The Winter Olympic Games have just begun – and Team USA is going for gold wearing locally-sourced American wool!
2026 marks the fifth Olympic Games in which fashion design icon (and official outfitter of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams) Ralph Lauren is featuring wool sourced from Oregon’s Shaniko Wool Company. The first farm group in the U.S. to be certified under the Responsible Wool Standard, Shaniko partners with ranchers in Idaho, California, Nevada, Colorado and Wyoming, following strict land conservation, animal husbandry and worker welfare guidelines to provide traceable, climate-beneficial fiber through regenerative farming.
This amazing fiber isn’t just for Olympians, though – meet these gorgeous Shaniko wool yarns we’ve got right here in space!
Freia Fine Handpaint Yarns
The OG creators of hand dyed gradient yarns, Tina Whitmore and her team at Freia Fine Handpaint Yarns were named a Top 5 Trendsetter in 2023 by Interweave – it’s easy to see why! In addition to their incredible colors, we love that all of their yarns are made with sustainably sourced American wool.
Freia’s Shaniko Superwash collection, including Ombré Shaniko Minikins, Superwash Shaniko Worsted, and Glitterati, features Shaniko Wool Company’s ethically raised, minimally processed wool from sheep raised on family-owned ranches in the American West. Not only are these stunning yarns spun from 100% Merino wool, they’re also machine washable, ridiculously soft, and available in our Alexandria store – read more about them here!
Sea Change Fibers
Hand dyer Sarah Pedersen of Sea Change Fibers specializes in gorgeous tonal colors and sustainable, natural fiber yarns. Her Bloom Tweed Worsted (a tweedy wool, acrylic, and rayon yarn) and Shoreline Sport (an amazing wool, silk, and linen blend) feature Shaniko’s soft Merino wool – and you can find them both on our shelves!
Our Pattern Picks
2026 Winter Games Hat
Sizes
S, M, L, XL; 17, 18, 19, 20″ finished circumference
Yarn
MC, CC1, CC2: 1 skein each color Sea Change Fibers Bloom Tweed Worsted (89% Shaniko wool, 11% acrylic/rayon; 210 yards/192 meters per 100-gram skein).
Gauge & Suggested Needles
21 stitches and 28 rows = 4” on US#8 (5 mm) needles, in colorwork pattern in the round, after wet blocking. Use 1 size smaller needles for ribbing, 2 sizes smaller for I-cord.
Elza Sweater
Sizes
1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9); 37½ (41¼, 45½, 49¼, 53½, 57¼, 61½, 65¼, 69½)” finished bust circumference, suggested positive ease 6-8″.
Yarn
MC: 3 (3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5) balls Freia Fine Handpaints Glitterati (80% Shaniko wool, 20% Stellina; 460 yards/421 meters per 150-gram ball)
CC: 3 (4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 6) skeins Sea Change Fibers Shoreline Sport (50% Shaniko wool, 25% silk, 25% linen; 325 yards/297 meters per 100-gram skein)
Gauge & Suggested Needles
26 stitches and 32 rows = 4” on US#2½ (3 mm) needles, in colorwork pattern in the round, after wet blocking. Use 1 size smaller needle for neckband.
