Our three Imperial Tibetan Yak cows pictured here, although true black to look at; actually produce a warm milk chocolate brown fleece. The yak fiber is short stapled, and ultra-fine like cashmere, but often compared to quiviut. They shed this precious downy fiber annually, with the shed complete usually by fall.
It spins into a fine soft yarn; making a lovely lace weight yarn. Depending on your preference you can spin yak on a light weight top whorl spindle or a supported spindle, or a high ratio spinning wheel.
Yak blends very nicely with
other fibers. If you are going to blend by hand, use a similar staple length
fiber like cotton, cashmere or camel down. Commercially combed tops are also a
great way to try yak for the first time, and spin quite easily. My personal
favorite is a 50/50 blend with Merino or Cormo, which changes the color to a
lovely pearlescent grey with a rich patina. Perhaps the most surprising quality
of yak fiber is the soft luster.
This coming weekend at the
Garden State Sheep and Fiber Festival, held at the Hunterdon County
Fairgrounds on Rt 179 in Ringoes (directions -http://www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/depts/rutgers/2011-4HFair/directionsandmap.pdf) you will get an opportunity to purchase
both the Imperial Yak down and white Royal Yak down, as well as the pewter
colored yak/merino top. We are in Barn 3 – just look for the 10 ft Yak banner!
Perhaps best of all, you will see Ginger spinning lace weight yak yarn on her
top whorl spindle, and hear yak stories from Linda. For you knitters, we will
have the first few skeins of yak/alpaca yarns for sale.
Come see us at the Festival
and yakkity yak with us!
