Wyoming Bison (32 μm)

An extremely rare fiber that is available only in limited quantities. Shepherd Textiles Wyoming Bison is 100% American Buffalo fiber from a herd on the northern Great Plains. Like many other large mammals, bison have a double coat of soft, warm down underneath a coat of longer, thicker guard hairs. They shed their winter coat every spring, and it can be collected by hand—extremely carefully. The downy fibers are very soft and comparable to yak or baby camel (18-20 μm). However, because they only grow in autumn and winter, the downy fibers have a short staple length of about 1”. The roving is held together and made spinnable by the longer, coarser guard hairs that give it structure. Our Wyoming Bison roving is a rustic carded sliver made from bison fiber as it is found naturally, including both the down and the guard hairs. It is too scratchy for against-the-skin wear, but perfect for yarns intended for rugs, throws, and other durable projects. Add a genuine piece of the West to your project with real Wyoming Bison fiber.