About Organic Wool

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About Organic Wool

Marie Knitwear jerseys and hats are produced from wool which is undyed and unbleached, and the subtle colours and textures are naturally produced by the different pure breeds of British sheep wich are reared to UK Organic Standards, many of the yarns being from rare breeds, some of which are centuries old.

Wool, an excellent insulator, is very warm, a large volume of still air is trapped among the millions of fibres and conserves the body's own heat preventing it being carried away by moving cooler air, and therefore woollen garments are the ideal wear for cold, wet regions.

There is nothing added to these environmentally friendly natural yarns, no conditioners, no moth proofing, no flame retardents and no man-made fibres.

Garthenor organic yarns:

BALWEN - Welsh Mountain sheep, the name for "white blaze". The sheep is dark grey, black or brown and it is the only native British sheep which has white colouring on the face, socks and tail.

The Balwen Welsh Mountain sheep was confined for many years to the counties of Cardigan, Brecon and Carmarthen, much of its native habitat was planted with coniferous woodland and the population steadily declined. It is thought that only one male Balwen survived after the harsh winter of 1947, and their existence today is entirely due to the perseverance of the farmers in that region during the 1950s and 60s.

The Balwen is listed as "vulnerable" by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.

MANX LOGHTAN - are a Northern short-tailed, multi-horned breed of sheep which are native to the Isle of Man. Loghtan is derived from the Manx words "lugh" (mouse) and "dhoan" (brown). Both sexes can be horned or polled, meaning (hornless), with two, four or occasionally even six horns being recorded.

The wool is moorit (red-brown) being used mainly for the production of undyed woollens but it is also suitable for the manufacture of tweeds.

JACOB - a multi horned breed of sheep, the number of horns varying from two to six, those of the ram can be magnificent and these, along with their black and white faces and spotted bodies, have no doubt contributed to their popularity and survival.

Actual origins not known, however documentation throughout history indicates that spotted or pied sheep may have originated in what is now Syria, some three thousand years ago, and Pictorial evidence has traced movements of these sheep through North Africa, Sicily, Spain and then to England.

The wool produced is a medium to high quality wool with a good lustre, which is in two main distinct colours, cream and black, which gives a strong, springy yarn being natural and undyed.


	Marie Knitwear & Crafts \| home Children's Organic Knitwear Gallery \| Craft Gallery \| About Organic Wool \| Ordering Information \| Contact \| Links About Organic Wool Marie Knitwear jerseys and hats are produced from wool which is undyed and unbleached, and the subtle colours and textures are naturally produced by the different pure breeds of British sheep wich are reared to UK Organic Standards, many of the yarns being from rare breeds, some of which are centuries old. Wool, an excellent insulator, is very warm, a large volume of still air is trapped among the millions of fibres and conserves the body's own heat preventing it being carried away by moving cooler air, and therefore woollen garments are the ideal wear for cold, wet regions. There is nothing added to these environmentally friendly natural yarns, no conditioners, no moth proofing, no flame retardents and no man-made fibres. Garthenor organic yarns: BALWEN - Welsh Mountain sheep, the name for "white blaze". The sheep is dark grey, black or brown and it is the only native British sheep which has white colouring on the face, socks and tail. The Balwen Welsh Mountain sheep was confined for many years to the counties of Cardigan, Brecon and Carmarthen, much of its native habitat was planted with coniferous woodland and the population steadily declined. It is thought that only one male Balwen survived after the harsh winter of 1947, and their existence today is entirely due to the perseverance of the farmers in that region during the 1950s and 60s. The Balwen is listed as "vulnerable" by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. MANX LOGHTAN - are a Northern short-tailed, multi-horned breed of sheep which are native to the Isle of Man. Loghtan is derived from the Manx words "lugh" (mouse) and "dhoan" (brown). Both sexes can be horned or polled, meaning (hornless), with two, four or occasionally even six horns being recorded. The wool is moorit (red-brown) being used mainly for the production of undyed woollens but it is also suitable for the manufacture of tweeds. JACOB - a multi horned breed of sheep, the number of horns varying from two to six, those of the ram can be magnificent and these, along with their black and white faces and spotted bodies, have no doubt contributed to their popularity and survival. Actual origins not known, however documentation throughout history indicates that spotted or pied sheep may have originated in what is now Syria, some three thousand years ago, and Pictorial evidence has traced movements of these sheep through North Africa, Sicily, Spain and then to England. The wool produced is a medium to high quality wool with a good lustre, which is in two main distinct colours, cream and black, which gives a strong, springy yarn being natural and undyed.