• 'aqua ' ontario sock by alley cat yarns trunk show | Wabi Sabi
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alley cat yarns

ontario sock

ontario sock

$38.00
$38.00
Sale Sold out

3 in stock

colour: aqua
size

297m / 80g per hank

fingering weight
knits to 28 stitches per 10cm on 2.5mm needles

75% single-flock dorset sheep, and 25% adult mohair

hand wash cool, dry flat

recommended for: socks

🍁 made in Canada 🍁

Procured by and custom-milled for Alley Cat Yarns: no one else has this yarn.

NEW: This yarn is slightly different than the original Ontario Sock yarn; it is finer and more tightly plied, and with different yardage. Please read on for details.

Ontario Sock is an all-purpose fingering weight yarn that is produced entirely in Ontario*--exclusively for Alley Cat Yarns--using 75% single-flock Dorset sheep, and 25% adult mohair. It is tightly-spun of three plies for durability and for roundness to show off textured stitches. 

Full Skein: 80 grams and 325 yards. This enough yarn to make a pair of socks at approximately 64 stitches on size 2.5mm needles for women's size 9.5 medium width (EU40-41), with a tall leg of 60 rows. This of course will vary based on gauge. If you think you need more yarn than 80 grams and 325 yards for your project, please purchase a second skein.

Traceability: Dorset fibre from Revolution Wool Company in Wallenstein, Ontario; mohair fibre from Les Belles Bouclettes in Vankleek Hill, Ontario; milled at Wave Fibre Mill in Parry Sound, Ontario. Supplementary mohair from Mohair plus in Western Quebec was included for the first batch.

  • YES, this yarn is strong enough for socks! In fact, it's more durable than most commercially available sock yarns. Adult mohair replaces nylon for strength in this all-natural yarn.
  • Dorset is a breed of sheep that has down type wool. This means the wool in this yarn is naturally resilient, elastic, durable, and felt-resistant. It's ideal for hard-wearing knits of all kinds, and is sometimes called "nature's superwash".
  • Untreated, natural wool has all kinds of benefits. Wool is naturally: dirt-resistant, anti-microbial, insulating, moisture-regulating, breathable, biodegradable, renewable.
  • Knitters and crocheters will appreciate that this yarn holds its shape; it has elasticity and memory so your projects don't stretch out.
  • Caring for wool is easier than you think! Since wool is naturally dirt-resistant and anti-microbial, it only needs occasional cleaning. When cleaning is required, simply soak your item in tepid water with a wool-safe wash, roll or squeeze out excess moisture, and hang or lay flat to dry.

Mini skeins of this base are also available for purchase in store only!

restock notification

returns & cancellations

This item is not eligible for return or exchange.

yarn winding service

ontario sock will need to be wound into a ball before it can be used. We offer this as a paid service here.

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need a sock pattern for this yarn?

If the measured circumference of your foot is different than the shoe size indicates, knit the size for the correct circumference of the foot and alter the lengths to fit your needs. Measure at the widest part of the ball of the foot.

  • alley cat yarns

    Here is what Alley Cat Yarns is all about: Ethical sourcing: all of our bare yarn comes from suppliers who are third-party certified for standards in animal welfare and environmental stewardship, or from traceable small family farms where I've personally investigated these standards. Third-party certifiers include Responsible Wool Standard (RWS), and Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). We do not use any wool from farms that practice mulesing. We source and dye breed-specific wools quite regularly, and produce unique, colour-rich yarns. Yarn dyeing is a form of creative expression, and my work shines when I am free to follow my heart in the studio. My colourways are non-repeatable.

  • dorset wool

    Initially, Dorset sheep were primarily bred for their meat and milk production. However, their wool qualities were recognized and appreciated over time. Dorset wool, a medium staple length, is known for its softness, fineness, resilience and durability. The fleece can range in color from pure white to creamier shades.

  • mulesing free

    Mulesing is a controversial farming practice used, predominantly in Australia, to prevent the parasidic infection flystrike. While mulesing prevents infection, it is a very painful procedure for the animal to endure, and more humane alternatives exist. This practice is banned in many areas of the world. If a yarn is marked as mulesing free, that means that no animals were treated this way during the production of the yarn.

  • adult mohair

    This mohair is obtained from the shearing of adult angora goats. It is less soft than the shearings of younger animals (kid mohair), but also much more durable and tough. It is an excellent replacement for nylon in yarns that need durability (like sock yarns).