Dear friends,
Today I’m working on yarn allocation for our next run of socks.
How many pairs? What colors? What styles?
Those are the decisions in front of me right now.
Since we begin with raw mohair, everything starts at the very beginning of the process.
Most brands simply call a knitter and give them the specifications for a sock.
The knitter sources the yarn, the machines start running, and the socks are made.
Simple, right?
So why do I make it more complicated?
Because the mohair in our socks is grown right here at Red Falcon Ranch.
Let’s start at the beginning.
My daughter Rachel shears the goats each spring and fall.
Then I sort through each fleece by hand.
Only the finest, softest mohair is selected for our socks.
The mohair then travels to the spinning mill where it is carefully washed, blended with fine domestic merino wool, and spun into yarn.
If we choose, that yarn can then be dyed into different colors before it finally makes its way to the sock knitter.
Right now, I have white yarn waiting at the mill.
My job is to decide how much will remain natural and how much will become the other colors you love.
That yarn will eventually be knit into cabin socks, ankle socks, and our favorite everyday mid-calf socks.
Thankfully, spreadsheets are my best friend during this stage.
But I need you, too, my friends.
This is the moment in the process where you get a voice in what we make.
What colors do you love wearing? Which sock styles do you reach for most often?
This is the joy of small batch.
We can listen. We can adapt. We can make decisions together.
We’re not constrained by a large corporation or a distant design team deciding what should be made.
Now let’s make things just a little more interesting. Beanie hats.
We’ve had so many requests for them.
I had a conversation with a wonderful beanie knitter, and he’s agreed to do a small trial run for next winter.
I’m very excited about the possibility - but once again, I need your input.
If you were to wear a Caprine beanie, what color would you choose?
One of the things that makes this community so special is how connected you are to the process.
You’re here through the seasons - when babies are born, when the goats are sheared, and even during some of the harder moments that come with ranch life.
So I would truly love to hear from you. Send me an email angela@shopcaprine.com and tell me your thoughts.
Which of our socks are your favorites?
What colors would you love to see next?
What styles do you wear most?
I read every message and do my best to reply.
Thank you for being part of this process.
My hope has always been to make the comfiest socks for everyday life.
We’re not a performance sock company. There are already plenty of those.
We simply want to make the socks you reach for again and again.
The pair you pull on because they feel just right… and because you know exactly where they came from.
With love,
Angela
Angela
Click here to enjoy our cozy mohair socks and throws.