And than there was the nettle. Turin is a slightly shiny 4ply yarn and has much to offer! Spun in the Czech Republic, this yarn is made from wool blended with Ramie and Silk to produce a delicate but strong yarn with a cheeky shine to it. This is one of our favourites to use in plant dyed multi-colours – it makes the colours come alive – ever changing with the light.

Due to its Ramie and silk content, it makes sturdy socks, but it can also be used for knitting flattering garments. Beautifully soft but can be a little stiff at the beginning, this yarn will win you over in no time.

In a nutshell for 1 skein:
60% wool & 20% Ramie & 20% Silk
4 ply
weight Fingering
100gr/ 3.5oz
425m/ 464.7yards
2-3mm needles
Hand wash only

Knitting - that is easily washed of with soap and even healthy!)

I love this wool yarn, simple and beautifully soft. We now have a full new Pattern Collection available in this lovely yarn.

https://appleoakfibreworks.com/pages/a-story-of-forest-friends

We're often asked, is, why do we call it Softwool? We originally mistook it for merino for starters! It came up while talking with Albina (LBhandknits) about this yarn and how well it knits up. Upon closer inspection, we noticed that this wool is stronger, has a lot less pillage and is almost as soft. Albina has designed a couple of cardigans, a sweater, and a dress for this lovely yarn and a name was necessary, so Softwool it became. 

Once being aware that it isn't merino, you can just feel a slightly stronger handle, less of the plush and more of a textured smoothness. Perfect for colour work, the Softwool line comes with one of our biggest colour ranges, inviting you to enjoy your favorites when choosing from a broad colour palette, including pastels as well as stronger dominant tones.

Suitable for all kinds of projects, like "Ada" and "Ripple and Bloom" both of which have been custom designed for AppleOak FibreWorks by LBHandknits.

In a nutshell for 1 skein:
100% wool
weight Sport
100gr/skein
300m/328yrds
3-4mm needles

Indigo* - herbaceous plant ( you might get a bit of blue on your hands while 
Knitting - that is easily washed of with soap and even healthy!)

Doolin 2021

Dyed with 18th century recipes, developed by Master Dyer Antoine Janot (1700-1775). Though I had to tweak a few recipes, this book has been a real inspiration when it comes to blending colour. Back then Natural dyeing was the only source of colouring cloth and the choice of dyes limited. Doolin has been dyed using only 4 dyes in varying quantities and combinations: Sage, Indigo, Madder & Oak Gall. I wanted to create a Winter Palette so I substituted Weld with Sage. Sage gives darker and moodier yellows in comparison to the lively lemon like yellow produced by Weld. I had to double dye most to create an even colour uptake, but I am very pleased with the results and I hope they will inspire you to create something beautiful, thank you! 

'Workbook: Antoine Janot's Colours'

Written by Dominique Cardon and Iris Bremaud

Let’s celebrate the humble nettle!

Doolin is made from 80%wool and 20% Ramie and the bigger brother of our 4ply Turin, made from a similar blend but including Silk as well. Ramie is a bast fibre, made from the inner phloem of the nettle. Ramie not only gives the yarn a gentle sheen, but also provides strength and stability needed for the heel and toe areas making it a great alternative to nylon rich yarns. Ramie doesn’t absorb dye the same way as wool does, giving this yarn a unique two-toned mottled effect.

Doolin and Turin are 'all rounder' yarns suitable for any project you set your mind too.

Like with all hand knitted items, a gentle handwash is best, however, this yarn has been washing machine tested by us and can be wool washed if preferred.

We also have some stunning patterns available for this yarn in our pattern section, designed by LBhandknits for AppleOak FibreWorks.

In a nutshell for 1 skein:
80% wool & 20% Ramie
weight Sport
100gr/ 3.5oz
300m/ 328yards
2-3mm needles
Origins: Wool USA, Ramie China, spun in the Czech Republic, Dyed in Ireland naturally.

Indigo* - herbaceous plant ( you might get a bit of blue on your hands while
Knitting - that is easily washed of with soap and even healthy!)

 Stockholm is a beautifully simple semi solid yarn, very soft and easy to knit. You can knit a sweater within a couple of days and it is suitable for quick knits, children and beginners. It is a pleasure to work with and due to its bulky weight gives quick and satisfying results as well as a clean and visible knit.

Pattern design by Ailbíona McLochlainn

In a nutshell:

100g/3.5oz
100m/109yards
6-9mm needles
Hand wash
Suitable for felting

Fibre Origin: America museling free farms
Naturally dyed with Organic Cochineal (insect based)

Warmer than wool and as soft as cashmere, what is not to love about the Yak? A large domesticated wild Ox with shaggy hair... so they say. What you wouldn’t expect from looking at a yak is that its fibre is as soft as cashmere, extremely durable and lightweight and preserves heat in winter yet breathes in warmer weather.

Yalana is our personal favourite – a blend of 50% Yak and 50% merino lamb’s wool, this yarn is beautifully soft with a textured look, that is particularly visible when dyed. The colours tend to be deep and rich – just looking at it makes me smile.

Being a sport weight, Yalana knits up quickly and can be a luxurious substitute for any of our Doolin or Softwool patterns.

In a nutshell for 1 skein:
50% yak / 50% merino lamb
weight Sport
100g/ 3.5oz
300/ 328 yards

3-4mm needles

Origin: Yak - Tibet, Merino - USA
Spun: in Mongolia
Naturally dyed in Ireland