Fae is our mohair and silk lace-weight yarn base, named after the wispy fairy folk! 

I have always enjoyed mohair and it carries a certain sense of nostalgia for me. I definitely had a 90s mohair sweater that I probably wore to death! It started making a resurgence in the knitting world not too long ago and it certainly came back in a big way. I have seen so many patterns incorporating mohair and so many knitters enjoying the weight and feel of mohair in their projects. I introduced Fae into the Ritual Dyes line with the Alyeska Sweater from Boyland Knitworks. Caitlin had an idea to make part of the colorwork fluffy little bits of mohair rather than just another color in the yoke. I loved it!! 

Mohair comes from the hair of the Angora goat, not to be confused with the Angora rabbit. Thought to originate in the mountains of Tibet in the 16th century, there have also been known examples dating back as far as the 8th century in England. It is one of the oldest textile fibers in use. Kid mohair comes from the first 2 shearings at 6 and 12 months. Mohair is a durable fiber and is notable for its brilliant luster and shine and is often added to other fibers to give them these same qualities. It is naturally elastic, has excellent insulating and moisture-wicking properties which make it a lovely multi-season fiber. It can add luxury to any project.

Silk is most commonly produced by the mulberry silkworm in the textile word. Silk production originates in China as far back as the 4th millennium BC. Sericulture, or silk farming, is most widely used for the harvesting of the silkworm cocoons. The single filaments are unwound from the cocoon and combined to form thread and then plied to make yarn. Silk is strong, inelastic and naturally shiny. It is warmer than wool and has a good absorbency.

The combination of mohair and silk creates a shiny, airy, strong fiber. The dye takes to both very well and we are always fascinated by the way it takes to our colors. The silk core sometimes glows amid the wispy mohair. Fae can be used alone or paired with any other fiber to create something luxurious, warm and fluffy. We love to hold it together with Maven for most any garment and with Maiden for super luxe socks! 

Here are a few of my favorite patterns incorporating Fae:

The Timbre Hat from Meghan Fernandez

Alyeska Sweater from Caitlin Hunter, Boyland Knitworks

The Classic Cozy Raglan Sweater from Jessie Maed