Haunui Natural Wool Yarn, #24 Tauranga

Haunui wool yarn is one of the loveliest products we've ever had the pleasure to handle. Made from 100% natural wool from New Zealand — and gently spun by expert craftspeople in Japan — Haunui expresses all that's beautiful about wool. The colors come only from the Haunui sheep, which are bred specifically to produce a range of colors from off-white to deep brown.

Noro's source for this special wool is a family-owned farm called Taranui, which also provides fibers for high-end suits. The sheep are treated humanely; they are never mulesed or over-shorn. Harriet Gardner is the chief shepherd and the latest in a line of Gardners who have tended the flock since 1982. For her, it's a passion and a responsibility to preserve these beautiful animals and their unique wool.

5,000 miles away, in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, the passionate people at Noro carefully spin the raw fleece into Haunui yarn. This is not the quick, machine-driven process that's used in cheap yarns. To avoid damaging or distressing the fibers, Noro's expert spinners use old machines set to their slowest speeds, so the natural variation of the fiber isn't removed.

Haunui yarn varies considerably in weight and twist, but because the fibers are so long and strong, it's still easy to knit. When working with Haunui, just leave a bit of extra ease in your stitches to accommodate the occasional bulky row. The result is an organic and visibly luxurious knit fabric that you won't want to give away.

Weight 4-5 (medium-bulky). 200 gram ball; approx. 437 yards in length. Suggested needle size: about 5 mm (US 8). Dry clean only.

About Noro

Each Noro tag is printed with "The World of Nature," a reminder of the company's unique approach to spinning. Founder Eisaku Noro was inspired by the complex colors of his native Mie Prefecture, Japan, where the cold waters of Mount Ōdaigahara flow down into verdant valleys and trickling streams.

Noro yarns are made from natural materials, especially wool and cotton, and the company never over-processes these fine fibers, so they retain their essential character. Even colored Noro yarns are not bleached first; the company over-dyes the natural colors so that the final result is flecked and layered, not flat and dull.