Yarn: Brushtale Upcycled Merino in Azure
Pattern: Classic Cuffed Hat by Purl Soho
Finished: October 5, 2024
Notes: My husband and I traveled to New Zealand this past February. It was a lifelong dream for both of us, and we had an amazing time. Of course, I had to buy some yarn to bring home with me as my souvenir. That included two 50g balls of this Brushtale yarn. The fabric makeup is 70% merino and 30% brushtail possum fur. The possums are invasive in New Zealand, wreaking havoc on the native wildlife. I believe the government has some initiatives to eradicate possums and other predators.
This yarn is a byproduct of those initiatives. It's super soft and knit up beautifully. It has a nice halo that adds good texture. And the Azure color is gorgeous. The pom pom on the left hat is also made from possum fur. I would not typically gravitate towards fur, but I felt this was an ethical choice given the environmental destruction possums are causing in New Zealand.
Anyway, I love how these hats turned out - one for me, and one for my husband. My only regret is that I don't have more of this yarn in all of the colors. Sadly, my suitcase space was extremely limited. Shipping from New Zealand is quite expensive, so I'm not sure if I'll ever get any more. If you're a kiwi who would like to do a product exchange with an American, hit me up. I'm also dying for some Whittaker's Hokey Pokey Crunch! :)