Briggs & Little Country Roving

It's no secret that I have an obsession/adoration for super bulky and chunky yarn. But sometimes I get the itch to knit with something a little bit different. And I've found a super bulky that is a little bit different (and looks amazing.) It's called Briggs & Little Country Roving, and it's made of 5 strands of 100% wool that are held together as a single strand.

Briggs & Little is Canada's oldest woolen mill and has a really interesting history that you can read about here and here. (Seriously, you should check it out because I just learned a lot about how yarn is spun at a mill.) They use 100% Canadian wool and environmentally friendly dyes, which are very wash & light fast. As you can see here, Country Roving is spun from single strand roving into 5-ply rolls. It's wound to stay together (while remaining separate!) The end result is definitely that wonderful super bulky, woolen fabric that we all love but it's also light and airy. It knits up lightning fast. Country Roving comes in 15 shades, and the one I'm using here is called Sheep's Grey. Each lovely 8 oz roll has 155 yards.

This month Briggs & Little are celebrating their 100th anniversary of the Briggs & Little Name, though the mill itself has actually been around for over 150 years! If you'd like to try the yarn, you can contact them by emailing yarninfo@briggsandlittle.com to find your nearest Briggs & Little retailer. They can also ship directly to customers if you don't happen to have a LYS that carries the yarn. You can check out their yarns on their website ... and be sure to follow them on Facebook!

I'm actually playing around with designs for my next book with Briggs & Little Country Roving because I am really enjoying the way it looks as I knit! I've been on the hunt for a woolen super bulky like this for awhile and I think I've found 'the one!' (What would you make with this super cool 5-strand wonder?)

Yarn Love: Zealana Air

I recently had the opportunity to knit with a yarn I've never tried before – Zealana Air chunky weight, part of Zealana's Luxuria Series. And it truly is light as air! It feels special. Extra soft, pill-resistant, durable and it's lighter and warmer than 100% cashmere. And it's made in New Zealand.

 

Zealana Air is made of 40% cashmere, 20% mulberry silk and 40% brushtail possum down. Possum down, you say!? Yes. But not your typical North American possum. 

 

Since its introduction to New Zealand by fur traders in the late 19th century, the non-native brushtail possum population has reached staggering proportions largely due to the lack of natural predators that would otherwise maintain an ecological balance. The consequences of their rapidly increasing numbers are many, including damaging impacts on New Zealand’s native plant and animal life. Zealana is committed to the responsible management of the brushtail possum in New Zealand, and when you knit with Zealana you are choosing to be a part of their sustainability story. Read more about Zealana's conservation efforts here.

 

You've probably seen Zealana's gorgeous patterns everywhere, from luxury designer pattern books to Vogue Knitting magazine. (They also offer free patterns on their website – scroll down to check them out here.) 

I decided to knit a quick one-skein cowl with the ball of Zealana Air in L09/Emerald, which is the perfect shade of teal/green for spring. The stitches are soft, it's lovely to hold while you knit and the drape is perfection. 

 

I'm so glad I decided to knit something I'll wear around my neck with Zealana Air because the softness is unbelievable. Even if you have sensitive skin like me. There is absolutely zero scratchiness with this yarn. I'd love to knit an entire sweater with Zealana – their yarns are something extraordinary.

Check out all of Zealana's yarn offerings on their website. Beautiful.