We’re excited to welcome the first offering in Brooklyn Tweed‘s new ranch-specific, single-batch Ranch Project – Ranch 01!
This limited-edition yarn is sourced from purebred Rambouillet sheep raised at Bare Ranch in Surprise Valley, California, where proprietor Lani Estill uses climate-beneficial farming practices in partnership with Fibershed to ensure the health of the soil, the surrounding watershed, and her flocks, resulting in an extraordinarily high-quality fiber.
Brooklyn Tweed took this special fiber, had it spun into plump and bouncy skeins of 3-ply worsted weight yarn, and worked with Winona Quigley and Tyler Stoltzfus at Green Matters Natural Dye Company to create a beautiful palette of colors dyed entirely with eco-friendly natural dye materials and processes.
Brooklyn Tweed says:
“When you purchase a skein of Ranch 01, you’re supporting Bare Ranch’s work towards sequestering the amount of carbon equal to what is produced by 865 passenger vehicles every year. You’re directly funding implementation of a Climate Beneficial farming plan that will let the ranch draw six to nine times more carbon out of the atmosphere than it emits in livestock production. And you’re contributing to improvements in forage, shelter, and health for Bare Ranch’s 4,000 sheep.”
You’re also getting a great yarn! With 15 beautiful naturally-dyed colors, plus a natural undyed shade, the only difficulty will be in deciding which is your favorite!
Yarn Details
- 100% climate-beneficial Rambouillet wool
- Sourced from Bare Ranch in California, scoured at Chargeurs in South Carolina, spun at Jagger Brothers in Maine, dyed at Green Matters Natural Dye Company in Pennsylvania
- 16 colors naturally dyed with marigold, indigo, cochineal, lac, madder, tannin, and iron
- 3-ply worsted-spun worsted weight
- 4 1/2 – 5 stitches per inch on US 7-8 (4.5 – 5 mm)
- 220 yards / 100 grams
- $34.50
Brooklyn Tweed recommends washing Ranch 01 in cool water with a pH-neutral wool wash (we recommend The Laundress Wool & Cashmere Shampoo) to preserve the beauty of the natural dyes. **As residual particles of dyestuff may cling to the surface of the fiber, you may see a transfer of color to your hands and needles as you work with the yarn, particularly with indigo-based shades. (Just like a new pair of jeans!) This is natural and will wash off your hands, but you may wish to use metal needles.
Due to the subtle tonal variations of this hand-dyed yarn, when knitting larger projects you’ll want to alternate skeins for a smooth transition of color. (As you draw near to the end of a skein, join in a new skein and alternate knitting every round or two rows between skeins until the first skein runs out.)
Pattern Collection
To showcase the gorgeous colors and great stitch definition of Ranch 01, Brooklyn Tweed reknit some of their favorite patterns from Jared Flood’s book Woolens – the Far Hills Hat, the Far Hills Scarf, the Furrow Cowl, and the Furrow Hat.
(click photos to enlarge)
The generously-sized skeins of Ranch 01 lend themselves to quick accessories like these – you can knit either of the hats with 1 skein, the cowl in 3 skeins, and the scarf in 3 to 4 skeins.
Brooklyn Tweed also suggests these patterns from their archives for Ranch 01:
- 1 skein: Bough (hat), Crag, Mawson, Skiff (beanie version)
- 2 skeins: Kennebec, Scrollwork (hat & cowl), Skiff (watchcap with pom-pom), Wayfarer
- 3 skeins: Bough (cowl), Quay (medium length)
- 4 skeins: Alberta (2 each of 2 colors), Dunaway (version II), Elfreide
- up to 5 skeins: Coda (4-5), Cypress (4-5), Huxley (3-5 MC, 45-90 yards CC), Jules (4-5, may need 6 for largest size)
We’ve got some suggestions of our own as well!
Danielle is making a Ranch 01 version of The Knitter’s Dude – what yarn could be better for this epic sweater?
What about The Weekender? A fabulous Fern & Feather? Jump into a Juniper! A speedy Stillwater? A stripy Aveiro? Delightful Daelyn? How about a Hipster Shawl? A marvelous Mae? Which will you choose?
Whatever your choice, do hurry in – quantities of Ranch 01 are limited, and once it’s gone, it’s gone!