Earlier this week, I promised to talk about one of my favorite yarn lines Bijou Spun from Bijou Basin Ranch. Bijou Basin Ranch is owned by Karl and Eileen Koop and is based in Elbert, CO. They produce some of most decadent fiber around! I first met Eileen and Karl at the Estes Park Wool Market a few years ago and I had no idea that you could spin yarn from Yak fiber. I was instantly smitten with their yarns and am so happy to carry them at Doodlebug. Karl and Eileen have such a passion for what they do and it really shows in their yarns and fibers.
Here’s a picture from the Taos Wool Market last October. Talking with them is always a highlight for me at any fiber festival or industry show. I’m the short one on the right. Actually, I’m not short at all, Karl is very tall!
Unlike sheep, yaks are actually bovine animals and are closely related to cattle. They have two types of hair – a coarse, shaggy outer coat and fine down on their underbelly. The fiber that Bijou Basin uses for their yarns comes only from the fine down of the yak and not the coarse outer coat. Each yak will produce only one to two pounds of this fine down each year and it’s separated from the coarser outer coat or guard hairs during processing.
Yak down is highly prized for it’s incredible warmth and softness. It’s warmer than sheep’s wool, as soft as cashmere and incredibly light but still strong and long wearing. It’s perfect for heirloom quality projects. There are a variety of blends and weights, from lace to worsted. All the yarns come in natural colors that range from light cream to dark brown and recently Lorna’s Laces has started dyeing some of the yarns in a beautiful color palette.
Below are the lines I carry at Doodlebug. I chose some of my favorite blends as well as 100% Yak Down. I love the natural colors and the yarns are a real treat to work with. Even though the fabric created is very warm, it’s very comfortable to wear because the fiber is so lightweight.
Bijou Spun Lace Weight is 100% Yak down and is light as a feather. It comes in a dark brown natural color that would be wonderful for a keepsake lace project.
Fingering Weight comes in natural colors – dark brown and cream and a new color palette dyed by the talented dyers at Lorna’s Laces.
Bijou Bliss is a 50% Yak/50% Cormo Wool Blend that is a light worsted blend and perfect for bigger projects. It also comes in natural colors and the beautiful Lorna’s Laces colors.
Lhasa Wilderness adds 25% Bamboo for incredible drape and softness. This yarn has a beautiful shimmer. Also in natural and dyed colors by Lorna’s Laces.
Tibetan Dream is a true sock yarn. 15% Nylon is added for durability and it comes in a generous 440 yard skein.
Gobi is a limited edition yarn that is is unbelievably luxurious. 30% Camel Down is added to the Yak Down to create an amazingly soft yarn.
Each skein of Gobi comes with a free cowl pattern designed by Marlaina Bird. It has a simple garter stitch border with a dramatic cable and lace pattern in the center.
I hope you enjoyed learning a little bit about Bijou Basin Ranch. If you go to their website, there is more information about the yaks, fiber and yarn. There’s a also a really cool video of Karl and Eileen talking about Yak farming and you can see the yaks in person.
I hope you all have a great weekend!
