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First Impressions of Peace Fleece Yarn

When my partner asked for a traditional gansey sweater, I immediately wanted to try one of the more sustainable yarn options on the market. Peace Fleece came to mind because the Fall 2018 issue of Interweave Knits had an article on their relationship with the Navajo Nation.

According to the article, the Navajo reservation ranchers had a lot of Churro and other sheep whose wool sold for very low prices at a local trading post. A member organized a wool buy day and soon Peace Fleece started buying the wool at almost 10x what was previously being paid by the trading post.

Peace Fleece started in 1985 buying wool from the Soviet Union in an effort to create economic ties and promote peace and understanding. They have a lot of information on their website about the farmers and ranchers who provide the fleece.

What's especially nice about Peace Fleece is that they have navy wool. It's surprisingly hard to find that color.

Patience Blue Peace Fleece and Beth Brown-Reinsel's new edition of Knitting Ganseys

Posts on Ravelry described the worsted wool as feeling a bit oily and being a bit scratchy but softening over time from washes. These qualities were approved by my partner as maintaining the traditional nature of the gansey.

Since starting the gansey, I've been quite pleased. It does feel a bit oily and scratchy. The first skein had centimeter long bits of hay or grass or other plant fibers in it. The second skein has fewer plant fibers stuck in the wool, but is not a constant ply, with the thickness changing from point to point. It's not as bad as some other skeins I've gotten from KnitPicks or other suppliers where it almost becomes lace-weight or breaks. It's a mild change in thickness, perhaps getting to DK or sport weight at points.

Overall, it feels more rustic - so that adds to the knitting experience as I've enhanced this project by reading books on the history and tradition of ganseys from Beth Brown Reinsel's and Gladys Thompson's* books. 



*Gladys's book is on Scribd; you can get an extended free trial if you are invited by a friend.
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