For my 23rd birthday, Robert took me to Morehouse Farm to look at Merino sheep. On the 10 hour drive, he reminded me, over and over, that we were just going to look.
The first ram we saw was Peppino, who wasn't for sale, and our day-trip became extended so Robert could persuade Morehouse to part with Peppino and five ewes.
That was the start of Wind Dancer Merinos, hand-spinning, hand-weaving, creating one-of-a-kind garments, doing studio tours, dyeing for Koigu, starting our current business, and the journey continues.
A GREENER OPTION THAN SYNTHETIC FIBRES
Merino Sheep grow their fleeces grazing on, and naturally fertilizing pastures. Garments are both fire-resistant and biodegradable. Compare that with oil-based synthetic garments that don’t breathe, aren’t biodegradable and are a fire hazard.
ALWAYS A COMFORTABLE TEMPERATURE
Merino fibres are so fine that air is captured between them. This air insulates against both cold and hot weather, naturally regulating the wearer’s body temperature.
ODOUR RESISTANT
Merino yarn keeps sweat away from the body. This means bacteria doesn’t have time to build up and create body odour.
NON-ITCHY
Merino yarn is soft, not itchy, has unique thermo-regulating capabilities, and does not smell.
PROTECTION FROM THE SUN
Merino yarn offers a high level of protection against harmful UV rays.
WRINKLE FREE
Garments made from Merino yarn require next to no ironing and are resistant to creases and wrinkles.
ELASTIC BUT NOT CLINGY
The natural crimp in Merino fleece means Merino yarn has a natural elasticity which transfers to finished knitted projects.
EASY TO CARE FOR
Merino yarn is the perfect fabric for today’s busy lifestyles. When it’s been superwashed, it‘s easily machine washable at low temperatures, though we always encourage air-drying on a towel. Like cotton, merino yarn doesn’t restrict air flow to and from the body.
OUR OBJECTIVE
We believe that affability, availability and accountability are the foundations of a great business and we are committed to those objectives. We believe, as well, in exceeding expectations, both in product and service.
And we believe in the importance of enhanced experience, whether that’s in interactions with us, with the stores that carry our yarn, with designers working with our yarn, and, of course, with knitters, needlepointers, crocheters, together celebrating a passion we all share for yarn..
THE COLOURWAYS I PRODUCE
Every colourway has a name, not a number, and there’s a story associated with every colourway. Some of the stories are as simple as relating to a specific point in time.
Some relate to place, some to people, some to a remembered event.
Some to magic.
Some to mystery.
Some to joy.
Some to pain.
They are the sum of singular and of shared experiences. We all have them. Sometimes we don’t give them the attention they deserve. Sometimes we don’t take the time, make the time, want the time.
But there’s this ‘thing’ about knitting, about crochet, about needlepointing, about weaving and spinning.
You make the time. You are the time.
And whether you are alone, or with a friend, or a group, you are aware of an enrichment.
And THAT is the purpose of our named colourways.
