Nomadnoos "So Soft Yak and Satuul" is a truly special luxury handspun yarn produced by women in Mongolia and Nepal from the finest yak and Satuul wool fibres.
So Soft Yak and Satuul is a produced from fibre from yak and Satuul sheep kept by nomadic herders in Mongolia. The fibre is sent to Nepal where it is handspun by a team of women in Kathmandu. It has a 3-ply structure but is a 4-ply to sportweight thickness. The different colours are spun separately then plied together which will result in a marled effect in the finished fabric.
Every skein has a label with the name and image of the woman that spun it.
As this yarn is handspun and every skein is unique, there can be some variance in meterage and thickness. At 150m per 50g skein, this should work nicely at around a sport weight gauge but could also work for 4ply patterns. I would definitely recommend a small swatch to see how it works up and what needle size will obtain a fabric that you like. For a looser fabric with more drape use a larger needle. For a denser fabric, use a smaller needle. It's worth investing the time experimenting to make best use of this special yarn.
Nomadnoos is a project that partners with nomadic herders from Mongolia, who have mixed herds of yak, camel, sheep and goats. They support them by sourcing only fibres which will not affect their rangelands whilst increasing their livelihood. Nomadnoos purchases directly from the herders the best fibres which are sent for washing and carding at a processing factory in the main city of the country, Ulaan Bator. During processing, a water recycling system is used to minimise the impact on the local environment. The fibres are then sent to Nepal where the yarns are handspun by a group of women in Kathmandu. The yarns are dyed locally in Kathmandu with colours that do not impact the environment. Here also, water is recycled and re-used. Hand spinning brings a consistent income for the team in Kathmandu and in purchasing this yarn, you are supporting communities with a vibrant fibre tradition.
A percentage of Nomadnoos' profits is invested into programs that directly benefit the people that produce the yarn.
For more details about the story of Nomadnoos, please see here.
See here an interesting video about the production of Nomadnoos yarns.
Suggested gauge: 23 stitches over 10cm
Suggested needle size: 3.5mm
Fibre Content: 70% Yak/30% Satuul Sheep Wool
Meterage: A 50g skein = approx. 150m
Washing: Hand wash only, dry flat. Do not tumble dry.
