🌿 Why I'm choosing the Meadow base for my Non-Superwash yarn option

A story about softness, sustainability, and finding a yarn that feels right in every way.

When I choose yarns for my dye studio, I’m always balancing heart and logistics. I care deeply about where the wool comes from, how the animals and land are treated, and what it feels like to knit and wear. And because I have extremely sensitive skin, softness is non-negotiable. If I can’t comfortably wear it against my neck, it won’t find its way into my shop.

You'll now find Meadow DK, Meadow Sport, and Meadow Fingering on my website as the "permanent" offering for my SUSTAIN collection. The SUSTAIN collection = U.S. raised, milled, dyed, and non-superwash yarns. 

The beginning of the SUSTAIN Collection

Back in 2021, I introduced the SUSTAIN collection of yarns with a custom-spun "Corrie DK" base from Battenkill Fiber Mill in upstate New York. It was a beautiful yarn and an exciting first step toward what I hoped would become a long-term domestic sourcing project. That first yarn was followed by "Finn Sport", and later the SUSTAIN Club, which explored fibers from several different U.S. mills.

Both the club and the custom spun base yarns were a wonderful idea in theory; celebrating small mills, exploring new yarns, and connecting makers to the story of American wool. But in practice it was hard to maintain.

Each new yarn required developing samples, testing for color behavior, creating pattern swatches, and building a limited color palette I hoped would inspire. And because the turnaround time for working with small mills is often 6–9 months, I had to forecast both budget and demand far too far in advance for the realities of a small business like mine. Financially and logistically, it was very stressful. And, some of the yarns I sourced were beautiful, but not as soft as I wanted them to be. 

The sourcing landscape

Over the past few years, sourcing U.S. grown and milled yarns has become increasingly complicated. Mills have moved or changed ownership, tariffs have impacted demand, and there simply aren’t enough resources in place for the industry to pivot quickly.

Learning to adapt

Change is inevitable. Sometimes we think we know the path we want to take, and then we learn, adapt, and find a better way forward. I still love the idea of sourcing yarns directly from very small, independent mills, and hopefully someday that can become a passion project of mine again.

Right now, what I want is to stay in business and reduce stress. I need a combination of both stability and sustainability in every sense of those words. I need yarn I can reorder without a long wait. I need yarn that’s soft enough for my sensitive skin, durable enough to wear beautifully over time, and produced in a way that respects both the animals and the earth.

That’s why I chose Meadow for the Non-Superwash yarns I offer on my website.

When Shaniko Wool Company began making their RWS-certified Rambouillet/Merino blend (20.5–21 microns) more widely available through a larger mill in North Carolina, everything fell into place. Now, small dye houses like mine can access this beautiful fiber as needed—without challenging minimums or months-long gaps between batches. Don't get me wrong, there are still inventory challenges, but things are leveling out (I hope). 

This means:

• I can offer more colors, more frequently.

• I can more easily collaborate with designers, knowing the yarn will be around long term.

• When I take the time to knit a sample in this yarn, I know I can get it again when you fall in love with it, too.

What makes Meadow special

The construction of the Meadow bases gives it a soft, springy hand and wonderful durability. The plies twist together in a way that resists pilling and keeps garments looking beautiful wear after wear. The micron range—20.5–21—makes it gentle enough even for those of us with sensitive skin, while still delivering the crisp stitch definition I love so much.

Add in the RWS certification, which ensures the welfare of the sheep, the land, and the people who care for both, and I can feel confident that this yarn is truly sustainable. From the sheep to your hooks and needles. Plus, the price point (made possible by the mill’s ability to purchase in bulk) and its consistent availability make the Meadow base yarns the right choice for right now.

Coming full circle

The SUSTAIN collection has evolved since that first custom-spun yarn in 2021, but the heart of it remains the same: to offer yarns that are kind to the earth, thoughtfully sourced, and a joy to knit with.

Choosing Meadow feels like I've found something I was truly dreaming of. Beautifully soft, ethically made, and sustainable for both my business and your daily maker practice. 

If you haven't tried it yet, find it HERE.