Fingering Naturally Dyed Yarn

Fingering Weight Naturally Dyed Yarns
The elegant workhorse of the fiber world — fingering weight creates shawls with drape, sweaters with definition, and accessories with refined detail. Every skein naturally dyed with botanical color in our West Virginia dye works.
Merino/Recycled Nylon Fingering combines 80% superwash merino softness with 20% recycled nylon strength in a versatile 4-ply construction. At 399 yards per 100 grams, this generous yardage makes larger projects economical. The nylon content adds resilience for socks, durability for sweaters, and structure for lace that holds its shape through blocking. This blend takes natural dyes beautifully — the merino absorbs color deeply while the nylon adds subtle depth and variation. Perfect for shawls, lightweight sweaters, socks, and any project that needs to balance softness with wearability.
Shetland “Highlander” brings heritage breed character: 100% Shetland wool from Maryland in a traditional 2-ply construction. At 400 yards per 50 grams, this creates incredibly lightweight fabric with authentic texture and bloom. Shetland wool carries generations of breeding for softness, warmth, and the distinctive halo that makes Fair Isle colorwork glow. This is non-superwash wool that wants to felt slightly when blocked — that’s its strength, creating fabric that grows softer and more unified with wear. Natural dyes develop complex heathered tones on Shetland, echoing the traditional colors of Scottish moorlands.
100% Linen Fingering offers pure Belgian flax in a crisp, breathable 2-ply. At 412 yards per 100 grams, linen creates summer-weight garments with exceptional drape and the legendary “gets better with every wash” character. This cellulose fiber takes botanical dyes differently than protein fibers — indigo creates clear, bright blues; plant tannins produce warm ochres and sage greens; madder yields coral and terra cotta rather than rose pink. Linen softens dramatically with washing and wear, transforming from crisp to cloud-soft while gaining subtle lustre. Perfect for warm-weather knits, market bags, towels, and layering pieces that breathe.
Bamboo Fingering brings sustainable softness: 100% bamboo in a 2-ply construction from Canada. At 333 yards per 100 grams, this creates fabric with silk-like drape and subtle sheen at a fraction of silk’s cost. Bamboo is naturally antimicrobial, moisture-wicking, and incredibly soft against skin — ideal for summer garments, baby items, and anyone with wool sensitivities. The smooth fiber takes natural dyes with remarkable saturation, creating jewel tones and deep earth colors. Note that bamboo has less elasticity than wool, so it works best for drape-focused projects rather than ribbing-heavy designs.
Silk/Camel Fingering pairs 70% Italian tussah silk with 30% Mongolian camel in an exotic 2-ply blend. At 378 yards per 115 grams, this creates fabric with lustrous drape, exceptional warmth, and sophisticated hand. The silk provides structure and sheen while camel adds legendary softness and insulation. This blend takes natural dyes with remarkable complexity — camel fiber holds earth tones with particular depth, creating rich browns, taupes, and greys, while the silk catches light and adds dimension. Perfect for special occasion shawls, heirloom garments, and luxurious cowls.
Great for: Shawls, lightweight sweaters, socks, fingerless mitts, lace projects, colorwork, baby garments, summer knits (linen/bamboo), and any project where stitch definition matters. Fingering weight typically works at 28-32 stitches per 4 inches on US 1-3 needles.
Natural dye performance: Fingering weight shows botanical color with exceptional clarity and detail. The finer gauge reveals subtle tonal shifts within each skein — madder creates everything from pale coral to deep crimson, indigo builds through sky blue to midnight navy, plant tannins produce sophisticated neutrals. Variegated and tonal colorways develop beautiful striping and pooling effects at this gauge. The protein fibers (merino, Shetland, silk/camel) take dyes deeply and hold color through washing. Cellulose fibers (linen, bamboo) show clearer, brighter tones.
Care: Superwash merino blend is machine washable gentle cycle. Shetland, silk/camel, and linen benefit from hand washing in cool water with wool-safe or pH-neutral detergent. Bamboo can handle gentle machine washing. Lay flat or hang to dry away from direct heat. Fingering weight blocks beautifully — aggressive blocking transforms lace, while gentle blocking enhances drape in garments. Linen and bamboo improve dramatically with each wash, growing softer while maintaining structure.