kits

breed specific swatch along

Free $ 81.50

Want to learn about different breeds of sheep and how their wool looks, feels and performs differently? The best way is by experiencing them first hand: knit, test and share in our first single breed swatch along. Working with four different types of wool: Fine wool (Targhee), Medium wool (Montadale), Primitive (Icelandic) and Longwool (Border Leicester) learn some breed history, what makes them special, the farms that raise them and what you might want to create with their wool.

Three of us are contributing information and our points of view. Together we will lead the swatch along:

• Deborah Robson, co-author of the Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook, past editor of Spin-Off and Shuttle Spindle and Dyepot magazines; advocate for rare-breed wools and currently leading Explore 4 retreats in Friday Harbor, Washington.
• Gretchen Frederick, shepherd, dyer and founding partner of Solitude Wool and
• Kathy Reed, new Solitude Wool partner and our Chief Knit Knut. Kathy is a certified knitting instructor and also raises cashmere goats and alpacas.

There are two choices on how to join in:

Free virtual swatch along
Receive all the emails and electronic files with ten swatch patterns (easy and advanced choices), score cards and knit notes. Follow or join in the Ravelry discussion threads to compare observations and experience with each yarn online

Swatch along knit kit
Includes emails and Ravelry discussion threads as in the virtual plus a skeinlet of Solitude Wool, all American yarn, from each breed. Also included is a cover to create your swatch reference,.

Schedule:
We will start on Sunday, October 1st studying one breed per week throughout October. 

view full product details »

intersections hat kit with Llama-rama! yarn

$ 33.00

• description
• details
• about this wool

• designed by Pamela Wynne. A tartan hat is classic, but you don’t always want the thick fabric of stranded color work. This simple hat is worked in horizontal stripes in the round, with columns of rib stitches where the vertical contrast stripes will go. After finishing the knitting, the vertical stripes are added as easy crocheted slip stitches.
• kit includes: two contrasting colors of llama-rams! yarn in center pull balls and pattern.
  finished size: Adult XS (S, M, L, XL) Circumference: 16.5 (18, 19.5, 21, 22.5)" / 42 (46, 50, 53, 57) cm, unstretched. Two length options: fitted beanie or slouchy beanie
  needles (not included in kit): size 2.5 (US) / 2.75 mm circular knitting needle in 16" / 41 cm length or size to obtain gauge; size 2.5 (US) / 2.75 mm double pointed needles; size D (US) / 3.25 mm crochet hook
  
  
• fiber source: hand selected llama fleeces from "The Farm" (our friends from Endless Summer Harvest's other farm where they raise llamas) and Downey Ridge Farm in Luray, Virginia. Romney from Solitude and Weather lea in Loudoun County, Virginia.
  fiber content: 50% llama and 50% Romney wooll.
  Llama is a camalid fiber, actually more like hair than sheep wool which has crimp. Llamas natural colors are different than sheep and we love the ecru, brown and bittersweet brown in this yarn which are not dyed at all. The strong and drapey nature of this yarn lend itself to both crochet and weaving as well as knitting.

view full product details »

rolled brim hat kit with Montadale true woolen yarn

$ 28.00

• description
• details
• about this wool

• Great for learning circular knitting & decreases —once you get the hang of joining without a twist, this hat is wonderfully easy & you can nish one in a couple of TV evenings. A true woolen spun yarn that captures air to create maximum insulation, Solitude’s Montadale Woolen makes a cozy hat —it’s our shepherd’s favorite for winter chores!
• kit includes: two contrasting colors of Montadale true woolen spun yarn in center pull balls and pattern.
  finished size: Approximately 16" (18, 20, 22, 24")/40.5 cm (46, 51, 56, 61 cm) in circumference after blocking. With 1 to 1.5: of negative ease, 64-stitch versions fit babkies, 72-stitch versions fit young children, 80-stitch versions fit older children, teens and most women; 88- and 96-stitch versions fit those larger heads and men. Height can be easily adjusted.
  needles (not included in kit): 7 (US)/4.5 mm circular (16"/42 cm), or double pointed needles (dpns)
  notions: one stitch marker, one needle to weave in ends gauge: 18 sts = 4"/10cm before blocking
  skills: knitting, K2tog decreasing
• fiber source: hand selected fleeces from Saffer's Montadales in Warwick, Maryland on the Eastern Shore fiber content: 100% Montadale wool. Montadale is a modern US breed developed in the 1930's in the mid-west from Cheviot rams with Columbia ewes. These sheep are raised for both meat and their exceptionally white wool which is in the "medium" range. Medium is right in the middle of all the types of wool and makes an excellent knitting yarn that is fairly soft and yet still fairly strong.

view full product details »

round up hat kit with Icelandic yarn

$ 37.00

• description
• details
• about this wool

• Not your typical knitted cap, this hat has a bit more structure. Knit in the round with basic stitches & easy decreases, the contrasting concentric circles add a bit of whimsy & surprise to the top of the hat. Looks great with long or short hair, its most heads comfortably & covers the top of the ears. Shown in Icelandic with an option for Montadale woolen.
• kit includes: two contrasting colors of Icelandic yarn in center pull balls and pattern.
  finished size: Approximately 20"/51 cm in circumference and 8"/20 cm from center of crown to lower edge of hat. Fits head circumferences of 18-21"/46-53cm and can easily be adjusted smaller or larger.
  needles (not included in kit): 7 (US)/4.5 mm circular (16"/42 cm), and 7 (US) mm double pointed needles (dpns) notions: one stitch marker, one needle to weave in ends gauge: 18 sts and 32 rows = 4"/10cm in moss stitch pattern
  skills: knitting, purling, K2tog decreasing
• fiber source: hand selected fleeces from White Rock Manor, Pine Hollow Farm, Three Bags Wool and Kingsolver/Hopp Farm all in Virginia
  fiber content: 100% Icelandic wool.
  
  Icelandic sheep are one of the oldest breeds in the world. Brought to Iceland by the Vikings in the ninth and tenth centuries, they were imported to Canada in the 1990's. Icelandic fleece is double coated: the long outer coat is called tog and the short down undercoat is called thel. This Primitive type fleece provided many types of fiber for varied uses, ropes, sails and clothing all from one fleece. The primitive genetics also give us many natural colors from white, silvers, reds, brown all the way to black.

view full product details »

round up hat kit with Montadale true woolen yarn

$ 37.00

• description
• details
• about this wool

• designed by Sue Burke, Not your typical knitted cap, this hat has a lot of structure. Knit in the round with basic stitches & easy decreases, the contrasting concentric circles add a bit of whimsy & surprise to the top of the hat. Looks great with long or short hair, fits most heads comfortably & covers the top of the ears. Shown in solid and hand painted Montadale but pattern includes an option for Solitude Icelandic.
• kit includes: two contrasting colors of Montadale true woolen spun yarn in center pull balls and pattern.
  finished size: Approximately 22"/56 cm in circumference and 10"/25 cm from center of crown to lower edge of hat. Fits head circumferences of 18-21"/46-53cm and can easily be adjusted smaller or larger.
  needles (not included in kit): 7 (US)/4.5 mm circular (16"/42 cm), and 7 (US) mm double pointed needles (dpns)
  notions: one stitch marker, one needle to weave in ends gauge: 15 sts and 30 rows = 4"/10cm in moss stitch pattern skills: knitting, purling, K2tog decreasing
  
• fiber source: hand selected fleeces from Saffer's Montadales in Warwick, Maryland on the Eastern Shore
  fiber content: 100% Montadale wool.
  Montadale is a modern US breed developed in the 1930's in the mid-west from Cheviot rams with Columbia ewes. These sheep are raised for both meat and their exceptionally white wool which is in the "medium" range. Medium is right in the middle of all the types of wool and makes an excellent knitting yarn that is fairly soft and yet still fairly strong.

view full product details »

sirkel cowl kit

$ 44.00

• description
• details
• about this wool

• The designer started with a question: Just how streamlined & modern a piece could stockinette stitch be sculpted into? Sirkel uses outside-the-box construction to create a fabric that holds its architectural shape without help from wires or interfacing. Targhee 2 yarn has the firm body & fine wool softness to make this cowl comfortable right next to your skin.
• kit includes: two contrasting colors of Targhee 2 yarn in center pull balls and pattern.
  finished size: Inner Ring: 3.25"/8.5 cm high x 24"/60cm around. Outer ring 3.5"/9 cm high x 28"/71 cm around
  needles (not included in kit): 8 (US)/5 mm, 16 to 24"/42 to 60 cm circular knitting needle or size needed to get gauge
  notions: one stitch marker, one needle to weave in ends
  gauge: 20 sts and 32 rows = 4"/10cm in stockinette stitch, worked in the round, blocked
  skills: working in the round, three-needle bind-off, changing colors, picking up stitches
• fiber source: hand selected fleeces from What Next? Farm in York, Pennsylvannia
  fiber content: 100% Targhee wool.
  Targhee is a Fine wool, soft and elastic. The breed was developed in Idaho in 1926, one of the newest in America. Most of the Targhee sheep are in the western range lands in large flocks, they is an unusual breed in the Eastern US.

view full product details »

Solitude Dots hat kit with yarn and pattern

$ 39.00

• description
• details
• about this wool

• "we love dots! knit in a true woolen spun yarn from the last mule-spinner in the U.S., Montadale Woolen is a light-weight worsted yarn that will keep you warm & cozy without any itchiness — and the random color dots will warm your mood even on cold gray winter days check solitudewool.com for kits for this hat."
• kit includes: one skein of Montadale true woolen in center pull ball, 7 colors of Romney semi-worsted spun yarn in small center pull balls for the dots and pattern.
  finished size: Circumference 18.25" (20.5, 22.75)"/465 (520, 575) mm, unstretched Length 9.5" (10, 11)" / 240 (255, 280) mm
  needles (not included in kit): 6 (US)/4 mm* double pointed needles 8 (US) / 5mm* double pointed needles *size needed to get gauge
  notions: locking open stitch markers gauge: 14 sts and 24 rows = 4"/10cm in stockinette stitch on larger needles, blocked
  skills: Knitting in the round, purling, duplicate stitch, reading charts
• fiber source: Montadale: hand selected fleeces from Saffer's Montadales in Warwick, Maryland on the Eastern Shore. Romney: hand selected fleeces from Weather Lea Farm and Solitude (partner Gretchen Frederick's farm) both in Loudoun County, Virginia
  fiber content: 100% Montadale wool and 100% Romney wool
  Montadale is a modern US breed developed in the 1930's in the mid-west from Cheviot rams with Columbia ewes. These sheep are raised for both meat and their exceptionally white wool which is in the "medium" range. Medium is right in the middle of all the types of wool and makes an excellent knitting yarn that is fairly soft and yet still fairly strong. Romney is a longwool breed originally from the RomneyMarsh area of southeast England. on the softer end of the Longwool spectrum, it still has excellent strength, shine and drape. The fleece for our yarn comes from both white and natural colored sheep.

view full product details »

Sweet sheep kit

sold out

• description
• details
• about this wool

• designed by Susan B. Anderson When Susan redesigned her Sweet sheep pattern she chose our Romney semi-worsted spun yarn for her samples. Aren't they cute? You can start your own flock of sweet sheep with our kit that comes in natural color white or black. It includes Romney yarn in one or two colors (for the face), some Icelandic yarn to embroider the face and nice wool roving to stuff your sweet sheep.
• kit includes: 100 yards of Romney semi-worsted spun yarn in either one color or two colors for the face plus Icelandic black yarn to embroider the face and wool roving to stuff you sweet sheep.
  finished size: 5" tall by 3.5" wide
  needles (not included in kit): 6 (US)/4 mm* double pointed needles
  notions: tapestry needle
• fiber source: hand selected fleeces from Weather Lea Farm and Solitude (partner Gretchen Frederick's farm) both in Loudoun County, Virginia
  fiber content: 100% Romney wool.
  Romney is a longwool breed originally from the RomneyMarsh area of southeast England. on the softer end of the Longwool spectrum, it still has excellent strength, shine and drape. The fleece for our yarn comes from both white and natural colored sheep.

view full product details »

Thrummed slippers kit

$ 47.00

• description
• details
• about this wool

• "These felted thrummed slippers are sure to keep your toes cozy through the coldest days of winter. The combination of felted wool and thrums make these extra cushy and comfortable to wear —your feet will feel like they’re walking on clouds!"
• kit includes: two skeins of black Icelandic yarn in center pull balls, 4 oz of Border Leicester wool roving
  finished size: Women's S (M, L, XL); approx. fin. Length: 9 (9.5, 10, 10.5)"/ 23 (24, 25.5, 27)cm to fit US women's shoe sizes 7 (8, 9.5, 11); shown in size M. Note on sizing: these can be stretched somewhat during and after the felting process. If between sizes, knit the closest smaller size and felt a little bit less or knit the closest larger size and felt a bit more.
  needles (not included in kit): 10 (US)/6 mm double pointed needles (dpns); 10.5 (US)/6.5 straight knitting needles
  notions: removeable stitch marker
  gauge: 8 sts and 14 rows = 4"/10cm in thrummed pattern before felting
• fiber source: hand selected Icelandic fleeces from White Rock Manor, Pine Hollow Farm, Three Bags Wool and Kingsolver/Hopp Farm all in Virginia. Hand selected Border Leicester fleeces from Overlook Manor, Warrenton, Virginia and Orange Gate Farm, Maurerton, Virginia
  fiber content: yarn, 100% Icelandic wool. Roving, 100% Border Leicester wool
  Icelandic sheep are one of the oldest breeds in the world. Brought to Iceland by the Vikings in the ninth and tenth centuries, they were imported to Canada in the 1990's. Icelandic fleece is double coated: the long outer coat is called tog and the short down undercoat is called thel. This Primitive type fleece provided many types of fiber for varied uses, ropes, sails and clothing all from one fleece. The primitive genetics also give us many natural colors from white, silvers, reds, brown all the way to black.

view full product details »