South African Beauty

It is no secret that South Africa is a special place in the world and my experience there was no less than amazing. But do you really know what South Africa means to fiber and yarn?

From the rolling hills of the Karoo to the lush pastures of the Eastern Cape, the country’s unique environment provides the perfect conditions for producing some of the finest wool and mohair on the planet.

Frankly South African mohair, often referred to as the “diamond fiber”, is prized for it’s silky texture, natural sheen, and exceptional durability. It is both luxurious and durable.

Cowgirl Blues Kidsilk

You can play with South African mohair in the form of Cowgirl Blues Kidsilk, a beautiful mohair silk blend sourced from South Africa.

I had the opportunity to visit Cowgirl Blues, a South African yarn brand we love here at Parker Avenue. During our visit to the home of Cowgirl Blues, I met Mekai, here pictured.

I was introduced to the product Mekai, named after this fabulously talented dyer. I couldn't wait to bring it back to Detroit to share with you all. 

Today, we stock a vast array of the Cowgirl Blues line, which you can find here. 

Protea 

In the course of my travel there was no shortage of natural floral to create dreams of fabulous color arrays. The protea in its multitudes of variations made it clear why it is the national flower of South Africa and now the favorite of mine.

With its orange starburst, huge dusty rose and pink, or its soft cream majestic flower heads protea creates a grand vision and makes a bold statement.

Protea thrives in all kinds of conditions, many harsh and unyielding, stands tall with her head facing the infinite sky, and is declared both King and Queen of a place wrought with pain and pride, struggle and perseverance. Protea my dear ones is YOU!

We had to bring this gorgeousness to Parker Avenue in the form of yarn. Blending one, two, or all three, will create a proud tribute to this flower and the strength within us all. You can check out the Protea collection here. 

Travel through your yarn experience

I always encourage travel, exploration and adventure. Fortunately, we can do all of that through fiber.

With Cowgirl Blues our resident South African fiber, from sheep to skein, and our custom dyed Protea line of Vibe Fiber, a bit of the South African magic is at your fingertips.

Take a trip as short as our online shop and instantly travel thousands of miles to a land where anything is possible. We'll be here with expert guidance the whole way through.