Gilliatt, Ulysse and Cyrano are woollen yarns made from a blend of Merinos d’Arles wool (a breed from the South of France in Provence) and of black Merinos Pétra wool (from Portugal) for its heathered shades.
How wool becomes yarn : Fleeces are washed and combed to get rid of as much dirt and plant residue as possible. Fibers are then carded to increase the amount of air in them, some are then dyed and blended to obtain the perfect shade.
Carded fibres are initially spun into one single ply and then twisted two, three or five times depending on the type of yarn.
Yarns are put into hanks to be dyed or washed depending on the shades. The mill uses a completely biodegradable and environmentally friendly conditionner. Hanks are then put in balls and labelled before being sent out to you!
Gilliatt has been named after the strong and tenacious hero from the novel “Les Travailleurs de la mer” (the Sea workers) by Victor Hugo, Ulysse after the Greek Odyssey hero, lover of Penelope, and Cyrano after the famous author of “Etats et Empires de la Lune et du Soleil”. These are warm and fluffy yarns, beautifully rustic but still amazingly soft.