Nurturing Fibres
About Nurturing Fibres
Nurturing Fibres is a South African yarn company dedicated to creating beautifully hand dyed merino yarns with exceptional quality and environmental consciousness. Founded by Carle, whose colour ways are inspired by nature, childhood memories, emotions, dreams, and the blessed life we live, Nurturing Fibres has become a trusted name among knitters who value artisan craftsmanship and sustainable practices.
"I chose the name Nurturing Fibres for my Indie dyeing label because I nurture colour into the yarn and then you, the knitter, crocheter, weaver then nurture the yarn into a garment. Finally the garment nurtures and comforts."
"A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in." – Greek Proverb
The Fibre – South African Merino & More
Nurturing Fibres hand selects premium quality merino wool, mohair, and cotton to ensure only the finest fibres make it into their yarns. With pride in the high quality fibres that South African farmers produce, they work exclusively with yarns sourced from South African farms and locally spun (with the exception of bamboo).
The wool comes from local free ranging sheep that are non-mulesed, and the cotton is locally grown and spun. This commitment to local sourcing supports South African agriculture while ensuring traceable, responsibly produced fibres. The merino is naturally soft, breathable, and temperature regulating, perfect for garments worn directly against the skin.
Hand-Dyed with Heart
Each skein is hand dyed in small dye lots to ensure a high standard and uniqueness. The colours range from bold and vibrant to soft and muted, each one telling its own story. The dyeing team works continuously to create beautiful yarns that keep your needles clicking away, with every colour way reflecting Carle's artistic vision and connection to the world around her.
The dyes used are Oeko-Tex approved, containing no restricted substances listed on the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 list, ensuring safety for both knitters and the environment.
Environmental Stewardship
Nurturing Fibres believes that careful planning can make a real difference in reducing environmental impact. Their dyehouse is designed to run with the lowest possible environmental footprint and the greatest socio-economic benefit to their small local community:
Renewable Energy: Solar power heats water for dyeing, with minimal top up when needed. Water is gravity fed rather than pumped, and yarns are dried naturally in the sunshine or over an Aga stove. All skeining and balling is done manually.
Water Conservation: Water used to soak skeins is recycled to irrigate the staff vegetable garden. All dyeing process water is pH-balanced and used to irrigate 120 olive trees. Equipment and yarn washing uses borehole water sourced on the farm, significantly reducing environmental impact.
Job Creation: Each dye batch takes a full day to ball, and with up to 14 dye lots per day (70kg), this creates meaningful employment opportunities for Xhosa people from local farms. As the business grows with continued orders, more jobs are created in the community.
The Yarn Range
Nurturing Fibres offers beautifully hand dyed yarns in their signature Super Twist construction:
- Super Twist Sock – Perfect for warm, comfy socks and versatile enough for wonderful shawls, scarves, and cardigans. This soft yarn can be worn directly against the skin.
- Super Twist DK – The most versatile DK merino yarn available in South Africa. The quality is so fine it's perfect for baby wear, soft and squishy yet strong enough to keep the whole family warm.
Each skein carries the unique character of hand-dyeing, with subtle variations that add depth and beauty to your finished projects.
Why We Love Nurturing Fibres
We stock Nurturing Fibres because their yarns represent the perfect marriage of artisan craftsmanship, environmental responsibility, and exceptional quality. Every skein tells a story – from the South African farms where the fibre originates, through Carle's inspired colour ways, to the solar-powered dyehouse where each batch is lovingly created.
Whether you're knitting socks, shawls, or sweaters for the whole family, Nurturing Fibres yarns bring beauty, softness, and the integrity of truly sustainable, community-supporting production to your projects.