In October 2021, Yumeko released a unique collection of wool throws, developed in collaboration with The Knitwit Stable, for the first time. The Knitwit Stable has also since created a beautiful wool hot water bottle cover with Yumeko. Both items are knitted locally in the Netherlands. In this blog, we tell you all about this special collaboration and the importance of The Knitwit Stable's work.

Local production

The wool throws and hot water bottle covers are made from 100% soft and high-quality wool. The wool is largely (60%) sourced from the Kempisch heideschaap (Kempen Heath sheep), a flock with a small ecological footprint. Furthermore, the hot water bottle cover consists of 20% merino wool with a Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) certification and 20% wool from Dutch alpacas to make it even softer. The throw and the hot water bottle cover were developed in collaboration with The Knitwit Stable and are knitted locally in the Netherlands.

Let yourself be embraced and pampered by the unsurpassed softness and warmth of this beautiful throw and hot water bottle cover.

Shop throw and hot water bottle cover

About the collaboration

The Knitwit Stable is a farm with a knitting studio in Baambrugge that is revitalizing the wool industry in the Netherlands by producing unique wool products such as sweaters, hats, and scarves. The Knitwit Stable's mission is to set a sustainable example for the fashion industry. Their focus is on transparent and sustainable wool production. This mission aligns perfectly with Yumeko's. Yumeko also produces products in transparent, ethical supply chains that contribute to a positive impact on the environment, people, and animals [1].

The production process: from sheep to throw and hot water bottle cover

The wool throws and hot water bottle covers are produced locally. Because there is no longer a professional industry in the Netherlands that collects wool, The Knitwit Stable does this. There is only one step in the wool production chain that cannot yet take place in the Netherlands. The Knitwit Stable continuously seeks opportunities to establish this part locally as well, because the ultimate goal is to bring the entire wool production chain back to the Netherlands in a professional manner. By purchasing this throw, you contribute to this goal.

1. Shearing and sorting
   The sheep are shorn in the Netherlands, after which a special team sorts the wool and removes straw, hay, manure, and other dirt, leaving beautiful, usable wool.
2. Washing, combing, carding, spinning
   Only one step in our production process takes place abroad. The washing, carding, combing, and spinning are done in Italy, as they have the best experience and the right machines there.
3. Knitting the throws
   The Knitwit Stable then uses the yarn to make our beautiful, unique throws and hot water bottle covers. This is a labor-intensive project; knitting one throw, for example, takes an average of 70 minutes (with a knitting machine).

"Did you know that about 70% of the wool is usable for the production of the throw and the hot water bottle cover? The remaining 20% of the wool is used to make other wool products. The remaining 10% is lost during spinning and knitting."

What are the benefits of wool?

A wool item is breathable, insulating, fire-resistant, water and dirt-repellent, elastic, UV-resistant, and moisture-regulating. It keeps you wonderfully warm on colder days. The most sought-after wool is merino wool, a type of wool that feels super soft. Whether wool feels stiff or not depends on the fineness of the fiber, expressed in microns. Soft wool types have a micron of 30 or less, so you won't experience itching or tickling.

Moreover, wool has an incredibly long lifespan. A good wool product can last about 80 years [2]. After that, the wool naturally decomposes and becomes a natural nutrient again. More than enough benefits to enjoy fine wool items. Also take a look at our other wool products such as blankets & throws, duvets and pillows.

The design of the throw

The design, which uses various knitting stitches, is inspired by the view from The Knitwit Stable's barn onto the meadow in Baambrugge, with the skyline of villages and Dutch skies at the end.

Shop the throw

The sheep

A flock of Kempisch heideschapen (Kempen Heath sheep) consists of at least 350 sheep. The sheep graze on the Stabrechtse heath, near Heeze. A beautiful area, where the shepherd and his dog go every day to let the flock graze. Sometimes this happens from the sheepfold, sometimes from the night pasture. The sheep live to be 7 to 8 years old and are shorn every year just before summer. Each sheep produces 2.5 kilograms of wool. Per flock, that's a whopping 875 kilograms [1]!

The mission of Sjraar van Beek

The sheep's wool (from Kempisch heideschapen) for the hot water bottle cover and throw comes from Sjraar van Beek's flock(s). In a study on biodiversity in heathlands, Sjraar van Beek soon realized that something was missing in the maintenance of the heath. Based on this observation, he proposed letting a flock of heath sheep graze on the heath to ensure that the grass was eaten, making room for heath plants. This way, his sheep contribute to healthy soil on the heathlands in Heeze and Roermond.

Furthermore, after extensive research, he discovered that his sheep have very good wool. The research yielded a lot of information about the quality, the micron (thickness of the wool), and also the best time to shear. Now Sjraar supplies wool selected by micron. He tries to keep this under 28 microns through breeding, which is the "itch point" for many people.

The collaboration between grazing company De Wassum and The Knitwit Stable ensures that we once again value Dutch wool and gain insight into how best to utilize it. In this way, much less wool is wasted, and we can now make throws and hot water bottle covers from this previously unusable wool.

Why is The Knitwit Stable's work so important?

Yumeko supports The Knitwit Stable's mission. Both companies focus on producing products in transparent, ethical supply chains. But what makes The Knitwit Stable's work so important? And why is their method of production better than the production of conventional wool [2]?

• The Knitwit Stable is revitalizing the wool industry in the Netherlands. Nowadays, sheep in the Netherlands are almost exclusively kept for meat, milk, or grazing. Wool is seen as a residual product and is sometimes even burned. The Knitwit Stable is changing this by buying wool from farmers and breeders and then making new products from it. They also have their own farm with sheep and Angora goats that are kept for their wool [1], [2].
• The Knitwit Stable is completely transparent about its production process, unlike many conventional wool producers [1].
• The production process takes place locally in the Netherlands. Only 1 step in the production process takes place abroad. Only the washing, combing, carding, and spinning are done in Italy. Conventional wool, on the other hand, travels all over the world [1].
• Due to local production, much less transport is involved than with the production of conventional wool. This results in significant environmental benefits [1].
• The animals are treated well; by producing on a smaller scale, there is time and attention for the well-being of the animals. In the conventional wool industry, production is often on a large scale, which increases the risk of animal suffering [2].
• The Yumeko x The Knitwit Stable wool throw is not dyed. Natural wool colors are beautiful. Moreover, dyeing usually causes the most pollution. The Knitwit Stable products that are dyed are GOTS certified. This means there are strict rules regarding the dyeing of products [1].

On The Knitwit Stable's website, you will find much more interesting information about this special company. Curious? Visit The Knitwit Stable's website. Or take a look at theknitwitstable.nl/wassum.nl, this organization manages the Kempen Heath sheep flocks from which the wool for the throws comes.

Consulted sources

[1] theknitwitstable.nl
[2] Veen, E. (2020) Wol kent heel wat bezwaren. Volkskrant Magazine