Brown Naturally Dyed Fiber & Yarn

Our Brown Naturally Dyed Fiber & Yarn are derived from Oak Bark & Galls (Quercus species) – The Tannin Backbone. Foraged from our forested property in West Virginia, the Adirondaks, and sourced from Botanical Colors and Maiwa.

What It Creates: Tans, beiges, grays; also used as a mordant Harvest Season: Year-round (bark from pruned/fallen branches; galls in late summer) Part Used: Bark and oak galls (insect-induced growths)

West Virginia is dominated by oak forests—chestnut oak, white oak, red oak, and more. Oak bark and galls contain high levels of tannins, which serve double duty in natural dyeing:

  1. As a mordant – Tannins help other dyes bond to fibers
  2. As a dye itself – Creating soft tans and beiges

We collect bark from fallen branches and storm-damaged trees, never stripping bark from living trees. Oak galls—those round growths caused by wasp larvae—are particularly high in tannin and create beautiful gray-tans.

The Appalachian Connection: Oak tannins were essential to traditional Appalachian textile work. Early settlers used oak bark for both leather tanning and cloth dyeing.

Products Featuring Oak: Light Tan Sock, Sand DK (oak creates the soft, neutral tones)

  • New!Sand DK Naturally Dyed Yarn

    Sand DK Naturally Dyed Yarn

    Price range: $30.00 through $45.00

    Sand DK Naturally Dyed Yarn

    Price range: $30.00 through $45.00

    Sand DK Naturally Dyed Yarn

    Part of Home & Hearth – our Sand naturally dyed yarn show the clean warmth of home and hearth and are perfect for working up a cozy everyday treasure.

    These natural, sand hues are perfect bases and accent points – and – pairs beautifully with every other colorway at Blue Thistle Fibers or as a standalone for classic pieces, highlights texture, and cables perfectly.

    Fibers: 70% Tussah Silk / 30% Silk | 100% Shetland| 100% Linen

    Hand wash in cool water with wool-safe detergent or pH-neutral soap. Handle gently when wet – non-superwash wool can felt if agitated. Lay flat to dry away from direct sunlight and heat sources.

    Do not machine wash or tumble dry. Do not bleach.

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  • New!Light Tan DK Naturally Dyed Yarn

    Light Tan DK Naturally Dyed Yarn

    Price range: $25.00 through $45.00

    Light Tan DK Naturally Dyed Yarn

    Price range: $25.00 through $45.00

    Cream Naturally Dyed Yarn

    Part of Home & Hearth – our soft cream yarns show the clean warmth of home and hearth and are perfect for working up a cozy everyday treasure. Natural fibers in a practical cream. This is the color of bread rising, fresh butter, clean wool – the neutral that goes with everything and makes everything cozier.

     

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  • Brown Shetland Hand-Carded Roving

    Brown Shetland Hand-Carded Roving

    $3.00

    Brown Shetland Hand-Carded Roving

    $3.00

    Brown Colorway. Shetland Hand-Carded Roving are perfect for felting, spinning, and other crafts—net weight: 5 grams.  Staple length – Mixed between 1 inch and 2.5 inches. There may be second cuts, neps, felted sections or minor VM.

    Blue Thistle Fibers’ mixed staple length hand-carded Shetland roving are perfect for combing, spinning, or felting for your craft projects where you want chemical free, natural regenerative fiber.  This undyed product has been washed and scoured in hot water. Fleece products are sourced from our network of farms that ethically and sustainably raise heritage breed sheep.

    While our team hand-dyes our wool products carefully, natural dye results can vary based on plant materials and fibers. Please be aware that variations in color and appearance may differ from the display image.

    2 in stock

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  • Brown Shetland Combed Locks

    Brown Shetland Combed Locks

    $3.00

    Brown Shetland Combed Locks

    $3.00

    Brown Colorway. Shetland Hand-Combed Locks are perfect for felting, spinning, and other crafts—net weight: 5 grams.  Staple length – Mixed between 1 inch and 2.5 inches. There may be second cuts, neps, felted sections or minor VM.

    Blue Thistle Fibers’ mixed staple length hand-combed Shetland Locks are perfect for combing, spinning, or felting for your craft projects where you want chemical free, natural regenerative fiber.  This undyed product has been washed and scoured in hot water. Fleece products are sourced from our network of farms that ethically and sustainably raise heritage breed sheep.

    While our team hand-dyes our wool products carefully, natural dye results can vary based on plant materials and fibers. Please be aware that variations in color and appearance may differ from the display image.

    1 in stock

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  • Brown Shetland Raw Locks

    Brown Shetland Raw Locks

    $3.00

    Brown Shetland Raw Locks

    $3.00

    Brown Colorway. Shetland Locks are perfect for felting, spinning, and other crafts—net weight: 5 grams.  Staple length – Mixed between 1 inch and 2.5 inches. There may be second cuts, neps, felted sections or minor VM.

    Blue Thistle Fibers’ mixed staple length hand-washed Shetland Locks are perfect for combing, spinning, or felting for your craft projects where you want chemical free, natural regenerative fiber.  This undyed product has been washed and scoured in hot water but left unprocessed. Fleece products are sourced from our network of farms that ethically and sustainably raise heritage breed sheep.

    While our team hand-dyes our wool products carefully, natural dye results can vary based on plant materials and fibers. Please be aware that variations in color and appearance may differ from the display image.  Please wash separately with gentle, pH-neutral soap several times before using, as naturally dyed fibers will run the first few washes.

    2 in stock

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