Featured Product
Afghanistan Cashmere
Afghanistan Cashmere provides women the opportunity to work in war-torn Afghanistan. The yarn is spun by Afghan women from their homes and they are paid a fair wage for their labor. So, in between doing house chores, dealing with kids and getting dinner on the table, they are spinning raw cashmere into beautiful skeins of hand-knitting yarn. Some of them are even using a drop spindle! It can take up to 5 days to get through one kilo.
In the Early Fall 2012 edition of Vogue Knitting, there is a great article about what it takes to get cashmere from the goat to people like Kate Spade, J. Crew and handknitters like you. “Afghanistan may be the third largest cashmere producer in the world but first somebody had to tell the shepherds.” and then get them the production machinery and then find a way to get the word out.
It is cashmere, so of course it is soft and warm. We often think of cashmere as elegant and fragile, but this has been handspun in only natural shades so there is an earthy richness and durability to it as well.
I’ve made a pair of fingerless gloves with a simple cable which I love. My next project will be a lace cardigan, because this yarn is really worth the investment.
Products
String Theory Yarn Company is committed to the idea that yarn should not only look beautiful, it should be borne out of a beautiful idea.
Our shelves are brimming with nature’s warmest, finest and softest fibers. You’ll find earth friendly cotton and minimally processed wools. You’ll also find yarns that provide income and education to poverty stricken communities around the world. And beautifully hand-dyed artisan yarns in a variety of weights and fibers. So if you’re looking for yarns that will make you feel good–inside and out–you’ve come to the right place.
Artisan Hand-Painted Yarn:
Depending on how well the artisan is able to keep up with demand, we may have any of the following in stock:
Abstract Fibers: Matisse, Alto, MightySock
Baah Yarns: La Jolla
Handmaiden: Casbah, Sea Silk
IndigoDragonfly: MCN sock
Lorna’s Laces: Shepherd Worsted, Solemate
Madelinetosh: Tosh Merino Light, Tosh DK
Malabrigo: Sock, Rasta, Rios, Arroyo, Lace
Misti Alpaca: Babymeboo, Handpaint Chunky, Sock, PimaSilk DK
Mountain Colors: Wool Crepe, Winter Silk, River Twist, Jeanette
Pagewood Farms: Glacier Bay
String Theory: Caper Sock, Merino DK
Eco Friendly Yarn:
Blue Sky Alpacas: Organic Cotton Worsted, Skinny Cotton
Imperial Stock Ranch: 2 ply Columbia
K1C2: 2nd Time Cotton
Lion Brand: Nature’s Choice Organic Cotton
Misti International: Best of Nature Alpaca Worsted
Rowan Purelife: Revive
Schoppel-Wolle: Pur
Sincere Sheep: Equity Sport, Luminosity
Spud&Chloe: Sweater, Outer
Tahki: Rio
Fairly Traded Yarn:
Be Sweet: Extra Fine, Medium, Boucle, Bamboo, Skinny Wool
Saves South African women from working in the pineapple fields and supports their local schools
Frog Tree: Sportweight Alpaca, Pediboo
Provides fair wages and educational programs for women and their families in Bolivia
Knit Outta the Box: Sifa Cotton, Afghanistan Cashmere
Sifa is produced in the area of Turkey that was devastated in the 1999 earthquake and the income produced is used to support local artisans, craftswomen and small local spinners who are still suffering from the catastrophe.
Afghanistan Cashmere provides women the opportunity to work in war-torn Afghanistan. The yarn is spun by Afghan women from their homes and they are paid a fair wage for their labor.
Himalaya Yarn: Duke Silk
A cottage industry that employs people in Nepal
Manos del Uruguay: Clasica, Silk Blend, Lace, Serena
Supports a women’s cooperative in Uruguay
Peace Fleece: Worsted
Contributes to conflict resolution in the Middle East
Natural Fibers:
Berroco: Boboli Quick, Peruvia Quick
Blue Sky Alpacas: Alpaca Silk, Skinny Cotton
Cascade: Alpaca Lace, Fixation, Sierra, Kid Seta, Ultra Pima, Casablanca
Classic Elite: Liberty Print, Kumara, Fresco, Vail, Blackthorn, Chalet, Sprout
Ewe Ewe: Wooly Worsted
Fibre Company: Road to China Light, Terra, Savannah, Acadia, Tundra
Filatura Di Crosa: Superior, Tempo,
Kauni: Wool Effektgarn
Misti Alpaca: Chunky Alpaca
Rowan: Kidsilk Haze, Lima, Felted Tweed, Pure Wool Aran, Creative Focus Worsted, Panama, Savannah, Creative Focus Linen
Shibui: Sock, Silk Cloud
Skacel: Zauberball, Unisono, Blick Fang, Trekking, Cobasi
Stonehedge Fiber Mill: Shepherd’s Wool
And Our favorite Knitting and Crochet Supplies:
Jul hardware, Namaste organizers, Knit Kits, LoLo bars and one of a kind silver shawl pins crafted by local artist Jerry Schurmeier