O-Wool – What's the Story?

I don’t remember how I learned about O-Wool.  I do know it was on my must see list when we went to Rhinebeck last fall.  I didn’t get to really talk to Jocelyn Tunney, the owner and designer behind it because the booth was packed.    We did talk later about having a trunk show or something since she lives in Philly.  So when we got the MDSW Pop-Up idea, and I knew she was not going to be showcasing her yarns at MDSW, asking her if she was interested was a priority.  When she said yes,  I was thrilled.
Most of us appreciate the story behind the things we like.  Some of you may know the O-wool story and some may not, so I thought I would do some homework and share.  Jocelyn has a long history of fiber art, and design starting with her mother specializing in costume design.  After college, she worked in yarn shops and ultimately with owner of Fairmount Fibers, the distributor of Manos.  This is where she became aware that the Vermont Organic Fiber Co was selling off the O-Wool line.  Jocelyn, being the environmentally conscious person that she is, liked the yarn and what it stood for.  She bought the line in 2010.  Since then she has added more yarns that are USDA certified.  Most of the certified organic yarn comes from merino farms in South America and then it is spun in Massachusetts, Wisconsin, or Maine.  For the Local line she goes from farm to farm in NJ & PA and buys alpaca to blend with the merino.
Jocelyn also designs patterns for the line.  I can’t wait to see what samples and patterns she brings.  We have chatted a couple of times about the yarns she is bringing, and I think she has decided to bring both Balance Bulky, a Merino and Cotton blend and Legacy Bulky which is 100% Organic Merino.  She is also bringing her O-Wash Fingering which is 100% Organic Merino and maybe the Local which is 50% Merino and 50% Alpaca.
We don’t carry much “organic” yarn so I am proud to offer it over the weekend.  Jocelyn will be in and out of the shop over the weekend, so hopefully some of you will get to meet her and talk to her.  The Philly Voice recently wrote an article about her if you want to read more.

So since it is Free Pattern Friday, I thought I would share two of Jocelyn’s Fee Patterns.  This one is pretty recent, Forbidden Drive worked in O-Wash Fingering.

I also like this Pradera Wrap.  I think we still have some gradient DK kits that would work well for this.

I will be posting more as we get closer to MDSW Pop-Up Weekend.
Watch the Ravelry Group Page, FB and Instagram @knothouseyarns for details on how to WIN a $$50 Gift Card to the shop!  Contest starts Saturday.
Hope you all are getting excited!
~Heather