Musk ox qiviut (kiv-ee-ute), is one of the finest and warmest fibers on earth.  The musk ox have adapted their extraordinary undercoat to protect them since prehistoric times.  Their downlike underhair is eight times warmer than wool by weight and finer than cashmere.  Each spring the musk ox sheds this two-part coat and it is harvested by separating the down from the long guardhairs.  The harshness and remoteness of the Arctic limits the amount of qiviut available.  Small amounts are supplied by domesticated herds such as The Musk Ox Company in Montana, but limited worldwide supplies make it one of the most sought after treasured of all natural luxury fibers.  Qiviut fiber is so fine that if you laid 1,950 of them side by side, they would barely cover an inch.   The pattern of small scales on the surface of qiviut fibers is smooth and even.   This characteristic gives it resistance to felting, scratching, and shrinking.   As a down fiber, it lacks high durability, but it is remarkably strong, and even compares favorably to wool in tensile strength.  A little goes a long way and a scarf can be fashioned with only one ounce of fine yarn.

With this in mind, the appearance of musk ox qiviut garments improves with washing, giving it more loft, softness, and warmth.  Hand-washing is recommended in warm water using mild shampoo.  Allow the garment to soak for 10 minutes, then gently squeeze the water through a few times.  Rinse with the same method and roll in a towel, squeezing the water out.  Lay flat on a dry towel or on a non-metal screen and gently shape. 

Besides the Musk ox qiviut fibers we carry many other exotic or hard to find fibers.  For a complete list call Playing With Yarn or click here.