We are pleased to offer an increasing selection of naturally dyed yarns. At Custom Woolen Mills it is very important to us to make products that are socially and environmentally responsible - the two things being linked, of course - and transitioning to natural dyes is an essential part of that. It will be a long journey, but one we think is imperative. The yarns found in this category are made from local Canadian wool dyed here at the mill using either raw plant materials (grown or gathered in the local area) or natural dye extracts (concentrated powders bought in bulk like food spices).

Currently, we have three main categories of naturally dyed yarns:

The first is our Field & Forage Yarn. It is dyed in the skein using raw plant materials either grown here at the mill or gathered from the local area. Each year we release a new, limited edition, colourway made from the year's colour harvest. The colours are warm and earthy. You can learn more about how this plant dyed yarn got started in our blog, Field & Forage Naturally Dyed Yarn: a study in colour.

The second is our Naturally Dyed Mule Spinner Yarns. These yarns are dyed in the wool using natural dye extracts and then carded and spun on our historic spinning mule into a full spectrum of solid and heathered colours. They are available in the Mule Spinner 1-Ply and the Mule Spinner 2-Ply. You can learn more about their release in our blog, Naturally Dyed Mule Spinner Yarns.

The third is our Naturally Dyed Soft Spun Yarns. These yarns are also dyed in the wool using natural dye extracts. Then, they are carded and spun with a slight twist into Prairie Wool Medium Soft Spun and Prairie Sea Fusion weight yarns.

If you love naturally dyed yarns and want to learn to do your own natural dyeing, then check out our yearly CWM Natural Dye Club - it's a fun way to get your hands wet and participate in responsibly harvesting colour from our beautiful natural world!