Alfeire from Retrosaria Rosa Pomar

Alfeire

from Retrosaria Rosa Pomar
Aran (8 wpi) ?
240 yards
(219 meters)
100 grams
(3.53 ounces)
18.0 sts
= 4 inches
US 6 - 8 or 4 - 5mm
100% Wool
singles
Care: Hand Wash, Hand Wash Cold
Drafting method: Woolen spun
Dye: Undyed
Ply: Single ply
Put up: Winding required
Source of fiber: Portugal, Portuguese merino wool from Alentejo
Scoured: Portugal, Manually scoured
Milled: Portugal, Handspun

Alfeire is the yarn from which traditional blankets (mantas) are woven in southern Alentejo. It is spun from the wool of Portuguese Merino and Campaniça sheep, the two native breeds from Alentejo. Its unique texture and softness are the result of a long process that to this day is entirely carried out by hand and that includes caning the wool to loosen the fibers and oiling it with olive oil before carding. Spinning is done on a century old great wheel, locally called banco. Alfeire comes in all the natural shades provided by the sheep of Alentejo.

The fleeces used for these yarn come from free range grass-fed sheep.