Meet Hillesvåg: The Norwegian Mill Keeping Rare Breed Wool Alive

Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk in Hjelmås, Norway, where it has been spinning yarn since 1898 in this very spot.

Norwegian yarn has been woven into The Woolly Thistle's collection from our very beginnings. Corinne's most popular patterns feature Norwegian wool, and for good reason: the fiber delivers exceptional warmth, loft, and durability.

That’s why we're delighted to introduce Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk to our core collection! Hillesvåg has been spinning yarn since 1898 in a small mill north of Bergen, Norway. Everything about their production aligns with what we value in yarn: traditional woolen carding, rare breed preservation, and a commitment to quality Norwegian fiber. Let's discover what makes this fourth-generation mill remarkable. 

What Does Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk mean?

Hillesvåg is the name of the village in western Norway where the mill has stood since 1898.
Ullvarefabrikk simply means “woolen mill” in Norwegian.
Ull = wool • Vare = goods • Fabrikk = factory

Traditional Methods, Exceptional Yarn

Since 1898, Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk has operated from the same location in Hjelmås, north of Bergen. The mill employs about twenty people who manage every production stage, working with equipment that includes machines from 1905, still producing yarn that meets exacting standards.

Some of Hillesvåg's equipment, such as this carding machine, dates back to 1905, and it's still producing exceptional yarn.

Hillesvåg practices traditional woolen carding, a method that creates light, airy yarn by loosely aligning fibers. Large cylinders with working rollers pull Norwegian wool through thousands of small needles, producing thin fiber webs that become roving, then single-ply yarn, then finished 2-ply skeins. Every hank is hand-tied after winding, then hand-twisted after dyeing and drying. It's patient work that most mills have mechanized away. Hillesvåg maintains these methods because they value results over efficiency.

Now in its fourth generation under brothers Øyvind and Arild Myhr, the mill has weathered everything from World War II (when employees kept production running while owner Birger Myhr was imprisoned for resistance work) to the 1970s collapse of Norwegian textile manufacturing to the pandemic-era surge in knitting interest that challenged their capacity.

They've survived by focusing on what matters: quality Norwegian wool, traditional woolen carding, and methods that produce yarn with real character. Hillesvåg is the only Norwegian mill still spinning Pelssau wool, a rare breed with silvery-grey fleece that creates dimensional color white wool simply can't match. That commitment to preservation, even when it's commercially harder, tells you what kind of mill this is.

The raw material: soft, springy Norwegian fleece with the natural crimp and elasticity that make these yarns exceptional.	This is what traditional production looks like: hands-on work at every stage, including tying each hank.

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Meet Sølje and Luna

Sølje Pelsullgarn – Fingering Weight

The Specs:

• Fiber: 100% Norwegian wool from Norsk Pelssau (the rare grey breed)

• Construction: 2-ply, woolen carded

• Yardage: Approx. 350m per 100g

• Gauge: 25 sts x 32 rows = 10 x 10 cm on 3mm needles

• Put-up: 100g hanks (2 x 50g)

• Care: Hand wash, not superwash treated (can be felted)

• Certifications: Some colors use GOTS-certified dyes

How It Compares:

Rauma Finullgarn is your closest match at The Woolly Thistle. Both work at 25 stitches per 10cm, both are fingering weight Norwegian yarns excellent for stranded colorwork and traditional knitting. The main difference: Sølje is spun from Pelssau wool (the grey breed) while Finullgarn uses white sheep, making the color character different between the two.

What Makes It Special: The Only Mill Spinning Pelssau!

Sølje showcases the rare Norwegian Pelssau breed, meaning “pelt sheep”, or “fur sheep”. Pelssau have naturally grey, curly fleece and Hillesvåg is the only Norwegian mill still spinning it! The wool contains both light and dark fibers blended together. This creates something you won't find in white wool: every dyed color has built-in depth and subtle melange.

According to Hillesvåg, "The dark fibers give the yarn an exciting depth and melange when dyed." Reds warm up, blues gain richness, even neutrals carry tonal complexity. The natural grey base (color 2115) underlies all the dyed shades.

The fiber itself is described as fine, soft, and silky with good crimp. Woolen carding creates a glossy, soft yarn that's light and airy. The yarn develops a nice halo after washing and becomes fluffy and soft. It's excellent for sweaters, cardigans, dresses, children's garments, and baby blankets.

Best for:

Stranded colorwork where you want dimensional color, textured knitting that shows off the luster, lightweight garments, shawls, and accessories. The fingering gauge makes it versatile for everything from delicate lacework to sturdy sweaters.

Luna Lamullgarn – Worsted Weight

The Specs:

• Fiber: 100% Norwegian lambswool (Norsk Kvit Sau)

• Construction: 2-ply, woolen carded

• Yardage: Approx. 200m per 100g

• Gauge: 18 sts x 24 rows = 10 x 10 cm on 4.5-5.0mm needles

• Put-up: 100g hanks

• Care: Hand wash, not superwash treated (can be felted)

• Certifications: Almost exclusively GOTS-certified dyes, Nordic Swan Ecolabel

How It Compares:

Rauma Fivel is nearly identical in gauge and yardage. Both are true worsted weight Norwegian yarns at 18 stitches per 10cm, both offer approximately 200m per 100g. Luna and Fivel are direct substitutes in most patterns, so if you're familiar with Fivel, you'll know exactly what to expect from Luna's gauge and weight.

What Makes It Special: Norwegian Lambswool at It's Finest!

Luna uses only the finest fibers from Norwegian White Sheep—C1 Fine classification at 28 microns (that's the diameter of each fiber. For context, human hair averages 70 microns, so this is quite fine and soft). According to Hillesvåg, "only the finest fibers from Norsk Kvit Sau are used in the production of Luna lamullgarn." The wool is Swan Ecolabeled and has excellent crimp and elasticity, making it ideal for light, airy, soft carded yarns.

This is soft, springy yarn suitable for most medium-weight garments. Woolen carding creates the characteristic loft and breathability of Norwegian wool: warmth without bulk, structure without stiffness. The yarn blooms beautifully with washing and improves with wear.

Hillesvåg has prioritized environmental responsibility with Luna, using almost exclusively GOTS-certified dyes. These dyes are biodegradable and non-toxic, with no allergens or residues of dangerous chemicals.

Best for:

Sweaters, cardigans, stranded colorwork, cables, textured knitting, hats, mittens. Anywhere you want reliable worsted weight with the light-but-warm quality of Norwegian wool. If you've been knitting with Rauma Fivel and love it, Luna offers the same gauge with Hillesvåg's traditional production methods.

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A Natural Fit

The Woolly Thistle has always believed that some things matter more than convenience: quality wool, transparent sourcing, methods that produce yarn worthy of your time and skill. Hillesvåg shares these values, and that's why we're proud to add them to our collection.

Whether you're drawn to the rare Pelssau or the pristine lambswool, you're working with yarn from a mill that does things properly.

And this isn't the end of our Norwegian expansion! Stay tuned for more exciting additions coming from Norway in the months ahead.