About the Dyer
Hi everyone, I’m Kelcey- the founder and dyer behind Knitting Niqabi.
Since I first stepped foot into the realm of fiber arts back in 2017 my love has grown and expanded leading me to where I am today. Being born and raised in the backwoods of Michigan I was always outside as a child which sparked my interest and pure enjoyment with nature. While in university I went through a spiritual transistion where I converted to the religion of Islam. This newfound connection with the creation of God furthered my pure fascination with the natural world.
Needless to say, when I made the decision to start my own hand dyed yarn business in 2020 it felt only natural to specialize in sustainable non-superwash yarns that are naturally dyed.
All my natural dyes are produced using food scraps, foraged supplies and natural extracts. My inspirations stem from my childish love of nature, and the rich deep history that comes with wool and natural dyes. Working with natural dyes brings me a sense of closeness with God and the beauties He created for us to find.
About the Wool
Our 100% pure Non-Superwash Merino wool is sourced from sheep where mulesing is NOT practiced. The majority of our 19.5 micron merino is from Australian farms who certified as mulesing free. The remainder of our merino is sourced from South America where mulesing is not necessary due to the climate. All of our wool is sourced from farms which comply with high animal welfare standards.The main factor determining the quality of merino wool is its softness which depends upon the fineness of the fibres. We use extrafine merino (19.5 microns). This results in a supersoft yarn that feels gentle against the skin.
Our Natural Sock Base (50% Corriedale/50% British Mohair) wool is sourced from genuine British Farms who are all a part of the Campaign for Wool Foundation.
All of our yarn is as close to its natural origins as possible. No superwash treatment, just a wash to remove the grease and dirt from the fleece then combed for spinning. A great choice for those looking for a luxurious, non superwash, no nylon yarn.
Many experienced garment knitters prefer a non-superwash yarn in their sweaters, vests, hats. They are warmer than superwash yarns as they have not had any of the protective cells surrounding the fiber core stripped away.
Note on Washing Garments made from our yarn:
Hand Wash Gently. Add 2 squirts of a delicate wash, like Wool & Cashmere Shampoo, to a sinkful of tepid water. Turn the garment inside out; submerge, swish, then soak for 10 minutes. Rinse twice, pressing out the water. Never wring or hang-dry, since wet wool stretches easily. Lay the garment on a clean towel and roll it up like a jelly roll to extract water. Unfurl and let dry on a new towel or a mesh rack. Reshape, or “block,” the knit. You can adjust the fit slightly bigger or smaller, and as the garment dries it will set in place.
About the Dyes
Natural dyes are sources of color derived from plants, minerals, and in some cases insects. Not only is natural dyeing a fascinating and magical experience, but the process can have a lesser impact on the environment than dyeing with synthetic dyes, many of which contain petroleum derivatives. All skeins of Knitting Niqabi yarn are dyed with natural dyes, some foraged, and some purchased as ground powder.
I use several methods in my dyeing process to ensure the yarn is colourfast (will not fade with washing or exposure to light), including using mordants, and carefully selecting my dye plants. That said, the colour may change slightly over the years. I see this as part of the evolution of an heirloom quality product that is ultimately biodegradable.
As with all hand dyed yarns, there will be variation in color and variegation between skeins, especially for the hand painted colours. If your project requires more than one skein, I would recommend knitting them both at the same time, alternating one row of each, to make sure the colours are distributed more evenly.
