The Importance of Using Reclaimed Wool
The Importance of Using Reclaimed Wool
a fiber arts blog from Crafty Housewife Yarns
The First time I heard of using recycled yarn was from my friend Dawn who owns Twice Sheared Sheep. You are probably falmilur with this brand because I love to collaborate with her for our yarn kits and bundles. Like most of us she started her business out in one direction and then it has grown and changed since then but I know that one of her main focus when she started was “recycled" or “ reclaimed yarn” You can hear more about that directly from Dawn here
Here at CHY I’m not so much up cylicing yarn but rather enjoying using reclaimed wool in our products. In our case that is where wheel the fleeces are processed into clean and useable wool for our batts or custom rovings we are able to work with boutique mills that will save and reuse some of the wool that didn’t make it though the first pass. If you’ve ever used a drum carder yourself you know all about how a good bit of lovely wool and fiber can be stuck on the machine while hand blending. Where in many cases larger mills would end up not saving this wool we love that we can reduce it and give it another life. I had fun using some myself for some incredibly soft Merino Batts I was dividing up. You've also proababy seen it in our work in the way of reclaimed Sari silk and “ wool neps “ for a tweed texture.
Here is a bit of researched info I’ve put together for different ways that the wool industry can be involved in recycling wool and yarn on large and small scale.
Wool has been a prized textile for centuries, known for its warmth, durability, and natural qualities. However, it is crucial to address the environmental impact of wool production and find sustainable alternatives. One such solution lies in reclaiming wool and using it in spinning mills to create yarn. Here, we will explore the importance of utilizing reclaimed wool in spinning mills and the benefits it offers.
1. Waste Reduction and Resource Conservation
In the process of reclaiming wool, unused or discarded garments and textiles are collected and transformed into new yarn. This practice reduces waste and diverts materials from ending up in landfills, extending the life cycle of wool and decreasing the need for virgin wool production. By utilizing reclaimed wool in spinning mills, we conserve resources such as water, energy, and raw materials that would otherwise be required for manufacturing new wool fibers.
2. Quality and Character
Reclaimed wool brings a unique and desirable quality to the roving and spinning wools. This process results in a softer, more textured wool that can add depth and character to the final product. By incorporating reclaimed wool in spinning mills, we not only reduce waste but also create yarn with a distinctive charm.
3. Promoting Circular Fashion
The use of reclaimed wool in spinning mills aligns with the principles of circular fashion. By recycling and repurposing wool, we contribute to creating a closed-loop system where materials are continuously reused, reducing the dependence on new resources. This approach helps to break the linear "take-make-dispose" model of the fashion industry and promotes a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly way of producing textiles.
4. Supporting Local Communities
The process of collecting and reclaiming wool often involves working with local communities and artisans, creating opportunities for economic growth and skill development. By supporting spinning mills that focus on reclaimed wool, we contribute to the livelihood of these communities, helping to preserve traditional crafts and techniques associated with wool production.
5. Educating Consumers
Using reclaimed wool as a significant component in spinning mills provides an excellent opportunity to educate consumers about the importance of sustainable fashion choices. By highlighting the benefits and qualities of reclaimed wool yarn, we encourage individuals to make more conscious decisions when purchasing yarn and other wool products.
In conclusion, incorporating reclaimed wool in spinning mills holds tremendous significance for the textile industry and the environment. By reducing waste, conserving resources, promoting circular fashion, supporting local communities, and educating consumers, we can contribute to a more sustainable and ethical wool production system. Let us embrace the use of reclaimed wool yarn and be part of the positive change towards a more responsible and environmentally-conscious fashion industry.
Find out more about our monthly wool subscriptions and retail spinning fiber many options each month involve reclaimed or boutique sourced materials
Our team of fiber artists and our small farm friends are thrilled to introduce the Monthly Spinning Fiber Subscription, crafted with an eye for design. This special package, which I originally created for personal friends and fellow fiber enthusiasts, is now available to you!
Here’s what you’ll receive each month:
4 oz Hand-Dyed Braid: Hand-dyed by our talented dye team, featuring our classic soft merino/rambouillet blend from a historic mill in the USA.
2 oz Mixed Fiber Batt: Made from unique and natural fibers, including selections from small USA farms like those in our Natural Beauty Bundle.
1 oz Batt or Rolag: Created from luxury fibers, hand-dyed and blended by our skilled fiber artists.
Our most loved spinning fiber subscription. A little bit of everything!
Great for gifting.
Totaling 7 oz of premium spinning fiber, this subscription is designed to inspire your creativity every month.
The spinning fiber subscriptions will be sent out around mid-month, ensuring you have a regular supply of beautiful fibers to work with.
Join our community and elevate your spinning projects with our hand-picked, high-quality fibers!
Limited Edition Wool Braids — Scarce Extras from Feral Scene
On occasion, even the most intentional of plans leaves behind a trace. These braids are the remnants of our subscription collections—rare extras, never guaranteed, and gone as quickly as they arrive.
A Study in Scarcity
Each braid begins in small American farms and mills, then passes through the hands of our dye team, who work in deliberate, atmospheric palettes. What remains here are not leftovers in the casual sense, but artifacts—echoes of a collection that cannot be repeated.
Continuity for the Dedicated
The surest way to secure every edition is to subscribe, but even then, no two months are the same. To commit is to step into rhythm with us—to receive fiber shaped by season, by mood, by intention. Flexibility is yours: pause or cancel at will.
Craft as Lineage
These braids are more than wool. They are a continuation of American textile heritage, kept alive in small mills and dye studios. To spin them is to work with history—reframed, but never lost.
For Makers Who See Beyond Material
This is fiber with intention—crafted in small batches for spinners who value both tradition and artistry.
Curated American Wool — Limited Edition Fiber for the Intentional Maker
Step into the quieter world of craft, where each fiber carries the story of small American farms and mills. At Feral Scene, we work in small batches, blending and hand-dyeing with the same patience once found in old studios and ateliers. Nothing here is rushed. Nothing here is mass-made.
A Study in Rarity
Our spinning fiber batts and custom rovings are created in seasonal collections, or appear as scarce extras from our monthly fiber subscriptions. They are gone as quickly as they arrive, and like any true artifact of craft, cannot be replicated.
Craft as Discipline
Each batt and roving is hand-selected and blended with intention. Batts come in 1 oz mini or 2 oz standard sizes; custom rovings are hand-blended in boutique, farm-owned mills across the United States and offered in 2 oz bundles.
Origin Matters
All of our fibers trace back to small USA farms and mills. To choose them is to choose lineage, sustainability, and the continuation of American textile heritage.
Color with Depth
Our dye team works in deliberate tones—ranging from natural small-batch plant dyes to rich seasonal palettes—each shade carrying its own weight and atmosphere.
For those who see fiber as more than material—for those who crave history, rarity, and artistry—Feral Scene offers fiber arts supplies with optimisim , heritage and sustainability of our artisans and farmers.
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