In this inaugural episode of Modern Wool, Lydia shares an intimate look at the genesis of her mill, where yarn comes from, and the value of wool in the modern world.

Now, I’m not saying we are all crafters, we’re not, but we’re all doing something, we’re all making something. Whatever the thing is that you are creating in your world — if you love it, you’ll love your tools as well, you’ll love your materials that help you create it. And if you love those things, eventually they will lead you back to the natural world. So maybe … spending more time doing things you love, is currency for making the world a better place.

— Lydia Christiansen

Highlights From This Episode

• Thought Experiment on finding our connection to the natural world [4:25]
• A walk through where yarn comes from [8:06]
• Examining a fleece is like reading a story that only gets told once [9:20]
• From spinning wheel to fiber mill [11:15]
• What does local and sustainable mean? [20:37]
• What’s happening with wool in the United States right now? [24:08]
• Celebrating the value of our small family farms [25:30]

Links Mentioned In This Episode

• About Our Mill — Learn more about our machines and the benefits of small batch wool
• About Our Team — Meet the team behind the Abundant Earth Fiber mill
• Fleece & Fiber Sourcebook — More than 200 Fibers from Animal to Spun Yarn
• Field Guide to Fleece — Compact reference of 100 sheep breeds and how to use their fibers
• A Girl and Her Mill — Blog post about the beginnings of the Abundant Earth Fiber mill
• Stonehedge Fiber Milling Equipment

Show Host

Lydia Christiansen

Mother, teacher, entrepreneur, self-taught textile processor, designer, and artist. Her work is an expression of devotion to our shared reliance on the natural world. At the heart of it all is her belief that the earth gives abundantly so we can thrive.