to spin, and needs to be the whitest. This combination results in yarn that is exceptionally soft and has a resistance to pilling and is long-lasting.
Come in to see all of the glorious colors!
This glorious fiber is sent to Italy to be processed into yarn. Italy has the highest standards for the production of cashmere in the world. To be cashmere from Italy is to be the best! And to be milled in Biella, perfection!
Being close to the fashion influence of Milan, Cardiff creates its color collection to be in perfect harmony with the latest styles. Imagine how special it is to knit with this yarn! Cardiff comes carefully packaged in tissue paper in a delicate box. Great care is taken that it looks beautiful and that it arrives in perfect condition. That shows respect for the yarn!
Pascuali
Another new yarn we received, also packaged beautifully, is Maximo from Pascuali, a German company. Maximo is a chunky 100% Merino yarn, unusual in that it is difficult to find Merino wool that’s this thick.
Pascuali Maximo
The wool for Maximo comes from Argentina and is GOTS certified. GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) is a rather complicated worldwide textile processing standard for organic fibers and the entire textile supply chain. There are four features: organic fibers, ecological and social criteria, all processing stages, and third-party certification. Click here if you’d like more information.
We’ve also restocked Pascuali fingering weight Balayage!
One more thing about Maximo is that it’s treated with enzymes which greatly reduces its tendency to felt and pill. Therefore, it can be machine washed on a delicate cycle. Hurray! Lay it flat to dry, though!
Check out these yarns when you’re in the shop!
Happy knitting,
