Blue Thistle Fiber 1st Place winner Veteran Pitch contest: 2025 Hayhurst Invitational

by | Jan 6, 2026 | Thoughts

We’ve been working hard all fall to grow and improve our services at Blue Thistle Fibers. Building out our Fiber Mill in Gauley Bridge is a huge part of our long-term plan. We were lucky enough to win first place in the Veterans Pitch competition at the Morris L. Hayhurst Invitational Veterans Pitch contest.  The $10,000 prize provided us with critical funds to install the necessary plumbing and electrical for our Belfast Mini-Mill equipment.

We’re close to being ready for the Mill’s grand opening and are excited about offering Mill Tours and Fiber Workshops in 2026. We’ll be posting more about the upcoming schedule as our renovations progress.

Help along the way

Help along the way

by | Jan 6, 2026 | Thoughts

 

We’ve been working hard to tell our story, and are always thankful when someone else shares the word about us. We want to use this post to thank our partners, collaborators, and others who have helped us grow, learn, and progress toward our goals.

Today, I want to acknowledge the support we received from the U.S. Commercial Service, Appalachian Rural Export Center, and WV Economic Development Export Promotion Program. We met them right after we opened, and the knowledge that Enybe and others shared helped move us toward opening our Mill in Gauley Bridge.

You can learn more about West Virginia Exporting programs and our experiences here:

https://www.trade.gov/feature-article/connecting-craft-commerce-how-rural-research-guided-yarn-exporter

 

QUICK REFERENCE: Fiber Guide

by | Nov 21, 2025 | Product Guides

FIBER CHARACTERISTICS QUICK REFERENCE

DURABILITY RANKING (Best for high-wear items)

  1. Merino/Recycled Nylon ★★★★★
  2. 100% BFL ★★★★☆
  3. Merino/Yak ★★★★☆
  4. 100% Merino ★★★☆☆
  5. Merino/Mohair ★★★☆☆
  6. Merino/Bamboo ★★★☆☆
  7. Merino/Cashmere ★★☆☆☆
  8. Yak/Silk ★★☆☆☆
  9. Cashmere/Silk ★★☆☆☆

WARMTH RANKING (Best for cold weather)

  1. Merino/Yak ★★★★★
  2. Merino/Mohair ★★★★☆
  3. 100% Merino ★★★☆☆
  4. 100% BFL ★★★☆☆
  5. Merino/Cashmere ★★★☆☆
  6. Yak/Silk ★★★☆☆
  7. Cashmere/Silk ★★☆☆☆
  8. Merino/Recycled Nylon ★★☆☆☆
  9. Merino/Bamboo ★☆☆☆☆ (cooling)

SOFTNESS RANKING (Best next-to-skin)

  1. Cashmere/Silk ★★★★★
  2. Merino/Cashmere ★★★★★
  3. Yak/Silk ★★★★☆
  4. 100% Merino ★★★★☆
  5. Merino/Yak ★★★★☆
  6. Merino/Bamboo ★★★☆☆
  7. Merino/Mohair ★★★☆☆
  8. 100% BFL ★★★☆☆
  9. Merino/Recycled Nylon ★★★☆☆

DRAPE RANKING (Best for flowing garments)

  1. Cashmere/Silk ★★★★★
  2. Yak/Silk ★★★★★
  3. 100% BFL ★★★★☆
  4. Merino/Bamboo ★★★★☆
  5. Merino/Mohair ★★★☆☆
  6. 100% Merino ★★★☆☆
  7. Merino/Cashmere ★★★☆☆
  8. Merino/Yak ★★☆☆☆
  9. Merino/Recycled Nylon ★★☆☆☆

PRICE RANKING ($ to $$$$$)

  1. 100% Merino – $
  2. Merino/Bamboo – $
  3. 100% BFL – $$
  4. Merino/Mohair – $$
  5. Merino/Recycled Nylon – $$
  6. Merino/Yak – $$$
  7. Merino/Cashmere – $$$$
  8. Yak/Silk – $$$$
  9. Cashmere/Silk – $$$$$