Introducing our very first sock yarn - Lune. Named for the River Lune that winds its way through Lancaster out into Morecambe Bay and the Irish Sea. The word 'Lune' comes from the Brittonic word for 'healthy and pure' - and it's a quiet wish for our polluted rivers to run clean and full of life again.
Lune is a blend of shearling Aberfield (BFL/Texel Cross), Lonk (a hardy native Lancastrian sheep) and a pinch of black Shetland for a lovely natural grey base. 20% eco nylon helps this sock yarn last the miles you'll walk in them, I've worn my pair (almost every day) for months now, including an 18 mile walk, and they've quickly become a favourite, wearing really well and very cosy. Tried and tested!
Dusty, his wife Fiona, and son Michael and family farm on the edge of the Forest of Bowland near Jubilee Tower where they have Aberfield sheep and Stabilser cattle. They farm in a nature friendly and regenerative way to produce food as well as providing great habitat for wading birds such as Curlew and Lapwing, with pairs of both species successfully breeding most years, and work with the Wyre Rivers Trust on natural flood management measures such as installing leaky woody dams in streams on the farm and planting a kested hedge to slow the flow of water to reduce the risk of flooding downstream. And their sheep produce the most magnificent fleeces which we pay more for, to support this amazing work.
It was a joy to slowly hand sort through the fleeces on the farm, with the swallows diving in and out, friends and family helped - I love sharing the process and extra hands are always welcome!
The yarn has been dyed using only natural plant dyes (except for Great Burnet which uses cochineal) - this is something I'm really excited about and have been trying to do, on a bigger scale, for years. The shades are beautiful - but it's still early days and we're still waiting on two shades which we hope will arrive soon. It's a more expensive process but even better for the environment.
I've named them for native wild flowers and plants that grow near our rivers and streams in the North West of England. (Not the plants used to dye them!)
I hope you enjoy Lune - it feels like a fabulous way to celebrate 10 years, here's to many more!
100g - 350m approx
50% Shearling Aberfield, 25% Lonk, 20% eco nylon 5% Black Shetland
Recommended needle / hook for socks: 2.5mm
Cool hand wash
**This yarn has not been superwash treated, so you will probably see a light halo of fluff on the first few wears, this will stop the more you wear them.**