WE HAVE YAK YARN!

We are now carrying handspun, 100%  yak wool in a beautiful deep, natural brown hue, supplied by our friends at the Snow Leopard Trust.  The Trust is a non-profit group that works toward helping people in Mongolia co-exist with endangered leopards.  This yarn comes from the hands of herding people in the Uvs Province.  

 

Skeins vary in size, weighing from 4 - 5 ounces and measuring from 125 to 200 yards.  I have not yet woven or knitted with this yarn, but I opened a skein and wore it around my neck for a while to gauge its softness.  It is not spun solely of the softest, cashmere-like undercoat, but has some rougher hairs mixed in.  I could wear a scarf woven or knitted from this yarn, but more sensitive people might prefer to use it more for hats, mittens, wraps, and throws.

 

Snow Leopard Trust pledges that every dollar from their yarn sales goes back to the Mongolian communities producing the yarn.  These dollars provide money for food, medicine, education and a better quality of life.  The Trust's yarn program is one of many collaborations that help the herders co-exist with endangered snow leopards and practice good stewardship of their surrounding habitat. 

 

To learn more about the people who produce this wool and their relationship with their livestock, see National Geographic's page on "The Story of the Weeping Camel."

MEMORIES OF AFRICA:  "AFRICAN TEXTILE WORKSHOP"

For ethnic fiber enthusiasts!  Cross Cultural Collaborative is sponsoring this unique workshop at its cultural center in Ghana from July 8 through July 21, 2012. This is a rare opportunity to live and work with indigenous Ghanaian artisans, sharing ideas and learning textiles techniques.

Signup deadline is April 5, 2012.
For details, please click here.
Please email questions to aba@culturalcollaborative.org.
http://www.culturalcollaborative.org
http://www.crossculturalcollaborative.blogspot.com

Hello friends. . .For reasons I don't completely understand, my North American supplier of Mirasol yarns is no longer carrying the Mirasol Qina yarn.  Thus, the supply I have on hand will not be replenished, and I'm closing it out.  Prices for individual skeins have been marked down 15%, from $8.95 per skein to $7.60 per skein.  For people interested in purchasing larger quantities, I'll give a 20% discount (off of the original price) for ten skeins, and 25% off for 15 skeins or more.  If you're interested in larger quantities, please email me for more information about placing an order. This is a great chance to get this beautiful yarn at very low prices!