Peek Inside the 2026 Selection Box!

Beautifully Unexpected, Wonderfully Woolly

One of our favorite things about The Woolly Thistle is discovering extraordinary wool from around the world and sharing it with our community, and this year's Selection Box gathers that spirit into a single parcel.

You'll find familiar friends here – producers we've worked with and admired for years – alongside exciting new discoveries. Unusual sheep breeds, generations of milling tradition, and inventive yarns, each chosen for the character of the wool and the people (and sheep, of course) who work so hard to bring it to life. Every yarn in this box has a story to tell. From Irish Romney wool helping revive Ireland's wool industry to rustic Portuguese wool and rare Norwegian breeds spun at a family-owned mill, these yarns represent the people, places, and traditions that make wool so special.

We know that ordering a Selection Box means trusting us to choose your colors, and we take that seriously! Shades vary between boxes, but each collection has been coordinated into a harmonious palette of heathers and complementary tones.

We've also tucked in a couple of handy tools and two digital patterns to spark your next cast-on. Plus, you'll receive a pattern suggestion card with ideas for each yarn in the box! This box is an opportunity to try a breed you've never knit with, find a new favorite, play with color, and get to know the dedicated folks behind these fibers.

Ériu Aran Traditions

Why We Chose It

We've had the pleasure of working closely with Zoë and Lionel at Ériu since introducing their Elements DK yarn to our Thistlers. Their passion for reviving Ireland's wool industry and championing the farmers behind it is something we wholeheartedly believe in. When they began developing Aran Traditions, we knew it was a breed-specific yarn we wanted to share in this year's box.

A beautiful example of Irish Romney wool, Aran Traditions is worsted-spun in partnership with the Emerald Romney Co-op, with a focus on bringing traditional Irish Aran-weight yarn back to the hands of knitters. Through Ériu's Farm to Yarn network, small Irish farms and flocks are given pride of place, with an emphasis on traceability and fair payment to farmers.

For this box, we chose a shade from the Turning the Turf collection. Its earthy, heathered tones are inspired by Ireland's rural traditions and sit comfortably alongside the other wools in this collection.

What Makes It Special

Aran Traditions has the robust, honest character we love in a good wool, softened by a gentle luster and a supple drape. Crisp stitch definition makes it especially suited to cables and traditional Irish knitting. Irish designer and knitting teacher Ryan Koenig collaborated with Ériu during the yarn's development, creating designs like the Brittas Hat and Keadeen Scarf that show off its sculptural texture.

We've included one plump 100g skein of this Aran-weight wool, enough to knit an entire hat! It's a grand introduction to true Irish wool, and it may well lead you to your next cabled sweater.

The Specs

• Skeins included: 1 × 100g skein
• Total grams: 100g
• Total yardage: Approx. 197 yards (180 meters)
• Weight: Aran
  
• Fiber: 100% Irish Romney Wool
  

Baa Ram Ewe Mowool

Why We Chose It

Every so often a yarn stops you in your tracks, and Mowool did just that when Cait and Corinne discovered it at H+H Americas this past May! Each garment they saw knitted in it was one they immediately wanted to cast on. We knew this was a yarn that deserved a place in our Selection Box.

There's something wonderfully unexpected about Mowool. Made from 100% British Wool, this inventive yarn has been brushed to create a soft, airy halo and plush feel you'd expect from mohair, but without a single strand of mohair in sight! It's a look and texture unlike your typical wool yarn, and even better, all that beautiful fluff comes from a single strand. No need to hold two yarns together to achieve that dreamy cloud-like effect.

What Makes It Special

British wool is naturally elastic, resilient, and exceptionally insulating, and Mowool brings those qualities together in a yarn that feels surprisingly light and soft. Its gorgeous heathered shades glow through the gossamer halo, creating a fabric with beautiful depth and dimension.

We love seeing something genuinely different being done with British wool, and we think you'll have just as much fun exploring this unusual texture as we have.

We've carefully curated two complementary colors for each Selection Box so you can put your new yarn straight to work with the Wren Hat or Cowl. A digital copy of the pattern is included with your box! For a larger project, take a look at the Aurelie Sweater, another fetching way to show off Mowool's distinctive character.

The Specs

• Skeins included: 2 × 50g skeins in two complementary colors
• Total grams: 100g
• Total yardage: Approx. 514 yards (257 yards per skein)
• Weight: Fingering
  
• Fiber: 100% British Wool
  

Bramble & Fleece Sheepsoft DK

Why We Chose It

We've been keeping an eye on Laxtons Mill in Yorkshire for years, so we were thrilled to hear about the launch of their Bramble & Fleece handknitting yarn collection!

With four generations of experience spinning natural fibers, Laxtons brings a wealth of knowledge and tradition to the craft. Their yarns showcase British sheep breeds, with wool carefully sourced and spun at their Yorkshire mill. Heritage-minded, conscientious wool production like this is just what we love supporting at The Woolly Thistle.

Sheepsoft DK combines two well-matched British breeds: the softness of Bluefaced Leicester and the strength and durability of Masham. The wool is sourced from British flocks, with spinning, dyeing, and finishing taking place within a 50-mile radius in Yorkshire.

What Makes It Special

We're quite taken with how the heathered colors are made: undyed Masham fiber is blended with fiber-dyed Bluefaced Leicester, lending each shade a rich, layered depth.

We've been drawn to good, everyday DK-weight wools lately, and Sheepsoft checks so many of our boxes. It's breed-specific, responsibly produced, versatile, and available in a splendid palette.

We've chosen one skein in a shade that pairs nicely with the other yarns in the box. We can easily imagine this yarn becoming a favorite sweater, a well-loved hat, or a cozy cowl. A proper Yorkshire wool with a fine family story behind it!

The Specs

• Skeins included: 1 × 100g skein
• Total grams: 100g
• Total yardage: Approx. 246 yards (225 meters)
• Weight: DK
  
• Fiber: 50% Bluefaced Leicester, 50% Masham Wool
  

Woolly Mammoth Fibre Co. Spotted Dutch

Why We Chose It

If there's one person we can count on to introduce us to something properly woolly and a little unexpected, it's Emma Robinson of Woolly Mammoth Fibre Co.!

We've teamed up with Emma on previous Selection and Taster Boxes, and she always brings us the most scrumptious, well-sourced, and unusual yarns. When we heard she was producing a batch of Spotted Dutch wool, we were immediately intrigued. This is a sheep breed we'd never met in skein form before, and we couldn't wait to share it with our Thistlers!

Emma was offered fleece from Dutch Spotted sheep and jumped at the chance to have this distinctive wool milled into yarn once again. We love that she recognizes the potential in these less commonly encountered fibers and helps bring them into the hands of knitters.

What Makes It Special

Dutch Spotted sheep have a fascinating history dating back to the Netherlands around 1800, where they were traditionally used to graze the grassy embankments of reclaimed marshlands. These hardy sheep are recognizable by their striking spotted coats, with patches of white, brown, and black wool.

For our Selection Box, Emma has created a limited edition blended gray heather in a 4-ply fingering weight, a shade with plenty of personality that feels right at home among the other wools in this collection. The Spotted Dutch wool is mixed with just a dash of Hebridean for something truly one-of-a-kind.

Finds like this are what make a Selection Box so exciting: a new-to-us breed, a small producer doing careful, considered work, and a yarn we might never otherwise have encountered. We invite you to support Emma and the small farms she's working with by exploring this special yarn in this year's box.

We hope you'll enjoy discovering Spotted Dutch as much as we have!

In Emma's Words

"Spotted Dutch creates a very springy yarn, and an uncommon breed to see spun into yarn. I like to try out breeds that are grazing in my local fields. This yarn was spotted by a sheep shearer I know, and he brought it to me so I don't know the sheep or the farmer personally, although I know his name is James Riley and he lives near Armoy, near the Dark Hedges (Game of Thrones area)."

The Specs

• Skeins included: 1 × 100g skein
• Total grams: 100g
• Total yardage: Approx. 399 yards (365 meters)
• Weight: 4-ply Fingering
  
• Fiber: 90% Spotted Dutch, 10% Hebridean Wool
  

Retrosaria Pegulhal

Why We Chose It

When we introduced Pegulhal to The Woolly Thistle earlier this year as part of our Armchair Travels through Spain and Portugal, we had a feeling our Thistlers would love it. And goodness, did they ever! Maggie has affectionately called his yarn a "hidden gem" on our shelves, especially for colorwork. In fact, her goal is to knit with Pegulhal next year!

This characterful Portuguese yarn quickly became a favorite, and the enthusiasm for it, especially the charming Sheep Sweater kit, has warmed our hearts. In fact, we've fallen so hard for Portuguese wool that we've since added another base, Matiz, to our shelves!

When curating this year's Selection Box, we wanted to make sure we ventured beyond the British Isles and honored the rich wool traditions found elsewhere in Europe. Bringing a taste of Portugal into the collection felt just right.

What Makes It Special

Pegulhal is made from 100% Portuguese wool, blending Campaniça and Portuguese Merino. The wool is grown, scoured, spun, and dyed entirely in Portugal, something we particularly appreciate for its sustainability and small footprint.

Woolen-spun and dyed in the wool, Pegulhal has a rugged, rustic nature, with softly heathered colors that bring knitted stitches to life. It's an authentic, down-to-earth wool that feels connected to the sheep and the land that raised it.

Pegulhal truly comes into its own after washing. The wool blooms and softens, melding the stitches into a cohesive fabric ideally suited to traditional stranded colorwork.

We've included two coordinating colors so you can explore this Portuguese wool for yourself. Picture a stranded hat, a pair of patterned mittens, or a colorwork yoke. We think you'll find plenty to love about Pegulhal!

The Specs

• Skeins included: 2 × 50g balls in two coordinating colors
• Total grams: 100g
• Total yardage: Approx. 480 yards (440 meters)
• Weight: Light Fingering
  
• Fiber: 100% Portuguese Wool
  

Isager Jensen

Why We Chose It

Certain yarns just feel like they belong at The Woolly Thistle, and Isager is one of them! Iseger yarns were developed with intention, for knitters, by knitters. The result is a wonderful connection between the mill, the designer, and you, the knitter.

Corinne and Maggie have long admired this beloved Danish yarn company for its rich history, superb wool, and enduring knitwear designs. The story of Isager is also a heartening story of women in knitting, beginning with pioneering designer Åse Lund Jensen. In 1977, her former student Marianne Isager carried on her legacy, becoming one of Denmark's most influential knitwear designers.

Today, Marianne and her daughter Helga continue to inspire knitters around the world with their elegant designs and deep respect for traditional craftsmanship.

What Makes It Special

Originally developed in the 1960s by Åse Lund Jensen in collaboration with Henrichsen's Wool Mill in Denmark, Jensen is a handsomely sturdy, three-ply sport weight wool with excellent stitch definition and a proud pedigree.

For this Selection Box, we've chosen exclusively from Jensen's S-colors, which incorporate wool from European Gotland sheep. These heathered shades have an earthy, natural richness we adore. Each box contains a mystery S-color, hand-picked to suit the other heathers in your collection.

Even the way this yarn is presented carries a bit of history! For more than 100 years, Henrichsen's Wool Mill has gathered its hanks by hand. Each 100g hank is made up of two 50g skeins, easily separated once the label is removed.

We love Jensen for its durability, defined texture, and classic appeal. It's a wool that makes you want to knit something you'll wear for years to come, and we're so pleased to finally share it with our Thistlers!

The Specs

• Skeins included: 1 × 100g hank made up of two 50g skeins
• Total grams: 100g
• Total yardage: Approx. 273 yards (250 meters)
• Weight: Sport
  
• Fiber: 100% Wool
  

Hillesvåg Sølje

Why We Chose It

If you've joined us for our Norwegian Armchair Travels, you'll know that Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk holds a special place in our hearts! This fourth-generation, family-owned mill has been spinning Norwegian wool since 1898, and we admire the work they're doing to preserve Norway's wool traditions and its native sheep breeds.

For this year's Selection Box, we wanted to include a yarn that really captures that connection between sheep, mill, and maker. Sølje is spun from the fleece of Norwegian Pelt Sheep (Norsk Pelssau), a rare breed known for its naturally gray, lustrous wool. Hillesvåg is the only mill still spinning Pelssau wool into yarn! Its saturated color and soft sheen make Sølje a standout.

We also love that this yarn represents exactly what The Woolly Thistle is all about: connecting knitters with remarkable wool and the people who produce it, even when they're an ocean away! Raised on Norwegian farms and spun at a Norwegian mill, Sølje is a shining example of how preserving traditional wool production keeps rare fibers available to knitters around the world.

We chose to include two matching 100g skeins in each box, giving you a generous 200g to explore. While the colorways vary between boxes, both skeins in yours will be the same beautiful shade, chosen to round out the rest of your collection.

And we have an extra treat! We've included a digital download of Tilbehør No. 2 by Augustins for Hillesvåg, a graceful triangular scarf pattern designed for Sølje. The 200g in your box is enough to knit the small or medium size, so you can cast on and enjoy this Norwegian wool right away.

What Makes It Special

Sølje is a crisp, airy, two-ply fingering-weight yarn made entirely from Norwegian wool. Its natural, toothy texture provides excellent grip for stranded colorwork, while its clear stitch definition and elegant drape make it equally suited to lace, scarves, and lightweight garments.

The naturally gray fleece of Norwegian Pelt Sheep gives Sølje's richly dyed colors uncommon depth and subtle heathering. It has a rustic charm that mellows with washing and blocking, creating fabric you'll want to wear and cherish for years.

Hillesvåg's dedication to working with Norwegian wool and supporting native sheep breeds makes this yarn all the more meaningful to us. If you'd like to learn more about the sheep, the mill, and the people behind Sølje, be sure to explore our Norwegian Armchair Travels and our Meet Hillesvåg article on The Woolly Thistle blog!

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The Specs

• Skeins included: 2 × 100g hanks in the same shade
• Total grams: 200g
• Total yardage: Approx. 764 yards (700 meters)
• Weight: Fingering
  
• Fiber: 100% Norwegian Wool
  

Fibres of Life Ombre Pod

Why We Chose It

We believe there's always room for a little more wool in our lives, even when we're not knitting with it!

These bright little Ombre Pods from Fibres of Life caught our eye as a fitting addition to this year's Selection Box. We love discovering attractive, useful objects made of natural fibers, especially when they uphold traditional craftsmanship and support the people who carry on these important practices.

Each pod is carefully handcrafted by artisans in Nepal using traditional wet-felting techniques. Made from sheep's wool and dyed with non-toxic, azo-free dyes, these colorful little bowls are produced through fair trade practices that benefit Nepalese artisan communities.

What Makes It Special

With their cheerful two-tone colors and soft yet sturdy construction, these little felt bowls are thoroughly practical, and they look lovely, too!

We can just picture one sitting beside your favorite knitting chair, keeping stitch markers, tapestry needles, and all those little notions that have a habit of disappearing neatly in one place.

At just under four inches across, they're ideally sized for knitting essentials, and equally handy for holding jewelry, sewing supplies, or other odds and ends.

These pods show wool in an entirely different light, and we hope yours brings a splash of color to your making space!

Katrinkles Pattern Magnifier Tool

Why We Chose It

Katy at Katrinkles has been a dear friend of Corinne's and The Woolly Thistle for many years, and we're always charmed by the creativity and imagination she brings to the crafting community.

Katy has a real knack for dreaming up ingenious little tools that make our knitting lives easier and more enjoyable. Just when we think our knitting bags have everything they could possibly need, she comes along with another brilliant gadget we can't wait to try!

For this year's Selection Box, we have a mighty useful little helper to share with you: the Katrinkles Pattern Magnifier Tool.

What Makes It Special

We've all been there, happily knitting along when we need to squint at a tiny chart or lean over our work to decipher the next line of a pattern. This nifty tool makes those moments a little easier.

Made with a warm-toned domestic cherry hardwood frame and a durable, scratch-resistant magnifying lens, it helps enlarge pattern instructions, charts, and illustrations. Even better, the wooden frame doubles as a ruler with measurements in both inches and centimeters!

We love a good-looking tool with a practical streak, and this little magnifier is one more smart invention to add to Katy's long list. We think it'll quickly find a permanent home in your knitting bag!

What's Inside the 2026 Selection Box

Each 2026 Selection Box has been hand-curated by Maggie and Cait to introduce knitters to exceptional wool gathered far and wide. Rare sheep breeds, heritage mills, independent producers, and exciting new discoveries all come together in this year's collection, a snapshot of what The Woolly Thistle does best: connecting knitters with the wider woolly world.

Seven yarn varieties, 800g of wool, two patterns, and two accessories, all packed into one well-traveled box!

Box Extras

• Wren Hat or Cowl by Baa Ram Ewe: digital pattern designed for Mowool
• Tilbehør No. 2 Scarf by Augustins for Hillesvåg: digital pattern designed for Sølje; the two skeins in the box knit the small or medium size
• Fibres of Life Ombre Pod: hand wet-felted wool bowl made in Nepal, approx. 3.75" diameter × 2.75" high
• Katrinkles Pattern Magnifier Tool: cherry hardwood magnifier with a built-in inch and centimeter ruler, approx. 4.1" × 3.1" × 0.3"

Box Contents & Specifications

Yarn	Quantity	Total Weight	Approx. Yardage
Ériu Aran Traditions	1 × 100g skein	100g	197 yards
Baa Ram Ewe Mowool	2 × 50g skeins	100g	514 yards
Bramble & Fleece Sheepsoft DK	1 × 100g skein	100g	246 yards
Woolly Mammoth Fibre Co. Spotted Dutch	1 × 100g skein	100g	399 yards
Retrosaria Pegulhal	2 × 50g balls	100g	480 yards
Isager Jensen	1 × 100g hank	100g	273 yards
Hillesvåg Sølje	2 × 100g skeins	200g	764 yards
Total	10 yarn units	800g	~2,873 yards

Thank you for trusting us to curate this year's Selection Box. We can't wait to see what you make with it all!

Happy knitting!
The Woolly Thistle