Alpine Polwarth Possum

Yarn Notes Yarn Specs The Brand Alpine Polwarth Possum spun at the same mill as our fav Merino Possum, which many of you have knit with and loved. Spun in Christchurch by Wild Earth Yarns, this beautiful woollen-spun blend combines the natural softness and elasticity of Polwarth wool with the exceptional warmth and lightness of possum fibre. The result is a beautifully light, lofty yarn with a soft, slightly fuzzy handle and gorgeous stitch definition. And because it's woollen spun, it has that lovely airy quality that makes it especially fabulous for colourwork - colours blend beautifully and stitches have tons of character. Polwarth is a particularly lovely wool breed: soft, with a good long staple and a subtle lustre, while also being more durable and less prone to pilling than many comparable fine wools. Then there's the possum. Possum fibre is exceptionally warm for its weight, thanks to its hollow structure, so this yarn gives you seriously cosy fabric without the heaviness you'd expect from such a warm yarn. The possum fibre comes from the wild brushtail possum population in New Zealand. Possums are an introduced pest species that cause significant damage to native flora and fauna, and the fibre used here is a by-product of population control rather than animals being trapped for their fur. Alpine is gorgeous for cosy sweaters, cardigans, hats, mitts, scarves and shawls - and it's particularly worth considering for colourwork where its woollen-spun structure really comes into its own. Ingredients: 80% Polwarth Wool 20% New Zealand Possum Fur Length: Approximately 105m (115yd) Weight: 50g ball Gauge: DK / 8ply Needle Size: 4mm (US 6) Tension: 22 sts x 30 rows per 10cm Spinning: Woollen spun Care: Gentle hand wash Wild Earth Yarns is a New Zealand yarn company based in Christchurch, working with beautiful natural fibres grown in the wild landscapes of Aotearoa New Zealand. The company was founded by husband-and-wife team Graham and Jacqui, who established Wild Earth Yarns in 2010 after the opportunity arose to purchase a complete fibre processing plant from the Wool Research Institute. Today, Wild Earth combines decades of experience in wool processing with specialist spinning equipment and a real commitment to quality and traceability. Their range includes premium Merino, Polwarth, Possum, Alpaca, Mohair and strong wool yarns. We love Wild Earth for their beautifully considered natural-fibre blends and their commitment to producing yarns that make the most of New Zealand's exceptional raw materials. And Alpine Polwarth Possum is a perfect example: wonderfully warm without being heavy, beautifully soft, full of character and unmistakably New Zealand.