Every region leaves its mark on those who live there, whether they’re animals or humans. While the cashmere most of us know best comes from the Himalayas by way of China or Mongolia, cashmere goats live in many places around the world. They just grow slightly different fibers—and for reasons far more complicated than geography, although that certainly plays a part.
Years ago when I was researching cashmere for The Knitter’s Book of Yarn, I remember spotting fleeting mentions of cashmere also coming from Iran, Turkey, and many of the “stans,” Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan being the biggest. When I asked the experts, they scoffed and said something along the lines of, “They don’t know what they’re doing,” or “That’s not real cashmere.”
But I’ve always been curious to learn more because, as far as I’m concerned, any cashmere is good cashmere, right?
The Kyrgyz Conundrum
Creating “better” cashmere from the hodgepodge of Kyrgyz goat herds has been a focus of numerous NGOs and others in the last few years. They’ve worked to train farmers to comb the fibers (instead of shearing, which dumps the good and the bad together) and sort by fiber diameter, length, and yield. Until they jumped in, most everything had been sold straight to China for a lump sum, regardless of fiber quality.
June Cashmere, founded by Sy Belohlavek, stands out as perhaps the largest and most visible venture bringing Kyrgyz cashmere to the handknitting yarn market.
Building June
Sy offers the farmers more for their fiber—but only if they take the time to comb instead of shear, and only if they sort the fibers. What impressed me even more was Sy’s smart choices. While claiming to know little about knitting, he sent the fibers to Belgium for scouring, to Scotland for spinning, and finally to Saco, Maine, to be dyed at the Saco River Dyehouse.
The goal? Maybe not this year, maybe not next year, but slowly and patiently help the farmers establish a premium flock of cashmere goats and elevate the reputation of Kyrgyz cashmere on the global market.
The Yarn
June Cashmere yarn currently comes in two weights, DK (left) and lace (right). Skeins are 50g and cost $44 each, the DK having 150 yards (137m) and the lace 308 yards (282m). You’ll find the yarn and patterns for sale on the June Cashmere website.
Both weights are spun in refreshingly different ways than you’d normally find in cashmere handknitting yarn. The DK is made of six relatively tight plies that have been loosely twisted together; the lace is made from three plies that are tightly twisted together.
If I were to guess, I’d say that the multiple plies exist to stabilize a blend of potentially shorter or not-yet-entirely-uniform fibers—perfectly understood for this stage in the game, and something I’d expect to improve with each generation of goats. Both yarns broke easily with a tug.
There are 12 colors total, gorgeously chosen to mix and match while standing strong on their own. Each has subtle heathered undertones made possible by the fact that this yarn isn’t made from bright white fibers. If I use the “Natural” shade as our guide, I’d predict that the base yarn is a blend of white and grey and a warm, creamy coffee tan. When you dye over those shades, magic happens. (The Scarlet is the perfect pink for a hat, if you’re so inclined.)
Setting Expectations
If you buy this yarn expecting the tender-soft, ethereal cashmere you are used to, you’ll be disappointed. So put that expectation out of your mind right away. This yarn is a work in progress, a project that hopes to build deep roots, which will take time. The touch is far more nuanced, and it matches the story of the fiber. A work in progress with good intentions and great potential.
Knitting Up
I bought and swatched one skein of each weight.
The DK was so loosely plied that my stitches occasionally snagged just a few of the plies by mistake. I started with slick Addi Turbo needles and wished for the grab of bamboo but worried that it could increase the snags. My fabric looked just a tad wonky, though a vigorous slosh in warm soapy water did balance things out a bit.
Knitting with the lace on US 1s was a surprising pleasure. If you have the patience for it, this produces a gorgeous tight stockinette. The only issue was balance. My tiny swatch began to tilt from all that pent-up twist, so I’d recommend lace and/or any stitch that combines knits and purls to help balance any potential bias.
Touch
Lacking an electron microscope of my own, I can’t tell you the specific micron count of the cashmere in this yarn, but if it’s labeled “cashmere” and the labels are following the Wool Products Labeling Act of 1939, then the fibers have an average diameter of at most 19 microns. It’s definitely in that range. In fact, I went a whole day with a swatch tucked under my shirt without remembering it was there.
I’ve washed and flogged my swatches and am not finding that angelic bloomy behavior we’ve grown to expect in “cashmere,” although I do like the fabric quite a lot. It has a dry, cottony hand. The yarn has very little bounce—again, it behaves more like cotton—but when knitted on the tight side, the fabric has surprising life to it.
In my two skeins I found zero knots and only one translucent “shiner,” which is a lower grade of fiber you don’t want in the mix. The processing on this is very, very good.
A Distinct Pleasure
I’m a great fan of blends, but I’m also big on keeping ingredients distinct so we can experience each on its own. Here we have a chance to work with a fiber we know is Kyrgyz cashmere rather than some anonymous mystery-meat skein with a multinational provenance. The more variety you give your fingers, the smarter and more intuitive they become. Consider this yarn a $44 (or $88 if you’re in for the extended program) report on the current state of the cashmere industry in Kyrgyzstan.
While most cashmere yarns aim toward the super refined, this yarn has a somewhat rustic, dare I say “artisanal” nature to it. And as I said before, the pedigree is outstanding. If Sy can make this level of choices without being a knitter, I’m curious to see what he does next.
Set your expectations, know what you’re buying (and what you’re supporting in the process), choose your color, and start knitting.
Nina | January 10, 2017
|
So nice to hear about this! Thank you, Clara!
Carolyn | January 10, 2017
|
I have seen and felt this yarn in our shop at a trunk show. I have also knit with it and I just have to say that I love it! I personally love the “rustic-ness” of it, the colors are beautiful, and, as you said, the story and cause behind the yarn is wonderful. A 50 gram skein of the DK will make a set of beautiful cabled wrist warmers, and a 50 gram skein of lace makes a lovely, generously sized, lace infinity cowl. I think every knitter should give this yarn a try if they are able. I hope June Cashmere goes a long way in their journey!
Elizabeth | January 10, 2017
|
With all of the environmental pressures on goat herds in Mongolia it’s probably a very good thing to begin to devise alternative sources for cashmere.
Silvia | January 11, 2017
|
Hi Clara,
Just tell us where can we buy this yarn?
Clara | January 11, 2017
|
I’m sorry I wasn’t clear enough on that – you can buy the yarn from the June Cashmere website – http://www.junecashmere.com. I’ve updated the review to be more clear. Thanks!
Val | January 11, 2017
|
I would also like to know where I can buy this yarn, it sounds lovely.
Clara | January 11, 2017
|
I’m sorry I wasn’t clear enough on that – you can buy the yarn from the June Cashmere website – http://www.junecashmere.com. I’ve updated the review to be more clear. Thanks!
Kathleen Oliver | January 11, 2017
|
Very interested to read about a developing cashmere yarn project. As someone who has grown cashmere here in the states and was once very active in the Eastern Cashmere Association, I am familiar with the challenges faced in developing a yarn for the market. I thought it refreshing that some natural colors are being incorporated in the yarn. There is a sort of oatmeal grey color and a warm taupe that are beautiful unto themselves and are lovely over dyed. And the other factor that is encouraging is that the farmers are harvesting by combing. The staple length of cashmere at best is only an inch and a half, and by shearing, one would loose at least that half inch. Percentage wise, one is leaving a lot of cashmere on the animal and the sheared ends are not as pleasant in a yarn. Much like the difference between plucked and sheared angora. And not to mention all the guard hair coming off with the cashmere. Then in production, the mill would have to deal with that excess weight, adding to production costs, and to the end user down the line. And in this farmer’s opinion, combing is better for the animals. They keep most of their guard hair for protection against the elements. I hope this yarn is successful and the project grows. Looks like they are off to a good start.
Anne | January 11, 2017
|
I stumbled upon Sy at a fiber festival last fall. He tells his story so well and it is fascinating! The yarn certainly lives up to the story and the colors are gorgeous! I’m so glad to see this post! Thank you for spreading the word about this lovely yarn and this extraordinary project!
Sally | January 11, 2017
|
It would be helpful in your reviews if you told how many yards and/or meters there are per skein, not just the weight.
Clara | January 11, 2017
|
Good point Sally! I normally do – because this was as much a fiber/company backgrounder as it was yarn overview, I didn’t go there. But if you click on the links to June Cashmere you can see all the yarn details there. Thank you!
Mary | January 11, 2017
|
Clara,
I took a trip this summer to visit friends in Scotland, it was wonderful. Can you tell us more about the mill where Sy sent this fiber to be spun? I wonder if I visited there – I saw a mill in Edinburgh and also the one in Shetland.
Thanks!
Mary
Jennifer | January 11, 2017
|
A lovely read! I’m inspired to try ‘all the fibers’ and enjoyed reading about the Kyrgyz cashmere. Also, I love the nod to pink hats! (Making a couple myself!)
Clara Parkes | Author | January 12, 2017
|
🙂
Judith | January 15, 2017
|
Having just visited Kyrgastan, I will buy this yarn to help grow the industry. A beautiful but very poor country filled with wonderful people.