About our yarn

Because hand painted yarns have a few limitations that go along with the yummy must-have look of these yarns, one should keep a few things in mind when purchasing any hand painted yarn. Unlike manufactured yarn, hand painted yarns can pick up color differently within the same batch. Solids (or kettle-dyed yarn) will have a slightly mottled or "monochromatic" look with slight variations in the depth of color throughout the skein. When purchasing, look closely to be sure that the skeins are similar enough for your project, or knit about 2 to 4 inches with one skein, then switch to another skein to evenly distribute the colorways throughout the project. Some knitters switch between two skeins on every other row. If you are knitting stripes or color work, hand dyed yarns will look fabulous!

In keeping with the somewhat rebellious character of hand dyed yarns, Argosy's yarn concept is all about creativity. Argosy yarns are designed to accommodate the knitter in his/her creative pursuits and are easily combined to produce your own version of colorwork from a selection of deep, rich hues and wonderful textures. Of course, if the occasion for a solid inspires you, there is also an exquisite palette of monochromatic solids to choose from. Whether you are looking for that special yarn for Fair Isle, intarsia, colorwork, or a fine selection of luxuriously soft textures to drape your needles, Argosy yarns will help make whatever your imagination has envisioned to be an absolute masterpiece.

About our cashmere

Our Manufacturer uses only Premium Inner Mongolia & Tibetan Cashmere/Pashmina material. The goats are from the Himalayas, which have long been known as the source of the best quality cashmere fiber worldwide. This soft, luxurious fiber known as cashmere comes from the underbelly of the Capra hirus goats reared in the remote regions of the Himalayas. The goats are domesticated and raised in the highlands of Tibet, Mongolia, and Nepal. They require a lengthy period of intense, dry, cold climate to grow this undercoat. The fine fleece is 14-17 microns, approximately 1/5 thickness of human hair. Each spring the goats are corralled and combed for their fiber, which is then bundled to be processed to produce the incredible downy softness of this high quality cashmere with the shimmering sheen and heirloom quality of silk.


About the owner

My journey starts with an illness. I took up knitting to pass the long hours I spent in bed recuperating. Nowadays, I am healthy and active, but I still spend every waking hour, when I'm not dyeing yarn, knitting. I hold a Bachelor's degree in finance and accounting, and began my professional life in these fields with a two-year internship at a large accounting firm. With the exception of public accounting, I worked in the real estate industry for 20 years, the last five of which I was the Controller for a Newport Beach developer. I retired at the ripe old age of 40 in 2005, and shortly thereafter Argosy was born. I spent the first year of my retirement knitting at home, in classes, and at knitting events sponsored by my local yarn shops. The time I spent with all these wonderful people made me realize that this was not a fad; it is a way of life! In fact, many of the colorways I have designed are named for the knitter who inspired them. This is one of the many beauties of the knitting world, a group of people from completely different backgrounds, with diverse interests and personalities, who join together to share their lives, experience, laughter, and hope with each other. To me, that above all, is the real beauty of knitters. The community that grows within the confines of the local yarn shops is the heart and soul of this truly remarkable industry.

Above all else, be of service, enjoy life and enjoy yourself!

Melissa

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