From the raw fibers to the end products, everything at Echoview Fiber Mill is centered around the hardworking American spirit. Made in America is their all encompassing moto and it fits well.
Located in Weaverville, NC, Echoview Fiber Mill processes animal fibers (alpaca, goat, sheep, and llama) from its farm and other local farms into rovings, yarns, and finished products. This gives the local farmers value-added products to sell and a secondary source of income that they wouldn’t otherwise have.
With their vertical integration strategy, Echoview has taken the process one step further and are now offering luxury apparel and home furnishings made from the fibers they process. Outside of the animal fibers, the farm also raises chickens, produces honey and grows some traditional crops.
In April 2012, Echoview Fiber Mill opened it’s doors in a 17,000 sq ft processing facility, now on 75 beautiful acres. Julie Jensen, owner of Echoview Fiber Mill, says the focus of her business is to implement sustainable and ethical manufacturing processes. With 196 solar panels on its roof, the mill is America’s first LEED Gold Certified manufacturing mill. The mill is able to produce over half of its summer electricity needs from these solar panels.
All of this leads up to the beautiful yarns that Echoview offers, from fingerling to chunky and every weight in between. Their gorgeous alpaca and merino yarns come in a variety of colors too, including hand painted and naturally dyed yarns. Not only are the Echoview yarns gorgeous and luxuriously soft and easy to work with, they are created by upholding sustainable practices, benefiting the animals, farmers, and artists.
I appreciate that!
I first met up with Echoview Fiber Mill at the STITCHES South conference a few years ago. They were one of the very few fiber mills/yarn companies there selling naturally dyed yarns. I enjoyed speaking with them about their dyeing process and came away with a great appreciation for all that the mill accomplishes. Staying in touch, I have been able to create several crochet designs with their yarns and hope to design more in the future. Keep an eye out for them!
Echoview currently has a Mystery Box yarn special on that I was able to take advantage of, giving me a variety of yarns to design with. Several of my hat designs in my new Winter Warmth Collection are created using Echoview yarns. My favorites are the Hello Winter Chunky Hat and the Let It Snow Hat. The Crazy Jesse Hat is an example of how beautiful hand painted yarns can be.
If you prefer to spin your own yarn, Echoview also offers rovings for purchase in several shades and sizes.
How I pack for a road trip after my Mystery Box arrived! |
I can’t wait to see what Echoview Fiber Mills offers us next – from interesting fiber blends and yarn colors to finished blankets, scarves, and even dryer balls.
Echoview Fiber Mill makes a positive difference in the local and American economy and is a great help to local farmers and we as yarn artists reap the benefits.