As a rule we only purchase from reputable suppliers who guarantee that all fiber comes from non-mulesed flocks. Mulesing is a controversial practice protecting sheep from parasitic infection. Conscientious breeders will engage in other, more humane, ways to keep sheep clean – we believe that happy sheep make happy fiber!

For our HAND DYED yarn and fiber we only use the safest dyes available (after all, people we love and care about are stirring those dye pots every day!). Did you know that the mordant for fixing this type of dye is common household vinegar? You can be assured that our hand dyed yarn and fiber, besides being beautiful, is safe, consistent and reliably colorfast. To maintain vibrant coloring, please hand wash your finished pieces gently in cool water. 

We offer a wide variety of VEGAN fiber for spinning, blending and dying. All are biodegradable and sustainably harvested. These cellulose fibers have been used in textile production for thousands of years and are appreciated for a large variety of desirable properties like balancing temperature, softness, luster and durability. Vegan fibers are a great alternative to animal fibers, but they may also be blended with wool for interesting and beautiful effects.

Most of our products carry the OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 symbol. The Standard 100 is a worldwide consistent, independent testing and certification system for raw, semi-finished, and finished textile products at all processing levels. This means you can buy with confidence: there are no harmful substances present in these fibers – guaranteed!

While most of our fibers carry certification of some kind, we also buy directly from local farms that typically are not large enough to go through expensive certification processes. The owners take great pride in their livestock and care for their animals like family ;-) We know these breeders personally and are convinced that you will not find more honest fiber from happier, healthier animals anywhere!

Not only do we relentlessly re-use packaging and shipping boxes, whenever possible we source fiber and yarn with pre-consumer reclaimed material components. We believe in efficiency when it comes to precious fiber resources and feature products that are made from textile waste, mill ends and color experiments that never quite made it to production. One woman's dye accident is another woman's treasure!

They are marked with the GOTS symbol which stands for Global Organic Textile Standard. GOTS is the worldwide leading textile processing standard for organic fibres, including ecological and social criteria, backed up by independent certification of the entire textile supply chain. Explicitly prohibited are toxins like heavy metals, formaldehyde, aromatic solvents, nano particles, GMO’s, bleach or carcinogenic azo dyes. Many people mistakenly believe they are allergic to wool, when in fact they are sensitive to the chemicals used in processing. Naturally, GOTS is the safest choice when making toys or clothing for little ones!

Currently the US does not produce sufficient fiber for the textile market. We support local farms and breeders whenever possible, but also import from reputable suppliers around the world. A lot of these fibers are then spun here in local US fiber mills, becoming into our “Private Label” boutique yarns; or hand dyed in an independent dye studio nearby. Your purchase of Living Dreams Yarn products directly supports a large network of local farms, artisans and fiber mills in our Pacific NorthWest rural community. Thank You!

The ancient tradition of PLANT DYED yarn and fiber is making a comeback! The majority of natural dyes are vegetable dyes from plant sources—roots, berries, bark, leaves, and wood—and other biological sources such as fungi and lichens. They are hands down the most eco friendly. The colors tend to be delicate and slightly muted.

To prevent fading use only liquid neutral soaps at low temperature and dry dry away from direct sunlight.

Reducing the amount of microplastics in the ocean is important for all lifeforms on our precious planet. Did you know that plastics are found in our bodies in ever increasing amounts? We are dedicated to advancing the use of natural fibers whenever possible and enjoy educating our customers about the benefits of natural fibers for crafting garments and home goods. Thank you for making environmentally conscious choices that really make a difference!