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Devon | a fingering weight John Arbon x Little Skein special
Coming Soon
Coming Fall 2026
A very special, very sheepy non-superwash yarn
This hand-dyed fingering weight yarn has been in the works for two years. šš Itās grown and milled in Devon, England by John Arbon Mill, and hand-dyed by me in my outdoor dye kitchen. Itās my perfect yarn for colorwork, for extra special fingering weight garments, and for indulging in the sheepy goodness of autumn.
Why did it take two years to bring it into yourĀ shop?
Before I add a yarn base to my line-up, I knit with it, wear it, and put it through its paces. It has to not only look beautiful but it needs to fit the purpose I have in mind and it has to wear well.
Iāve been dyeing and knitting with Devon for two years, wearing the garments Iāve made with it, testing its technical limits, and making sure itās just perfect for you. I can confidently say: You are going to love working with Devon.
All about Devon
Devon is a fingering weight blend of Zwartbles wool and Exmoor Ram wool. Zwartbles sheep are naturally dark, and this fiber addition gives the yarn its grey, heathered look. By using a grey base for hand-dyeing, my colors come out muted, soft, and full of depth.
Offered in 14 colorways.
Yarn specifications
Devon
90% Exmoor Blueface and 10% Zwartbles wool
218 yards (200 meters) | 50 grams
2-ply construction
non-superwash
Gauge
My preferred sweater gauge for Devon is 25 sts to 4 inches (10 cm), which I usually achieve with a US size 3 or 3.25 mm needle.
My preferred shawl gauge for Devon is 18-19 sts to 4 inches (10 cm), which I usually achieve with a US size 5 (3.75 mm) needle.
Provenance
Grown and milled in Devon, England
Sweater & accessory patterns for Devon
Devon is a wonderful substitute for the now-discontinued Brooklyn Tweed Loft.
3 perfect sweaters:
- Garden Genser by Shay Johnson
- Acacia Leaf cardigan by Sedna Yang
- Stockbridge by Ysolda Teague
3 perfect accessories:
- Quill by Jared Flood
- Larkspur Bandana by Purl Soho
- Coming Fall 2026: Bloom mitts by Anne Vally
& my top 20 pattern recommendations for this yarn in a helpful Ravelry bundle.
Note: All links go to Ravelry.
Do you need to alternate skeins?
Yes. All of my yarn is dyed by hand in small batches of four skeins. There will be variations in color intensity and placement. I think thatās part of what makes each skein perfect ā theyāre not identical. If you will be using more than 1 skein in your project, alternate skeins to blend any color differences.
Caring for your finished item
My wool yarns should always be hand-washed with a gentle wool wash and cold-water rinse.
Depending on the difference in chemistry between your local water and mine, there may be some color residue in the wash process. Washing and rinsing in cold water will help to minimize this.
Always let your knitted item air dry to prevent shrinking or felting and to keep your item looking its best.
Naturally heathered, perfect for color play
See all the details about my Quill shawl