Manitoulin Island

Manitoulin Island is an untreated (non-superwash) two ply spun from 100% Ontario wool.  The fibre for this lofty, woolen-spun yarn comes from Suffolk and Rideau Arcott sheep from flocks on Manitoulin Island, Ontario. 

Yardage & gauge:  Each 100g skein is 366 m. (400 yards) of yarn.  As a sheepy, woolen-spun yarn, Manitoulin knits up well at a variety of fingering- to sport-weight gauges; you'll likely want to swatch with different needles sizes to determine which fabric you like best. 

Example stockinette gauges: 22 st x 34 rows over 4", on 3mm needles (Marit, very loose knitter); 30 st x 40 rows over 4", on 3.25mm needles (Elizabeth, neither loose nor tight knitter)

Example stranded colourwork gauge: 26 st x 34 rounds, on 3.25 mm needles (Marit, very loose knitter)

Characteristics: 2-ply, woolen-spun by Custom Woolen Mills from Down-type wool (some Suffolk and some Rideau Arcott). 

Minimally processed, with some vegetable matter that is easily removed by hand.  This yarn is spun on vintage and antique equipment and may contain knots (up to 2-3 per 100g skein) and slight variation in thickness.  Knots never interrupt the flow of a gradient.

Mild to moderate scritch factor.  I love wearing it as a hat or fingerless mitts, but don't recommend it for next-to-skin wear if you're concerned about prickliness.  This yarn really shines for sweaters, hats, and mitts-- especially in stranded colourwork, brioche, or plain stockinette. It also makes a really dreamy fabric when held double with a strand of mohair/ silk laceweight.

Moderate felting potential.  It won't felt at the drop of a hat, but if you work it by hand between buckets of cold and hot water, it felts into a soft and supple fabric that would be ideal for mittens. 

Washing instructions: Manitoulin Island is untreated wool.  If you do not want to felt your finished object, wash by hand, in cool water without agitation.  Lay flat to dry.