Yarn Base Information

Yarn base offerings will change from update to update and new yarn bases will be introduced frequently.

Please be sure to sign up for the newsletter as all yarn base and colorway information will be provided a week in advance of each update release.

That being said, you can be certain the following standards for quality and ethics apply to all of the yarn I feature in my shop.

You can be confident that your Fiber for the People® yarn is ethically sourced and 100% mueseling-free.  All fiber used to produce the yarns offered in my shop is carefully shorn or shed naturally prior to being spun.  

All organic yarns are Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified.  All Superwash-treated yarns are scoured and Superwash-treated to the highest environmental standards.  

The Merino wool used to create FFTP yarn is sourced from Peru and Argentina with a mulesing free certification and boasts a fiber diameter between 19-24.5 microns, making it some of the softest Merino available.

The term “untreated” is used to refer to yarn bases that have not undergone Superwashing, either through a chemical removal of the wool fiber cuticle, or the coating of the fibers in polymer.  The terms “untreated” or “non-Superwash” may be used interchangeably.

Where the terms medium and  extra-fine are used to describe the yarn, it is in reference to the grade of the Merino fiber.  Most wool fiber is graded using the Micron scale.  A Micron is a unit of measurement used to determine the diameter of a single wool fiber.  A Micron is 1/25,000 of an inch.  The fewer the Microns, the softer and smoother the yarn or the more suitable for next-to-skin wear.  The lowest count I offer is 19.5 (extra-fine/very soft) and the highest is 27 (medium-much more “rustic”, great for socks).  

Untreated/Non-Superwash Yarns

Untreated yarns have not undergone the Superwashing process (see below for more information on this process). These yarns retain all of the wool’s lustrous, moisture-wicking properties as well as the fiber cuticle (which contributes to the aforementioned). These yarns are rich in the hand and will knit into beautiful, warm, and resilient fabrics. Hand wash these yarns and always lay flat to dry.

Yarn bases listed in the shop with the ♻ symbol include a percentage of recycled fiber. This could be either recycled wool or Nylon. The 🌱 symbol indicates a yarn with a percentage of GOTS Certified Organic Merino wool.

Superwash-Treated Yarns

These yarns have been hand-picked because of how well they have retained their wooly characteristics despite being Superwash-treated for washability.

All Superwash-treated yarns are scoured and Superwash-treated to the highest environmental standards.  

Direct from my Supplier (for the sake of transparency I have added hyperlinks to provide additional information): “The majority of Superwash yarn is treated using the Hercosett process, which is the method used for our Superwash yarns too. Many people are rightly concerned over the potential impacts this process can have on the environment. The main concern being about how the waste water containing spent chemicals is dealt with after processing. We only use reputable companies to Superwash our fibers, companies who hold ISO14001 accreditation and/or engage in best practice with regard to environmental performance and waste water treatment and re-use. Most of the effluent from the process is re-used and any disposed of has to meet strict environmental standards.”