Our Inspiration

Our story begins at Lake Bonaparte in New York’s North Country, where generations of our family learned to knit, weave, and sew, like so many other rural women – from mother to daughter. We’ve learned from our grandmother’s knitting, crocheting, hand-sewn textiles & quilts pieced at our family Adirondack Camp, how patient handwork turns necessity into beauty. 

In West Virginia, we’re practicing what we’ve learned in our production-level natural dye fiber company. We’re not just processing fibers and naturally dyeing yarn – we’re helping rebuild West Virginia’s fiber infrastructure, sharing traditional practices that once sustained mountain communities, connecting farmers, processors, and makers in a network of shared prosperity.

Our family’s land, here and in the North Country, provides grown & foraged dye materials that we harvest sustainably and bring south to our Gauley Bridge mill, along with commercial natural dyes. Every skein carries both histories – northern forests and southern mountains, inherited knowledge and chosen commitment, two rural American traditions woven into one.

Our Story

At Blue Thistle Fibers, we make eco-friendly fibers using traditional fiber processing techniques & all-natural dyes sourced from plants, roots, and other materials. Our wool & alpaca fiber clouds, batts, skeins of yarn, felt fabric, River Bend blankets, slippers & knitwear are carefully created with sustainable practices, and every color tells a story of connection to the mountains that inspire our craft.

We believe that the beauty of a handmade piece is not just in its creation but in the time and care between our hands and yours. Whether you’re knitting a cozy sweater, stitching a quilt, or crafting a project that speaks to your heart, we’re here to help bring your creative vision to life with colors inspired by nature’s palette.

From our family to yours, thank you for supporting our small business and being part of a story that spans generations.

Welcome to Blue Thistle Fibers.

I learned to knit from my grandmother—knit and pearl, the way most of us start. During Coast Guard patrols, I’d add stitch after stitch. I finished my first sweater while patrolling the Arctic Circle. Trust me, it got used.

Now I’m building something that connects two parts of my story: my family’s North Country textile traditions from Lake Bonaparte, New York, and the Appalachian fiber heritage I’ve claimed here in West Virginia.

We harvest dye materials from our family land in Lewis County and process them in our Gauley Bridge mill. Every skein bridges those worlds—northern forests and southern mountains, inherited craft and chosen home.

This is where I prove Appalachia was never textile-poor. Where I honor the knitters, weavers, and quilters who did much with little. Where grit meets color, and tradition meets what’s next.

Small-batch, naturally dyed, perfect for whatever you’re making.

I can’t wait to see it.

-Clare

I also learned how to knit & sew from my grandmother—listening as she explained how to make what we needed from what we had. My grandmother’s beautiful knitting, crochet and lace work inspire my own colors and designs.

I’m excited to help Clare grow Blue Thistle Fibers – through our Fiber Mill, and West Virginia’s only production-level natural dye operation.  When I’m not dyeing yarn, I’m processing fleece, weaving, or sewing. I love all things sheep (wish I had room for a flock). We are deep into the spinning rabbit hole, so stay tuned for our handspun line.

-Sara

Have fiber you ned processed? We’re accepting reservations now for 2026 Mill services. 

Want Blue Thistle Yarns in your store? Let’s talk wholesale. sara@bluethistlefibers.com

Blue Thistle Fibers is a small-batch, naturally dyed fiber company based in West Virginia, the heart of Appalachia. All our fibers are naturally dyed by hand in Huntington, West Virginia. Our wool comes from a network of ethical and sustainable fiber producers and mills in the United States and Peru. All wool is mulesing-free, with transparent, ethical sourcing. As we expand, our goal is to source and process all of our wool from United States sources and grow our natural dye plants.