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Clara
queen bee
USA
4362 Posts |
 Posted - 05/25/2011 : 6:52:14 PM
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I know that most people associate cashmere with Mongolia and China, where most of today's cashmere comes from. But cashmere goats are being raised here in the U.S. too (as well as in England and Italy, among other places). But it's tricky because environment does play a significant role in the quality of the fibers.
This week I look at the efforts of one farm in Oregon, which has partnered with five other cashmere farms in the U.S. to produce a purely American cashmere yarn--from fibers grown, processed, and spun here. Meet Ravenwood Cashmere.
Clara
Your friendly Knitter's Review publisher
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Carol Metzger
New Pal
USA
27 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2011 : 01:12:25 AM
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Yarn. Good. But did you take a look at those DOGS!!!!!!!
http://cfmdesigns.net/ |
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frenetic@charter.net
Permanent Resident
1386 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2011 : 04:38:32 AM
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| I agree with Carol--love the dogs!!! |
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jo.vivian@comcast.net
New Pal
4 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2011 : 04:59:59 AM
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| It's pretty rare for me to jump on a yarn like I just did, but I agree with Clara - I love the idea of supporting this farm. I do hope they get someone to take more detailed pictures of the patterns/kits - especially any lace patterns as it was difficult to see the design in the pictures provided for the lace scarf. So, I just had to suck it up and buy the beret kit instead. Ah, the sacrifices we make. :) |
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kjelenfy
New Pal
11 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2011 : 05:11:16 AM
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| Black Locust Farm here in Washington, Maine has been doing a similar thing for years. Yvonne Taylor is the Queen Mother of cashmere goats in Maine, second only to Wendy Piet at Springtide Farms in Bremen. I'd love to see you promote these Maine farmers, Clara! |
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rosir
Gabber Extraordinaire
USA
430 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2011 : 05:11:17 AM
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Oh Dear! I think I beat my own personal "best"...either that or my internet connection was really fast late last night. There is so much to love about this product and the production. Thank you sweet Clara. I need something extremely soft and comforting right now and this will fill my ache.
Rosi,
who is teetering and listing just slightly |
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spinningkat
New Pal
USA
13 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2011 : 05:33:24 AM
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Hi Clara,
Glad you are promoting American raised Cashmere. As a grower of Cashmere for 12 years, it has been my dream to create a commercially available yarn that incorporates American Cashmere. I was a member of the Eastern Cashmere Association-edited their newsletter...but realized in order to accomplish this-I needed to learn the yarn industry. After founding a yarn shop-owning it for 4 years, then running a wholesale line of hand dyed yarn-I have finally succeeded. Trinity Lace is a 2 ply strong yet so beautiful lace weight yarn that incorporates not only 30% American Cashmere, but also 40% American Corriedale wool and 30% silk. It is now available in yarn shops and online at EarthFaire.com and now on Patternworks. It is milled in a wonderful up and coming mill in Ohio. And it is available in over 50 solid and variegated colorways. Scarlet Fleece introduced it last year at TNNA and we are dyeing it as fast as we can. I am a strong believer in promoting American farms. Our animals are well cared for and thus we produce quality fiber. Thanks for highlighting American Cashmere.
Kat
Check out news at Scarlet Fleece: www.scarletfleece.com |
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peggymchoe
Warming Up
63 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2011 : 05:39:52 AM
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| Thanks for this review. I decided, when we started hearing about the environmental problems with Asian cashmere, that I would buy only North American cashmere. The high price only seems to confirm my idea that cashmere is supposed to be a luxury product. Black Locust Farm, which another commenter mentioned, on the East Coast, is definitely worth a look. |
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carolbeech
Gabber Extraordinaire
USA
444 Posts |
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KAH
New Pal
6 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2011 : 08:54:56 AM
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Just FYI - It's in Spokane WASHINGTON (not Oregon). :)
www.knotanotherhat.com |
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churchlady
Warming Up
Canada
81 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2011 : 09:25:41 AM
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| Incidentally, the Spokane, WA area isn't in the Pacific Northwest, lush and rainy. It's not high desert like Mongolia, but between the Cascade and Rocky mountains, it's a dry climate, with hot summers and cold winters. The natural brush is sparse, with pine and sagebrush, and it's a wonderful agricultural area in the valleys--I usually see the area on the Canadian side of the line during summer, but I can see how the goats might really like it! |
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lauritatoo
New Pal
1 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2011 : 11:15:19 AM
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Springtide Farm in Bremen, Me has the most amazing range of colors, they dye right at the farm and will custom dye for you as well. I find domestic cashmere a yarn of a much better quality than commercially procured yarns. http://www.springtidefarm.com/index.php
I purchased Ivonne's yarn as well (Springtide's goats are from Ivonne's stock). Though much pricier than its Mongolian or Chinese counterpart, this cashmere is a song of your soul. Try it once, you will be hooked, the resulting pieces are beyond compare. My daughter has worn her hat for the last 3 years and it still looks great and feels even better. It also attracts a lot of attention because of its colors - lime green and bright pink, her choice. I love this part about Springtide cashmeres, they come in great, great colors. This cashmere has a very fine "bloom" and though made in fingering weight is very very warm, warm enough for out Maine winters. |
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lella
Permanent Resident
9697 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2011 : 11:32:35 AM
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I am thrilled to see this choice! Thanks for spotlighting this yarn and farm, Clara. Whoot!
Lella
Zippiknits
"Life is good if you don't weaken." Calvin Coolidge
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Milinda
Permanent Resident
USA
3816 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2011 : 2:28:53 PM
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OMG, these people are within driving distance from my house!!! I feel the need for a field trip coming on.
M L
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Pete
Warming Up
USA
92 Posts |
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Topic |
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American-grown cashmere from Ravenwood
