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merino connection

1/30/2019

3 Comments

 
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duckworth
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darn tough
This arctic blast has me thinking about "warm". Merino wool is one of the materials that is truly up to the task. What an amazing symbiotic connection wool offers sheep + shearer...each benefits from the other.

My search for a wooly layer that needn't look perpetually sporty brought me to Duckworth. It can be hard to find a 100% wool piece of clothing, so this top (pictured) is ticking a lot of boxes for me. The merino wool comes from sheep on the Helle Ranch in Dillon, Montana (pictured above). The spinning, knitting + dying happens in the Carolinas and the sewing is done in the USA...making this top completely American grown + made. They call this carefully orchestrated connection "sheep to shelf".

Wool socks are my footwear of choice during these cold months. There is nothing to kick off before pulling my feet up under a cozy blanket...or before sliding into some waterproof wellies. Wool socks with a more heavy duty sole keep my feet as warm as slippers. Darn Tough makes wool (blend) socks in Vermont + guarantees them for life! What a long-lasting connection this fosters between the hands that make these socks + the feet that wear them.

Of course another great way to keep cozy is to knit a woolen layer or two. It can be a lovely adventure searching for local wool, to meet the farmer/spinner/dyer + to hear the stories the materials hold. Connection grows deeper with each slow rhythmic stitch.

Keep warm + connected, friends...wooly + otherwise!

All lovely photos via links.

Love,
Jane
3 Comments
Julie
1/31/2019 09:53:20 am

I wanted so much to like Duckworth since it's a local company to me. However, all the products sold in my local store are synthetic/wool blends. (I scoured through them all in hopes of finding something!) I do see they have a couple 100% wool options on their website, but I encourage shoppers to carefully check the fabric content before buying. I did write the company in 2017 regarding their fabric content (and the misleading message that made me believe their products were 100% wool), but I never heard back from them. It's too bad they taint their "sheep to shelf" practice with synthetic fibers.

I was recently turned onto Ramblers Way (https://www.ramblersway.com/), which I'm anxious to give a try next time I need a wool base layer. 100% wool + USA grown and sewn!

Reply
Jane link
1/31/2019 01:14:07 pm

That's why I chose to highlight this particular top...it's 100% wool!

Reply
Jane link
1/31/2019 01:22:41 pm

Thank you for pointing the way toward Rambler's Way as well!


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