by Kathy Reed
June 14, 2022
Ever wondered about why it is so hard to find a true sock yarn without nylon? Although we've only been using nylon in sock yarn since about 1938, it's almost ubiquitous because it increases the durability of the finished item. But not without cost to the environment. Microscopic bits of plastic and nylon are turning up everywhere in our water sources. We wanted to create a durable sock yarn using only wool, which is 100% biodegradable. How hard could that be?
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by Gretchen Frederick
April 18, 2022
1 comment
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by Kim Pierce
November 03, 2021
Kim's appreciation of our fabulous customers after Rhinebeck 2021
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by Gretchen Frederick
April 24, 2021
From concept to sketch to letting loose on the dye tables...wanted to share the process with you of creating our special colorway for Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival 2021.
A shot in the dark
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by Gretchen Frederick
April 22, 2021
It was another good Public Knitoxication. Thank you to the Fiberists for thinking up this great event in the first place...and hosting for three years now!
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by Gretchen Frederick
August 04, 2020
my experience growing and using weld for natural dye. One of the best and most light fast of the local yellows, it's easy to grow if you can get seed and plant at the right time. Following is how I harvested and dyed yarn and roving.
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by Gretchen Frederick
February 10, 2020
We learned by buying wool and visiting farms for Solitude Wool. Farm Field Days are our way of sharing that opportunity with you. Besides...it's just fun!
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by Gretchen Frederick
February 05, 2019
1 comment
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by Alex Krupski
March 06, 2018
Solitude Wool is celebrating our three new partners by offering 5% off for each partners: 15% total on all our yarns, fibers and patterns for the week of March 11th through the 17th. Beginning with an Open House on Sunday at the warehouse in Purcellville and ending on the 17th at the Fibernate Farmers Market in Falls Church, Virginia and all week for online sales (use code congrats!).
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by Gretchen Frederick
September 20, 2017
A big thank you to everyone who came to our Open House on September 10th. You guys were GREAT! Kathy Reed was our roving photographer (officially Solitude Wool’s Chief Knit Knut) and she captured many of you who pitched it and picked, plucked, smooshed, stirred, strained, dipped and admired.
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by Gretchen Frederick
August 28, 2017
5 comments
This is what we are about: touching, trying, learning and appreciating wool from different breeds of sheep. After playing with the swatch along idea for years, we finally have the team and format to get it out of the "wouldn’t it be cool" stage and into your hands. But why swatch different breed’s yarns?...
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by Gretchen Frederick
March 29, 2017
1 comment
We love wool! This little company, Solitude Wool, grew out of our desire to encourage small farms around us who were throwing out such interesting wool of interesting breeds by proving we valued it. We buy their good wool for about double or triple the market price. After ten plus years, we have only bought a teeny amount of wool by industry standards, yet I think it helps.
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by Gretchen Frederick
December 15, 2016
1 comment
ITS COLD OUTSIDE! We need woolen spun yarns. I wanted to talk about two of our yarns that are semi-woolen spun at two different small US mills and how they are slightly apart on the woolen-worsted continuum. But, I didn't know why...
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by Gretchen Frederick
November 29, 2016
8 comments
This is the season for woolen: warm, insulating yarns that are light in weight and cozy. But...you ask, what makes a yarn woolen? The short answer is woolen yarns are spun with fibers opened up, but going all which ways to trap air inside the yarn. They are lighter in weight, but warmer than worsted spun yarns. They tend to hold a shape, are not "hard wearing" and they can pill... but they are great for hats, blankets...sweaters, warm woolen mittens and other of my favorite things.
If you want a bit of a longer explanation...read on.
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by Gretchen Frederick
March 03, 2016
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by Gretchen Frederick
November 12, 2015
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by Gretchen Frederick
July 12, 2015
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by Gretchen Frederick
December 18, 2014
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by Gretchen Frederick
December 12, 2014
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by Gretchen Frederick
November 21, 2014
1 comment
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by Gretchen Frederick
November 13, 2014
2 comments
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by Gretchen Frederick
November 13, 2014
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by Gretchen Frederick
July 24, 2014
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my experience growing and using weld for natural dye. One of the best and most light fast of the local yellows, it's easy to grow if you can get seed and plant at the right time. Following is how I harvested and dyed yarn and roving.
