| All of these American Cashmere products are 100% Made in Montana. The goats are raised here, well-fed and happy. Cashmere comes from a goat with a double coat. The coarse outer guard hairs and the downy undercoat. To get the cashmere, one has to get it off the goat. That can be done in one of two ways; shearing, or combing. I comb the cashmere off when the goats start shedding in the spring. It takes about an hour to comb a goat, depending on how thick the coat is. If the timing is just right, it only takes one combing to get all the undercoat. Usually it takes at least two. Then I have to "de-hair" it, which is removing the outer guard hairs from the soft undercoat. I send it to a mill in Washington state for that. When I get it back, I then go through it by hand with a pair of tweezers and remove the remaining guard hairs and vm that is left. After that is done, I then spin it into wonderfully soft yarn and crochet or weave it into original, luxurious accessories. Lots of time and love go into each item. It takes approximately 18 hours, give or take a couple hours, to make each item from goat to finished product, not counting the daily feeding and maintenance chores on the goats themselves. World-wide, real, top quality Cashmere is an expensive fiber. The demand far exceeds the supply. The goats only produce a few ounces a year. Usually 2 to 6 ounces of fiber can be recovered from each goat. It takes the average goat 6 years to grow enough cashmere to make a sweater! |
| PINE NEEDLE FARM CASHMERES |
| "I absolutely love my cashmere hat and scarf..thanks Ann! They are both so beautifully made and fit perfectly. I go to school in Indiana so the winters are pretty brutal, but I was amazed at how warm they kept me even though they are so light weight and stylish. Many of my friends have come up to ask me where they can get one too!" Melanie Butler University, Indiana |
Here is what some customers have to say about Pine Needle Farm Cashmere!
| "Ann, I cannot tell you how much I love everything. There was such beautiful detail in the mitts and cowl. I love knowing that you made them by hand with cashmere from your own lovely animals. LOVE. LOVE them. Thank-you! I simply abhor all of the things manufactured in China and elsewhere." Lynn H. Kalispell, MT |
| "Ann, I have been wearing the mitts and cowls long enough now that I just have to give you some great feedback. I find your mitts are much warmer AND softer than the foreign cashmere. The warmth factor is what has me surprised. The mitts are a fine yarn, yet they are the warmest mitts I have. Same goes with the cowls. And softer, too, the yarn is softer. I'm absolutely enchanted!" Peggy M, Berkeley, CA |
| All Items are Crocheted or Woven with 100% Pine Needle Farm Cashmere yarn, unless otherwise noted. Handspun in either natural colors or hand dyed. Please click the link to my Esty shop on the home page to see what all is available. |
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