Merry Christmas everyone! If you enjoyed my videos throughout the year and you felt they helped you, please consider supporting my work on Patreon - even if it’s just for a month. Here’s the link: www.patreon.com/nimbleneedlez Note: Yes, Nunavut is a Canadian Territory. I, however, bought the yarn at a store in Alaska.
A new Zealand knitter here. Possum yarns are fantastic. They are warmer than cashmere and don't pill like cashmere. I also like that it gives the fabric fuzzy halo. If you buy yarn called "rim" possum content is 40%. One down side is there aren't many colours to choose from. Keeping the number down while producing good yarn is win win situation I think. It's a affordable luxury even Mr Obama got a possum jumper when he came to New Zealand.
@@PleiadesNebula do you live in New Zealand? The most known brand for possum yarns is ZEALANA. We have many other brands less known in New Zealand. A shp called, knitstich carries lots of Zealand yarns.
I second this.Possum yarn (blend to be precise) is beautiful and certainly does perform so much better then cashmere. It is very, very soft and not itchy at all. I've got several jumpers including 15 years old cardigan that is still in excellent condition. I knitted neck warmer that I am using while skiing and it is superior to any other neck warmer that one can buy in ski shops. Most importantly, I've never experienced anything warmer than possum blend yarn/garments except for the fur of course. But as knitwear goes it is the best. @NimbleNeedles no need to be concerned about possum population. They are absolute pest and ruin everything in nature and gardens, they breed like crazy and no chance they will ever get extinct. I am in Australia, they are protected here and I can tell you they are doing really well. Even if NZ manage to eradicate them they are still in millions all over Australia.
I'm listening to this while spinning a guanaco/merino/silk blend. It was a gift. Fortunately I have contact information for the company. SO nice to work with!
What an interesting video to watch! Thank-you Norman for compiling this information and presenting it in the video, so fascinating to hear about these rare and expensive yarns!
Kids have plushies, knitters have that one special ball of yarn. 😊 I would really love a video about the more uncommon types of European sheep. I feel these days all the wool you readily find in stores is Merino. I once wanted something more sturdy and started looking for blue faced Leicester and that ended up being quite the search rabbit hole.
Feierabendfrickeleien once did a very extensive survey on plastic free socks with tons of very interesting yarns: feierabendfrickeleien.com/ If you know german, this might be something to check out. (she's currently not very active due to pregnancy, etc)
Yes Anska, wool varies so much across different breeds of sheeps. I second your suggestion for a video regarding wool! BFL is a wonderfully warm and durable wool. I once bought this horned Dorset sheep wool from a local farm, in a undyed cream colour and woolen spun, and made my fav blanket of all time. It really opened the world of non-Merino wool for me.
Yes, this topic is interesting. I am not sure what andes wool is as it doesn't sound like a breed. I have knitted romney wool and tunis from local sources. The romney came from a winery I stopped at. I met the sheep, named Sunshine, that got her haircut for my scarf! Tunis is a colonial breed. I found that interesting since I live in VA where Tunis sheep used to be populous. I made a cabled hat since that was recommended by the spinner & dyer. I have some corriedale in my stash for my next pair of socks.
It’s such a treat to have access to so much information thanks to you. I live in Bolivia where vicuña is now illegal to be used for yarn as they are a protected species.
Fascinating information, Norman. One of the things I enjoy about your channel is the education you provide about so many things. Thank you for your hard work. And Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones.
I would make socks from vicuña, or I should rather say slippers. I would put them on and lay on the sofa and knit, read, or watch TV. When I get up, I would take them off and put on my regular slippers or shoes. Then I can experience its warmth and luxurious feel. Thank you for this special video, Norman. Eva 🎉
I have only one little ball of quiviut. It is, indeed, my “squishy” tactile support yarn. 😊 Thank you so much for sharing all this. I’m starting to long for the Vicuna. My father had a Vicuna coat in the 1950s! 😮
I have a Musk Ox head band and I treasure it! So warm, so soft, so easy to wash (by hand, of course). I purchased my head band in Anchorage. It was hand knit by a Coop of native women. Musk Ox yarn is most wonderful.
I've fallen in love with Malabrigo Rios yarn and have only been using that now. Luckily I'm a slow knitter so it doesn't bankrupt me too quickly. Totally worth the price. The colorways vary as it's hand dyed, but i like color variation, it looks less commercial.100% superwash merino. About $20 for 100 g. I ❤ your videos! You are the best at demonstrating things clearly! Have a Happy Christmas!
yeah, those yarns are very lovely, yes! But as you say, pricey and sometimes even a bit more difficult to come by. & thx for your kind words. Enjoy the holidays!
Hilarious disclaimer!! I truly laughed out loud! I’ve heard of most of the yarns you spoke of, I especially liked the back story, or history. Fascinating topic. And you described very well, how the yarn felt in hand! “Putting your hand in cream/lotion..” is the best! How delightfully soft that would be! Thank you, Norman! You’re the Best! Happy Holidays!
I live in Alaska, and have collected Qiviut from the Tundra. I was given an entire hide, combed it out and am now spinning my 2 plus POUNDS of Qiviut (lifetime project). I gave a pound away to other spinners. Thanks for the very entertaining and informative video.
Thanks to this video, I was able to knit with vicuña yarn! My friend, who has the resources, asked me to make her two scarves! I got to have the luxurious experience. She got to wear hand-made originals. It was a perfect arrangement since I rarely want to keep what I make.
You are a treasure! Your personality comes through in these videos. You have me chuckling throughout along with learning about these superb fibers. I am so grateful that you continue to produce content. Thank you for all you do.
Thank you so much for your video! As another commenter said, kids have their pet plushy and knitters have their pet ball or skein of yarn. One thing my grandmother taught me was not to compromise on the quality of your yarn. Knit less, or take apart a sweater it you’re not wearing it enough, rather than use a low quality yarn. I’m a lace knitter and that means using good quality or all that work is for nothing. I prefer to make sure I shop as ethically as possible and to be mindful about what I buy. I shy away from Australian merino ever since hearing about museling for example. Not so long ago I stepped up my yarn game: I’ve started spinning. It gave me an entirely new appreciation for fibre quality. It takes me a lot longer before I can start a new project unless I combine a commercial yarn with a hand spun one. I’m currently processing an alpaca blanket in preparation for spinning. I know the animal’s name, which is pretty cool, and the fibre is very fine as it’s a prize winning blanket, much softer than any alpaca yarn I’ve ever been able to afford at a fraction of the price because I’m doing the processing myself. My source is less than 15 minutes from where I live. I’ve seen the living conditions of the animals and they live like royalty. Due to my budget I’ll probably never be able to afford those rare yarns. But it’s wonderful to learn about them. AndI tend to agree about dyeing possibly affecting the properties and feel of a fibre. If I like how a fibre feels and how my sample spin feels, I’m not a fan of risking dye affecting it. Especially if the natural colour is beautiful. All the best for 2024 and happy knitting!
Such an interesting and informative video thank you.I have been fortunate enough to knit with a blended quivit and also a blended bison wool.Both were bought in Canada and are absolutely beautiful.I did handle a ball of Vicuña and was fabulous.I love love love your Vicuña gloves,what an amazing 🤩 40th birthday gift🎁 Happy knitting 🧶🌺
Your knitters advisory was hilarious. This was fascinating. Thank you for sharing your rare yarns with us. I watched on my TV, so was able to appreciate your 4k efforts.
That advisory!!!😄😀🤭 Thanks for the warning, Norman. I do get caught up sometimes and want to purchase new yarns that are gorgeous, so your notice helped! Cool review of/introduction to these yarns. Maybe one day I'll get to try some!
@@NimbleNeedles I would argue that you did need them, though, because they inspire you. 😉I have a few yarns that I have owned for so many years that they are now discontinued, and a few others from single batches that came from indie dyers, none of which I did not need when I bought them, but were just too appealing to me to resist. They are not nearly as valuable as your yarns, of course, but they are quite inspiring for me just to be able to view them in their present forms as unwound hanks. I will probably use them, eventually, but even if I never knit or crochet them up, this has already made them well worth the purchase! Yarn is the product of the beautiful art form of spinning and, sometimes, of dyeing, and it can be an appreciated, inspiring treasure in its own right.
This morning, when taking a little break from knitting, I started reading about the different yarns like cashmere, etc. I was curious about several and which animal they were produced from and even which part of the world. Then... I later saw you had posted this video! So glad you did and for me it was even more informative than the articles I read. Thank you for the great educational video. And Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Qiviut is sold as a scarf or hat. I love it and own a scarf and smoke ring. The yarn is so soft and it keeps you warm. In Alaska, the yarn is primarily used by the women in the bush and sell finished garments.
I bought a skein of dark teal qiviut yarn in Alaska last year and *love* it! I made a lace cowl out of it with a bit left over and it's the softest, warmest, lightest weight thing I own.
Ich schmeiß mich weg 😂😂😂the knitters advisory is priceless. New subscriber here 👋🏻 ❤the arctic fox yarn halo is beautiful 😍your vicuña gloves are stunning!!!!
I watched this to be sure you mentioned Vicuña wool. I learned about Vicuñas when I visited friends in Lima, Peru in 2012. I could never afford such a luxury so I opted for baby alpaca/silk blend yarn that I'm making a scarf with. It's amazingly soft but based on Vicuña's 8 to 13 microns thickness I'm sure the Alpaca wool doesn't come close although Alpacas are basically cousins to the Vicuña. Btw, your Vicuña gloves are absolutely beautiful!!!❤❤❤ Thanks for this informative video.👍
Thank you for the advisory! I consider myself a beginning knitter and appreciate your helpful videos! Thanks for such an informative video, I was in Alaska many years back and purchased a skein of musk ox yarn, but have been too nervous to make anything yet! I am going to look at it again 😊
please do. would be a pity if it never got the chance to shine. Plus, I do believe these luxury yarns are perfect for simple patterns - you shouldn't add too much to distract from the already spectacular fluff, right? So stockinette stitch can be just fine..or even better than more complicated thing
@@NimbleNeedles Qiviut it generally used to knit rather intricate lacework because it's such an incredibly warm fiber. (One of the warmest natural fibers in the world.) The yarn and fiber bloom/halo work together to provide a lightweight thermal layer that is almost impervious to arctic cold extremes and even insulates against freezing winds. It's so effective and so valuable that most Alaskan knitters would consider it fairly wasteful to knit it in stockinette which will use up much more yarn than needed. At least that's how my qiviut-knitting friends up here in Alaska have put it to me. 😊
@@Stretch1003 Actually I would like to disagree there. I have found no reason to believe that qiviut is warmer than most other yarns here on this list. And why would it? vicuna or cashmere goats live at much higher altitudes and have to live through very cold winters and storms as well. I think what makes qiviut so warm is the prevalent spinning method that creates a very fluffy kind of yarn, almost mohair-like. But you could replicate that with a lot of other fibers as well. It's amazing, gorgeous, warm..but personally I do not buy into myths because so many other myths in the fiber world have been proven to be wrong by scientists (like alpaka being good for summer wear or other such nonsense).
Pls have a cup of hot chocolate with whipped cream on me, Norman! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2024 to you/yours! For me, you have certainly made knitting more enjoyable and have helped in elevating my skill level! Thank you.
There is an interesting documentary available on UA-cam that chronicles the replication of the oldest known pants. Part of it was sourcing the appropriate wool since ancient sheep started with guard fibers and we bred them to only have the down layer. There is a flock of these type in England and the owner also spun the yarn for the project (if I remember correctly). I think the original project was German but I watched an English narration.
Years ago I bought 100% cashmere goat yarn (Pashmina) by Galler Yarns now discontinued, made a cowl. I also bought mink yarn years ago but, my very young special needs daughter got a hold of it - torn up - I just cried. All in the life of a knitter.
Happy New Year, Norman. I am just getting to view this episode. What a truly informative and wonderful video. Truly fascinating. The only exotic yarn skein I own is of Quiviut. I so appreciate the adventure you have taken us through in the world of rare and exquisite fibers. Thank you!
I clicked on this video as soon as I saw it! Thanks for shedding light on such interesting fibers! I loved watching you speak so passionately about the yarn. The close-ups of the yarn was absolutely amazing and beautiful! I liked seeing the bounce and little fuzz. And how you stretched and pet the yarn-I could only imagine 😮 Also the social aspects of the yarn was very interesting to listen to.
Your disclaimer brought a smile to my face. I haven't had the luxury of trying any of these yarns but maybe one day I can ethically source some to knit a fabulous once in a lifetime knit. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you!
Thank you for sharing this insight into rare yarns. I appreciate these yarns but will never have the skill or budget to purchase. I love your videos and teaching skills.
these can be super nice, tho lots of people have ethic concerns when it comes to angora rabits. However, it's, by comparision a lot cheaper so it didn't make the list.
I love learing about all these new fibers. It really reminds me as a handspinning enthusiast that I should try to branch out and spin a variety of sheep breeds and other fibers. I love the concept of spinning the under coat from more northern climate dogs. My best friends have a husky mix and i plan to process her shed fur in the spring and blend it with wool to spin. I am so exited to have a yarn made from shed hair of an animal that i love and care about. She is such a sweet little dog, and i will be reminded of her any time i work on it or wear whatever my project turns out to be.
I subscribed because of this video! Thank you for the ethical and context based information! I loved the insight into the fact some are deeply engrained into the culture while others are ethically questionable. You've inspired me to get some very fancy yarn someday. XD Maybe.
Hilarious advisory! You were absolutely right, I’ve never heard of some of these. I’ve actually touched Quivit when we visited the Musk Ox research station in Alaska. It was amazingly soft but I just couldn’t bring myself to spend that much with the real possibility it would be eaten by bugs where I live. I do have a mini skein of Bison I purchased in New Mexico years ago. Mine is not the soft version and someday I’ll make a couple of coasters with it. I would never knit socks with any of these!!!
Thank you for covering these!! I bought a skein of Qiviut when I was in Alaska last summer. I almost got some arctic fox but ended up buying other wool instead. Qiviut is sooo soft.
I enjoyed this video for it’s educational value. I Only have been exposed to yarn shop yarns and haven’t taken the time to understand weight, blends and values. Thanks so much
Ahh!! I love the arctic fox yarn! I’m indigenous from the west coast of Canada, it’s SO cool seeing your treasures from the north! I have an arctic fox pelt that I got from a trading post when I was in the Yukon and it’s such a prized item of mine 🥰 I love the disclaimer because I now have that website open just drooling hahaha
I have some Qiviut yarn! When I got it a few years ago, I was given 3 patterns to go with it! And 2 hanks of the artic fox. It was a very expensive trip lol!
Hi Norman. Thank you for this very informative video. I really enjoyed it. Such beautiful yarns. No I would never knit socks with the first one you showed. As you so aptly pointed out, not very many people would see them. Your gloves on the other hand are so worth showing off! Amazing work! Thank you for another year’s worth of wonderful videos. Merry Christmas Norman!❤️🎄🎄❤️
I am a nalebinder but my mother got me some really nice linnen yarn with a knitting pattern for Christmas so i need to learn to knit now. Iv been going down the rabbit hole and came across ur channel. And OMG i am so jealous of ur yarn stash. Lol. Ur warning gave me a good laugh. I think the weirdest yarn i own (for me at least) is tibetan yak and the most expensive is yarn i got from a small alpaca farm in my area where they spun the yarn themselves. Cheers from southern California, usa and Merry Christmas!!!
Norman, thank you so much for this very informative and entertaining video. Because of the cost of some of these yarns, I'll probably never get an opportunity to try them but I'm happy to know about them.
Thank you, wonderful to see beautiful yarns I’ve not seen before. I have created two berets out of the Australian Bushtailed Possom. It’s one of the warmest and beautiful fibers I’ve had the pleasure of working with. Found it at a little shop called ‘The Ball and Skein’ in Cambria, California. One of my favorite places. 😊
Wow! Brilliant presentation. You are so informative and knowledgeable. I thoroughly enjoyed your video. I always learn something from your work. Thank you and Merry Christmas!
Watching this while working on some *extra* sturdy socks for my partner and thinking: Wow... I'd love to have a little stole out of this. Or this. Oh, no, wait, THIS! :D As always: Love your content, looking forward to becoming a patron next year
Watching this I'm knitting myself my ever 1st cashmere sweater, with two more for me and one for my father. There are two kind of wool i really want to buy the Islantic and silk.
Thank you so much for sharing! I've been knitting for almost 15 years now and have developed a special interest for natural fibers, but I still hadn't heard of many of these yarns! I appreciate your insights on the ethical considerations of each yarn, the transparency around price, and your ending message about an increase of price not inherently meaning an equal increase of quality. This is my first of your videos; I'm subscribed and excited to look into your catalog! I hope you have a fabulous new year! :)
Wow so fun! I knew there was expensive yarn but wow! I'm in Canada so I can assume we probably have some interesting unique yarns if I searched long enough. Very interesting video! Love the scarf you're wearing too! =D
Norman, I found this video satisfying to many of my interests. I've always loved learning where things come from and how they're made. And, of course it's about yarn! I love your presentation, knowledge and obvious love of your artistic medium. Your descriptions of each yarn were so vivid i could almost feel it myself. I so appreciate your discriptive artistry as well as your knitting artistry - your gloves were simply stunning...so lovely. Thank you for creating another wonderful video. May this new year bring you as much joy and good fortune as you continue to bring to your yarny community. 💜✌️🧶🤟
Ooo, I really enjoyed this vid. That ultra violet arctic hare yarn is GORGEOUS and looked stunning beside the white fibre! That and the arctic fox yarn look utterly scrumptious (though mixed blends). But anything inanely soft has my vote! hehe Your vicuna gloves are just beautiful and I love the colour of that yarn. And the mink balls of yarn just look divinely soft...and so affordable! (*cough cough*) but just visualising how those little animals are possibly 'kept' In China is enough to put me right off. I'm in Australia so am quite familiar with NZ possum pelt (in slippers etc) which is incredibly soft, though I've not tried possum yarn. So far, the most unusual yarn I've acquired is soybean yarn (blended with 50% wool) and it's lovely and soft. I'd love to know what you've made with some of those rare yarns, aside from your gloves and the scarf for your mum. 🤩
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with luxury and rare yarns. I learned so much and appreciate you. I hope you had a wonderful holiday!! Xo 🤗
@@deeztube1 my mum used to but stopped because of her wrist. BUt that was years and years ago and I do feel she kinda considers coming back to it now that she is about to retire.
Well done, informative and I love your knowledge and your inviting us to have ethical concerns of how the product is produced and brought to market. This is why I follow you and your wonderful knitting skills too. Happy Holidays from Granny.
I enjoyed your video very much. Thank you for all of the information. With that said, you, are an amazing person. Your videos have helped me out tremendously on my knitting journey. I’ve been crocheting for over *cough* 40 years and knitting for about two years. Informative videos and awesome tutorials. Thank you for all the time and money you spend on your videos. I am grateful. 🤗 😊 P.S. Merry Christmas to you and yours. 👋
I’m updating my wishlist, I’m already lucky enough to own a pacu-vicuña scarf and an oz of yarn, also an oz of vicuña, 2 oz of quiviut, 4 oz of Italian cashmere, and 12 oz of a silk/baby camel blend
I brought Quivit from Greenland online. The yarn is super soft and light. Just one thing negative, in the yarn there are few black strong hair (like whiskers on a cat), so while knitting you need to take them out.
Absolutely fascinating. I remember a news article where a woman had combed, carded and knitted the whole family Aran jumpers from the hair of he golden retriever dog! The children looked so embarrassed, so no dog hair on your list 😂
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Merry Christmas everyone! If you enjoyed my videos throughout the year and you felt they helped you, please consider supporting my work on Patreon - even if it’s just for a month.
Here’s the link: www.patreon.com/nimbleneedlez
Note: Yes, Nunavut is a Canadian Territory. I, however, bought the yarn at a store in Alaska.
That knitters advisory is hysterical!!!!
hihi! glad you enjoyed it. Had a lot of fun reading it!
I had to show my non-knitter husband 😂
Limits of your purse!” Hahaha
I had to take a photo of it on my tv, so I could send it to my crafty friends. Quite apt with the Boxing Day sales coming up.
That had me cackling like a witch 🤣🤣
I’m in awe of that pair of gloves. They look perfect.
heh...well..at the price I really had to give my all!
A new Zealand knitter here. Possum yarns are fantastic. They are warmer than cashmere and don't pill like cashmere. I also like that it gives the fabric fuzzy halo. If you buy yarn called "rim" possum content is 40%. One down side is there aren't many colours to choose from. Keeping the number down while producing good yarn is win win situation I think. It's a affordable luxury even Mr Obama got a possum jumper when he came to New Zealand.
Where do you usually buy it? I managed to find a limited supply in the Loopine shop. Thank you.
I hope Obama wasn’t given a discount. He’s a multi-millionaire.
@@PleiadesNebula do you live in New Zealand? The most known brand for possum yarns is ZEALANA. We have many other brands less known in New Zealand. A shp called, knitstich carries lots of Zealand yarns.
@@alicekramden8640 I think he was gifted, may be from the government
I second this.Possum yarn (blend to be precise) is beautiful and certainly does perform so much better then cashmere. It is very, very soft and not itchy at all. I've got several jumpers including 15 years old cardigan that is still in excellent condition. I knitted neck warmer that I am using while skiing and it is superior to any other neck warmer that one can buy in ski shops. Most importantly, I've never experienced anything warmer than possum blend yarn/garments except for the fur of course. But as knitwear goes it is the best. @NimbleNeedles no need to be concerned about possum population. They are absolute pest and ruin everything in nature and gardens, they breed like crazy and no chance they will ever get extinct. I am in Australia, they are protected here and I can tell you they are doing really well. Even if NZ manage to eradicate them they are still in millions all over Australia.
i LOVE the global and ethical insight. not only are the yarns treasures but so is our own curiosity as a community. thank you Nimble Needles
my pleasure! Glad I could show you some new things!
I'm listening to this while spinning a guanaco/merino/silk blend. It was a gift. Fortunately I have contact information for the company. SO nice to work with!
What an interesting video to watch! Thank-you Norman for compiling this information and presenting it in the video, so fascinating to hear about these rare and expensive yarns!
Kids have plushies, knitters have that one special ball of yarn. 😊 I would really love a video about the more uncommon types of European sheep. I feel these days all the wool you readily find in stores is Merino. I once wanted something more sturdy and started looking for blue faced Leicester and that ended up being quite the search rabbit hole.
Feierabendfrickeleien once did a very extensive survey on plastic free socks with tons of very interesting yarns: feierabendfrickeleien.com/
If you know german, this might be something to check out. (she's currently not very active due to pregnancy, etc)
Yes Anska, wool varies so much across different breeds of sheeps. I second your suggestion for a video regarding wool! BFL is a wonderfully warm and durable wool. I once bought this horned Dorset sheep wool from a local farm, in a undyed cream colour and woolen spun, and made my fav blanket of all time. It really opened the world of non-Merino wool for me.
Yes, this topic is interesting. I am not sure what andes wool is as it doesn't sound like a breed. I have knitted romney wool and tunis from local sources. The romney came from a winery I stopped at. I met the sheep, named Sunshine, that got her haircut for my scarf! Tunis is a colonial breed. I found that interesting since I live in VA where Tunis sheep used to be populous. I made a cabled hat since that was recommended by the spinner & dyer. I have some corriedale in my stash for my next pair of socks.
Maybe try to get into spinning your own yarn ?
Well done! Once again, despite my 63 years of knitting, you have broadened my knowledge of our beloved pastime.
I remain your humble servant....*smirk*
It’s such a treat to have access to so much information thanks to you. I live in Bolivia where vicuña is now illegal to be used for yarn as they are a protected species.
oh really? I didn't know they changed the status!
As a sociologist, your care in discussing humanitarian and ethical concerns made me hopeful 😊 30:34
Fascinating information, Norman. One of the things I enjoy about your channel is the education you provide about so many things. Thank you for your hard work. And Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones.
thank you! Hope you'll be able to enjoy the festive season as well! And thank you for your kind words!
I would make socks from vicuña, or I should rather say slippers. I would put them on and lay on the sofa and knit, read, or watch TV. When I get up, I would take them off and put on my regular slippers or shoes. Then I can experience its warmth and luxurious feel. Thank you for this special video, Norman. Eva 🎉
Your Vicuña gloves look amazing; I’m so glad you made them ❤
heh same! they are my sunday stroll gloves :D
I have only one little ball of quiviut. It is, indeed, my “squishy” tactile support yarn. 😊
Thank you so much for sharing all this.
I’m starting to long for the Vicuna. My father had a Vicuna coat in the 1950s! 😮
I have a Musk Ox head band and I treasure it! So warm, so soft, so easy to wash (by hand, of course). I purchased my head band in Anchorage. It was hand knit by a Coop of native women. Musk Ox yarn is most wonderful.
I've fallen in love with Malabrigo Rios yarn and have only been using that now. Luckily I'm a slow knitter so it doesn't bankrupt me too quickly. Totally worth the price. The colorways vary as it's hand dyed, but i like color variation, it looks less commercial.100% superwash merino. About $20 for 100 g.
I ❤ your videos! You are the best at demonstrating things clearly! Have a Happy Christmas!
yeah, those yarns are very lovely, yes! But as you say, pricey and sometimes even a bit more difficult to come by.
& thx for your kind words. Enjoy the holidays!
I inherited a box of malabrigo rios, and I love them so much! Such a beautiful yarn
Hilarious disclaimer!! I truly laughed out loud!
I’ve heard of most of the yarns you spoke of, I especially liked the back story, or history. Fascinating topic. And you described very well, how the yarn felt in hand! “Putting your hand in cream/lotion..” is the best! How delightfully soft that would be!
Thank you, Norman! You’re the Best!
Happy Holidays!
I live in Alaska, and have collected Qiviut from the Tundra. I was given an entire hide, combed it out and am now spinning my 2 plus POUNDS of Qiviut (lifetime project). I gave a pound away to other spinners. Thanks for the very entertaining and informative video.
Thanks to this video, I was able to knit with vicuña yarn! My friend, who has the resources, asked me to make her two scarves! I got to have the luxurious experience. She got to wear hand-made originals. It was a perfect arrangement since I rarely want to keep what I make.
You are a treasure! Your personality comes through in these videos. You have me chuckling throughout along with learning about these superb fibers. I am so grateful that you continue to produce content. Thank you for all you do.
Thank you so much for your video!
As another commenter said, kids have their pet plushy and knitters have their pet ball or skein of yarn.
One thing my grandmother taught me was not to compromise on the quality of your yarn. Knit less, or take apart a sweater it you’re not wearing it enough, rather than use a low quality yarn. I’m a lace knitter and that means using good quality or all that work is for nothing. I prefer to make sure I shop as ethically as possible and to be mindful about what I buy. I shy away from Australian merino ever since hearing about museling for example.
Not so long ago I stepped up my yarn game: I’ve started spinning. It gave me an entirely new appreciation for fibre quality. It takes me a lot longer before I can start a new project unless I combine a commercial yarn with a hand spun one.
I’m currently processing an alpaca blanket in preparation for spinning. I know the animal’s name, which is pretty cool, and the fibre is very fine as it’s a prize winning blanket, much softer than any alpaca yarn I’ve ever been able to afford at a fraction of the price because I’m doing the processing myself. My source is less than 15 minutes from where I live. I’ve seen the living conditions of the animals and they live like royalty.
Due to my budget I’ll probably never be able to afford those rare yarns. But it’s wonderful to learn about them. AndI tend to agree about dyeing possibly affecting the properties and feel of a fibre. If I like how a fibre feels and how my sample spin feels, I’m not a fan of risking dye affecting it. Especially if the natural colour is beautiful.
All the best for 2024 and happy knitting!
It's been very entertaining to watch this video while practicing some stitch patterns with my $5/skein acrylic. 🤣
Wonderful research done here. Many years ago I would go to a farm and purchase qiviut. So soft and lovely to work with. Thanks for all you share ❤
Such an interesting and informative video thank you.I have been fortunate enough to knit with a blended quivit and also a blended bison wool.Both were bought in Canada and are absolutely beautiful.I did handle a ball of Vicuña and was fabulous.I love love love your Vicuña gloves,what an amazing 🤩 40th birthday gift🎁 Happy knitting 🧶🌺
Your knitters advisory was hilarious.
This was fascinating. Thank you for sharing your rare yarns with us. I watched on my TV, so was able to appreciate your 4k efforts.
awesome! filming in 4k is just so exhausting for me..so extra glad it was worth it!
Love this video! I'm going to start buying ethically sourced yarns from now on. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
I love getting my yarn from farms where I can meet the animals. Alpaca is affordable and usually humane!
Those gloves you made took my breath away!!!!
i'm so happy with the results!
That advisory!!!😄😀🤭 Thanks for the warning, Norman. I do get caught up sometimes and want to purchase new yarns that are gorgeous, so your notice helped! Cool review of/introduction to these yarns. Maybe one day I'll get to try some!
i'd be lying if I purchased all these yarns over the years because I needed them...clearly I didn't, lol! ^^
@@NimbleNeedles I would argue that you did need them, though, because they inspire you. 😉I have a few yarns that I have owned for so many years that they are now discontinued, and a few others from single batches that came from indie dyers, none of which I did not need when I bought them, but were just too appealing to me to resist. They are not nearly as valuable as your yarns, of course, but they are quite inspiring for me just to be able to view them in their present forms as unwound hanks. I will probably use them, eventually, but even if I never knit or crochet them up, this has already made them well worth the purchase! Yarn is the product of the beautiful art form of spinning and, sometimes, of dyeing, and it can be an appreciated, inspiring treasure in its own right.
This morning, when taking a little break from knitting, I started reading about the different yarns like cashmere, etc. I was curious about several and which animal they were produced from and even which part of the world. Then... I later saw you had posted this video! So glad you did and for me it was even more informative than the articles I read. Thank you for the great educational video. And Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Merry Christmas!
Qiviut is sold as a scarf or hat. I love it and own a scarf and smoke ring.
The yarn is so soft and it keeps you warm.
In Alaska, the yarn is primarily used by the women in the bush and sell finished garments.
I am obsessed 👏🏼 the vibe , the fiber knowledge it’s giving everything I need 😊❤
I absolutely love your scarf. And those gloves are gorgeous. I really like the white Arctic Fox yarn. Thank you, great education!
I just rewatched this video not sure if I had seen it before, but I enjoyed it as much the second time I did the first!
Those vicuña gloves are beautiful!!!
I bought a skein of dark teal qiviut yarn in Alaska last year and *love* it! I made a lace cowl out of it with a bit left over and it's the softest, warmest, lightest weight thing I own.
Ich schmeiß mich weg 😂😂😂the knitters advisory is priceless. New subscriber here 👋🏻 ❤the arctic fox yarn halo is beautiful 😍your vicuña gloves are stunning!!!!
welcome to my channel, michi!
I love that advisory 😂😂. Thank you for broadening my knitting knowledge including any caveats on ethics
I watched this to be sure you mentioned Vicuña wool. I learned about Vicuñas when I visited friends in Lima, Peru in 2012. I could never afford such a luxury so I opted for baby alpaca/silk blend yarn that I'm making a scarf with. It's amazingly soft but based on Vicuña's 8 to 13 microns thickness I'm sure the Alpaca wool doesn't come close although Alpacas are basically cousins to the Vicuña. Btw, your Vicuña gloves are absolutely beautiful!!!❤❤❤
Thanks for this informative video.👍
Thank you for the advisory! I consider myself a beginning knitter and appreciate your helpful videos! Thanks for such an informative video, I was in Alaska many years back and purchased a skein of musk ox yarn, but have been too nervous to make anything yet! I am going to look at it again 😊
please do. would be a pity if it never got the chance to shine. Plus, I do believe these luxury yarns are perfect for simple patterns - you shouldn't add too much to distract from the already spectacular fluff, right? So stockinette stitch can be just fine..or even better than more complicated thing
@@NimbleNeedles Qiviut it generally used to knit rather intricate lacework because it's such an incredibly warm fiber. (One of the warmest natural fibers in the world.) The yarn and fiber bloom/halo work together to provide a lightweight thermal layer that is almost impervious to arctic cold extremes and even insulates against freezing winds. It's so effective and so valuable that most Alaskan knitters would consider it fairly wasteful to knit it in stockinette which will use up much more yarn than needed. At least that's how my qiviut-knitting friends up here in Alaska have put it to me. 😊
@@Stretch1003 Actually I would like to disagree there. I have found no reason to believe that qiviut is warmer than most other yarns here on this list. And why would it? vicuna or cashmere goats live at much higher altitudes and have to live through very cold winters and storms as well.
I think what makes qiviut so warm is the prevalent spinning method that creates a very fluffy kind of yarn, almost mohair-like. But you could replicate that with a lot of other fibers as well.
It's amazing, gorgeous, warm..but personally I do not buy into myths because so many other myths in the fiber world have been proven to be wrong by scientists (like alpaka being good for summer wear or other such nonsense).
Pls have a cup of hot chocolate with whipped cream on me, Norman! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2024 to you/yours! For me, you have certainly made knitting more enjoyable and have helped in elevating my skill level! Thank you.
Thank you so much darlene. Both for your kind wishes and for being such a loyal fan! ❤️
There is an interesting documentary available on UA-cam that chronicles the replication of the oldest known pants. Part of it was sourcing the appropriate wool since ancient sheep started with guard fibers and we bred them to only have the down layer. There is a flock of these type in England and the owner also spun the yarn for the project (if I remember correctly).
I think the original project was German but I watched an English narration.
interesting! lemme know if you still have a link or so!
@@NimbleNeedles found it!
ua-cam.com/video/Pl7siWwzibs/v-deo.htmlsi=tj58bNW2VA1AQysd
Years ago I bought 100% cashmere goat yarn (Pashmina) by Galler Yarns now discontinued, made a cowl. I also bought mink yarn years ago but, my very young special needs daughter got a hold of it - torn up - I just cried. All in the life of a knitter.
(thank you Norman - 😁love your work xx)
You're very welcome. thank you for supporting my work
Omg, I was more shaken finding out you were 40 years old than the price of the yarns! 😂 Thank you for such an informative video!
heh, lol!. Well, we all have these days when we think we were still 20 but then the mirror/ID tells us a different story ^^
Word!
Happy New Year, Norman. I am just getting to view this episode. What a truly informative and wonderful video. Truly fascinating. The only exotic yarn skein I own is of Quiviut. I so appreciate the adventure you have taken us through in the world of rare and exquisite fibers. Thank you!
Thanks for an informative and interesting video. I live in Alaska and am fortunate to have a lovely big stash of qivuit that I enjoy knitting with.
I clicked on this video as soon as I saw it! Thanks for shedding light on such interesting fibers! I loved watching you speak so passionately about the yarn. The close-ups of the yarn was absolutely amazing and beautiful! I liked seeing the bounce and little fuzz. And how you stretched and pet the yarn-I could only imagine 😮
Also the social aspects of the yarn was very interesting to listen to.
heh. glad my lil close-ups worked out for you! I wish we had like...3D or 4D television yet so you could actually pet along!
Your disclaimer brought a smile to my face. I haven't had the luxury of trying any of these yarns but maybe one day I can ethically source some to knit a fabulous once in a lifetime knit. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you!
Happy Holidays!
Thank you for sharing this insight into rare yarns. I appreciate these yarns but will never have the skill or budget to purchase. I love your videos and teaching skills.
another great video! I really appreciate the info about how ethically sourced the fibers are as thats very important to me❤
I had a pair of socks made with opossum and they were great.
Thank you for this video! I loved the high resolution macro video showing off these yarns! I appreciate what you do.
glad you enjoyed the extra effort
Thanks for all these informations! What do you think about angora yarn or orenburg goat yarn?
these can be super nice, tho lots of people have ethic concerns when it comes to angora rabits. However, it's, by comparision a lot cheaper so it didn't make the list.
Merry Christmas Norman and all the best for 2024 ❤
to you too, kim!
I love learing about all these new fibers. It really reminds me as a handspinning enthusiast that I should try to branch out and spin a variety of sheep breeds and other fibers. I love the concept of spinning the under coat from more northern climate dogs. My best friends have a husky mix and i plan to process her shed fur in the spring and blend it with wool to spin. I am so exited to have a yarn made from shed hair of an animal that i love and care about. She is such a sweet little dog, and i will be reminded of her any time i work on it or wear whatever my project turns out to be.
I was in Alaska and got to see, see not touch, the musk ox and fox yarn! 🧶
I subscribed because of this video! Thank you for the ethical and context based information! I loved the insight into the fact some are deeply engrained into the culture while others are ethically questionable. You've inspired me to get some very fancy yarn someday. XD Maybe.
welcome to my channel :)
Hilarious advisory! You were absolutely right, I’ve never heard of some of these. I’ve actually touched Quivit when we visited the Musk Ox research station in Alaska. It was amazingly soft but I just couldn’t bring myself to spend that much with the real possibility it would be eaten by bugs where I live. I do have a mini skein of Bison I purchased in New Mexico years ago. Mine is not the soft version and someday I’ll make a couple of coasters with it.
I would never knit socks with any of these!!!
Thank you for sharing all your squishy yarn treasures. What a treat!
Thanks for watching!
Thank you for covering these!! I bought a skein of Qiviut when I was in Alaska last summer. I almost got some arctic fox but ended up buying other wool instead. Qiviut is sooo soft.
it sure is! enjoy your treat!
Hi Norman! As always, you help us to dream of magic items in the knitting world! Merry Christmas and hugs from Canada.
I enjoyed this video for it’s educational value. I Only have been exposed to yarn shop yarns and haven’t taken the time to understand weight, blends and values. Thanks so much
Ahh!! I love the arctic fox yarn! I’m indigenous from the west coast of Canada, it’s SO cool seeing your treasures from the north! I have an arctic fox pelt that I got from a trading post when I was in the Yukon and it’s such a prized item of mine 🥰 I love the disclaimer because I now have that website open just drooling hahaha
I have some Qiviut yarn! When I got it a few years ago, I was given 3 patterns to go with it! And 2 hanks of the artic fox. It was a very expensive trip lol!
Oh wow!
I love the knitters advisory!!! So funny 😂
Hi Norman. Thank you for this very informative video. I really enjoyed it. Such beautiful yarns. No I would never knit socks with the first one you showed. As you so aptly pointed out, not very many people would see them. Your gloves on the other hand are so worth showing off! Amazing work! Thank you for another year’s worth of wonderful videos. Merry Christmas Norman!❤️🎄🎄❤️
Merry Christmas to you, too, Thea
As always a very informative - and entertaining - video!
I love your videos! This was so very educational and very well done!
Glad you enjoyed it!
So glad I found you.
I am a nalebinder but my mother got me some really nice linnen yarn with a knitting pattern for Christmas so i need to learn to knit now. Iv been going down the rabbit hole and came across ur channel. And OMG i am so jealous of ur yarn stash. Lol. Ur warning gave me a good laugh. I think the weirdest yarn i own (for me at least) is tibetan yak and the most expensive is yarn i got from a small alpaca farm in my area where they spun the yarn themselves. Cheers from southern California, usa and Merry Christmas!!!
Welcome to my channel and merry Xmas!
Norman, thank you so much for this very informative and entertaining video. Because of the cost of some of these yarns, I'll probably never get an opportunity to try them but I'm happy to know about them.
Merry Christmasdear Nornan, wishing you the best of 2024 thank you for your unique videos.
We have super rare wool in New Zealand?! I had no idea! 😁
Wonderful video, thank you. I’m daydreaming very happily.
Thank you, wonderful to see beautiful yarns I’ve not seen before. I have created two berets out of the Australian Bushtailed Possom. It’s one of the warmest and beautiful fibers I’ve had the pleasure of working with. Found it at a little shop called ‘The Ball and Skein’ in Cambria, California. One of my favorite places. 😊
Do you remember what brand the possom was called? I would some local yarn
Wow! Brilliant presentation. You are so informative and knowledgeable. I thoroughly enjoyed your video. I always learn something from your work. Thank you and Merry Christmas!
Wow, thank you!
My pleasure. Your preparedness and skill is always professional. Thanks again.
Watching this while working on some *extra* sturdy socks for my partner and thinking: Wow... I'd love to have a little stole out of this. Or this. Oh, no, wait, THIS! :D
As always: Love your content, looking forward to becoming a patron next year
I loved the disclaimer at the beginning. Interesting yarns. Thank you for sharing. I hope you have a fantastic holiday season.
Thank you! You too!
Watching this I'm knitting myself my ever 1st cashmere sweater, with two more for me and one for my father. There are two kind of wool i really want to buy the Islantic and silk.
Thank you so much for sharing! I've been knitting for almost 15 years now and have developed a special interest for natural fibers, but I still hadn't heard of many of these yarns! I appreciate your insights on the ethical considerations of each yarn, the transparency around price, and your ending message about an increase of price not inherently meaning an equal increase of quality. This is my first of your videos; I'm subscribed and excited to look into your catalog! I hope you have a fabulous new year! :)
Also the gloves you made for yourself are absolutely gorgeous!
Welcome to my channel ❤️
Wow so fun! I knew there was expensive yarn but wow! I'm in Canada so I can assume we probably have some interesting unique yarns if I searched long enough. Very interesting video! Love the scarf you're wearing too! =D
Norman,
I found this video satisfying to many of my interests. I've always loved learning where things come from and how they're made. And, of course it's about yarn!
I love your presentation, knowledge and obvious love of your artistic medium. Your descriptions of each yarn were so vivid i could almost feel it myself.
I so appreciate your discriptive artistry as well as your knitting artistry - your gloves were simply stunning...so lovely.
Thank you for creating another wonderful video.
May this new year bring you as much joy and good fortune as you continue to bring to your yarny community.
💜✌️🧶🤟
happy 2024 to you ,too, christie!
beautifully done, thank you
Ooo, I really enjoyed this vid. That ultra violet arctic hare yarn is GORGEOUS and looked stunning beside the white fibre! That and the arctic fox yarn look utterly scrumptious (though mixed blends). But anything inanely soft has my vote! hehe Your vicuna gloves are just beautiful and I love the colour of that yarn. And the mink balls of yarn just look divinely soft...and so affordable! (*cough cough*) but just visualising how those little animals are possibly 'kept' In China is enough to put me right off. I'm in Australia so am quite familiar with NZ possum pelt (in slippers etc) which is incredibly soft, though I've not tried possum yarn. So far, the most unusual yarn I've acquired is soybean yarn (blended with 50% wool) and it's lovely and soft. I'd love to know what you've made with some of those rare yarns, aside from your gloves and the scarf for your mum. 🤩
Fascinating video. I really enjoyed it. Subscribed.
Merry Christmas ❤
That disclaimer stopped me dead in my tracks and instantly made me a subscriber. I love it! 😂
Welcome to my channel then 🤪
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with luxury and rare yarns. I learned so much and appreciate you. I hope you had a wonderful holiday!! Xo 🤗
I sure did. Visiting home is always so interesting - especially in my case because no a lot changes there ^^
@NimbleNeedles It can be comforting and nostalgic when not much changes at home. Do either of your parents knit?
@@deeztube1 my mum used to but stopped because of her wrist. BUt that was years and years ago and I do feel she kinda considers coming back to it now that she is about to retire.
@@NimbleNeedles that would be a wonderful retirement hobby!! I hope she can without aggravating her wrist pain. Xo
Thank you Norman. Another one with so much great information I'll watch a few times. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
happy holidays!
I really enjoyed this!
Well done, informative and I love your knowledge and your inviting us to have ethical concerns of how the product is produced and brought to market. This is why I follow you and your wonderful knitting skills too. Happy Holidays from Granny.
Happy holidays!
Another great informative and interesting episode. Thank you ! ❤❤❤
I enjoyed your video very much. Thank you for all of the information. With that said, you, are an amazing person. Your videos have helped me out tremendously on my knitting journey. I’ve been crocheting for over *cough* 40 years and knitting for about two years. Informative videos and awesome tutorials. Thank you for all the time and money you spend on your videos. I am grateful. 🤗 😊
P.S. Merry Christmas to you and yours. 👋
Happy to hear you appreciate my videos and all the effort that goes into them
Thanks for sharing us your knowledge. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2024🌹
I’m updating my wishlist, I’m already lucky enough to own a pacu-vicuña scarf and an oz of yarn, also an oz of vicuña, 2 oz of quiviut, 4 oz of Italian cashmere, and 12 oz of a silk/baby camel blend
Absolutely fascinating! Thank you for the great insight. ❤
Glad you enjoyed it!
I brought Quivit from Greenland online. The yarn is super soft and light. Just one thing negative, in the yarn there are few black strong hair (like whiskers on a cat), so while knitting you need to take them out.
Wow! I can differently say I’ll never knit those kinds of yarn. But they are interesting.
Absolutely fascinating. I remember a news article where a woman had combed, carded and knitted the whole family Aran jumpers from the hair of he golden retriever dog! The children looked so embarrassed, so no dog hair on your list 😂
heh. well, mainly it's not that expensive! ;-)
Love your disclaimer at the beginning Norman! Very funny (and appropriate for those with a lot of disposable income) 😂🎅
Merry Christmas!