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What
is Qiveut?
Qiveut is a rare, incredibly
soft and light-weight fiber. The word qiveut comes from the Inuit language,
describing the under wool of the Musk Ox or Oomingmak. There are several
spellings of the word: kiviuk, qiviuk, qiviut, qiveut, to name a few.
Why is it so
warm?
The Musk Ox coat and hooves
keep them warm in the cold artic weather which can reach -100ºF. If their
under wool were not like it is they would not be able to survive such harsh
conditions. While the outer fur is coarse and stiff, the under fur is
exceptionally soft. Studies have shown that qiveut is 8 times warmer than
lambs wool.
Unique
qualities of qiveut.
qiveut is
hypoallergenic
Extremely rare
Unsurpassed warmth and softness
Light as air
Will not shrink or shed
Odorless when wet
Retains heat when wet
Easily maintained
Hand made by an Alaskan fiber artist
Why is qiveut so
costly?
Musk Ox were nearly extinct
in Alaska in the late 1800's. The musk ox have been slowly reintroduced and
are now raised on farms where their qiveut is collected seasonally. Each
adult animal sheds only five to eight pounds a year. Collecting and
processing qiveut into a usable yarn is exceptionally arduous and time
consuming and is mostly done by hand. Gathering enough fiber to be cleaned
can take several years, making qiveut yarn quite rare.
Qiveut
Design's Products.
All of the products seen
here are designed and woven or knit in Alaska by Margaret L. Rye. Margaret
has several unique styles and colors to choose. Margaret is looking forward
to creating that special order for you or your loved one.
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