River Orchard Fingering Yarn – Naturally Dyed in West Virginia

$25.00

River Orchard Fingering Yarn. Dive into the cool, aquatic blues and greens of River Orchid—a naturally dyed variegated 2 Ply fingering yarn inspired by native wildflowers found along West Virginia’s mountain streams. Each skein features soft aqua, teal, and blue-green sections that evoke the colors of the New River Gorge and Gauley River, creating organic color changes that knit up with beautiful fluidity and depth.

Naturally-dyed in small batches using indigo liquid extract, weld & marigold (our dye flowers). Perfect for socks, shawls, and lightweight garments that celebrate the natural beauty of West Virginia.

Fiber Type

100% Shetland
80% Merino / 20 % Recycled Nylon

Intensity

Dark
Light

Clear

SKU: N/A Categories: Blue Naturally Dyed Fibers & Yarn, Fingering, Yarn Tags: Fingering, river orchid

Barcode:

Brand: Blue Thistle Fibers

Description
Additional information

Color Profile

Primary Colors: Aqua, teal, blue-green
Secondary Tones: Soft periwinkle, sage green
Contrast Level: Medium (gentle color shifts)
Variegation Pattern: Organic sections 2-6 inches long
Overall Effect: Fluid, water-like color changes

How It Knits Up: River Orchid creates beautiful pooling and flashing effects in stockinette stitch. In textured patterns like cables or lace, the color changes enhance stitch definition without competing with the pattern. Perfect for projects where you want color interest without dramatic contrast.

Best Paired With:

Neutrals: Cream, natural white, soft gray
Blues: Dark indigo, periwinkle
Greens: Sage, moss green
Purples: Lavender (for colorwork)

The River Orchid Story

River Orchid captures the essence of West Virginia's aquatic landscapes—the places where wildflowers bloom along riverbanks and mountain streams cut through ancient forests. Named for the native orchid species that thrive in these wetland habitats, this colorway reflects the cool blue-greens of river water, moss-covered stones, and the delicate petals of wildflowers that dance in the mist.

Each skein is naturally-dyed using Saxon Blue (a 1775 recipe combining ondigo (for the blue base) and sulfuric acid), Our River Orchid variegations mimic the way light plays on moving water—shifting from deep teal pools to bright aqua shallows, with touches of blue-green that evoke morning mist rising from the Gauley & New Rivers.

This is yarn that tells the story of place—of West Virginia's wild rivers, native ecosystems, and the craft traditions that connect people to the land.

Additional information

Weight	N/A
Dimensions	N/A
Fiber Type	100% Bamboo, 100% Blue Faced Leicester, 100% Merino, 100% Shetland, 50% Cashmere / 50% Tussah Silk, 50% Recycled Wool / 50% Tencel, 70% Super Kid Mohair, 30% Mulberry Silk, 72% Kid Mohair / 28% Mulberry Silk, 75% Merino / 25% Recycled Nylon, 75% Suri Alpaca / 25% Mulberry Silk, 80% Cashmere / 10% Silk / 10% Recycled Nylon, 80% Extra fine Superwash Merino Wool 19.5 mic. 10% White Yak. 10% Mulberry Silk, 80% Merino / 20 % Recycled Nylon
Intensity	Dark, Light, Medium